3/27/11 John 12:27-33 Choosing Glory Over Comfort

27 “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him. 30 Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.

(Crucifixion of Christ- with St. Jerome and St. Francis by Francesco Bianchi Ferrari 1490-1500-
The Son of Man was lifted up)

Thoughts: In the West we seek worldly comfort and feelings above all else.  But Jesus calls us beyond our selfishness and pride into selfless sacrifice for a greater good- the glory of God.  Too often we ask God to save us from our suffering, and if that doesn't happen we rebel against Him.  So we fail the test before us, showing the weakness of our faith.  If we believe in God only because our parents did, or only for what God can do for us- then when life doesn't go our way- we drift away from God.  In contrast, Jesus sets us the example.  He was not interested in his own salvation and comfort as much as He was God's glory. 
Prayer: Give me the will, O Lord, to give up seeking my meager comfort for the betterment of your glory.

John Calvin Abridged: Christ shows his humanity in that he was troubled by his impending death.  Yet all his feelings were regulated to obedience to God.  He starts to pray for deliverance because his sorrow wrung this feeling from Him.  There are five steps here 1)a complaint; 2) asking Himself what He ought to do; 3) He asks the Father for deliverance; 4) He chooses to do the Father's will above all else;