When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus uses "now" not just to mark the moment Judas leaves, but to declare that his departure seals the beginning of his glorification. He speaks of his impending death and the glory it will bring not as something in the future, but as something already in motion, a triumphant outcome already unfolding.
When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Judas has just left the Passover meal to betray Jesus, and in the wake of his departure, Jesus declares that a pivotal moment has arrived. He sees his imminent suffering and death not as a defeat, but as the very means by which he will be glorified and bring glory to God. This declaration marks a turning point, shifting the focus from the betrayal to the salvific purpose of Jesus' impending sacrifice.
When Judas left the room, something profound shifted. Jesus didn't just anticipate glory; He declared it was happening now.
Jesus uses the past tense verb 'was glorified' (or 'is glorified' in some translations) to speak about an event that is immediately about to happen – His death and resurrection.
A Completed Work, Already Realized
This isn't just wishful thinking. For Jesus, this moment, marked by Judas's departure, signifies the definitive turning point where His path to the cross is sealed. His earthly mission is, in a sense, already accomplished in His mind. The 'glorification' Jesus speaks of is not just the heavenly glory that follows, but the very act of fulfilling His Father's will through sacrifice. It's a glorious triumph over sin and death, even before the final moments of suffering.
Embracing the Inevitable
Think of it like a runner crossing the finish line. Even though they are still moving, the race is won. For Jesus, Judas leaving was the signal that the final act was set in motion. He saw His impending suffering and death not as a defeat, but as the very means through which His divine purpose would be realized and His ultimate glory secured.
Jesus doesn't just claim glory for Himself; He immediately links it to God. What does this 'mutual glorification' mean?
Jesus states, 'Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him.' This is a profound statement about the interconnectedness of Jesus' mission with the Father's character and purposes.
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Revealing God's Heart
Through Jesus' willing sacrifice, God's nature is put on full display. His love, His justice, His faithfulness – all are vindicated and illuminated on the cross. The 'glorification' of God here refers to the revelation of His perfect character and plan to the universe through Jesus' obedience unto death.
A Shared Victory
Conversely, Jesus' own glory isn't separate from God's. It stems from His perfect obedience to the Father. The glory Jesus receives is the glory of fulfilling His divine commission, which ultimately magnifies the Father. It’s a beautiful exchange: Jesus shows us who God is, and in doing so, is elevated to the highest honor by God.
Understand the original words
huios tou anthrōpou · Greek Noun Phrase
A messianic title derived from Daniel 7:13-14, emphasizing Jesus' humanity while simultaneously pointing to His divine authority, heavenly origin, and ultimate sovereignty over all nations.
doxazō · Greek Verb
To manifest, display, or reveal the essential character, majesty, and honor of God. In a biblical context, it refers to the radiance of God’s nature breaking into human history, especially through the obedience and death of Christ.
The immediate context for Jesus' declaration of glorification is the departure of Judas, which seals Jesus' fate and marks the beginning of the events leading to his crucifixion. This transition signifies a shift from Jesus' earthly ministry to the culmination of his redemptive work, seen not as defeat but as the path to divine glory.
c. AD 30— this verse
The Last Supper
Jesus shares his final meal with his disciples, during which he washes their feet, predicts Peter's denial, and institutes the Lord's Supper.
c. AD 30
Judas betrays Jesus
Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, leaves the supper to betray Jesus to the authorities, marking a turning point in the events leading to Jesus' crucifixion.
c. AD 30
Jesus prays in Gethsemane
After the supper, Jesus withdraws to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray, wrestling with his impending suffering and death.
c. AD 30
Jesus is arrested
Jesus is arrested in Gethsemane by temple guards and Roman soldiers, orchestrated by Judas's betrayal.
c. AD 30
Jesus is tried and condemned
Jesus is tried before the Jewish Sanhedrin and later by the Roman governor Pontius Pilate, ultimately being condemned to crucifixion.
c. AD 30
Jesus is crucified
Jesus is crucified on Golgotha, fulfilling prophecies and, from a theological perspective, achieving ultimate glorification through his sacrifice.
This passage echoes John 13:31 by describing Christ's humiliation and subsequent exaltation, showing how his suffering and obedience led to his glorification and the acknowledgment of his divine nature by all creation.
Hebrews 2:10Similar to John 13:31, this verse highlights that bringing many sons to glory was the purpose of Christ's suffering, connecting his glorification with God's ultimate plan for humanity through His sacrifice.
John 17:1-5In his high priestly prayer, Jesus directly asks the Father to glorify Him, referencing the glory He had with the Father before the world existed, which mirrors the 'now is the Son of Man glorified' in John 13:31, showing the continuity of His divine glory.
Colossians 1:13-14This passage speaks of deliverance into the kingdom of God's beloved Son, reflecting the glorification of the Son of Man in John 13:31 and indicating that God is glorified through the redemption and spiritual freedom Christ brings.
1 Peter 1:11This verse connects the sufferings of Christ with the subsequent glory that follows, aligning with Jesus' statement in John 13:31 that His glorification is intrinsically linked to the path of suffering He is about to undertake.
barnesJohn 13:31: "Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him."
Now is the Son of man glorified - The last deed is done that was necessary to secure the death of the Son of man, the glory that shall result to him from that death, the wonderful success of the gospel, the exaltation of the Messiah, and the public and striking attestation of God to him in the view of the universe. See the notes at John 12:32 .
vincentJohn 13:31: "Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him."
NowMarking a crisis, at which Jesus is relieved of the presence of the traitor, and accepts the consequences of his treachery.Is - glorified (ἐδοξάσθη)Literally, was glorified. The aorist points to the withdrawal of Judas. Jesus was glorified through death, and His fate was sealed (humanly speaking) by Judas' going out. He speaks of the death and consequent glorification as…
Jesus uses "now" not just to mark the moment Judas leaves, but to declare that his departure seals the beginning of his glorification. He speaks of his impending death and the glory it will bring not as something in the future, but as something already in motion, a triumphant outcome already unfolding.
Judas has just left the Passover meal to betray Jesus, and in the wake of his departure, Jesus declares that a pivotal moment has arrived. He sees his imminent suffering and death not as a defeat, but as the very means by which he will be glorified and bring glory to God. This declaration marks a turning point, shifting the focus from the betrayal to the salvific purpose of Jesus' impending sacrifice.
Judas has just left the Passover meal to betray Jesus, and in the wake of his departure, Jesus declares that a pivotal moment has arrived. He sees his imminent suffering and death not as a defeat, but as the very means by which he will be glorified and bring glory to God. This declaration marks a turning point, shifting the focus from the betrayal to the salvific purpose of Jesus' impending sacrifice.
"When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once." — Jesus uses "now" not just to mark the moment Judas leaves, but to declare that his departure seals the beginning of his glorification. He speaks of his impending death and the glory it will bring n…
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Last reviewed October 2026