The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in John 17:5,
"And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began."
Chapter 17 of John is a prayer of Jesus, many call it "the prayer of Jesus" since it is an extended prayer at the end of his earthly ministry. In it, among other things, he prays for his disciples, as well as for those who would join his kingdom through their ministry (which is us!). "My prayer is not for them [his disciples] alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you." Verses 20-22.
I find it fascinating to read Jesus' prayer to his Father concerning us believers who have joined his kingdom through the outworking of the ministry of his disciples so long ago. Jesus Christ... praying for those of us in our day!
In this prayer he asks that the Father would restore his glory, the glory that he had with the Father prior to taking human form - before becoming fully human while still being fully God - to carry out his earthly ministry, as we see in verse 5.
In Philippians 2:6-8 Paul tells us of the Son of God laying aside his divinity to take on human form to perform his magnificent and horrible sacrifice to pay for the sins of all mankind, "[Christ Jesus] Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!"
Now that his earthly ministry has come to its culmination and facing the cross, he asks the Father to restore him, to restore his glory. As he does he articulates one of the reasons for his request, "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world." Verse 24.
Imagine! The Son of God displaying the majestic splendor of his manifold perfections to us is what was on his heart -- something he desires to share with us!
"And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began."
Chapter 17 of John is a prayer of Jesus, many call it "the prayer of Jesus" since it is an extended prayer at the end of his earthly ministry. In it, among other things, he prays for his disciples, as well as for those who would join his kingdom through their ministry (which is us!). "My prayer is not for them [his disciples] alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you." Verses 20-22.
I find it fascinating to read Jesus' prayer to his Father concerning us believers who have joined his kingdom through the outworking of the ministry of his disciples so long ago. Jesus Christ... praying for those of us in our day!
In this prayer he asks that the Father would restore his glory, the glory that he had with the Father prior to taking human form - before becoming fully human while still being fully God - to carry out his earthly ministry, as we see in verse 5.
In Philippians 2:6-8 Paul tells us of the Son of God laying aside his divinity to take on human form to perform his magnificent and horrible sacrifice to pay for the sins of all mankind, "[Christ Jesus] Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!"
Now that his earthly ministry has come to its culmination and facing the cross, he asks the Father to restore him, to restore his glory. As he does he articulates one of the reasons for his request, "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world." Verse 24.
Imagine! The Son of God displaying the majestic splendor of his manifold perfections to us is what was on his heart -- something he desires to share with us!
It is going to be stunning! Breathtaking!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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