Holy Tuesday: Victory and Judgment
Reading: John 12:27-36
Here in John 12 we encounter the voice of God Himself. Now, maybe you think the obvious place to see that is in the voice that comes from heaven in these verses. And that’s true — that is the voice of God. But it’s not the only way we encounter the voice of God in these verses. For Jesus is God the Son in the flesh. And so the voice of Jesus is the voice of God.
Here Jesus, the God-Man, speaks about His death — about the hour of His glory. And He says “Now is the time for judgment on this world” (verse 31). What does He mean? No thunderbolt fell from the sky that day in Jerusalem! How could Jesus say that “now” was the time for judgment on this world?
God’s judgment wasn’t poured out on the world in Holy Week. But God’s judgment on the world was poured out that week — on Jesus, as He died in our place, taking the judgement we deserved, on the cross. That’s what happened at the cross: instead of the punishment for my sins being poured out on me, Jesus has taken the punishment that I deserve in my place. The righteous Judge has become the one who is judged — for me and for you!
And so, in the cross, we see this glory of the forgiveness of our sins — as Jesus takes the punishment and bears the wrath which we deserve.
But Jesus doesn’t only say that the hour of judgment has come; He also says “now the prince of this world will be driven out” (verse 31). Jesus is telling us here that His cross is the great victory over the devil and all His evil works. We’re not waiting for some coming day when the enemy might be defeated. He already has been defeated through the victory of Jesus. By His mighty triumph in His death and resurrection, Jesus has crushed the devil under His feet, and He will soon “crush Satan under your feet” (Romans 16:20).
Jesus has taken on Himself the judgement of the world so that we can be forgiven and set free. Jesus has crushed Satan under His feet so that we have no need to fear the devil. Jesus is our mighty Saviour, and in His victory on the cross He shows us more and more of the glory of who He really is.
Here in John 12 we encounter the voice of God Himself. Now, maybe you think the obvious place to see that is in the voice that comes from heaven in these verses. And that’s true — that is the voice of God. But it’s not the only way we encounter the voice of God in these verses. For Jesus is God the Son in the flesh. And so the voice of Jesus is the voice of God.
Here Jesus, the God-Man, speaks about His death — about the hour of His glory. And He says “Now is the time for judgment on this world” (verse 31). What does He mean? No thunderbolt fell from the sky that day in Jerusalem! How could Jesus say that “now” was the time for judgment on this world?
God’s judgment wasn’t poured out on the world in Holy Week. But God’s judgment on the world was poured out that week — on Jesus, as He died in our place, taking the judgement we deserved, on the cross. That’s what happened at the cross: instead of the punishment for my sins being poured out on me, Jesus has taken the punishment that I deserve in my place. The righteous Judge has become the one who is judged — for me and for you!
And so, in the cross, we see this glory of the forgiveness of our sins — as Jesus takes the punishment and bears the wrath which we deserve.
But Jesus doesn’t only say that the hour of judgment has come; He also says “now the prince of this world will be driven out” (verse 31). Jesus is telling us here that His cross is the great victory over the devil and all His evil works. We’re not waiting for some coming day when the enemy might be defeated. He already has been defeated through the victory of Jesus. By His mighty triumph in His death and resurrection, Jesus has crushed the devil under His feet, and He will soon “crush Satan under your feet” (Romans 16:20).
Jesus has taken on Himself the judgement of the world so that we can be forgiven and set free. Jesus has crushed Satan under His feet so that we have no need to fear the devil. Jesus is our mighty Saviour, and in His victory on the cross He shows us more and more of the glory of who He really is.
(Previously in this series: Holy Monday — The Hour Has Come — John 12:20-26)