THE GLORY OF GOD

JOHN 17:1–5

“And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was”

(John 17:5).

There are a number of significant points made in these five verses, so we will look at each of them in turn. First, the glory of Christ becomes the main focus. Jesus would be glorified by His death, resurrection, ascension, and coronation. “In the Cross, viewed as the culmination and climax of the entire work of redemption by which He saves His people, the Son manifests His perfect obedience, His infinite love for sinners, and His power over the prince of this world,” Hendriksen writes. “This obedience, love, and power reflects glory on Himself. So also does the saved multitude’s gratitude for the gift of everlasting salvation.”

When Jesus adds, “that the Son may glorify You,” He shows that His prayer was not selfish. He wanted to be glorified so that He might glorify the Father, for the cross and the crown reveal not only the Son’s but also the Father’s virtues. We can learn from Jesus’ example that all we do is not for our own glory, but ultimately for the glory of God. He is our King and our Sovereign, and all we think, say, or do is for the glory of God.

Second, eternal life is bestowed on those whom the Father has “given” to the Son. Again, the divine prerogative is emphasized. We are chosen by the Father and given to the Son, so that we might know both the Father and the Son. This is the goal of our redemption, to have intimate communion with God.

Third, Jesus states that He has glorified the Father on earth. He did this through His obedience and righteous life. In turn, we learn that God is glorified through our obedience. If you want to give honor to God and glorify your Saviour, Jesus Christ, then you must live in obedience to His commands.

Lastly, Jesus had finished His work by living a sinless life, and He was about to die on the cross. So He prayed that He be glorified with the glory that He shared with the Father from the beginning. This verse reveals Christ’s preexistence; He had existed from all eternity in the glory of the Godhead. For a time, during His earthly ministry, He veiled His glory. But once His task on earth was done, He would rise again to the heights of heaven and display His glory as Redeemer and King.

CORAM DEO

Ecclesiastes 1–3

2 Corinthians 9

Read today’s passage out loud to yourself. Describe in your own words how the glory and majesty of Christ are displayed in this prayer. Spend some time in a prayer of praise, praising God for each of His glorious attributes revealed in this passage. Meditate on the Psalms below, reading them out loud.

For further study: Pss. 113; 145

thursday

september