Jul 01, 2022 The Glory of God in the Cross of Christ – Words of Grace – July 1, 2022
“The glory of the Son of Man arose from a death which was reckoned ignominious among men, and was even accursed before God… by it he glorifies God the Father; for in the cross of Christ, as in a magnificent theatre, the estimable goodness of God is displayed before the world. In all the creation… the glory of God shines, but nowhere has it shown more brightly than in the cross… for in the death of the cross which Christ suffered, his high rank is chiefly displayed, since there his amazing love to mankind, his infinite righteousness in atoning for sin and appeasing the wrath of God, his wonderful power in conquering death, subduing Satan and opening heaven blazed with full brightness… The honor which peculiarly belongs to the death of Christ is the fruit which sprung from it for the salvation of men.” (1)
“Now… the Evangelist makes it clear that the supreme moment of divine self-disclosure, the greatest moment of displayed glory, was the shame of the cross… It displays the saving sovereignty of God, God’s dawning kingdom.” (2)
“The self-humiliation of the Son of God, which began in the incarnation, culminated in his death. Yet in that very abasement of himself he was ‘lifted up,’ not just physically raised on to the cross, but spiritually exalted before the eyes of the world. Indeed, he was ‘glorified.’ The cross which appeared to be ‘shame’ was in fact ‘glory.'” (3)
“For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God… Far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (4)
“Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him.” (5)
Join us Sunday at Grace Community Church as we glory in the cross of Christ through song, the preaching of the Word, prayer, and the Lord’s Supper.
Pray this weekend for the cross of Christ to be embraced by more and more people in our congregation and city, that thanksgiving might increase, to the glory of God.
-Scott
(1) John Calvin, Calvin’s Commentaries, Vol. 18, pages 73-74.
(2) D.A. Carson, The Gospel According to John, pages 482-483.
(3) John Stott, The Cross of Christ, page 205.
(4) The Apostle Paul, 1 Corinthians 1:18, Galatians 6:14.
(5) Jesus, John 13:31.