Have you ever thought of how Jesus was troubled on this earth? The Christian is often met with various trials and can find a sense of peace in the fact that Jesus was also met with trouble over the will of God for His life. During Christmas, let us not forget that Christ endured great difficulty in setting His feet upon this fallen world. Jesus did not simply come to live among man. Jesus came to incur the wrath of God.
Let us look at John 12:27-32 and see another aspect of Christ’s coming.
The troubled Messiah
At the outset, we find the Savior troubled. Scripture says, “Now is my soul troubled…” (KJV, John 12:27) . Why did Jesus express this troubled state? What does it mean when the Bible tells us that Jesus was troubled?
First, the context tells us why Jesus was troubled. Throughout John’s Gospel, starting with the event where Jesus turned water into wine, we can see a common statement made by Jesus. Jesus often told His listeners that His time had not yet come. The time that Jesus referred to in the various instances in John’s Gospel is His death.
Throughout John’s Gospel, we can see Jesus ministering to many of the Jews. However, time and time again, the Jews turned Jesus away in hard-heartedness. Overall the Jews wanted nothing to do with Jesus.
In John 12:20-22, we see a shift of events. John 12:20-21 tells us, “And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast: The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus” (John 12:20-21) . While the events recorded in John 12:20-21 may seem insignificant, they are not.
John 12:20-21 tells us that the Gentiles were starting to turn to Jesus. Then, in John 12:22, Philip is said to have told Andrew about the Gentiles wanting to see Jesus, and Andrew is said to have told Jesus. In the next verse, John 12:23, we read, And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified” (John 12:23) . Therefore, the coming of the Gentiles ushered in Christ’s death and, thus, Christ’s glorification.
Flowing out of these events, we can catch a glimpse of Jesus’ sorrow in His words, “Now is my soul troubled…” (John 12:27) . Now that Jesus’ time had come, Jesus’ soul was troubled.
The Greek word translated as troubled is tarasso, which means to agitate or stir. It could also carry the meaning of being disturbed. Jesus encountered a period in which He was disturbed to the depths of His soul.
The questioning Christ
As we inch forward in our text, we see that Jesus began to ask questions. Do you ever have questions during troubled times? Jesus did. Jesus asked, “… and what shall I say? Father save me from this hour…” (John 12:27) . When Jesus asked the Father to save Him from this hour, it is correctly punctuated as a question. Jesus asked the Father to save Him from His hour of testing.
Some people may be puzzled at Jesus’ response to the cross. However, there is no difficulty in Jesus’ words. But first, it must be made clear that Jesus was not troubled by the pain of suffering. If so, what type of example would this have left for His immediate disciples and those who turn to Christ in later generations?
Jesus was troubled that He would soon take the wrath of the Almighty Father upon Himself. Jesus, the One Who knew no sin would be imputed with man’s sin of the cross and experience the Father’s fury, disgust, and separation. How could Jesus have said anything but “…Father save me from this hour…” (John 12:27) ?
The steadfast Savior
Nevertheless, Jesus turned quickly to His calling. Jesus said, “… but for this cause came I unto this hour” (John 12:27) . The hour had finally come; would Jesus shrink back, or would He embrace the will of the Father? Jesus came into this world for this hour. What would He do?
Jesus has left an example for the Christian that is to be admired. Jesus saw the cross. Jesus saw the wrath of the Father. But Jesus embraced the will of the Father and walked down Calvary Road.
The obedient Son
As Jesus walked down Calvary Road in His troubled thoughts, He had His eyes fixed on the glory of the Father. Jesus said, “Father, glorify thy name…” (John 12:28) . The Christian must see how Jesus persevered through selflessness. So often, the Christian lacks perseverance due to selfishness. When things get tough, the Christian falls, not because God has not sought to help the Christian but because the Christian does not want God’s will for His life.
Selfishness will get in the way. A self-focused pursuit of life will always lead to ruin. God has created man to look outside of Himself. God has created man to live his life for the glory of God. We see that Jesus lived for the glory of the Father, and it helped Jesus to endure the worst of crosses.
The Christian also has a cross to bear. He will never learn to bear his cross like Christ unless he learns to say along with Jesus, “… but for this cause came I unto this hour. Father, glorify thy name…” (John 12:27-28) .
The vocal Father
After Jesus’ words were heard by the people, we read of how a voice came from heaven and declared, “…I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again” (John 12:28) . Jesus said the voice was not for Himself but for the people who had heard. Thus, the Father validated the ministry of His Son. The Father also declared what Jesus had previously stated in John’s Gospel concerning everything Jesus did, being pleasing to the Father.
The victorious King
In John 12:31, we read of Jesus making a statement concerning His death. Jesus said, “Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out” (John 12:31) . Thus, Jesus came to overthrow the ruler of this world.
Satan sought to put an end to Jesus early on. First, Satan tempted Herod to kill Jesus as a young child. Next, the devil tempted the religious leaders to kill Jesus throughout Jesus’ ministry. Finally, Satan entered Judas’ heart to betray Jesus and sell the Savior for 30 pieces of silver, which was the price for a slave.
Satan sought to gain victory over Christ. However, in Christ’s death, Jesus secured the victory over Satan.
The sacrificial Lamb
Jesus continues and touches upon His exaltation. Jesus says, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth…” (John 12:32) . The exaltation of Christ, much like the hour of Christ, is also a recurring theme. When John tells of Jesus being lifted up from the earth, John is telling us of the hour of Jesus’ exaltation.
The greatest act of Jesus’ humility was also His exaltation. The Bible tells us that the one who seeks to exalt himself will be humbled. On the other hand, the Bible tells us that the one who humbles himself will be exalted. Thus, the most humbling event in Jesus’ life was also His exaltation.
The compassionate Redeemer
But why did Jesus die on the cross? We have seen that Jesus died to overthrow Satan. We have seen that Jesus died to glorify the Father. But as we continue to read, we see the words of Jesus yet again when He says that He, “…will draw all men unto me” (John 12:32) . Jesus desires that all men would come unto Him.
Through the cross of Jesus Christ, Jesus is calling all people unto Himself. The death of Christ and Jesus’ desire for sinners to receive healing is a remarkable display of His compassion for the lost. Nowhere will anyone find a redeemer like Christ. He is the only One Who can pay for the sins of mankind. He is the God-Man, and He has come to save the world.
Final prayer
Father, I do not deserve the love of Your Son. Teach me to look upon Christ with thankful eyes. In Jesus’ name, Amen.