We are two weekends away from Good Friday. It’s as good a time as any to start asking ourselves - what exactly do we celebrate on Good Friday? If we were asked as Chinese or Indians, what is the meaning of Chinese New Year or Deepavali, we might have something to say about it. As the holy nation, what might we say about our annual commemoration of Good Friday?

According to our Gospel passage for this week, Jesus is quite clear - Good Friday is about Glory.

“And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. 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.”” (John 12:23–28 ESV)

The English word Glory is defined as “magnificence or great beauty”. The Greek word has a broad range of meaning. In the classical Greek, it refers to “an opinion of”, with the nuance of “reputation”. In the usage of the Greek by the NT authors, it refers to “the appearance of” or the “radiance of” and “showing of”. Putting these ideas together, to consider the glory of someone is to consider - what do we think about this person? What is his/ her reputation? What does he/she radiate? What is the true form that makes him/her truly him/ her?

What might we say about the glory of Lee Kuan Yew? Or the glory of Donald Trump or Oprah Winfrey? Or what might we say about the glory of Jesus?

John 12:23-28 is concerned for one thing - the glory of Jesus. The correct opinion and reputation about Jesus. The radiance of Jesus. The true form that reflects the essence of Jesus. And according to Jesus Himself, to see His Glory, is to comprehend His Cross. To meet Jesus at the Cross, is to see not only His Glory, but the Glory of His God and Father.

This is precisely the point Jesus makes when He compares His pending death to a kernel of wheat. “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” When we first hear this, we might think Jesus is talking about some abstract philosophy about death and life. But He’s not. He’s talking about the glory of the kernel of wheat.

What is the nature and truth of a kernel of wheat? What does it mean to be a kernel of wheat? The glory of the kernel of wheat is to bear fruit. If it doesn’t bear fruit, it fails to be and do what it was designed to be and do. Its death is not something unnatural. Its “falling into the earth and dies” is not something alien to it but instead something fundamental to its being as a kernel of wheat. It is its true glory.

In the same way, the Cross of Jesus was not something that was alien to His being the Son of God. As the Son of God, He was to be the Glory of His God and Father for us. For this purpose Jesus has come to this hour - to glorify God. To show the true nature of God. His Cross was not just some temporary milestone of his ‘earthly’ ministry and existence; but in fact, radiates the fullness of the power and glory and majesty of God.

Why do we celebrate Good Friday? To remember what true Glory and Power in our world looks like. Why do we celebrate Good Friday - so that the world may know what true Glory and Power truly is.

May we all be refreshed in the Glory of Jesus. Let’s prepare to see His Glory.