John 12:28-30 Father, glorify your name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.… I. A MAN TAKING THE TRUEST AND DEEPEST VIEW OF LIFE. A sentence is often a revelation. This is unique, suggestive. If we were to put our deepest desires into words would they be this? The worldly man's life is limited to the self sphere; the very point of this is that Christ had no self sphere. The former is the shallow, the latter the ennobling view. Observe our Lord's — 1. Cherished life thought. This inspiring thought for Christ and us starts the question, Will not a cherished sense of our independence do more for us than the sense of dependence, and so of responsibility? Let Christ's life be the answer. The independent view — I am my own — may be fascinating; but it is untrue and deteriorating, and sooner or later is found to be such. What is the condition of the parasite when the tree on which it feeds is dead? or that of the ivy cut below and made independent of its secret rootings? What good is an independent vine branch? 2. Ruling life-force — obedience inspired by affection for His Father. Here we see how all the seeming hardness of dependence is lost in the atmosphere of love. The wife never finds it hard to obey when she loves. Mere obedience is, for man, very hard; but obedience out of love is the highest joy; and this deep joy we find in Christ. 3. Prevailing life-attitude — the activity of submission; for true submission is not mere bearing, but bearing in doing. This is fully illustrated in the life of Christ. II. GOD'S RESPONSE TO THE MAN WHO TAKES THIS VIEW OF LIFE. 1. That the deepest wish of His heart has been already realized and He may read His past in the light of it. All depends on the light in which we read our past. Read Christ's in the light thrown by this response and see how it had been a glorifying of the Father-name of God in — (1) His own Sonship. (2) His teachings about the Father. (3) His brotherhood with men. 2. That the deepest wish of his heart shall yet be realized, and he may go calmly on into darkness with the assurance that even his Cross shall glorify the Father. Death shall do even more than life. The "forsaking" was a final triumph of obedience. The will of God was so beautiful that He could even suffer and die for it. Conclusion: We say, "God is our Father." Do we say, "Father, glorify Thy name." Is this our inspiring life secret? In life labour, relationships, sufferings, bereavements, death, do I honour myself or my Father? (R. Tuck, B. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. |
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