The Cross Changed Everything

Some, not all, people have birthmarks that are specific to them, whether moles or other kinds of unique identification marks. Designers are known by their trademarks…the Nike Swoosh…Cars are known by the trademark logo on the hood or front of the car…Toyota, Honda, Chevrolet, etc…Companies like Amazon, Starbucks, and FedEx all have very specific logos that project their mission...

John 3:16 tells us that God loved the world in this way, that He sent His One and Only Son, that whoever would believe in Him would not perish but have eternal life. That purpose/mission is carried out at the Cross. The Cross is how we know of God’s love, mercy, and grace. When we see the cross, we ought to think of God’s love, mercy, and grace.

In our text this morning, as John draws to a close the opening of what is known as the Farewell Discourse, Jesus explains how the approaching crucifixion will radically change the future of the Disciples. It presents them with a “new normal.”

Think about this for a moment. These guys have traveled with Jesus for three years. Everything they’ve known, everything He taught them is about to be tested…They left everything to follow Him, and now He is going to leave them.

Put yourself in their shoes. It started with “Follow Me” and now its “I’m leaving you...” But this opens the door for several chapters where we get a behind the scenes look into Jesus teaching the disciples why He is leaving, and what they will do with His final instructions.

The Son of Man and the Glory of God

John 13:31–32 CSB

When he had left, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once.

Jesus says, “Now” - Pointing to what just happened - Judas, the betrayer is now out of the room. Jesus turns His attention to final instructions and teaching. The darkness left the room, and now the Light of the World is speaking. It’s almost like now that Judas is out of the picture, we can move forward.

All the events which will lead up to the trial, crucifixion are beginning to happen. Notice that Jesus doesn’t say, “Ok guys, now I’m going to die.” Rather He talks about glory and being glorified by God the Father.

He isn’t just telling them the next step like a how to list…but rather He is giving the significant insight into the “why” of this event…this is the BIG PICTURE…the MAIN IDEA of the story…If you can see the BIG PICTURE then you have a frame of reference to understand the smaller bits and pieces of the story.

Like a 1000 piece puzzle…you need that picture on the box to help make sense of the smaller pieces. This is Jesus showing them the picture on the box.

John 13:31–32 CSB

When he had left, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once.

Glorified - 3 times and glorify twice. — The revelation of God’s spectacular activity. Isaiah 49:3

Isaiah 49:3 CSB

He said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.”

Jesus is perfectly revealing the Father to mankind, and He has brought glory(honor, recognition) to the Father.

There are two aspects to God’s glory we need to consider:

Romans 3:23 - Think honor, or reputation and you understand the meaning of glory.

The visible manifestation of God’s excellent character.(Carter)

In the OT, when Israel needed to be reminded of God’s presence, or His power, God displayed the cloud or light that marked His presence with His people. - The glory of the Lord - It was a VISIBLE REMINDER.

Exodus 16:10 , God promised the people would see His glory in the morning…So God’s glory is the visible expression of His excellence…and when that excellence is seen, people are prompted to worship and give Him the honor He alone is due.

When Jesus speaks of the glory of God, He uses both aspects but they are applied in such away that couldn’t be applied in the OT. When Israel needed a reminder, God would appear and reveal His character and attributes…the pillar of fire or cloud.

But in the NT, God’s glory, His excellence is displayed in and through JESUS! Jesus is the glory of God!

Colossians 1:15–20 CSB

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and by him all things hold together. He is also the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile everything to himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Hebrews 1:1–4 CSB

Long ago God spoke to our ancestors by the prophets at different times and in different ways. In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son. God has appointed him heir of all things and made the universe through him. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of his nature, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. So he became superior to the angels, just as the name he inherited is more excellent than theirs.

John 1:14 CSB

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

When we see Jesus, we see God. When we see Jesus, we begin to understand who God is. When we see Jesus, we should recognize the honor and excellence God deserves, and we respond with worship and praise…we should glorify Him. Rev 4:9-11

Revelation 4:9–11 CSB

Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the one seated on the throne, the one who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before the one seated on the throne and worship the one who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne and say, Our Lord and God, you are worthy to receive glory and honor and power, because you have created all things, and by your will they exist and were created.

Now - Here is the deal

IN JESUS’S IMPENDING DEATH/EXALTATION, JESUS IS GLORIFIED. God’s glory is displayed in the absolute perfect obedience of the Son’s sacrifice. In Jesus going to the cross, He perfectly revealed the Father to men and women, and in doing so, brought glory to the Father. WE also see here, that the Father will glorify the Son.

The greatest moment of revelation, the greatest moment of God’s glory on display…was in the shame of the cross. - Carson

There really is no better place to look to grasp a deeper, more intimate understanding of who God is than the cross of Christ. This is where you and I can look to see that He is worthy of all honor and glory. This is the highest of the high, the greatest of the great moments…The cross…here we learn more about God’s excellence than any other moment in History.

Rev 5:6 there is the One like a slaughtered Lamb standing in the midst of the throne…He takes the scroll because He is the only one worth to take the scroll…the elders and living creatures fall down before Him…that Lamb is Jesus, and where was He slaughtered? The Cross!

What other moment in Scripture will you find God’s holiness, love, mercy and grace, righteousness, sovereignty, humility, patience and wisdom all wrapped up. To be transformed, to our minds renewed daily, we look to the cross.

The Cross fans into flame the fires of revival, fuels our worship, and ought to drive us to our knees in prayer. What do you do if you’re feeling out of touch with God in this COVID season? You’re distant from Him…Go to the Cross…You’ve got sin that needs confessing…Go to the Cross…Bitterness you need to let go of…Go to the Cross…Something of disobedience…something that God’s called you to do and you’ve not yet done that…Go to the Cross…Friends, the Cross of Christ creates a New Normal and changes everything.

So many people, and I’m certain it is linked to our consumer mindset, a what have you done for me lately mentality, that says… “Well sure I’ll start with the cross, but I don’t want to hear about it all the time…after all, isn’t it just the starting line?”

But here’s the thing…that beautiful old hymn… “So I’ll cherish, the old rugged cross...” We don’t come to it and walk away from it…the cross is Union Station…Never the leave the Cross of Christ behind!

The disciples don’t know that yet, but they will…and they will be the reason we still have the cross in our hearts and minds today!

The Cross and their Future

With mention of His impending glorification, Jesus now begins to prepare the disciples for their new normal. He is absolutely concerned that His disciples are ready for His departure. He reveals three truths to teach them and prepare them.

They will not be able to go with Jesus John 13:33

He takes on the role of the head of the family here, “My children.” This is a tender term used by Jesus. Good Shepherd

I am going to be with you for a little while longer…either talking about His death or the ascension...

You will look for me, but won’t find me. In fact, where I am going, you cannot come.

Now, in John 14, Jesus will tell them He is preparing a place for them…but for the moment…they will not be able to physically follow Him. The dynamics and nature of their relationship is changing.

But here, a key to understanding what Jesus is saying is found back in John 8:21 = But here the tone seems a little different.

John 8:21 CSB

Then he said to them again, “I’m going away; you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I’m going, you cannot come.”

There Jesus tells the Jewish leadership they will die in their sin. They were wrong thinking Jesus was talking about killing himself, but they were right in thinking Jesus was talking about His death.

But Jesus doesn’t say that to the 11. - Here, Jesus isn’t saying, “Bye guys, I’m going to heaven and you cannot come.” He is saying, “Guys, I’m going to the cross, and I must go alone. You cannot come with me.”

Only Jesus could go to the cross…it isn’t Jesus plus someone else.

The Disciples are apart of a new community John 13:34-35

This new community, this group known as the Ekklesia, the called out, the Church. As Jesus gives another truth to the changing nature of the relationship, He stresses they will still follow His teaching and commands without Him being physically present, but they will have a new way to relate to one another.

At this time, there are multiple groups of disciples...

Disciples of Moses, Herod, we’ve read about the disciples of John the Baptizer...

But there would be a distinguishing mark about those who followed Jesus.

How would someone know a person was a disciple of Jesus? That’s easy…they’d watch them. If they are following Jesus from place to place, sitting and listening to Him, then chances are pretty good they’re His disciple.

But what about now that Jesus is leaving? I read this verse paraphrased this week and I’ll share it with you, “They will know you are my disciples because I am forming you into a new community that will operate on principles of love.”

Three times Jesus uses the phrase, “one another.” This of course references the disciples.

There will be a called out body of disciples; recognizable because of their love for one another.

Their connection to Jesus will put them in community with one another. A relationship with Jesus necessarily means a relationship with one another which means, it’s vital to be connected to the local church.

They’ll serve one another, God’s children, a band of brothers, a sisterhood of saints, in humility and love.

He calls it a “new command” but there is really not much new about God giving us a command to love one another.

Deut 6:5 - Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

Lev 19:18 - “Don’t seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.”

So in what sense is this New?

Because it has Christ Jesus’ love for them as its source.

The command is to love one another just as I have loved you...

His love is the measuring stick, the goal and the enabling force of our love for one another.

His selfless love is our aim.

This love is only possible because of what He did on the Cross. Jesus is the standard.

It is the agape love that He embodied for us...

The World’s love seeks satisfaction wherever it can, marked by selfishness.

Agape love is giving, active love on someone else’s behalf, marked by sacrifice.

This chapter capture a teaching on this love, when Jesus washed their feet. An act pointing to the cross where Jesus would give His live for us all to be cleansed by the Servant of servants.

It is new because it will define a community that is about to come into existence.

It commands the church to reflect the relationship of love that exists between the Father and the Son.

It is a privilege to be able to live like this because it proclaims to the world, the Church belongs to Jesus.

Right belief without right practice just doesn’t make much sense.

They Will be Empowered to Follow Jesus - John 13:36-38

Peter will open his mouth one more time, “Lord where are you going?”

Peter, where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you WILL follow later...

Peter responds - “Why not? I’ll lay down my life for you.”

Jesus - “Actually you won’t, yet, but in fact you will deny me three times before the rooster crows.”

Peter is ahead of his time here. He will eventually lay down his life for Jesus and the Gospel. 30 years later.

But in this moment, it isn’t for Peter to defend Jesus. Peter cannot follow because it isn’t time for him to die, and it is Jesus, the Lamb of God, who will be offered up as the sacrifice for the sins of the world.

Only Jesus is able to perfectly display God the Father. No one else.

But notice again Jesus tells Peter, you cannot now, but you will. From here on out, Jesus will begin instructing them about the Holy Spirit, the Helper who is to come. But nothing can happen until the Cross and it is to the Cross that Jesus steadily marching towards, to display the love of God for all to see

Conclusion

I mentioned earlier about logos and designer labels. Designer clothes are known by their trademarks or designs. I wouldn’t known what a Reyn Spooner was before I came, but now I can spot them easily. But you know them…they are identifiable. The logos, trade mark designs make them very visible.

Likewise, those who hold an office of a unique kind can be identified by their attire. You can know a doctor by his/her attire or a police officer by their attire, or a judge…you get the picture.

But God has set in place something as irrefutable evidence that you are close to God—an irrefutable test by which you can measure your own spiritual growth. In fact, so awesome is this trademark of God that He said it would be the major declaration of your faith. Jesus put it this way. “By this all men know that you are my disciples, that you love one another.”

Well…how do I know? 1 John 3:16

1 John 3:16 CSB

This is how we have come to know love: He laid down his life for us. We should also lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.

And this love is found in Jesus laying down of His life at the cross. The cross of Christ is life, not death for us is the ultimate expression of God’s love for the world. - John 3:16

The Cross Changes Everything and in a season of “new normals” one thing remains the same…the Cross Changes Everything.