When he had gone out, Jesus said, 'Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him.  If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once.'
 
                                                                                       John 13:31-32 (ESV)
 
 
     This was a pivotal moment in Jesus' life and thus in all history. The Son of Man had been betrayed. The mechanisms of crucifixion were operating quickly. From the temporal perspective, something cruel, unjust, and ominous was about to take place.

     But Jesus described it as "glory." We tend to think of glory as something pleasant and joyous. It brings to mind parades, and parties with speeches touting the accomplishments of the one being glorified. We must remember, however, that John, the author, had described the unprecedented event of incarnation very modestly.
 
     And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
                                                                                              John 1:14 (ESV)

     Glory is the full revelation of one's nature. Jesus has been displaying the nature of the Father throughout his life. Now he will reveal the full extent of the Father's heart. He will take upon himself the wrath of justice. He upholds the Father's insistence on righteousness by absorbing the penalty of man's sin. There is no soft pedaling sin, even if it means the perfect Son of God must be sacrificed. God's nature demands justice. But He is merciful. He condemns sin but he redeems sinners. God's mercy does not lower the temperature of hell even one degree, but it does pay the penalty for the guilty, and declares them justified.

     Glory looks like suffering. It is. There is no way to know the true nature of God without embracing his sacrificial love that caused him to suffer in our place. The Jews had wanted to make Jesus king so they could escape suffering. He suffered so they could join him, if they chose, in a life that displays a love beyond comfort. Still today we have a spurious gospel being proclaimed that sidesteps the suffering. Some are still awaiting a Messiah that doesn't die, but will wield his sword on the battlefield and defeat the physical enemies of Israel. Need we be reminded that it is impossible to reject the suffering Messiah and accept the ruling Messiah?

     The "Son of Man" title used in this text is a reference to the one Daniel spoke of.

     I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him...
                                                                                       Daniel 7:13-14 (ESV)

     Israel had looked forward to the fulfillment of this prophecy. They missed it because they could not conceive of glory being cloaked in apparent weakness, and certainly not the cross. Today we struggle with the same tension. We want the victory and the power of glory, but shy away from true glory.

     The gospel does not require us to replicate Jesus' suffering. No one could do that. He was the perfect sacrifice that satisfied the demands of justice forever. But we are called into a reality that embraces his perspective. We are privileged to stand in the stead of Jesus on this earth and display the true nature of the Father. Jesus continues to receive glory as we magnify him as our Lord and our life. Whatever suffering comes from that stance releases the power that will change the world.

     Our role is to display his true nature. He will glorify himself in us and we will find our own glory in him.