“Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify Your name.—John 12:27
I felt totally inadequate to write on this verse this morning because in it I identified and saw Jesus in His humanity and was concerned that my focus there would somehow detract from the fact that He was also fully God. Plowing ahead with the help of some commentators.
Christ dreaded the suffering that He knew was coming upon Him because of our sin. His soul was troubled. John MacArthur says that the term for trouble used here is strong and indicates horror, anxiety and agitation. Jesus’ contemplation of taking on the wrath of God for the sins of everyone who would believe caused revulsion in the sinless Savior
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.—2 Corinthians 5:21
Matthew Henry aptly says His soul was troubled in order to ease the trouble of our own souls. I love that.
What does Jesus do in His trouble? (His horror, anxiety and agitation). He brings His heart to God. He prays to His Father in Heaven and asks to be saved from this hour. I love what Jesus says next because I have prayed similarly and it is almost like we answer our own question.
‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour.
“Hold on”, says Jesus. “This is why I came.” Ever been there? You are in the middle of being brutally honest with God in prayer and even as you are speaking you are reminded of your purpose and your calling. You remember that you are here to do the will of Your Father in Heaven. It is your desire that He be glorified. The beautiful words of Isaiah 53 come to mind…
When You make His soul an offering for sin,
He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days,
And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand.
11 He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied.
By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many,
For He shall bear their iniquities.
Your inner man is strengthened and the muddied waters become clear once again. Matthew Henry says innocent nature got the first word but divine wisdom and love got the last. Beloved, weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning.
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.—Hebrews12:1-2
5 My soul, wait silently for God alone,
For my expectation is from Him.
6 He only is my rock and my salvation;
He is my defense;
I shall not be moved.
7 In God is my salvation and my glory;
The rock of my strength,
And my refuge, is in God.
8 Trust in Him at all times, you people;
Pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us.
Selah—Psalm 62:5-8
“For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of [those] whose heart [is] loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars.”— 2 Chronicles 16:9
