John 13:31-35 (NRSV)
Read John 13:31-35 on biblegateway.com
Verse 31When he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. Verse 32If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Verse 33Little 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.' Verse 34I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. Verse 35By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
Devotion
John uses “glorify” five times in two verses to link the Son of Man and God. The Old Testament origin of glory points to what gives weight or importance to a person, what gives them presence or significance among others.
How does Jesus glorify God? Jesus carried the weight of the cross. He shouldered the ridicule of the crowd. He bore the weight of the sins of the world. This is heavy stuff.
How does God glorify Jesus? God gives weight by lifting up. God moves the heavy stone. God breathes life into dead weight and raises Jesus from the dead. God gives weight to Jesus by bending every knee and lifting every voice at the name of Christ.
What is the weight of grace? Perhaps instead we should ask: what weight or burden does grace make light?
Prayer
O God, we give you praise for Christ who bore the weight of sin and for the glory you gave Christ in the resurrection. Accept the burdens of our sin and our dying, that we may know the incredible lightness of being in the resurrection.