The Hour of Glory: Submission, Sacrifice, and Service
In our modern world, "glory" is often associated with visible triumph, accolades, and the elevation of self. However, as we approach the end of the Lenten journey, the Gospel presents a radical paradox. For the believer, true glory is not found in the preservation of life, but in its surrender. Through John 12:23-33 and the calling of the prophet in Isaiah 6, we find a blueprint for what it means to be glorified in the eyes of the Father: a path that leads through the grave of self-interest and into the fruitfulness of eternal service. The Grain of Wheat: Glory Through Death In John 12:23, Jesus makes a startling declaration: "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified." To the casual observer, this might have signaled a political uprising or a royal coronation. Yet, Jesus immediately qualifies this "glory" with the imagery of agriculture. He speaks of a grain of wheat falling into the earth to die (v. 24). Christ’s death was His glory. It was th...
