Glory In Death

"But Jesus answered them, saying, "The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. ²⁴ Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain."

John 12:23-24

Yesterday we celebrated Good Friday, a day which commemorates the death of Jesus Christ on Calvary.  His crucifixion was the hour for which He had been sent by the Father, the hour when He would be glorified.  Death of the body was the path to eternal glory, but it has struck me afresh how the death of Jesus was His hour of glory.  It is true Jesus was raised in glory (1 Cor. 15:43) yet in this passage He pointed to His death as His hour of glory.

Receiving glory from dying well is not an uncommon concept, like how a soldier is recognised for sacrificing himself for the sake of his fellow comrade.  Such stories are legendary.  No good warrior wants to die, but the one who willingly places himself in jeopardy to aid others embodies courage and heroism.  Jesus laid aside all instincts of self-preservation and chose to face an excruciating death in obedience to the Father.  His demonstration of love, compassion, forgiveness, and grace as He was nailed to a cross and ultimately breathed His last reveals the supernatural power of God.  Three days later He would rise from the dead and prove His victory of sin and death, proving He is indeed the Messiah.

Jesus was victorious in death, and Christians follow in Christ's victory when we die to self.  The resurrected life of Jesus Christ is on display when we take up our cross and deny ourselves to follow Him, the One who always did the will of the Father.  The death of Jesus is interpreted as weakness by some, but it took supernatural strength.  Whenever we choose to deny the inclinations of our sinful flesh to walk in the way which fully pleases God, Jesus is glorified.  It proves He was victorious in death, and is evidence He was that grain of wheat which fell to the ground and is still producing a good crop.  It may not be we will be called to martyrdom for the sake of Jesus, but God is glorified when we die to self.  That is our hour of victory and God's glory.