Bloghardt's Reflector

The Reflections are in Epiphany, so I'm having epiphanies everywhere....

INI. The theology of glory churches love to speak about Easter being the big deal. Good Friday is rough, but "Sunday is on the way."

Today's epiphany is from yesterday's Bible class. Our Youth Group have been plugging along in St. John's Gospel and we got to Holy Cross' Day's Gospel lesson (John 12).

"The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified" (St. John 12:23). His hour is something that He doesn't run from. His hour is why He came. His hour is His suffering. His hour is when He died.

The glory of God is most seen in the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ. Have you ever seen that? How is God toward you? He was crucified under Pontius Pilate. He couldn't be more "for you" than when He hung dead on the Cross having answered for all our sins.

That's the glory of God! Jesus dead on the Cross. That's how He is toward you. That's how He is toward me.

That's the glory of the resurrection! We often think that the glory of God is seen on Easter when Jesus is raised from the dead. Yes, that's true. But the Cross is the reason that Easter is glorious! It's not that just anyone raised from the dead on Easter. Loads of religions have that! No, Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified for us, was raised from the dead.

So He prays: "Father, glorify your name." The Father responds, "I have glorified and I will glorify it." Then, Jesus talks about being lifted up and drawing all men to Himself.

The glory of God is seen in Jesus hanging dead on the cross. Talk about a theology of the cross that turns the theology of glory on its head! INI.