jesus-cross1 My meditation this week has been about why Jesus died.  I’ve come to the conclusion that it has less to do with me and everything to do with God.  Jesus didn’t die for Christians to be saved as much as for a greater and higher purpose.  Consider what is written in John 12:27-29…

   “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. 28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”

The purpose for everything Jesus did was to glorify God.  Every miracle, teaching, healing, His death and eventual resurrection took place for one ultimate purpose… to glorify God.

The events surrounding Christ’s death were all designed to the end of glorifying God.  That includes Judas’ betrayal… the trials… Barabbas’ release (Bar-Abba, “Father’s Son”)… the beatings… Peter’s denial… then ultimately Jesus’  death on the cross took place to bring God glory.

We know this in part from what Jesus prayed, “Father glorify Your Name.”  Then… for only the second time in the New Testament… God’s voice is heard in response, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again… and again… and again… and again… and again…” (“Again” in Greek carries the meaning of repeated action).

God’s glory was Jesus’ single desire and motivation in living.  When He told his parents at the Temple, “I must be about my Father’s business” (Luke 2:49, KJV) that is but another way of saying, “I must glorify My Father!”

Compare Jesus’ prayer, and comment to his parents, to what is found in two passages of Scripture.  The first is found in John 6:38…

  I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of Him who sent me.

  John 10:17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, & I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.

God’s assignment to the Son was to glorify His name by dying and being resurrected.  Saving believers and forgiving sin are the fall out so to speak of the ultimate purpose Jesus had to glorify God.  Everything else is secondary and points to the main thing which is… GOD’S GLORIFICATION.

What about us who are about to go back to work and, God willing, live many more days?  Consider Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 10:31, “Whatever you do… in word or deed… do all to the glory of God!”

I suggest that we have the same charge from God that Jesus did.  Our purpose for living is no different from why Christ came and we remember Him during Holy Week.  It is to glorify God!

Glorifying God means that in everything we reflect His love, mercy, grace, and compassion.  It means that in how we treat others, including our enemies, we glorify God.  When it comes to community issues, we’re to glorify God.  How we treat customers, employees, & our bosses… is to always and only glorify God.

In short, everything we do in life… everything… is to bring God glory.  Nothing is exempt!

I conclude these thoughts by quoting Paul from Philippians 1:27,Whatever happens, conduct yourself in a manner worthy of the Gospel.”  When we do that… we glorify God like Jesus did!