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1. In every man's history there are hours of peculiar importance. When a young man leaves home for the first time, and when he becomes his own master; when the man of enterprise wins his first battle and establishes his claim to the public confidence; when the scientific or literary man publishes his first or his greatest work; when the mother gives birth to her first child; when we die.

2. Note the deep interest our Lord attaches to this hour. It was always present to His imagination: In the brighest hours of His life, as at Cana and the Transfiguration and when the Greeks came to Him, and at the darkest, in Gethsemane.

I. JUSTIFY THE INTEREST WHICH ALL DEVOUT MINDS ATTACH TO THIS HOUR, not only in earth, but in heaven (Revelation 5:11, 12).

1. The estimate which God forms of it. As there are some seasons on which man fixes with peculiar interest, so with God — the day of creation, the day of the deluge, the day of the Lord, but beyond all is the day of the Son of Man — his birth hour and death hour.

2. The long train of dispensations which preceded it and pointed it out. This is the key of them all. When God at sundry times and in divers manners spake to the fathers, it was but to point to the hour when He should more fully speak unto us by His Son. If He manifests Himself to patriarchs, it is to point out to them His day; if He chooses a peculiar people it is to make them depositaries of the promises of His coming; if He appoints sacrifices and ceremonies, it is but to typify His death.

3. The great work that was accomplished in that hour.

(1)  Man's redemption.

(2)  Satan's overthrow.

(3)  The harmony of the Divine perfections.

(4)  The opening of the gates of heaven.

II. WITH WHAT FEELING SHOULD WE REVERT TO THE TRANSACTIONS OF THIS HOUR?

1. With the deepest humiliation that such a sacrifice was needed on our part.

2. With a humble determination to apply its benefits.

(Homiletic Magazine.)

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KJV: These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:

WEB: Jesus said these things, and lifting up his eyes to heaven, he said, "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may also glorify you;