JESUS' GLORY: IN SUBMISSION TO SCRIPTURE AND THE FATHER
The Gospel of John gives an account of the life and works of Jesus, though it differs greatly from the Synoptic Gospels. As the author has a different perspective on the life of Jesus, his different perspective reflects in his emphasis and general content. In John's Gospel, Jesus moves toward his death and paradoxical glorification through fulfillment of the prophetic Scriptures and submission to the will of his Father.
The book begins with a statement that names Jesus "The Word" (John 1:1), telling the reader that Jesus is the true fulfillment of the Scriptures, the incarnation of God's revelation. Throughout the entire book, the author of the Gospel of John alludes to the Prophetic Scriptures, while also declaring a clear fulfillment in some cases. When Philip speaks to Nathanael saying, "'We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.'" (John 1:45) and declaring him the Messiah. Here we see exactly what the author is trying to emphasize, that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Scriptures; the Scriptures that were written by Moses and the Prophets.
"To fulfill the Scriptures" is a clear repeated idea throughout the entire book, even the wording often follows a simple formula, "this was to fulfill", followed by a statement declaring that it came from Scripture (John 12:38; 13:18; 15:25; 18:9; 19:24; 19:28). These formulaic verses are explicit in their intention, to drill the idea into the reader's mind that Jesus is very clearly the fulfillment of the Scriptures. Though the wording isn't always formulaic, (John 2:17; 2:22; 6:45; 7:38; 12:14; 17:12; 19:36-37; 20:9) it still holds true to the emphasis on Jesus' fulfillment. These clear and concise statements mostly take place within the context of the passion narrative (the betrayal, suffering, and death of Jesus).
It becomes a little less clear as to the exact times that Jesus was fulfilling Scripture in the gospel of John when the author alludes, instead of being concise, as to who Jesus is in relation to the Scriptures. When Jesus speaks of the serpent being lifted up by Moses (John 3:14-15), it alludes to him being lifted up on the cross and bringing life to all who look upon him and believe, just like all who gazed upon Moses' bronze serpent would live. Then, the idea of a shepherd is echoed throughout the Old Testament mostly speaking of God (Isa 40:11), and God calls Himself the shepherd in Ezekiel (Ezek 34:12). In Jesus' teachings, he sees himself as the "good shepherd" (John 10:11). He alludes to the verses in the Scriptures like Ezekiel 34, that speaks of God gathering the scattered sheep, so likewise Jesus will gather the scattered sheep (John 10:12-16). In this, he fulfills God's promise.
Even a third allusion is when Jesus speaks of being the "true vine" (John 15:1). He does this most likely because him and his disciples had either walked past a vineyard, or had drunk wine recently. But a vine was also quite a common idea throughout the old testament, so Jesus could here be alluding to many things. He may be alluding to a passage in Jeremiah (Jer 2:21) where there was a vine that God planted, a pure vine, that became a wild vine due to lack of proper care. So, if Jesus is the "true vine" then he remained pure through proper care. He says that God is his vinedresser, God cuts off what isn't needed and prunes what is fruitful so that it produces more.
This "true vine" passage could also be alluding to Genesis when Joseph interprets the chief cupbearer's dream, the dream contains a vine with three branches, and interestingly, when Joseph interprets he tells the chief cupbearer that he will be restored to his office in three days. Likewise, Jesus died, and was restored in three days.
A third instance of a vine in the Old Testament, speaks of a vine that was planted by God (Ps 80:15), and includes a reference to the "son of man" (Ps 80:17). The psalmist asks of God's regard for this vine (Ps 80:14), and that his hand would be on the son of man (Ps 80:17). In doing this, the psalmist declares: "Then we shall not turn back from you; give us life, and we will call upon your name! Restore us, O LORD God of hosts! Let your face shine, that we may be saved!" (Ps 80:18-19). Here it seems fitting again, that Jesus is the son of man, and the true vine, while also restoring humanity like the psalmist asked. It is so clear that God answered their prayers in sending Jesus to die and rise again for the sins of humanity.
These fulfillments are so important in preparing for Jesus' death in declaring that he is the Messiah, God's chosen one that Israel has been waiting for.
Jesus, in being sent as a fulfillment of Scriptures, he submits to this perfect plan that God has set for him. Jesus' work is to do the will of his Father (John 4:34; 5:30; 5:36). He declares that because he submits to God's will in everything, his judgement and teaching is just because he seeks to only to God's will (John 5:30). As he listens, judges, and teaches he always does what pleases the Father (John 8:29) so that all who hear him should surely obey him. When challenged in chapter ten, Jesus keeps pointing them to the fact that he received a command from God (John 10:18) so they should listen, or he is undeserving of punishment because he has shown them good works that came from God (John 10:31), and even says that they shouldn't believe him if he isn't submitting to God (John 10:37). All of his teaching comes from God because God is dwelling in Jesus (John 14:10), so it all must be understood as pure revelation and believed to be truth.
As the book moves into the Passion Narrative, Jesus chooses to submit to God's plan: "'shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?'" (John 18:11). Though he knew all the pain and suffering that he would face (John 18:4), Jesus decides to submit to God's will for him and hand himself over peacefully to the soldiers. Then the narrative progresses with Jesus submitting until his death on the cross.
This submission fits in so well with the fulfillment, that he was the promised one, and he did not turn away from this path. It's important to note his submission because in doing God's work perfectly, Jesus brought glory to his Father (John 17:1).
Through the Son, the Father was glorified (John 17:1). This idea of glory echoes through the whole book, though this glory when it is the Son's glory, seems paradoxical. Some verses declare his glory or honor received either from God or from man (John 1:14; 2:11; 5:23; 11:4; 17:10; 17:22), while some declare that Jesus doesn't accept glory given from people (John 5:41), or that Jesus hadn't even been glorified yet (John 7:39). John chapter five verse 41 in particular is an extremely tricky verse, as it seems to us now in our understanding that humans are meant to glorify God. This verse seems to deny that humans even can. John chapter sixteen verses thirteen to fourteen seem to hold the answer, that until the Spirit came upon the believers, they didn't have the truth within them and were not able to glorify Jesus. So now with the Spirit they are able to. Therefore, the only glory that Jesus received before man's receiving of the Holy Spirit, must have been from God alone (John 8:50; 8:54; 13:32; 16:14; 17:1; 17:5; 17:22). A special event of glorification seems to be emphasized throughout the Gospel, and seems to be interchangeable with Jesus' crucifixion (7:39; 12:16; 12:23; 17:1; 17:5). So, in his death and resurrection, he received the glory that was due; though that doesn't deny all glory that came from God before the crucifixion.
It seems quite interesting too that in Jesus' submission, he was shamed by the Roman soldiers before his glorification as they mocked him declaring him to be the King of the Jews (John 19:1-3), which in fact, that's what he came to earth to be; to be glorified in this kingship.
After he was glorified and the believers received the Spirit that revealed to them the truth, Jesus became fully glorified when he was acknowledged as submissive to the Father and to be the Messiah spoken about throughout the Scriptures. God the Father became glorified in this too. Simply put: an abundance of glory.
As the author of John has a different perspective on the life and works of Jesus Christ the Messiah, so he emphasizes different aspects so that the reader can see what he sees. Though the glory received by Jesus through the fulfillment of the prophetic Scriptures and the submission to the Father seems paradoxical, it can be understood better when taking everything that the author of the Gospel of John emphasizes and includes.