AT v. 26 we see that to serve Him means to follow Him; and if I walk with Him I will find myself at length with Him in glory. Parents are sometimes a hindrance in the way of following Jesus: they demand obedience, and it is true that we owe them obedience, because God has given them this authority; but if they will use this authority to make us disobey God, we must appeal to God and return to the highest obedience. So much for the obedience we owe to authority. At v. 27 Jesus realizes death, His soul feels how bitter is the cup of the wrath of God; but He scarcely shows His horror of this death when, turning His thoughts to God, He submits immediately. He did not give time for reflection as to the bitterness of the cup, but He glorifies the Father’s name. To be entirely subject to the will of God is the means of having greater revelations and blessings; so here the Lord, immediately being subject, finds that the cup was the only means of drawing men to Him (v. 32). We have a similar example in Matt. 11; there Jesus submits
Himself to the Father’s will, saying, “Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight;” because the Father had hidden these things from the wise and prudent, and had revealed them unto babes. But from this submission He derives the consciousness of a greater glory and blessing, viz., “All things are delivered unto me of my Father.” The same is true also of us; if we are subject, we shall have greater and better blessings.
It is a good and useful thing to realize in our souls the sufferings of Christ: one understands better how He cannot suffer again, and that we are fully saved, and then the heart has a greater horror of the sin, on account of which Christ suffered so much; and we know too, better the love of God which moves me to love Him. At v. 31 The Lord says, that “Now is the judgment of this world”—this judgment did not then follow, it was only pronounced. Man having failed in both ways, under law and without law, Christ was presented to him, but having rejected Him, judgment was pronounced on this world. He who does not believe is already condemned-now. Satan is the god and prince of this world, and he is cast out; i.e., in principle, though God permits him still to try and tempt men to see if they will follow Christ or the world. Up to this point He was putting man to the proof, but now the trial is over, and man is declared lost. This v. 32 is very solemn for the world.
At v. 32 Jesus speaks of the moment when He will be outside the world on the cross between earth and heaven to draw men unto Him. The world has not the least idea that it is judged, and therefore it goes on towards the judgment without giving itself any thought. In the words that Jesus quotes from Isaiah (vv. 38-41) we see the perfect long-suffering of God in waiting on the people for repentance, because these words that contain the judgment had been pronounced many centuries before; and though the Lord confirmed the sentence, the execution of it has still been suspended during this time; because Paul repeated them to the dispersed Jews. Ver. 41 is a bright testimony to the divinity of Jesus, if the 6th Isaiah, quoted by the Lord, be examined. There Isaiah speaks of Jehovah, and here the Holy Spirit tells us that Isaiah spake of the glory of Jesus.
At vv. 42 and 43 it is said that many of the chief rulers believed on Him, but, preferring the praise of men, they would not confess Him. Paul in Rom. 10 tells us that two things are necessary for salvation, to believe with the heart, and to confess with the mouth. And Jesus says, “Whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I deny before my Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 10:3333But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 10:33)). At v. 47 the Lord says that He is not come to judge, but to save; nevertheless He will judge one day, for judgment is given into His hands. With this chapter all connection in His ministry with the Jews ends absolutely: in chapter 13. He commences His work, which He will complete in heaven.