“These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee.” - John 17:1
I still love many of the old hymns. Although I love many new songs, the old hymns seem to be so rich with theology and have such deep emotional impact. One of the hymns that I love is the song, “Glory To His Name.” The lyrics were written by Elisha A. Hoffman in 1878. It is believed that he wrote the song while meditating on the crucifixion of Jesus. The song relates the impact the crucifixion has on our lives today. The chorus expresses praise to the Lord for His marvelous work in our lives.
In a world where most people live for their own glory, the Christian faith stands in stark contrast. Properly lived out, Christianity is all about the glory of God. A genuinely converted person seeks to bring glory to God. The Lord is worthy of such glory and praise.
In John chapter 17, we find the longest recorded prayer of our Lord. In this chapter of Scripture, we get a glimpse of the intimate conversation Jesus had with His Father. Although this chapter can be read in about four minutes or less, it would be wise to stop and meditate on the words of this remarkable prayer.
In verse 1, the Bible says that Jesus lifted up His eyes and prayed. I am reminded what the Psalmist wrote in Psalm 121: “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.” I think there is something here for all of us to learn. In critical moments, it is better to look up to the Father rather than look down in doubt.
It was a critical hour for our Lord. He said, “The hour is come.” Jesus was nearing the cross. Everything had been leading up to this vital moment. Although Jesus had accomplished much during His ministry, the main objective of His mission would be a cruel death upon a cross.
Next, Jesus made a request to the Father: “...glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee.” Jesus asked the Father to glorify Him.
Sadly, many Christians would only echo the first part of the prayer and not the last. We want God to glorify us. We want to be lifted up. However, we'd prefer that this occur on our terms rather than the Lord's. You see, the Bible says, “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” We like being lifted up, but not at the expense of our pride or comfort.
Our Lord was about to face the most humiliating, painful and draining experience of His life. In light of this, He prayed, “...glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee.” Jesus would be lifted up … on a cross. He had foretold of this event when He said, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” While reading this quote, you may be tempted to think that the phrase, “... if I be lifted up...” refers to our praise. But that is not the case. Others think that it is speaking about His ascension back to the Father. Instead, He is referring to His crucifixion. On the cross He was lifted up from the earth. It is the cross that draws men unto Him. The preaching of the cross saves souls. We need more preaching about the cross these days!
Yet there is also a truth that Jesus looked beyond the cross to His resurrection and ascension. The writer of the book of Hebrews refers to Jesus when He wrote, “... who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Writing to the Philippians, Paul wrote, “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name.”
Because of the cross, our Lord has been exalted. Jesus glorified the Father through His obedience and sacrifice. Today, we glorify the Father even more because of the work of His Son. The Father glorified His Son and His Son has glorified the Father.
While many in the church wish to receive glory, there aren't many who wish to use such glory to praise the Father. No wonder such glory is rare these days. God doesn't seek to bless us so we can live independent of Him. He seeks to bless us for our good … and for His glory.
I think most Christians want to glorify the Lord, but I have a question for you to ponder. What if God is most glorified through your suffering … would you still want God to be glorified? That was the case for Jesus. God was glorified through the death of His Son. He is also glorified as we pick up our cross daily and follow Jesus.
The Father was glorified on the cross & our sins were paid for by the blood Jesus shed there. Jesus did it all for our good and for the glory of His Father.
Glory to His Name!
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