What does "Now the Son of Man is glorified" mean in John 13:31? Immediate Literary Context John 13:31 – “Therefore when Judas had gone out, Jesus said, ‘Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him.’” The statement is triggered by Judas’s departure to betray Jesus (v. 30). The decisive act that will set the crucifixion in motion has begun; consequently, the hour of redemptive glory has arrived. “Now” (Greek νῦν) marks a present, irreversible transition from private ministry to climactic passion. “Son of Man” and Old Testament Backdrop The title “Son of Man” alludes to Daniel 7:13-14, where the exalted figure receives dominion after suffering saints are vindicated. Jesus blends this apocalyptic authority with the Servant’s suffering in Isaiah 52–53. Thus, glorification entails both humiliation (cross) and exaltation (resurrection/ascension). Meaning of “Glorified” in Johannine Usage 1. Display of Divine Character (John 1:14; 2:11). 2. Public vindication through signs culminating in the cross (12:23-28). 3. Mutual glorification: the Father glorifies the Son and the Son the Father (17:1-5). In John 13, glory is viewed as a single, continuous event: crucifixion → resurrection → ascension → sending of the Spirit (7:39; 20:22). The Cross as Paradoxical Glory • Roman crucifixion embodied shame, yet Isaiah 53:12 predicted the Suffering Servant would be “allotted a portion with the great.” • Early Christian proclamation (Acts 2:23-36) insists the cross was foreknown and orchestrated by God, turning shame into triumph. • Archaeological corroboration: the Alexamenos graffito (c. AD 100) depicts worship of a crucified figure, confirming the counter-cultural message that a crucified Messiah was proclaimed early. Resurrection: Historical Validation of Glory Minimal-facts research (1 Corinthians 15:3-8 tradition dated within five years of Calvary; empty tomb attested by multiple independent sources; post-mortem appearances verified by friend and foe) demonstrates that the resurrection historically vindicates Jesus’ claim. If He were not raised, His death would be ignominy, not glory (1 Corinthians 15:17). The resurrection therefore confirms that “the Son of Man is glorified.” Trinitarian Reciprocity John 13:31-32 stresses that the glorification is reciprocal: “God is glorified in Him” and “will glorify Him at once.” The Greek ἐν αὐτῷ (en autō) denotes instrumentality—God’s character is revealed through the incarnate Word. The adverb εὐθύς (“at once”) compresses cross, resurrection, and ascension into one divine act. Covenantal and Redemptive-Historical Significance • Fulfillment of Genesis 3:15—defeat of the serpent through a wounded Redeemer. • Ratification of the New Covenant promised in Jeremiah 31:31-34, mediated by the blood of Christ (Luke 22:20). • Culmination of typological foreshadows: Passover lamb (Exodus 12), bronze serpent (Numbers 21), Isaiah’s Servant. Ethical and Discipleship Implications Immediately after proclaiming His glory, Jesus issues the new command to love one another (13:34-35). Glory is not self-aggrandizement but self-giving love; His followers reflect His glory by sacrificial service (2 Corinthians 3:18). Cosmological and Teleological Echoes The glorification motif parallels creation themes: just as the universe reveals God’s glory (Psalm 19:1), the redemption event displays a higher order glory. Fine-tuning constants (e.g., cosmological constant 10⁻¹²⁰) and information-rich DNA codes (specified complexity) underscore that the same Logos who created (John 1:3) also redeems. Eschatological Horizon The Son of Man’s present glorification anticipates final manifestation (John 17:24; Revelation 5:9-13). Believers’ future resurrection is tethered to His (Romans 8:29-30), ensuring that glory spreads from Head to body (Ephesians 2:6-7). Summary Definition “Now the Son of Man is glorified” declares that, with Judas’s exit, Jesus’ vicarious suffering, victorious resurrection, and heavenly exaltation are set in motion, publicly manifesting the character of God, fulfilling prophecy, inaugurating the New Covenant, securing salvation, and establishing the pattern for believer conduct—all within one seamless, divinely orchestrated act. |
    |