Scripture

John 17:1-5

When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

Prayer

Jesus we praise you for humbling yourself to become a man and being obedient to even death on the cross.  All things on this earth were made through you, and you sustain them, and you gave up your glory in order to enter into this world to save it. We magnify your name.  Bring us to worship you in your sacrifice and your exaltation.  Amen

Meditation

The request to be glorified in God’s presence with the glory that He possessed before the foundation of the world is jolting.  It is a statement that reminds us of the sacrifice Jesus made in order for this prayer to be a reality.

The world He created became His home; a place where He revealed God’s glory through His life.  He had already created the world to reveal God’s goodness, truth, mercy and love but now He was present in the world to tear the veil down completely.  Here is the restorative promise of Christ’s coming.  We are made whole and God receives glory.

Philippians 2:5-11 says, “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,[a] 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,[b] 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant,[c] being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”  Amen!

The Westminster Shorter Catechism asks what our chief end is.  The answer is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.  Jesus gave up His glory for us to be able to be all we were created to be.

Action:

Give Jesus the glory that is due Him.  Spend time in worship today.