[0:00] Let's turn again to the chapter we read in John's Gospel, John chapter 12, and we read at verse 27, John chapter 12 and at verse 27.
[0:16] Now is my soul troubled, and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour. But for this purpose I have come to this hour.
[0:27] Father, glorify your name. Then a voice came from heaven, I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again. Last night we were looking at the response of Jesus who was dealing with Greeks who had come wanting to see him.
[0:49] And last night, just to recap, we were saying that that was the great desire in the heart of God's people, that they would see Jesus, to see him by faith.
[1:03] And I believe that every single person at the Lord's table today, that that is a great desire within your heart, that you will see Jesus. You already see him, you see him by faith, and you long to see him more clearly.
[1:18] And that desire that is in your heart is a desire that is longing for the fulfillment when you will really see him, when you will be in his presence, when you will be with him forever and ever and ever.
[1:30] And I would like to think also that everybody in this church today, that it's their desire to see Jesus. There are some, I believe, who aren't at the table today who could be.
[1:45] There are some maybe who have not yet come into a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. And yet, even for you, I believe that I would like to thank all of you, that it is a desire that is deep down within you, that says, I hope one day that I will really see Jesus, that you will really be able to see him by faith, and lay hold upon him, and be persuaded that he is your Lord and your Savior.
[2:19] Now, Jesus, in order, as he's talking to these Greeks, he was saying that it was through his death that he was to be seen. We looked at that, we won't go over that again, but last night, about how the grain of wheat falling into the earth and dying, and if it dies, it bears much fruit, and so on.
[2:39] But Jesus now is aware. He mentioned in verse 23 that the hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
[2:50] And then again in this verse, in verse 27, he says, I have come to this hour. And Jesus was aware of what was going to take place. And you and I know that if there is something awful ahead of us, something that we're almost recoiling from, that it troubles us, it leaves us with a sense of, I don't really, sometimes it's very hard to describe, but that your whole being is in turmoil because of this.
[3:21] And there's something of that within the heart of our Lord, because what is ahead of him, the very language where he says, now is my heart troubled, the verb is so strong, it indicates agitation or even revulsion, that this is something that is so upsetting him, that Jesus is troubled as he views and as he anticipates the cross and all that is involved there.
[3:51] Now, it tells us that when it says, now is my soul troubled, John doesn't give us a Gethsemane moment.
[4:02] He doesn't tell us about Jesus' agony in Gethsemane. But I believe here we have another of these Gethsemane moments, because this is one of these moments where Jesus is given this glimpse of what lies ahead.
[4:18] And as we said, there is this sense of fear, sense of absolute agitation within the heart of our Lord.
[4:28] We're told in Hebrews that Jesus offered up prayers with loud cries. Well, here is something of that very thing here before us. And Jesus is seeing at this moment, one of these moments, where he is seeing the anguish, the torment, where he is seeing what it actually means to be a sin bearer.
[4:52] And you and I are here today because Jesus is the sin bearer. And you and I are here today because Jesus went forward without hesitation into this, we could say, this awful cauldron of God's wrath.
[5:15] Now, when we use the word without hesitation, it's true. And yet, we find that Jesus, he prays and he says, now is my soul troubled, and what shall I say?
[5:28] Father, save me from this hour. Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me. It's the same idea.
[5:39] It's the same language. And Jesus is glimpsing, as it were, there's a glimpse into the horror, the wine of astonishment, the awfulness of the cup that he has to drink.
[5:53] And he's saying, Father, save me from this hour. Imagine if Jesus had stopped at that point. And Jesus said, I can't do it.
[6:06] It's too much for me. I cannot do it. That is it. You know, you and I would still be in our sins. You and I would be heading to our lost eternity.
[6:20] The judgment that took place upon this world would not have taken place. And the ruler of this world, the evil one, would still have his power unbroken.
[6:31] But how thankful that Jesus didn't stop there. When Jesus said, Father, save me from this hour, he then adds, But for this purpose, I came to this hour.
[6:50] Isn't that wonderful? Now, Jesus is aware all the time that there is a heavenly timetable. And he was the only one who was conscious of this. Because we highlighted in passing last night, The disciples were oblivious to what was taking place.
[7:07] Because this was, there were three moments in chapter 12. We read through part of chapter 12 from the beginning last night. And there were three incidents that took place that were indicating the popularity of Jesus, What people thought of him.
[7:27] First of all, there was a scene where Mary anointed the feet of Jesus, Where with unbridled love she poured herself and the most precious possession that she had, This really expensive ointment over Jesus.
[7:42] And then it moved from there to Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem, Where the crowds were bowing down and singing Hosanna. And then we have this collection of Greeks coming, wanting to see Jesus.
[7:57] So when you put the three things together, The disciples are probably saying to themselves, Oh, isn't this great? Everybody is going after Jesus. It's like it was in the early days, when they were wanting to make him king.
[8:11] Isn't it? These are good times. And they're probably thinking there's a national turning to Jesus. And they're saying to themselves, They're wanting again, no doubt, to make Jesus king.
[8:25] And they were thinking maybe themselves that this was at the time When the Lord was going to install the kingdom and deliver them from Rome. And they weren't ready for the crowd to turn from the graduation of Hosanna to cry and crucify him.
[8:41] They weren't ready for Jesus to be taken. They thought he was going to be the king. And they weren't ready for the humiliation and death he had to face. But Jesus knew.
[8:53] And that's why Jesus said, He talked about this hour. Everything was leading to this hour. And the disciples and Jesus' followers didn't understand.
[9:07] And you know, neither do we understand. That God has a timetable for your life and for the life of his church. And everything will be worked out in exact detail.
[9:21] We always are in the immediate. We always want everything happening now. And you know, sometimes we can be guilty of saying, Oh, nothing is happening.
[9:32] My friend, there is never nothing happening in God's economy. But what we need often is patience. And an awareness that God is always working.
[9:45] Even in his bringing of his son into this world. It says, the expression that is used, In the fullness of time. It's like when you've gathered up all the events.
[9:58] Everything was working. Every strand of history was working together until the time was ripe. The fullness of time. The time.
[10:08] God appointed time. And here is one of these. Another of the appointed time. There was an appointed time for Jesus to come into this world.
[10:19] Which was going to lead to the appointed time. Where he was to be made the sacrifice for sin. So it's all moving to this.
[10:32] And that's why it's so important for us. However difficult it is for us. To resign ourselves to God's will. It's a difficult thing. Because God's will sometimes is different for us.
[10:48] To what we expect it to be. And that's where we need grace. Lord, give me the grace to know. That even what I don't know. You know.
[10:59] And that you're working this for good. Because God is a purpose. And it's always. Even although we can't see it. It's always for his glory. The cross was for his glory.
[11:12] So we mentioned that last night. If you had come in and seen the cross. If you turned a corner. And saw what was taking place. The bodies hanging there. And Jesus at the center.
[11:23] And the blood pouring down. This mangled mess of humanity. And you would hear the curses below. And the mockings below. You would. As I said. You would probably start retching.
[11:34] And you'd say. I'd have to turn away. But Jesus. But Jesus. Is on that cross. And it's all. Bringing glory. To God. So you see.
[11:46] Often we don't understand. Often we. We're left. Confused. But Jesus knew. And everything is leading up. To this time. This time. And as we say. Often Jesus had to say to the disciples.
[11:58] Look. My. My hour. Has not yet come. And he said to them. On one occasion. Your time's always ready. But mine isn't. So we have to wait his time.
[12:11] But again. This. This hour. Was also the hour. And the power of darkness. Jesus had said that elsewhere. That this was. The hour. This was a time. When.
[12:22] When as it were. The Lord was. Handing. Where God was giving. Over. He was giving his son. Over. He was pulling back.
[12:33] All the restraints. He was allowing hell. To be unleashed. And Satan. Was doing. His worst. These were dangerous times.
[12:45] It's an awful moment. It's an awful place. To be. Anywhere. Where God's. Judgment. Is visited. Them. It's an awful place.
[12:55] To be. When God's. Restraint. And preservation. Is pulled away. And where the powers. Of darkness. Are given. Free reign. And yet.
[13:06] Even. Even in that. There is. There are bounds. But this was. The hour of darkness. There were dangerous times. And so this had come to do. And you see.
[13:17] The way that Satan. Is at work. And you see it. In the hearts. Of the people. You see this. Sudden change. From. It's quite extraordinary. Their cry. Hosanna.
[13:28] Hosanna. Is he that cometh. Blessed in the name of the Lord. Crucify him. Crucify him. It's absurd. The same people. And you see.
[13:38] What accounts for it? This is your hour. And the power of darkness. It's a fearful thing. You know. You often look back. Over history.
[13:49] And you wonder. What on earth. Happened. There are moments. Where. It's like the outbreak. Of all evil. And you think of even things.
[13:59] Like the genocide. Of. In Cambodia. And. Rwanda. And. You look at. What happened. In Nazi Germany. And times like that. And you say to yourself. How did that happen?
[14:13] And you can only answer it. By showing. That it was one of these moments. Where God's restraints. Were pulled back. And where. Where evil.
[14:25] Was allowed. For a period. On the rampage. Be a fearful world. A fearful world. Where God. To remove his restraint. From us. But for Jesus.
[14:38] This was the hour. And the intensity. Of his agony. Was awful. You know. Some people think. Because of the purity. And the sinlessness. Of Jesus. That he was able.
[14:48] To cope with these things. All the better. No. It was worse. We've said this before. But the intensity. Of suffering. For Jesus. Was far greater. Because he had.
[15:00] There was nothing. In him. Or about him. That sympathized. With sin. We do. Because we're sinners. There is. Within us. Doesn't matter.
[15:11] How holy. A person is. Because of the body. Of sin. That remains within. There is something. Within us. That is drawn. To sin. Because we're still sinners.
[15:23] Jesus. Was exactly. Like us. In all his humanity. Except without sin. So the sinless. Pure soul. Of Jesus. Felt.
[15:34] Things. Things. At a far. Greater level. A heightened level. A greater awareness. Than you or I. Ever can. But Jesus is saying.
[15:46] Well. This is it. This is it. And so at this particular moment. Where Jesus is saying. Father. Save me from this hour. But for this purpose.
[15:57] I have come. To this hour. As somebody said. This is one of these moments. Where God. Wrestles. With God. In the face of Golgotha.
[16:10] Where God. Wrestles. With God. The face of Golgotha. And that's where we find Jesus. Before his father. He is aware. That the divine sword.
[16:21] Is in the divine hand. He's aware. That the cup of God's wrath. Is full. And that that sword. Is to be plunged into it. And that he has to drink.
[16:31] Every drop. And so he's saying. Save me from this hour. But. For this purpose. I have come. To this hour. My friend.
[16:43] There are times. We treat sin lightly. Sometimes. Sadly. It doesn't bother us. In the way it does. Other times. Thankfully. It does. But you know.
[16:55] It's important. For us. To realize. What God. Thinks of sin. If you or I. Ever forget. Take a look. At Calvary's cross. That's what God. Thinks of sin.
[17:06] God. Is there. This is the public. Display. Where God. Is dealing. With sin. With our sin. Upon his son.
[17:17] That's why Jesus. Is there. He's not there. For himself. Because he has. No sin. He's there. For you. And me. In our place.
[17:28] That's what God. Thinks of sin. And it should. It should. Be etched. In our mind. In our thinking. Of how.
[17:39] Awful. Sin is. In God's sight. But then. Jesus. Aware. Of what is ahead of him. He then says. Father. Glorify.
[17:49] Your name. Now as we know. Everything. That the son. Is doing. Is in order. To glorify. The name. Of God. And in fact.
[18:00] When Jesus. Begins this. And he says. Father. Glorify. Your name. In a sense. It's almost like. The beginning. Of the Lord's prayer. Our father. Which art in heaven.
[18:11] Hallowed. Be thy name. In fact. The beginning. Of the prayer. In a sense. Is all tied up. In here. Our father. Which art in heaven. Hallowed.
[18:22] Be thy name. Thy kingdom. Come. Thy will. Be done. On earth. As it is in heaven. All. That. Is praying.
[18:33] For the glory. Of God. It's. We're. So familiar. With the Lord's prayer. But what a prayer. It is. All.
[18:43] This. At the beginning. Is caught up. With the glory. Of God. Our father. Which art in heaven. Hallowed. Be. Your name. May. Your kingdom.
[18:55] Come. Oh. What glory. May. Your will. Be done. On earth. As it is in heaven. That's really. In a sense. It's all. Caught up.
[19:05] In what Jesus. Is saying here. And Jesus. Is aware. That everything. Is to the glory. Of God. Remember. These beautiful words. In Philippians. Where it tells us.
[19:16] Say. Wherefore God. Highly. Exalted him. And. Lifted. And given him a name. Above every other name. That at the name of Jesus. Every knee will bow. And every tongue.
[19:28] Will confess. Why. And it all ends. To the glory. Of God. The father. That's where everything. Ends. Father.
[19:39] Glorify your name. And then a voice. Came from heaven. I have. Glorified it. And I will glorify it. Again. Everything about Jesus.
[19:50] His life. Spoke. About the glory. Of God. Jesus. His birth. The virgin birth. There was glory. Attached to that. Jesus.
[20:00] His birth. There was the angelic host. Giving praise. And glory. To God. Glory to God. In the highest. And on earth. Peace. And good will. To all men. Jesus.
[20:11] His life. Every miracle. He performed. Was testifying. To the glory. Of God. Every step. Jesus. Took. In fulfilling. The law. Was glorifying.
[20:23] God. Every step. That. Every word. That he taught. It was. Indeed. Bringing. Glory. To God. And so.
[20:33] The Lord. The father. In heaven. Is saying. I have glorified it. But he also says. I will continue to glorify. I will glorify it again. And in Jesus's death.
[20:46] There was glory. As we said. Looking at the scene. It was anything but glorious. And yet. What man.
[20:57] Maybe couldn't do. The very creation was doing. The sun. In the sky. Hid its face. At the height. Of Jesus's suffering.
[21:08] That scene. Was plunged. Into darkness. Which was symbolic. Of the darkness. That the soul. Of Jesus. Was in. The earth. Shook.
[21:20] There were various. Phenomenon. Occurred. We know. That the graves. Opened. And there was glory. Being. Taken. To the father. In the saving.
[21:32] Of our soul. At the very end. Of Jesus's life. Remember me. When you come. Into your kingdom. Today. You shall be with me.
[21:42] In paradise. Glory. Glory. Even the centurion. Said truly. This was. The son of God. There was glory.
[21:53] Attached. To everything. In Christ's death. And what it was doing. What it was achieving. And there was glory. Attached. To his resurrection. Oh my word.
[22:04] How that confused. The enemies of Christ. They did all that they could. They sealed the tomb. They put the guard. Round it. But nothing. Nothing. Could prevent. The divine appointment.
[22:14] Of Jesus's resurrection. And so. It's all glory. Now. When this voice. From heaven. Thundered. And God. Spoke. It was.
[22:25] For the sake. Of those gathered. Jesus says that. The crowd that stood there. And heard it. Said that it had thundered. Others said. An angel has spoken to him. Jesus answered. This voice has come. For your sake.
[22:36] Not mine. However. That voice. Would. Have strengthened. Jesus. Because. At these. Moments.
[22:47] Of intense. Agony. The father. Didn't leave him alone. Here is this moment. Where his soul is troubled. And the father. Speaks to him.
[22:58] From heaven. On the floor. Of. Gethsemane. In the garden. When his soul. Was in anguish. An angel came. And strengthened him.
[23:10] But in a wee while. There was to be no voice. From heaven. And there was to be no. Angel strengthening. As every. Form of support.
[23:22] Was taken away. From Jesus. And that's why. He cries out. On the cross. My God. My God. Why. Have you. Forsaken me. The cry.
[23:34] Of desolation. Of dereliction. All alone. Abandoned. To all. The wrath. And curse. Of God. For sin.
[23:45] And that's what you and I. Are remembering today. And Jesus. Took that upon himself. And endured that.
[23:55] And went there. For you. For me. We must never. Ever. Ever. Lose sight of that. God's voice. Spoke.
[24:06] To the crowd. And may I say. To any in here. Today. Who don't know Jesus. You know. Some people may say. To themselves. You know. If I. If I had been present.
[24:17] In the days of Christ. And I had actually. Heard this voice. Thundering from heaven. I would have believed. Definitely. I would have believed. Well you know.
[24:28] Peter. Writing about the experience. On the Mount of Transfiguration. And where. The voice of God. Again. Thundered. Peter. Goes on. To talk about. A sure word.
[24:38] Of prophecy. And he talks about. The word. This word here. We have this word. And if we do not believe. This word. As it was said.
[24:50] In the rich man. And Lazarus. Supposing one. Rose from the dead. They will not believe. If we do not believe. This word. Then there's nothing else.
[25:01] For us. And I hope today. That everybody in here. Will lay hold. Upon Jesus Christ. As Savior. Here. Thinking of what he did.
[25:13] This sacrifice. On the cross. Who did he make this sacrifice for? For sinners. Who are you? Who am I?
[25:23] A sinner. So you see. The straight away. That qualifies us. It's for me. This is where the sacrifice is made. So I would ask you today.
[25:35] To lay hold upon Jesus. To embrace him. And to follow him. Let's pray. Lord our God. We pray to undertake for us.
[25:45] And to bless us. We give thanks for the word that we've heard. And the word that is speaking to us. And we pray that we might never lose sight of the glory of God.
[25:56] As being central to what we're about. And forgive us Lord our self-centeredness. And being caught up with ourselves too much. Guide us in all that we are about. And continue with us we pray.
[26:08] And forgive us our sin. In Jesus name we ask it. Amen.