Father; Glorify Your Name
A Sermon on John 12:23
Originally preached Sept. 19, 1965
Scripture
23¶ And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.
Sermon Description
There are many who want to observe Jesus, but few who will believe in Him. In this sermon on John 12:23 titled “Father, Glorify Your Name,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explains the difference and shows how the glory of salvation is revealed in the cross of Jesus Christ. The Greeks, just like so many today, only approached Jesus in wanting to observe Him. They came with wrong motives and wrong reasons, and like contemporary culture, but they do not desire to understand His teaching or follow His example. Like a curious child, they look upon His death with inquisitive eyes and investigative hearts. But Jesus can only be known, loved, and experienced by direct interaction with His death. Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that at the heart of Christianity is the sacrifice of Christ in the sinner’s place. The central mission, purpose, and message of Jesus is found in His dying since there is no hope of salvation unless the seed falls into the ground and the Son of Man is lifted up before all. It is His death on the cross that demonstrates the glory of salvation. One must see the absolute necessity of the cross and His death. Dr. Lloyd-Jones reveals that the death of Christ on the cross reveals the glory of the Father and is the basis for Jesus’s prayer: “Father, glorify your name.”
Sermon Breakdown
- Jesus is confronted by Greeks who want to see him.
- Jesus says he cannot see them until he is glorified through his death and resurrection. His death is essential for salvation.
- The cross reveals the glory of God the Father. It shows his righteousness, justice, holiness, love, mercy, and wisdom.
- The cross reveals the glory of Jesus Christ. It shows his love, purpose in coming to earth, defeat of Satan, and kingship.
- To glory in the cross, one must realize their sin, helplessness, and need for Christ. One must believe Jesus is the Son of God who died to save them. One must hate the world and follow Christ.
Sermon Q&A
What is the Central Message of Christianity According to Martyn Lloyd-Jones?
According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' sermon, the central and crucial message of Christianity is the cross of Christ. He emphasizes that anyone who comes to Jesus must come face to face with His death upon the cross.
What does Lloyd-Jones say is revealed in the cross?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones teaches that the cross reveals:
- The glory of God the Father - His attributes meeting together and shining gloriously:
- His righteousness, justice, and holiness
- His love, mercy, and compassion
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His wisdom in solving the problem of how to forgive sin while maintaining justice
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The glory of Christ the Son:
- His identity as one who came from another world
- His love in willingly going to the cross
- His power in defeating Satan ("the prince of this world is cast out")
- His position as Savior of all humanity
Why does Lloyd-Jones say the cross is necessary for salvation?
Lloyd-Jones explains that the cross is absolutely essential for salvation because:
- Only through the cross can salvation become possible for all people
- Sin must be punished according to God's righteousness and justice
- Without the death of Christ, He "abideth alone" (using the analogy of a seed that must die to produce fruit)
- It is only through being "lifted up" on the cross that Christ can "draw all men" to Himself
How does one glory in the cross according to Lloyd-Jones?
According to the sermon, glorying in the cross means:
- Realizing and confessing your guilt and shame before God
- Acknowledging your complete helplessness to save yourself
- Believing that Jesus is the incarnate Son of God who alone can save
- Specifically trusting that He died for you as your substitute
- Hating your life in this world and taking up your own cross to follow Christ
What does Lloyd-Jones say about common misunderstandings of the cross?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones identifies several misunderstandings people have about the cross:
- Some see it merely as a failure or tragedy
- Others see it only as the result of political jealousy
- Some reduce it to just an example of pacifism or passive resistance
- Many fail to recognize it as the predetermined plan of God for salvation
The sermon emphasizes that the cross is not an accident or tragedy but the deliberate plan of God to provide salvation and reveal His glory.
Other Sermons
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.