from the perspective of the cross, things look different - 23rd week friday exaltation of the cross

In the gospel of Matthew, Mark and Luke the glorification of Jesus is his resurrection and ascension.  In the gospel of John however, the glorification and exaltation of Jesus is in his death on the cross.  His humiliation was his exaltation, his death was his glorification.  Thus, in our gospel today Jesus would refer to the cross as a lifting up, not just a physical lifting up of the cross, but its exaltation.

In this John is inviting us to look at things differently.  To look at things not from the human perspective but from the perspective of God.  

The world would have us believe that in our quest for pleasure, suffering and pain has no place in our life.  The world would have us believe that exaltation can only come from glamor, fame and fortune.  The world would have us believe that old age is to be shunned or at the very least disguised and the world would have us believe that death is an entry into nothingness and oblivion. 

Today however we are presented with a world from the perspective of John, that when we look at things from the perspective of the cross of Jesus, things become different.  There is meaning to our pain.  There is a reason why we have to go through this humiliation and shame as a church, in the evils we need to confront and own.  There is a purpose to our sickness and pain.  There is a reason why we grow old and why our bodies, our senses and our memories are no longer that dependable.  And finally, there is a reason why we are to look forward to death. We are Christians, we cannot and should not forget that we look at things from the perspective of the cross of Jesus.