#DailyDevotion Jesus Wants Us To See His Glory

Joh 17:24-26  Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.  (25)  O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me.  (26)  I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

In part we see Jesus’ petition fulfilled when Paul tells us in Ephesians, Eph 2:6 “[He] raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,…” Because he is seated at the right hand of the Father and we are joined with him through faith and baptism, we too are seated with him even now, though we do not see it. Then, on the day of Christ’s revelation, we shall see Jesus’ glory which was his before the foundation of the world. Paul assures us, 2Co 3:18 “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”

Christ’s glory that his human nature now also bears, he plans to share with us. John says, 1Jn 3:2  “Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.” What a promise! To be like Jesus at the resurrection. John is not alone in this promise. Peter also tells us, 2Pe 1:4 “through them [very great promises] you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.”

Paul tells us, Col 1:27 “To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Jesus’ petition to be in us and us in him is fulfilled in faith and baptism. We have a hope of glory which is to see the result on the Last Day of Jesus’ indwelling, our transformation. In the meantime, until that day, Paul assures us, 2Co 4:16-17 “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.  (17)  For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,…”

Jesus knows the apostles know him and he wants them to make known Jesus. Jesus also makes known to them the Father and the apostles make known the Father through the preaching of Jesus. To know the Father is to know Jesus. Because of the Law people think they know the Father. But from that they do not get that God is holy and righteous but rather they only know his wrath, which is his alien work. Yet, we would not know the love of God the Father for us if we did not know his wrath against sin and rebellion. John writes, 1Jn 4:10 “In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” It is in know the sacrifice of Jesus for our sins that we know the love of the Father and know the Father’s will towards us. It is not the Father’s primary will to be a punishing, wrathful God. His primary will toward humanity and even his creation is love. We know that love in Jesus’ sacrifice for us on the cross.

Jesus’ prayer is answered Yes by the Father. Jesus does not end these petitions, “not my will be done but your will be done.” He is praying the will of the Father here and Jesus continues to pray this prayer for us at the right hand of God. For a couple a thousand years, Jesus’ prayer is being heard as we can see that we now know the Father even as his apostles knew the Father and Jesus. And we shall see the fulfillment when Christ returns in all his glory.

Heavenly Father, continue to hear the prayer of your Son Jesus Christ at your right hand, that people may continually come to know you through Jesus, be joined to him in faith and finally be received into your glory on the Last Day. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.