John 13:31 Meaning: Glory in the Moment of Betrayal
When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him.
Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him.
When therefore he was gone out, Jesus saith, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him;
When, therefore, he went forth, Jesus saith, `Now was the Son of Man glorified, and God was glorified in him;
When therefore he was gone out Jesus says, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him.
Meaning in one sentence
Why does Jesus say 'Now the Son of Man has been glorified' just after Judas leaves to betray him?
Context
The scene is the upper room, after the last supper. Jesus has washed the disciples' feet, identified Judas as the betrayer, and given him the piece of bread. Judas leaves into the night. With the traitor gone, the atmosphere shifts. Jesus now speaks freely to the remaining eleven. This verse opens his farewell discourse, a series of teachings and prayers that last through chapters 14 to 17. At this precise moment, when the machinery of betrayal is set in motion, Jesus declares that the Son of Man has been glorified. It is a stunning claim, and one that turns everything upside down.
Key Words
Two Greek words carry the weight here. The adverb nun (nun) means “now,” but not just any now. It marks a dividing line, a crisis. Up to this point Jesus spoke under restraint because of the traitor in the room. Now the restraint is gone and the hour has come. The verb behind “has been glorified” is edoxasthē (ἐδοξάσθη), from doxazō, to honor, to clothe with splendor. The tense is aorist, which in Greek sees the whole action as a single event already complete. From heaven’s perspective, the betrayal, the trial, the cross, the resurrection, and the ascension are one finished act of glory. Jesus looks at what the world calls utter failure and says: There. That is where the weight of God’s presence is seen most clearly.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions agree that this verse is startling. Early Reformers like Calvin saw the cross as a “magnificent theater” where God’s goodness is displayed. Wesley noted that Jesus is “fully entered into his glorious work of redemption” at this moment. More recent commentators like Vincent emphasize that the aorist points to the departure of Judas as sealing Jesus’ fate, and that He speaks of the cross and its glory as already accomplished. The Orthodox tradition often connects this to the “lifting up” of the Son of Man, where crucifixion is also exaltation. All hold that what looks like defeat is actually the doorway to glory, though they phrase it in different ways.
A common misunderstanding
A common misreading is to think Jesus is only glorified after the cross, as if the cross itself were just a necessary hurdle. In fact, Jesus says “now” at the very moment Judas sets the betrayal in motion. The shame and agony themselves become the vehicle through which God’s love and justice are most clearly seen. The glory does not begin after the cross; it begins with the cross.
Living This Out
Sometime this week you may face a situation that feels like a closing door: a friendship that fails, a project that falls apart, a moment when everything seems to go wrong. This verse invites you to stop and ask a different question. Not “How do I escape this?” but “What if this is where God’s glory is about to show?” Jesus does not pretend the pain isn’t real. He names the dark moment, and He calls it glory. Let that sink in. Then take one concrete step today, whether it’s a hard conversation or a quiet prayer, choosing to trust that God can be glorified even in this.
Main takeaway: At the very moment of betrayal and impending death, Jesus declares that He and the Father are glorified, showing that God's glory shines brightest in our darkest hours.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
When Judas left to hurt Jesus, Jesus said, “Now I am glorified.” That means even when someone does something bad, God can still make good things happen. Jesus trusted His Father.
For ages 9, 12
Jesus knew Judas was going to betray Him, yet He called that moment “glory.” He wasn’t pretending the cross wasn’t coming. He was showing that God’s love and power are seen most clearly when things look their worst. Whenever you face a hard situation, remember that God can bring glory out of it too.
Questions People Ask
Why does Jesus say “now” at the moment Judas leaves?
The word “now” marks a crisis point. Up to this moment Jesus spoke under the restraint of a traitor in the room. With Judas gone, the hour has fully arrived. The events leading to the cross are set in motion, and Jesus speaks of them as already accomplished in God’s sight.
What does “glorified” mean in John 13:31?
The Greek word is doxazō, meaning to honor, magnify, or clothe with splendor. Here it refers to Jesus being revealed in His true divine identity through the entire work of the cross, resurrection, and ascension. The aorist tense views it as a single, complete act.
How can the cross be called glory?
By human standards, crucifixion is shameful and painful. But through the cross, Jesus completes the work of salvation, defeats sin and death, and reveals the depth of God’s love. The Bible calls this revelation of God’s character “glory.” The cross is the clearest picture of that glory.
Why does Jesus call Himself “Son of Man” here?
The title comes from Daniel 7, where a human-like figure receives dominion and glory. Jesus uses it throughout the Gospels, often in connection with suffering and exaltation. It emphasizes both His full humanity and His heavenly authority.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study