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Maundy Thursday 2023 : “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified”

Text: John 12
6 April 2023

INTRODUCTION

1. Easter reminds us of many things:

a) The suffering of the Lord Jesus
b) The horrifying death on the Cross
c) The Resurrection of the Lord Jesus

2. How did the Lord Jesus cope with the reality of His imminent death?

THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY OF THE LORD JESUS

1. This was recorded in all the Gospels

2. John’s Account

12 The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,
13 took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out:
“Hosanna!
‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’
The King of Israel!”
14 Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written:
15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion;
Behold, your King is coming,
Sitting on a donkey’s colt.”
16 His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him.
John 12:12-16
a) He was greeted as the King of Israel
b) But not all fully comprehended the significance of this ride to Jerusalem

A SIGNIFICANT TEACHING

23 But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified.

24 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.

25 He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

26 If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.

John 12:23-26

1. He spoke to the Disciples about “Glorification of the Son of Man”

a) Not all had understood who the Son of Man was
b) Not all had appreciated all that He had said and done
i) His preaching ministry
ii) His teaching ministry
iii) His healing ministry
c) He should have been glorified!
i) But unbelief prevailed
ii) Resistance from enemies grew

2. The Life of the Lord Jesus summarised succinctly

a) He used the illustration of a grain of wheat
i) If it is alive, it remains alone
ii) If it dies, it produces much grain
b) The Essence of the life of the Lord Jesus
i) He lived to fulfil God’s Plan
ii) He lived a life of complete obedience
iii) He lived to serve His Father
c) The Principle of truly following the Lord Jesus
i) Not to love one’s life
ii) To focus on eternal life
iii) To follow the Lord Jesus
iv) To serve Him fully and faithfully
v) To be honoured by God one day

THE STRUGGLE TO FOLLOW GOD COMPLETELY

27 “Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour.

28 Father, glorify Your name.”
Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.”

29 Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to Him.”

30 Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake.

31 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.

32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.”

33 This He said, signifying by what death He would die.

John 12:27-33

1. Understanding how the Soul may be troubled

2. Focusing on the Purpose of Life

a) To glorify God
b) To defeat the Devil
c) To be unafraid to die in obedience to God

CONCLUSION

1. To review our principles of life

2. To reflect on the example of the Lord Jesus

3. To renew our commitment to serve the Lord to the very end