Jesus Explains the Cross

From Justin Chlders at CROSS-eyed comes this excellent exposition of John 12:20-36 entitled Jesus Explains the Cross. In case you have not noticed, I'm clinging to the message of Christ's work on the Cross and the atonement lately. You can expect me to blog on just about anything I find on those subjects.

John 12:20-36 is an amazing passage. In this passage, we have Jesus’ own commentary on His approaching death. Here we have the Savior’s most clear teaching on the meaning of the cross.

This passage is so important because it fills up the events of the Cross with meaning. John 18 and 19 will deal with what happened at the Cross. This passage details why it happened.

Charles Spurgeon once offered this counsel to us: “Abide hard by the cross and search the mystery of His wounds.”

This passage reveals the mystery of the Savior’s wounds.

-The Cross was sovereignly determined by God (v. 23 - "the hour").
-The Cross reveals the glory of Jesus (v. 23).
-The Cross accomplished its intended effects (v. 24, 31-32).
-The Cross is to mark the Christian life (v. 25-26).
-The Cross was embraced by Jesus (v. 27).
-The Cross reflects Jesus’ ultimate passion (v. 27-28).
-The Cross was approved by the Father (v. 28).
-The Cross condemned the world (v. 31).
-The Cross defeated Satan (v. 31).


-The Cross secures and ensures our salvation (v. 32-33).

DA Carson said, “I fear that the cross, without ever being disowned, is constantly in danger of being dismissed from the central place it must enjoy, by relatively peripheral insights that take on far too much weight. Whenever the periphery is in danger of displacing the center, we are not far removed from idolatry.”