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 17:24,
"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."
This verse is part of an extended prayer of Jesus to the Father that takes up the entire seventeenth chapter of John. His prayer contains some amazing things that we learn from it. In the verse quoted above, Jesus talks to the Father about the love the Father had for him before the creation of the world. It helps us understand a little of the eternal nature of the Trinity.
John's gospel opens with the following about Jesus Christ, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind." John 1:1-4. "The Word" is Jesus Christ in John's introduction here.
In that the Trinity exists outside or beyond the dimension of time, whatever "beginning" is being contemplated, the Son of God is already there with the Father (and the Holy Spirit) in a relationship marked by love. Consequently John points out that the Son of God was existing "in the beginning" and that he was with the Father "in the beginning." We also read that the creation we know (as well as what we don't know) was created by the Son of God.
The writer of Hebrews also speaks of this as the writer wrote amazing things about the Son of God, "In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven." Hebrews 1:1-3.
"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."
This verse is part of an extended prayer of Jesus to the Father that takes up the entire seventeenth chapter of John. His prayer contains some amazing things that we learn from it. In the verse quoted above, Jesus talks to the Father about the love the Father had for him before the creation of the world. It helps us understand a little of the eternal nature of the Trinity.
John's gospel opens with the following about Jesus Christ, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind." John 1:1-4. "The Word" is Jesus Christ in John's introduction here.
In that the Trinity exists outside or beyond the dimension of time, whatever "beginning" is being contemplated, the Son of God is already there with the Father (and the Holy Spirit) in a relationship marked by love. Consequently John points out that the Son of God was existing "in the beginning" and that he was with the Father "in the beginning." We also read that the creation we know (as well as what we don't know) was created by the Son of God.
The writer of Hebrews also speaks of this as the writer wrote amazing things about the Son of God, "In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven." Hebrews 1:1-3.
In this passage in Hebrews we see the Son of God preexisting the creation of the universe, acknowledging him to be both the creator and sustainer (or maintainer) of it.
In connecting "the dots" of passages we read in Scripture, it helps me understand better who Jesus Christ is, how he fits into the Godhead, and his participation in acts of the Trinity and so on... that is, until the circuit breakers in my head start to blow (which appears to be early on!) I feel I know very little about it all but stand amazed at what that little speaks of!
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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