If you please open your copy of the Scriptures to John 12. John 12. As you do, I'm just going to recap where we are in the gospel of John. This is at a transition point where the gospel of John begins to focus on the passion, the last week of Jesus' life. John spends more of his gospel talking about the last week of his life than any of the other gospel writers. Almost half of the Gospel of John concerns this last week. So if you would look with me at chapter 12, this is where we've been. Mary has just anointed Jesus at Bethany. That's in the first eight verses. We see that Jesus is there feasting with His good friends, Lazarus, Mary, and Martha. And Mary takes expensive ointment and pours it upon Jesus. And we know from all of the Scripture all of the Gospels rather, that it wasn't just His feet, but it was on all of His body, from His head to His toes. He is anointed with this expensive ointment. And Jesus says that it was for the day of His burial. So already we begin to see the turn as we begin to focus on the burial of Christ. The next day, Jesus enters into Jerusalem through the golden gate, through the king's gate, on a donkey, fulfilling prophecy, and basically saying to all of the people, I am your King, I am your Messiah, and I am here. And it says that His disciples did not understand what He had done, but later, they did understand. In between verses 19 and 20, there's another event that the other Gospels record, and that is that Jesus goes to the temple, and He clears the temple. He clears the temple of the money changers. He clears the temple of those selling animals because they were doing it in the court of the Gentiles. Probably in the court of the Gentiles, where the Gentiles were meant to worship. And perhaps because of this, we see these Greeks, these foreigners coming and desiring, in verse 20, desiring to meet Jesus and to talk to Him. And this conversation, it would seem, serves primarily as an opportunity for Jesus, as we will see today, to talk about the events of His soon coming death. Because as He said in verse 23, the hour has now come. The hour has come. The hour has always been coming before this, but now He says, the hour has come. This is the week of His death. And the weight and the burden of His upcoming His passion, His suffering, His death on a cross is beginning to weigh upon Him. So I'm going to read verses 27-36. Would you please stand for the reading of this part of God's holy and inspired Word. Verse 27, Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour. But for this purpose, I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name. Then a voice came from heaven. I have glorified it and I will glorify it again. The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said an angel has spoken to him. Jesus answered, this voice has come for your sake, not mine. Now is the judgment of this world. and now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die. So the crowd answered him, We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man? So Jesus said to them, The light is among you for a little while longer. while you have the light, lest the darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light that you may become sons of light. Amen. Please be seated. The scriptures tell us that the grass withers and the flower fades, but the Word of our God will last forever. Let us pray for God's blessing on the preaching of His Word. Our Father in heaven, we come to you in the name of Jesus Christ by the power of your spirit. And we pray that as our hearts are united to you, that your Holy Spirit who dwells within us would open our eyes to see the truth of your word. Lord, that as we have lifted up our prayers and our praises to your throne, that you would speak now to us by your word and your Holy Spirit. And so, doing, Lord, encourage and strengthen our hands for Your service. Comfort our souls. In Jesus' name, Amen. I'm going to focus primarily on verses 27-30, although I read 36 for context. The title of the sermon is, Father, Glorify Your Name, the Words of Christ Himself. Because this is not only His desire, but it should be ours as well. You may remember from last time, but Jesus has just talked about how He must fall to the ground and die to bring forth much fruit. This is in verse 24. He tells His disciples that they too will be called to give up their very lives. They too must die. Not meaning their physical deaths, but that they must lose their lives, that they must hate their lives in this world to keep it for eternal life. To sacrificially follow Jesus on this road of denial and to seek the glory of God alone. But before they will be able to do this, he says that he must die. He will set the example. He will go first. by His own sacrificial death. And we know His perfect life as well. But now in verse 27, He is reflecting on this terrible work that is before Him. He says in verse 27, first we'll talk about the troubled soul. He says His soul is troubled. Now you might remember up to now in John's Gospel, we have seen Jesus Always confident in His work. Confident in His destiny. Knowledge of who He is. He is the Son of God. He knows why He's come to earth and He's determined to walk this road all the way to the cross. He knows what awaits Him. And for three years, He's been moving steadily toward this week. Step by step through Israel. But now, Now the hour has come. Now it is on him. And this is a side of Jesus, frankly, we have not seen before. Jesus says, my heart, my soul is troubled. He's troubled by what's coming. His soul is troubled or his heart is troubled. This is a Greek word. Psyche from we get from that word, we get the English psyche. Someone's psyche in English means his mind or his deepest thoughts, his feelings, his belief. That's his psyche. The Greek meaning is much the same. Jesus is moved to the depths of His being in His soul. His mind, His thoughts, His emotions are in turmoil. His soul is troubled. This word troubled here is also a special word in the Greek. It means more than troubled. It's a little bit of an understatement, although a great translation. His soul is shaken. It's thrown into disarray. He's horrified by what he's about to face. Well, that makes us wonder, what is this that troubled him? What is he about to face? Is he terrified of the physical pain that awaits him? awful as the physical pain was, indeed it was, being beat to a pulp, being nailed to a cross, after being up all night, punched and kicked and spat upon. No, it's not that part of His passion that terrifies Him, I assure you. He was as strong and courageous as any man who ever lived. What terrifies Him is the bearing of the weight of sin. His anguish and His terror at the wrath of His Father that is about to come upon Him. And His heart was beginning to see the horror of this desperation, the grief, the isolation, the rejection, the infinite wrath of God that will come upon Him. An eternity of wrath. on those six hours on the cross. In this moment, it seems that the impending wrath is pressing down upon Him when He would become a curse for all those whom the Father had given Him. He would suffer the righteous wrath of a perfectly holy, righteous, and sin-hating God. The wrath that was due to us. Apart from Christ, we would experience that wrath in eternity in hell. So understanding this weight that was coming, it shook him to his core. Yes, his soul was troubled. And he says for everyone to hear, what shall I say? He asks a prayerful question as he contemplates this horror. My soul is troubled. What shall I say? What is my response to this terror that awaits me? I agree with many commentators and translators. that the next line is not a question. The Greek text supports actually both conclusions. You could say it's a question that follows. You could say also that it's a statement. As the authorized version, the King James Version, the ASV as well, translate the very next words not as a question, but as a statement. Rather than saying, what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour. He's saying, what shall I say? As he feels the horror of this moment, And he cries out to God, Father, save me from this hour. So he's not asking a question. Rather, he's crying out to his Father. In the deep anguish of his soul, he's crying out to God and saying, Father, save me. As we read David did in the Psalm, in the Old Testament reading. Father, save me. There are many reasons why why I think this, but one is the parallel passage that we see in the Garden of Gethsemane. Would you flip just to the left to Matthew 26? The very end of Matthew. Look at chapter 26 with me. And verse 38. This is the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus said to them, My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch with Me. And going a little farther, He fell on His face and prayed, saying, My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me. Nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will. You see, it's the same sentiment. He's deeply grieved to the point of death in the Garden of Gethsemane. Or as the NIV says, his soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. He's in deep anguish in his soul as to the wrath that awaits him. And his response in the Garden of Gethsemane is the same as his response now to that horror, which is, not as I will, but as you will. the glory of God was always his primary concern. Everyone, the difference is that in the Garden of Gethsemane, there were only three men who were close by. Here he's saying these things for everyone to hear. Everyone standing around is able to hear the workings of his heart as he attempts to grapple with the wrath of God that is coming. So no, I don't think this is a rhetorical question. as if he were saying, what shall I do? Shall I ask God to rescue me? Rather, it's more like, what shall I say to all this suffering that's coming? Here's what I'll say. Father, rescue me from this. Save me from this hour. Much like his cry in the Garden of Gethsemane. Father, let this cup pass from me. And then he responds in a way that is helpful for all of us. By speaking truth to an anguished soul. He remembers His Father and His covenant with His Father, and He remembers the whole purpose of His life, which is to glorify the name of the Father. Hallowed be Thy name. So the troubling of His soul results in His understanding and His remembrance of the glory of God. That's the second thing that I want to show you, is that the glory of God is primary in His life, even in this most terrible moment. One of my favorite stories of the application of this truth, I've told you before as a congregant in Pastor Ligon Duncan's church, who drove to the coast with her family, her husband, her children, and on the way home for Sunday worship, they were driving Saturday night back to Mississippi. A drunk driver crossed over the highway, minivan. The husband was killed. One of the children was killed. And I think two of the other children were in ICU. And the woman herself, the wife, was in ICU. They called Pastor Duncan and they said, please come. These these people are in the hospital. Pastor Duncan shows up at the hospital, talks to the doctors and says, does she know? Does she know that her husband is dead and that her child is dead? The doctor said, no, we have not told her. We're hoping you could do that. So, Pastor Duncan goes in and sits down with this woman who's just becoming aware of what has happened. And she said, are my husband and children okay? And he said, your husband is with the Lord. And your oldest daughter is with the Lord. Your other children are in ICU with you. I'm so sorry. Can I pray for you? And she said, yes, but before you do, let's sing the doxology together. And her hour of grief, much like our Lord Jesus, she turns her heart to the glory of God. This is an example for us. Not only her example, but the Lord Jesus Christ, his example, where he acknowledges that the glory of God is the most important thing in his life. He says, but for this purpose I have come to this hour. He's preaching to Himself. He's crying out to the Father and He says, but for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify Your name. In other words, it's all about the glory of the Father. Not about my own comfort. God's purposes for me are more important than any of my own desires. This was my entire purpose in coming, was to glorify God. This is why I left all the glories of heaven. to bring a people to Myself." Of course, in verse 23, He's already told us, the hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Not only is the Father glorified, but the Son is glorified as well in all of the events of the cross. What has He done that glorifies Him? He came and lived a perfect life. He eventually died sacrificially on the cross to redeem a multitude of people to Himself. He's saying, I came for the cross, and the Father will be glorified in this sacrifice, in the satisfaction of His perfect justice. God sent me as a propitiation by His blood to demonstrate His own righteousness, that He might be the just and the justifier of those who believe in me. This is my purpose. This suffering and this wrath horrifies me, but not my will, but thine be done. So in the midst of contemplating the horror that awaits him. He points to the father and says, Father, glorify your name, hallowed be your name, to your name be the glory. May your purposes be accomplished. May your word be seen as true. May your works be known by mankind. May your providential redemption be revealed. May your glory be exalted. Well, we see the example of Christ in His greatest trial as a pattern for us in life as well. And this is application for us as the woman who lost her husband and one of her children in this terrible accident, pointed to the glory of God in the midst of her grief, as Christ pointed to the glory of God, contemplating the own horror that awaited Him on the cross. So we must also do. First, we must note that none of us will ever experience anything like Christ. None of us will ever experience His trial, His suffering, His punishment. This is the most horrific thing to ever come upon any man. And He manly strode forth to accomplish what God had ordained for Him. And when He contemplated the cross, He was terrified by this hard providence of His Father. But in this terrifying frame of mind, he did two things that we see as an example for us. And these are the two points that I want you to remember for application. First, as we saw the psalmist do and as we see Christ doing here, he cried out to his loving father. And you'll see him doing this again and again and again as he approaches his death. He calls out to God. He remembered his father in heaven who is ready and able to help. It's what God's people have always done in hardship. It's what you should do. If you're not in hardship now, you will experience hardship in the future. And you should already be ready with this knowledge of what to do. You turn to God. It's that simple. God commands us to do this. Did you know that? Psalm 50 verse 15 says, Call upon me in the day of trouble. He commands it. Call upon me in the day of trouble. and I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me." This is the pattern. The day of trouble, you call upon Him, He delivers you, and you glorify Him. Often prayer is the last thing you go to, isn't it? It should be the very first thing in any circumstance in your life. Go to God in prayer. Call upon Him. And the Bible shows this pattern again and again in Psalm 18. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised. So shall I be saved from my enemies. The sorrows of death encompassed me. This is David speaking. The floods of ungodly men made me afraid. The sorrows of hell compassed about me. The snares of death prevented me. And in my distress, I called upon the Lord and cried unto my God. What do you think happened? He heard my voice out of His temple. And my cry came before Him even into His ears." Do you see what David is saying? There's not a prayer that you pray that is too small to reach the ears of Almighty God. How much more when you're in distress and you cry out to Him. Don't you realize you are a beloved child of God? I was speaking to Josiah this morning as I watched him taking care of my newest grandson, holding him, comforting him. There's such love that I saw as I watched him caring for this child. And it reminded me of the love that I have for my own children. It's a love that fathers know for their children and mothers as well, that you would do anything for that child. Absolutely anything. And yet that's just a drop. in the bucket of the infinitude of God's vast love for you. He's a loving Father. He loves you. Call upon Him. He is a Father who is willing to help, and He's the only one who is able to help. And He's near to the brokenhearted and crushed in spirit. He's gracious and compassionate. So the hardship that awaited Jesus wasn't a reflection of God's hatred of Jesus. Just as hardship you experience isn't a reflection of God's hatred of you, rather in His infinite wisdom and tender care of His people, He disciplines you for His glory and for your good. And if it's not discipline, it's at least bringing you into conformity with His Son, for His glory and for your good. He's using no more hardship than is required to accomplish the greatest effects. such is the wisdom of our Almighty God. So we cry out to God first. Secondly, like Christ, we declare our heart's desire to see the name of the Father glorified. Glory be to Your name. Father, glorify Your name. So in trial, we cry out to God, and then we submit to His wonderful and mysterious and wise providence. We desire His own glory more than our own It's the primary purpose of our whole lives. Not to enjoy ourselves and enjoy our lives forever. To glorify ourselves and enjoy our lives forever. But to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. This is why we are here. When we see God more clearly, there's nothing that we want more than to see God glorified. To see Him exalted. To see Him high and lifted up. to see Him first in our own lives and in all things. So we acknowledge that His plan is best. His ways are higher than our ways. His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. And the Father's love for us is more vast and expansive than we will ever know. Indeed, Paul says nothing can separate us from the love of the Father. Some of you might think, too, that God looks down upon you with a frown on His face. If you have faith in Christ, if you are part of His family, that is not true. He looks down upon you with delight. You see, an infant even will dirty his diaper or soil his clothes. You still delight in that child. You love that child. How much more will the Almighty God, who has sent His own Son to die for you, take delight in you, who have been adopted and brought into His own family? No. When we face trials, we say, I trust You. Glory to Your holy name." We remember that He tells us to fear not. He says, I have redeemed you. I have called you by name. You are mine. And then we pray for courage for whatever He has in store. So we see Jesus as our ultimate example. The one who glorifies the Father even unto death, the death on a cross. His motto in life, if you could summarize it, Hallowed be Thy name. Father, glorify Your name. So I'm going to conclude with this. Jesus says in verse 28, Father, glorify Your name. And the Father responds with a voice from heaven. There are only three recorded instances of the Father speaking from heaven to the Son. At His baptism, where He said, This is My Son whom I love. With Him I am well pleased. at His transfiguration where He said, this is My beloved Son, listen to Him. And now before His death, He says of His own name, I have glorified it and I will glorify it again. Well, what's the Father saying? What does this response mean? The cross, Christ's impending death in all that is coming in His life that He's troubled about, the Father saying, I will be glorified. I'll be glorified in it. I've been glorified in your life, and this has been seen in the great work you've done, the miracles that you've accomplished, your victory over Satan and demons. And it will be seen in your death, the redemption of the world by death of Jesus Christ and His resurrection on the third day. This is the most God-glorifying event in all of human history. God's Son came to the earth so that all who believe in Him might have eternal life. Well, notice the response of the crowd. They didn't really understand what had happened. Some said it thundered. Others said an angel had spoken to Him. They were confused. They didn't understand the voice of the Father. And Jesus says, this voice wasn't for Me, it was for you. Well, certainly the disciples would remember this. John remembered it and put it in this Gospel. And it encouraged him and strengthened his faith. Do you understand the voice of the Father? As we approach the events of His death on the cross, do you understand the tender care of the Father that Jesus speaks of? That Jesus is appealing to in the difficult times of your life? Do you desire to glorify His holy name when you are facing hardship? To honor Him both in the thundering from heaven, as well as His warm embrace? If you are in hardship right now, turn to Almighty God. Turn to Him. Some here may not even know Jesus Christ, may not know Him, personally know Him. He is a person. You might not know God the Father. You might not know the Holy Spirit. You might not have faith in Christ. You might not know that He He is a dear friend to those who put faith in Him. He's a precious Savior. He's the mighty and the most tender brother. He's the living King of kings. To Him alone can you turn to for life. Apart from true faith, you will perish under God's wrath forever. The same terror that animated Christ should animate you apart from Christ. If you're living for some other reason than the glory of God, you should be terrified. But if you have faith in God, you should be greatly comforted. So I ask you today, if you don't have faith in Christ, turn your heart to Him today. Let us pray. Almighty God, we pray in the name of Jesus, that You would stoop down. That You would remember that we are Your children. That You would comfort us with the knowledge of Your Son. Lord, give us life in Jesus Christ. Give us courage as we look at his own life and his own courage. Open our eyes and comfort our souls as we remember your fatherly hand and your precious Savior by your Holy Spirit.