Human beings have long associated glory with elevation. The winner of a gold medal stands on the top step, higher than those who come second or third (or lower). A monarch usually sits on a seat which is raised off the ground. Even in old churches, it is traditional to have at least one step from the main seating area into the area where the bread and wine is blessed. It’s a physical expression of the ‘lifting up’ which accompanies glory.
As we observed a couple of reflections ago, Jesus uses this particular phrase ‘lifted up’ to describe what is about to happen to him. It is both a literal description of his crucifixion, but also a spiritual description of what he will achieve through it. The word can also mean exaltation, which is a extraordinary description of (what was seen as) a criminals’ death, and marvellously illustrates how our amazing Lord turns everything upside-down and makes all things new.
In today’s passage Jesus himself describes this lifting up as representing three things. First, it is his destiny: (v27) ‘for this very reason I came to this hour.’ Every gospel makes it very clear that what happens to Jesus is no accident, and Jesus is supremely aware of this, including the terrible cost: (v27) ‘my soul is troubled’.
Second, it is a judgement on this world – the moment at which the forces of evil are defeated (v31). And yet, at the same time it is also, thirdly, the moment when Jesus ‘will draw all people to myself’ (v32). How can it be a moment of both judgment and invitation? Because Jesus takes the punishment which the judgement of this world decrees upon himself. The judgement is enacted upon him, so that all of us can be beckoned into the new life of God. Jesus has paid the price of judgement on our behalf.
No wonder he calls out: (v28) ‘Father glorify your name!’ To which his heavenly Father replies: ‘I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.’ To those watching Jesus being executed at Mount Moriah (the place of the skull, or Calvary), it can hardly have seemed like his moment of glory, his moment of ‘lifting up’/exaltation. And yet, this is what enables to great prophesy of Isaiah to be enacted: ‘The mountain of the Lord’s temple… will be exalted (lifted up) above the hills, and all nations will stream to it.’ (Isaiah 2:5)
Praise God that he has drawn us to himself! Jesus’ lifting up has won our salvation, and his name is forever glorified. Today, let’s pray for Jesus to draw others, too – people we know and love, our community, any we are led to remember before the Lord. May the Father continue to glorify Jesus’ name again, and again. Amen.