We continue our study in the Gospel of John this morning, picking up right after Jesus had come into Jerusalem, several days before His death and Resurrection. The voice of The Father has just answered, in an audible voice what Jesus requested, that The Father would glorify The Son. The voice of The Father then affirms that He has and will again glorify Him.

What follows is clearly for the benefit of those hearing. Those looking to Jesus, faithfully, were comforted to know things were on track, while others were skeptical. Then Jesus speaks of His pending death at the cross and refers to it as a rallying point where He draws people to Himself.

Again, what comfort these words would be to those who believed. However, to those still viewing Him as a hoped for conquering king, His asserting that He would die just didn't register and so they protest. They felt the messianic attributes spoken of in the Old Testament would never assume death, only crushing victory.

Then, as today, the focus is far too narrow. Jesus will come as King of Kings (Revelation 19) but in order to secure eternity for mankind, He must first give His life at the cross, be buried and resurrect as the scriptures told. There is still this same problem today as there was then. People want to look at all of the benefits promised in Scripture, but refuse to see the cost. The cost not only to God, in the life of His son being laid down for the sinner, but the cost to the person wanting to receive. The believer is called to a much higher calling than those of earth. Paul said "I have been crucified with Jesus" (Galatians 2:20) That means a clean break from that old life, in favor of the new.

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