John 12:23
“Jesus answered them, “The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.”
What does John 12:23 mean?
Jesus is saying that his moment of greatest meaning has arrived, though what's about to unfold will look nothing like worldly glory. In John's Gospel, "glorification" points toward the crucifixion, resurrection, and return to the Father, all of which reveal who Jesus truly is. He's acknowledging that his suffering and death aren't a defeat but the very purpose he came to accomplish. For those listening then and for us now, it's a reminder that God's most powerful work often happens through sacrifice and surrender rather than through visible triumph.