Readings:

Sermon:

Jesus had finished his last meal with his disciples. He dismissed Judas from them – to do his deed of betrayal. Then he said to them, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once.”

Is that clear to you? This confusing statement is worth some study. What it says directly relates to God’s reasons for creation, for Jesus becoming human, and for you and me being commissioned as the Body of Christ – the church.

Let’s look at some examples of bringing honor to someone.
-Eagle award photo, the look of my mother’s pride in the accomplishment (me-family).
-Doc Gordon with robot and me (me-teacher-school).
-High school graduation (me-family);
-National DAE of the Year (me-company);
Think about an accomplishment you have made, and who felt honored…

We receive glory when our accomplishments are noticed and honored. The source of power behind the gift is also honored: family – teacher – school – company…
-You and I are called to give honor to God’s essence; His power, splendor, goodness, and love.
-When we recognize God’s power, splendor, goodness, love… in our lives, we are bringing glory to God.

God’s glory is the reason for everything.

Romans 11:36 “For everything comes from God and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever!” (NLT)

The ultimate purpose of the universe is to make visible the glory of God. That is the message in today’s Psalm; Praise God from heaven and heights; sun, moon and stars; waters; sea-monsters and deeps; fire and hail, snow and fog and wind, and on and on.

In fact this is a significant theme in Scripture.
Psalm 19:1, ‘The heavens declare the glory of God.’
Rev 21:23, describes heaven; ‘The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.’

God’s glory is revealed in nature, in the complexity of the universe, in the birth of a child, in a life lived well. But the best place we see God’s glory is in Jesus. Jesus shines a bright light on God’s nature.

There was a glorification of Jesus and God in the incarnation, because through the incarnation, the presence of God was made visible to the world. The incarnation points to the majesty and power and love of God. By recognizing that, we reflect the glory of God; like my Eagle award brought glory to my mom and my family. Jesus’ words and works brought glory to himself and to God. The Bible says, ‘The Son is the radiance of God’s glory.’

The ongoing job of making God’s glory visible is meant to happen through you and me – his church.

When we are in sync with God’s purpose, we reflect God’s glory. That is a life filled with purpose. We bring glory to God by worshipping him in everything we do;
by loving other believers;
by learning and practicing to become more like Jesus (disciples);
by serving others (not ourselves) with the gifts God gives us;
by telling other people about God (the e-word). (Using words if necessary.)

This involves a decision you and I should be making every day; maybe many times a day.  Will you live your life to bring glory to God?
Will you work at your job in a way that brings glory to God?
Will you treat your family and co-workers and classmates, even when you are overworked and tired, in a way that brings glory to God?
Will you spend your money, invest your spare time, share your talents, in a way that brings glory to God?
Will you make a phone call, make a visit to someone, in a way that brings glory to God?

I am asking you to reflect on this concept of God’s glory this week. How in your daily routine can you be deliberately more aware of God’s glory? How can you more outwardly reflect God’s glory?

The Son of Man has been glorified, and God is glorified in him.

That is the message spoken through creation, through Jesus’ living among us, and through our God-given purpose. Amen.