THE POWER OF THE CROSS PART ONE

John 12:27-33

 

Before us this morning is the most precious in all of history as Jesus

prepares Himself to go to the cross.

 

John MacArthur wrote, “Had He not died, there would be no substitute for sin. Were there no substitute there would be no offer of salvation. Were there no salvation, there would be no hope. And were there no hope, there would be no future but hell. It is no wonders that the Christian faith centers on His death, burial and resurrection."

 

The cross of Christ displayed the glory

of God through the Son’s death.

 

As Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” John 12:24. In the act of dying, the death of the Lord Jesus Christ displayed the glory of God, because it brought about the salvation for many. The glory and beauty of the cross reveals God’s amazing love towards you, and me, that He sent His Son for us. Think about what Jesus is revealing in this section of Scripture, because this is why we can worship this morning and the next. God is about to pour out His wrath, His full strength, undiluted, onto His Son, to satisfy His anger over the sin of His created children. It is for this reason we as God’s children, His called-out ones, glory in the cross of Christ, in His death. His death on the cross produces new life for fallen sinners like you, and like me.

 

This is why we glory in the cross of Christ. See! It is acknowledging my own sinfulness and it’s acknowledging that my own righteousness will condemn me, not save me. We glory in the cross because the sole object of my faith is in the person of Christ alone found in the finishing work of the cross. “who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame.” Heb 12:2. His death, as horrifying as it was, was the very means that brought eternal life to many, is what Jesus is explaining here as we see the plan of God in His coming death.

It’s here we get a glimpse into the heart of Jesus as He approaches the cross. “Now is my soul troubled” (v27) Jesus was undergoing a crisis moment. Up to this point in Jesus’ ministry we have seen His miracles, authority, compassion for sinners, plans to comfort the broken-hearted, and His majesty. And now, the mention of His death brought before Him its approaching horrors, its pains, its darkness, its unparalleled woes. Jesus was full of serious sensibility, and His human nature shrunk from the scenes through which He was to pass. We know this true more so before He was arrested in the garden. “Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” Matt 26:36-39

 

For the first time in Jesus’ ministry, He is greatly distressed. It wasn’t that Jesus never experienced grief, or distress, over sin and death. It was the fact He was becoming sin for us! When Jesus wept over Lazarus it wasn’t over his death.....it was over the power of sin and death over mankind, and our ignorance to it.

 

Why was Jesus so distressed or grieved

even to the point of dying?

 

Jesus’ ordained appointment of death was finally here! He was about to bear the wrath of almighty God for the sins of mankind, and suffer separation from His Father. The soul of the very God, who holds the universe in His hands is in turmoil. Its here that we understand that Jesus’ death would be sufficient; because as an infinite Christ would pay an infinite price for our sin. Sadly, many people today take this passage of scripture to prove the non-deity of Christ. The pagan Celsus, a 2nd-century Roman philosopher and opponent of early Christianity used this question in his writings as an argument against Christianity. He said “How can one who is divine mourn and lament and fear to escape the fear of death.” But this is not what Jesus is doing here, He isn’t trying to get Himself out of a bad situation, or changing God’s mind in the redemptive plan.

 

JESUS KNEW THAT DEATH IS THE WAGE OF SIN. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Rom 6:23 

 

JESUS KNEW HE WOULD BECOME SIN ON BEHALF OF MANKIND. “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Cor 5:21

 

JESUS KNEW THAT HIS DEATH WOULD BRING ON HIM THE WRATH OF GOD. “Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin,....” Isa 53:10

 

Jesus knew that He would bear 

the full wrath of God

 

JESUS KNEW HE WOULD BE OUR PROPITIATION OUR SUBSTITUTE. “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 4:10

 

What is John saying? That without Jesus we are one breath away from facing the wrath of a holy God, and the judgement of damnation for all eternity. We will never fully understand what Jesus was feeling at that moment, because His distress and anguish is a million times greater than what we will experience here in this life. His burden was the weight of the world’s sin...not just at that time in history, but from the beginning of the world to the end of the world. Jesus was beginning to feel the weight of all humanity’s sin at this very moment. This was His life, to which the will the Father had for Him as R C Sproul said, “From the moment of His birth, Jesus lived in the shadow of the cross. It was clearly established that Jesus was destined to die a horrible death, not simply in terms of human pain, but because He would die as a sacrifice, under the wrath of God. Jesus, even in His perfect humanity, contracted back at the utter horror of it and so cries out to His Father to remove this cup from Him.”

 

So, its here we get a glimpse into the heart of the Son of man as He is about to die a horrible death to save sinners. It is here that Christ did not go to the cross detached, indifferent, without feeling. Jesus wasn’t disobeying the path, and plan, set before Him, as some would think when reading this section of Scripture. We know that in His worst troubling moment Jesus was going to fulfill the father’s will. That was evident when He rebuked Peter at His arrest. “Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” 

Matt 26:52-54

 

In His humanness, Jesus felt all the pain associated with bearing the curse of sin, but that didn’t change the fact He came to lay down His life. “For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” John 10:17-18

 

It is here He offered up both prayers and supplication with a loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death and He was heard.

 

The Hebrew writer gives us insight to this truth. “In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.” Heb 5:7-8. Jesus would not deviate from God’s eternal plan of redemption. Its here Jesus answers His own questions in (v27-v28). Jesus would, in view of His own eternal joy, complete the mission the Father has assigned Him alone to do.

This is why Jesus says, “Father, glorify your name.” (v28) Jesus didn’t say, “Father glorify My name.” Why? The Son would be glorified by what He was about to do, the higher purpose of the cross was that the Father would be glorified by the satisfaction of His justice. This means that “When the Son paid the debt of sin, God would be glorified.” The greatest act to demonstrate the glory of God was when Jesus went to the cross to die for sinners who don’t deserve His grace or love. Why? This act glorifies the Father, in His death, God receives the glory and cross reveals His attributes more clearly in the death of His Son.

 

Its at the cross we witness the glory of God in….

 

His forgiving mercy

His love for helpless sinners

His perfect justice

His holy wrath seen in the substitutionary death of His Son.

His love for His only Son.

 

We even see these attributes of God on display here in Jesus’s distress, when the Father responds to Jesus’ prayers and supplications. Its here, the people around Jesus witnessed the voice of God, this is the third time throughout Jesus’ ministry the Father’s voice came audibly out of Heaven. (v29) The crowd was unable to grasp the voice of God as some said it was thunder and others said it was an angel’s voice. Both of these theories were incorrect the sound was neither thunder nor angelic speech. Like those who accompanied Paul on the road to Damascus, the crowd heard the sound of the voice but did but did not understand its meaning of the words. What this reveals about crowd is their inability to understand God’s voice illustrates the hard-heartedness that was typical of the people. Its here the question could be asked! Is that what the Word of God sounds like to you…Indistinguishable noise? Or has God, in His mercy, given you ears to hear when He speaks?

 

This is familiar with those who failed to hear the voice of God’s word. “The sower sows the word. And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy. And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.” Mark 4:14-19

 

The issue is not that God is silent, but that fallen sinful people are deaf to the truth of God and His word. “This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.” Matt 13:13. This voice was not to comfort Jesus in His time of trouble because He knew He was doing the Father’s will. This voice of God from Heaven was for who sake? “Ours” (v30). The Father spoke to let the people there know that He would be glorified through the Son. Though this voice in response to Jesus’ prayer, it was for those listening. Jesus did not need to hear the Father’s audible voice to know that His prayer was heard and answered. The voice came to strengthen the faith of those standing nearby. This voice once again gave evidence to the divine affirmation of the Son as He was heading to the cross. Its here in the midst of horror and pain that John also reveals Jesus’ anticipation in the triumph of the cross. What do I mean? Jesus rejoiced in what the power of the cross will bring victory to, and accomplish for the glory of God. (Two are negative and the last one is positive.)

His Death Bring Judgment Upon The World. (v31a)

 

The term “World” signifies the system, not creation. World refers to evil, satanic system and all who are in it. The unbelieving world system was sealed by its rejection of Jesus Christ. When mankind exercised judgement upon Christ on the cross they were judging themselves. Though Jesus came to save and not to judge, this fallen world who rejects Jesus will be condemned and will face eternal judgment of Hell. Paul says they are storing up wrath on the day of judgment. “But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed. He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.” Rom 2:5-8. This we have already seen in John’s gospel. “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.” John 3:18-19

 

His Death Brings Judgement Upon The Evil Ruler Of This World. (v31b)

 

Not only would condemnation be brought upon those who reject Jesus Christ, but also the one who lord’s it over them. We could say this was the final blow that would ultimately still the movements of Satan. “Wicked ruler, Satan” will be cast out. This refers to the fact that he loses his authority and influence. If his domain (the world) is judged and destroyed he will have nothing left to rule. We know according to the Scriptures in the end Satan will reside in his new home for all eternity. “and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” Rev 20:10. This fulfills what the Hebrew writer wrote about the power of the cross. “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.” Heb 2:14-17. What troubled Jesus’ heart, also brought Him joy in the victory over sin and death.

 

His Death Brings Many Sons Into His Glory Though The Gospel.  (v32-v33)

 

“Lifted up” here Jesus is revealing to us what He said previously in John 3:14. Its here Jesus on cross is being used as a means for sinners to be saved from death. Numbers 21 tells us that many of the Israelites were bitten and poisoned by snakes. Moses interceded with God for the people, they make a brass imitation of a serpent and lift it up on a pole outside the camp. Those who had enough faith to look at it would be saved from death. “And the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD and against you. Pray to the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. And the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.” Num 21:7-9. Jesus is revealing the same truth, the Son of Man will be lifted for all to see and those who believe in Him will be saved. Here is the greatest victory in His death, “will draw all people to myself” meaning those who will come. Jesus is not saying all humanity will be redeemed as some universalists think or proclaim. Yes, God loves the whole world, but the whole world is not going to be saved. God, is saving sinners out of this fallen world, you, I, and many others, are evidence to that truth because we have seen the Christ who was lifted up.

We know according to the Scriptures, “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” Matt 7:13-14

 

Jesus spoke of a parable about the Wedding Feast and ended by saying this. “For many are called, but few are chosen.” Matt 22:14

 

The “all” are those who will be drawn to salvation from all types and classes of people. This statement also stresses the fact, “that all who are saved are saved by believing in the work of Christ on the cross.  This means that there is no access to God apart for the cross, because only through Christ’s death is sin satisfied, atoned for. Its here where I would say to you…..

 

If you are not yet a believer, see His troubled soul

as He became a cursed for you.

 

See His troubled soul as He suffered separation from His father

as he lovingly bore the penalty of your sins.

 

All who will be saved by the power of the cross will be saved by looking to and relying upon Him. 

Why?

I look within me… all is dark and vile.

I look around me… everything seems but the image of my woe.

I look above me…. I see only an angry God.

Every direction I look, is Hell, and if God were to send me there right now, He would just and right to do so."

 

But, blessed be God, and the power of the cross as Jesus said, “Come unto Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matt 11:28

 

In His redemption Jesus is saying…

Look unto Me, and be saved!

Are you lost? I can save you!

Are you guilty? I can cleanse you!

Are you poor? I can enrich you!

Are you sunk low? I can raise you!

Are you naked? I can clothe you!

 

 

Look to the One who is lifted 

up on the cross.