The Voice from Heaven

Lesson #198

We closed our last lesson with Jesus saying, “Father, glorify your name.” If you were standing there when Jesus spoke those words, how would you feel, what would be your reaction when a voice spoke from heaven saying, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again” (John 12:28). When the people were camped before Mount Sinai and God prepared to speak, “. . . [and] all the people saw the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid and trembled, and they stood far off and said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die.” Moses said to the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.” The people stood far off, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was” (Exodus 20:18 – 21 ESV). If we have truly encountered God and know and understand him, should we not experience some fear before the living God of the universe? How can a sinner stand before a holy God and not have some semblance of feat? We seem to have lost this respect for him today!

This is one of three recorded times when the voice from heaven spoke during the earthly ministry of Jesus. The first was at his baptism: “And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”” (Matthew 3:16 – 17 ESV). The second was at his transfiguration: “[Jesus] was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”” (Matthew 17:5 ESV).

“The crowd that stood there and heard the voice said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.”” (John 12:29 ESV).  People who write commentaries can’t agree whether the speech was distinct or not. I believe the words were clearly spoken based on the words being understood in the first two instances listed above and on what Jesus will say about this in the next verse. I believe the voice was so loud and majestic that the people described the sensation like that of thunder, maybe like the voice of an angle as some in the crowd said. “Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not mine.”” (John 12:30 ESV). This comment, I believe, establishes that the words were understandable and were for their sake; to convince them that he was the Messiah, and engage them to believe in him, or to leave them without excuse.

This lesson is a bit shorter, but this is a good break point in the text.  

Prayer

Father, three times you have spoken from heaven to validate that Jesus is your Son, the Messiah and these three times the people had the opportunity to hear the Father speak. Several times Jesus made claims as to who he was and backed up his claims with a miracle. Father, today in areas of severe persecution you are giving visions and dreams to people to validate who Jesus is. All around us is evidence to validate the claims of Jesus Christ, but people continue to disbelieve what they hear or see. Father, have mercy on us for our disobedience and continue to encourage us to walk with the Lord as we should.