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I. THE GLORIFICATION OF THE SON OF MAN IN AND BY HIS SUFFERING. This language is strange here. It would not have been wonderful at Jordan or on the Mount of Transfiguration. Observe that it is as "the Son of Man" He is glorified, i.e., His glory —

1. As the perfect man was displayed in and by His sufferings. Man's excellence consists in entire conformity to God's will. Of this Christ was all through possessed, but more particularly when at the supreme moment to do God's will He died for man.

2. As the representative man, as typified by the vicarious sacrifice on the Day of Atonement, and by the "Kinsman Redeemer." How glorious this was.

3. As the God-man, as illustrated by the supernatural portents before and at the Crucifixion, which made the Centurion exclaim, "Surely this is the Son of God."

4. As the predicted man. At no period of His history were so many prophecies fulfilled. It is probable that the words suggest that there should be spectators: that there should not only be glory, but glorification. If so, Christ was glorified in His sufferings by the dying thief, God the Father, and the holy angels. Some expositors refer the words to the Lord's supper — a glorious display of His authority as the Legislator, and His love as the Saviour of the Church.

II. THE GLORIFICATION OF GOD IN THE SON OF MAN SUFFERING. This is a strange declaration. We can understand how God is glorified in heaven, in the universe, in His government, and in multitudes of saved beings, but how in the sufferings of His Son? Now was "the hour and power of darkness." The words "in Him" explain the mystery. By men and devils God was dishonoured, but by Christ honoured. God was glorified in Christ's sufferings —

1. Viewed in themselves, they glorify —

(1) The Divine power which inflicted them and sustained the Sufferer. Never was sorrow like Christ's sorrow, but never was God's grace so abundant. Christ crucified is "the power of God."(2) The Divine. wisdom. Christ's sufferings —

(a)  Effectually answer an important end — the eternal salvation of man.

(b)  By means different from any that created wisdom could have suggested.

(3) The Divine justice (Romans 3:25, 26).

(4) The Divine faithfulness in exactly fulfilling so many predictions.

(5) The Divine benignity (chap. John 3:16).

2. Viewed in their results.

(1) In the events themselves. The enemy of God is baffled, evil in the form of sin and suffering prevented, and good in the form of holiness and happiness produced.

(2) In those events as the results of Christ's suffering — to bring such results out of such means. Satan's ruin rises out of his apparent triumph; life is the fruit of death; favour arises out of wrath, etc.

III. THE GLORIFICATION BY GOD OF THE SON OF MAN, ON ACCOUNT OF HIS SUFFERINGS, IN CONSEQUENCE OF GOD BEING GLORIFIED BY HIM IN THEM.

1. God glorified the Son of Man —

(1) Under His sufferings, which tested His power to bear and His disposition to obey, by sustaining Him amid them.

(2) After His sufferings — "straightway," "It is finished," paradise, the resurrection, ascension, session, and the judgment to come.

2. God glorified the Son of Man in Himself. If God is glorified in Him He shall be glorified in God.

3. God's glorification of the Son of Man was the result and reward of God being glorified in and by the Son of Man's sufferings.Conclusion: The subject bids us —

1. Rest with entire confidence on the finished work of Christ as the ground of our hope.

2. Imitate the Son of Man in glorifying God and in seeking thus to be glorified by God.

3. Cooperate, though at an infinite distance, with God in glorifying the Son of Man.

(J. Brown, D. D.)

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KJV: He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.

WEB: Therefore, having received that morsel, he went out immediately. It was night.