Eastertide
May 19, 2019
Scripture Reading: John 13:31-35
When he had gone out, Jesus said, ‘Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, “Where I am going, you cannot come.” I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.’
So what does it mean when this scripture says that the Son of Man has been glorified? The Greek word doksázō* translated glorify ascribes weight by recognizing real substance or value. Glorifying God thus means valuing God for who God really is. Jesus’ glorification thus amplifies the glory of God helping us understand the full value of God in our lives. Do our acts as God’s disciples amplify the glory of God?
Joshua understood this concept when he noted among all the idols available for people in his culture to worship that Yahwah was the one with real substance and value. He said in Joshua 24:15:
Now if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.’
What do we put above God? What are the 21st Century idols we choose over God? We are far too sophisticated to bow down to golden calves or mammoth carved stones. I fear our idols are more sinister. Certainly, wealth and power are more important to some than God. Politics and nationalism seem to push God aside or even worse use God as a steppingstone to their own ends. We, like the people Joshua led, need to carefully consider who we serve and reevaluate how our way of being is influencing others toward God or away from God.
Prayer: Lord, forgive us when we claim to be your disciples and do not have love for one another or any others. Amen.
*https://biblehub.com/greek/1392.htm
All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.