Sabbath: The Hour of Glory: The Cross and Resurrection
Daily Lesson for Sabbath 14th of December 2024
Image © Pacific Press
Read for This Week’s Study: John 18:33-40; John 19:1-5; John 19:17-22; John 19:25-27; Luke 2:34-35; John 20:1-18; 1 Corinthians 15:12-20.
Memory Text:
“Then Pilate said to him, ‘So you are a king?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice’ ” (John 18:37, ESV).
Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection are the climax of John. The first ten chapters cover roughly three and a half years; chapters 11–20, in contrast, cover about one to two weeks.
The four Gospels present the death of Jesus in different ways. Though their accounts are compatible, each author emphasizes key points that especially resonate with the themes of his Gospel. Matthew emphasizes the fulfillment of Scripture; Mark emphasizes the parallel between the baptism of Jesus and the Cross; and Luke focuses on the Cross as healing and salvation (the story of the thief on the cross).
But John presents the Cross as the enthronement of Jesus, particularly tied to the idea of the hour, which is referred to numerous times throughout the book (John 7:30, John 8:20, John 12:27). This idea of enthronement is an ironic picture since crucifixion was the most ignominious and shameful way to die that the Romans used. This contrast points to the deeply ironic depiction that John presents: Jesus is dying in shame, but it is, at the same time, His glorious enthronement as the Savior.
*Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, December 21.
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Who can fathom God’s ways? None! (Isaiah 55:8-9). The crucifixion of Jesus Christ is a profound paradox: an act of ultimate humiliation and shame in human terms became the supreme display of God's glory and the only means of salvation for humanity. This contrast highlights the deep divide between human understanding and God’s divine ways. How can an act of disgrace (Deut. 21:23, Isaiah 53:3) reserved for criminals, slaves, and the worst offenders bring glory to God and life to the universe? (John 12:23-24, Philippians 2:8-9).
The Cross of Jesus reminds us of a few critical lessons:
1) God’s power is manifest in weakness - The cross teaches that God’s strength is perfected in what humanity perceives as weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).
2) God’s wisdom is beyond human comprehension - Human logic seeks immediate and tangible results, but God works through ways that often defy understanding (Romans 11:33-34, Proverbs 3:5-6)
3) God’s glory is revealed through sacrifice - The crucifixion shows that true glory comes through self-giving love, humility, and obedience to God’s will (John 12:23-24, Philippians 2:8-11).
4) Human perspective is limited - We often judge events by their outward appearance, but God sees the ultimate purpose and outcome. What seems like loss is often gain in God’s plan (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).
The cross reminds us to trust God, even when His ways seem counterintuitive or beyond our understanding, because His ultimate goal is always to bring about His glory and our good (Romans 8:28).
I am in agreement with you comment Mr. Omwenga, that "God’s wisdom is beyond human comprehension - Human logic seeks immediate and tangible results, but God works through ways that often defy understanding."
This was the problem with Nicodemus and with the majority of people who came to Jesus initially, accepted his teachings, the loaves and fish, but left him in droves when he began talking about eating his flesh and drinking his blood. In the case of Nicodemus, what was strange to him was the issue of being born again. These things that Jesus brought up were new to the people at the time. New in the sense that they had not heard it preached at church or heard it from the teachers at the seminary.
So, what was the problem here? Was Jesus's teaching heracy? Certain not! What was happening was that Jesus was digging deep into the working of the Holy Spirit. He was explaining that as humans, we need to be transformed from carnal to spiritual in nature. The people who got mad with Jesus and walked away, were content to remain where they were with what they had heard from the preachers and teachers of the day. But this was the point that Jesus was making to Nicodemus, we have to want the Holy Spirit to be our teacher, and we have to be humble enough to be open to his teachings.
This is where spiritual gifts come in. This is one of the main purposes of the church. However, the Holy Spirit chooses, the Holy Spirit chooses, the Holy Spirit chooses who and how to bestow spiritual gifts for the edification of the saints, 1 Cor 12:7-11 and Ephesians 4-12. However, this is where the problem sometimes come in. Am I humble enough to accept what the Holy Spirit chooses? The bible says that he chose Samuel, a little boy to talk to Eli, an old man and the high priest. He also chose a little slave girl (female) and foreigner, to talk to Naaman, a highly decorated army general who had leprosy, and who would have been eaten alive by his leprosy if he had chosen not to act on what he was told to do.
So here was Jesus, a young man that grew up poor, a carpenter, a bastard child, who didn't attend the seminary of the day, not was he a member of the Sanhedrin Council, and he was bringing up things that they had not heard before. It was difficult for them to accept it unless they were open and teachable to the working of the Holy Spirit.
Proverbs 3:5,6 says that if we acknowledge Him in all our ways, he will direct our path. Why is this necessary? Because the Spirit will cause us to grow closer and closer to Christ, as is mentioned in 2 Peter 3:18. As we begin to grow we will become more and more hungry for the word. We will spend more and more time reading and meditating on the word, and the Holy Spirit will reveal more and deeper meanings about God to us. We will grow to be less interested in worldly things and pursuits and more interested in becoming more like Jesus. Every day with Jesus will be sweeter than the day before. More and more we will learn to turn our problems and difficulties over to Jesus and to trust in his word. God bless.
Praise God for the irony of the cross.
Amen. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts; neither My ways your ways…” Glory be to God for His matchless love and His ways far beyond our comprehension.
"My thoughts are not your thoughts neither my ways your ways." Glory be to God for his matchless love and his ways far beyond our comprehension.
Thank you, Omwenga, for your outline of the deep divide between our finite understanding of the works of an infinite God. To which I say Amen and Amen. But, thanks be to God for the increasing faith He gives us day by day to bridge and accept that divide. I believe the understanding of that divide will be the work of eternity.
The Christian group known as Point of Grace has a song:
"There's a bridge to cross the great divide.
A Way was made to reach the other side.
The mercy of the Father
Gave His Son;
His Way is Truth
His Way is Light
There's a Bridge to cross the great divide."
Thank you for helping me recall that song!
The believer’s quest to live in peace and harmony in Jesus Christ’s Name will be rewarded with life everlasting. Those, born again to live their life in the power of the resurrected Jesus Christ, God’s Son, “the firstfruit of those who have fallen asleep,” will be rewarded for their faith; they will rise again – John 11:25-26.
Luke 2:34-35
”Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
John 18:36
”My kingdom is not of this world, If my kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but no My kingdom is not from here.”
John 18:37
”You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the TRUTH. Everyone who is of the TRUTH HEARS My voice.”
John 19:19-22
Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was: ‘Jesus Of Nazareth, The King Of The Jews.’
Then many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin.
Therefore the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, ‘Do not write, "The King of the Jews’, but 'He said, "I am the King of the Jews."'" Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”
John 20:17
”Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’”
For our Salvation, by God's infinite wisdom, Mercy and Grace - “Jesus is dying in shame but it is, at this same time, His glorious enthronement as the Savior.”
When you combine this idea of "the enthronement of Jesus" with Christmas Scriptures and Christmas music, what comes to my mind is Isaiah 9:6-7 (and yes, I'm singing this text to Handel's "Messiah" music as I write):
God the Father has put God the Son on the Throne. Which throne is this? And what kind of government does Jesus have?
In these verses, we see that King Jesus is:
(1) a wonderful Counselor, perfect in wisdom and compassion and communication skills - the very best active listener, always accepting, trustworthy, patient, on our side, pointing out exactly what we need to understand in order to grow in grace and to solve problems;
(2) a mighty God, having all omnipotent power to achieve anything He purposes;
(3) an everlasting Father, full of fatherly care - loving us unconditionally, nurturing us, sending us angels and the Holy Spirit, protecting, guiding, disciplining, meeting all of our needs generously far above all of our expectations and discernment...having our best interests in heart;
(4) the Prince of Peace, no hostility anywhere, the harmony of the Godhead flowing out into all relationships between people and all creatures throughout His whole kingdom;
(5) there will be no end to this government or kingdom and no end of peace, there will be no pockets of rebellion anywhere, God's rule and character will be pervasive (Luke 1:32-33; 2 Sam. 7:16);
(6) this is the Throne promised to the house of King David, Jesus is the lamp promised to David's sons forever (2 Chron. 21:7), the Righteous Branch who prospers and judges righteously (Jer. 23:5), the root and the offspring of David and the bright and morning star (Rev. 22:16);
(7) Everyone and anyone in any land who thirsts for God's righteousness shares in this satisfying bounty promised to King David, and is included in the covenant made to David (Is. 55:1-7; 55:3);
(8) God the Father promises to establish and sustain the enthronement of Jesus with all of His zeal. His Son is on the Throne of the Universe surrounded by people who are included in and enveloped by the love He has for His Son, Jesus, who is the covenant Son of David, and our Savior, the eternal Son of God, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Rev. 19:16; 17:14; 1 Tim. 6:15-16).
Right now, the only thing that comforts me is the fact that Jesus suffered far more than I could ever imagine to bear. I pray that this thought can help me cope with my "yoke" while I try to understand the meaning of "His yoke is light" because I'm willing to exchange mine for His.
it's true that even at our lowest moments in life, that's when the Lord's presence is with us. We should all the time believe in God’s presence, and never feel His absence at our lowest.
The "TRUTH" sometimes we know too well but we turn our back to the Father. Forgive me Father for I have sinned. because of Your Mercy and abundance in grace You gave to me, You gave for me, I am undeserving of this Love. Thank you
James 4:8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.