Meaning of John 13:31

This verse marks a pivotal moment in Jesus' ministry, occurring immediately after Judas Iscariot, having received the signal, departs the Upper Room to betray Jesus. Jesus' declaration, "Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him," signifies a profound shift in the unfolding of God's redemptive plan. The "glorification" here does not refer to an increase in inherent glory, as God is eternally glorious, but rather to the manifestation and recognition of that glory through Jesus' actions, particularly His impending sacrificial death and resurrection. This event, viewed through the lens of divine purpose, is the ultimate expression of God's love and power, and in it, Jesus, as the Son of Man, fulfills His divinely appointed mission, thereby bringing glory to the Father.

Context and Background

The immediate context is the Last Supper, a meal filled with solemn significance as Jesus prepares His disciples for His departure. He has just instituted the Lord's Supper, given His disciples a new commandment to love one another, and predicted Peter's denial. The departure of Judas represents the initiation of the final phase of Jesus' earthly mission, the path leading to the cross. This departure is not an unforeseen disruption but a foreseen element within God's sovereign plan, a necessary step toward the ultimate revelation of divine glory.

Key Themes and Messages

• The Intertwined Glory of Son and Father: Jesus explicitly states that both He and God are glorified. This highlights the intimate unity and shared purpose between Jesus and the Father. The glorification of the Son is the glorification of the Father, demonstrating that Jesus perfectly represents and reveals God to humanity.
• Suffering as the Path to Glory: The glorification Jesus speaks of is not achieved through earthly power or worldly acclaim, but through suffering, obedience, and ultimately, death. This is a radical redefinition of glory, shifting it from outward display to inward truth and redemptive purpose.
• Fulfillment of Divine Purpose: Jesus' impending death is presented not as a defeat, but as the ultimate fulfillment of His mission as the Son of Man. This fulfillment brings glory to God by demonstrating His faithfulness to His promises and His power to overcome sin and death.

Spiritual Significance and Application

This verse offers a profound understanding of the Christian faith's central event: the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. It reveals that God's glory is most powerfully displayed not in moments of earthly triumph, but in acts of selfless love, sacrificial obedience, and ultimate victory over darkness. For believers, this means that even in suffering and adversity, there is the potential for God's glory to be revealed. Our own faithfulness in difficult times, our love for one another, and our trust in God's plan can become avenues through which God is glorified.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

The "Son of Man" is a title with deep roots in the Old Testament, particularly in the book of Daniel (Daniel 7:13-14), where a figure like a son of man receives dominion, glory, and a kingdom that will never end. Jesus' use of this title connects His current mission and future exaltation to these ancient prophecies. His glorification through suffering is the means by which this eternal kingdom is established, demonstrating God's consistent plan of redemption from creation to consummation.

Analogies

One analogy for this concept is a seed. A seed, in its current state, has potential but is not fully expressed. When planted and dies to itself (its current form), it then brings forth a harvest, a much greater manifestation of life and fruitfulness. Similarly, Jesus' "death" to His earthly life is the necessary precursor to His glorified state and the abundant spiritual harvest of redeemed humanity. Another analogy is that of a sculptor revealing the beauty within a block of marble. The marble itself is not inherently beautiful in its raw form, but through the sculptor's skilled work, the hidden form and beauty are brought forth. Jesus, through His obedience unto death, reveals the inherent glory of God that was hidden to a fallen world.

Relation to Other Verses

• John 12:23-24: "Jesus replied, 'The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.'" This directly parallels the idea of suffering leading to fruitfulness and glory.
• Philippians 2:8-11: "And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the ground, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." This passage echoes the theme of humble obedience leading to exaltation and glorification.
• Hebrews 2:10: "For it was fitting for him, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering." This verse directly links Jesus' suffering to the glorification of believers, underscoring the redemptive purpose of His trials.