“And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.” - John 17:5
The human memory is a marvelous thing. For us to remember events from the past (often with clarity) is truly amazing. Sports fans recall, with joy, the season their team won a championship. Public servants remember the height of their political career. Actors are invited on talk shows to reminisce about their most successful projects. Even in the church, older members like to recall the “good ole days,” when their church experienced extraordinary growth.
In our text, Jesus is praying to His Father about a return to His glory. He once enjoyed a special place with His Father. Now, as He approached the end of His earthly life, Jesus made a special request to His Father. He prayed for a return to the glory He once enjoyed.
Hebrews 12:2 says, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; 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.” Notice how Jesus endured the misery of the cross. The Bible says, “... who for the joy that was set before him.” Jesus looked beyond the cross and saw the joy & glory that awaited Him.
Sometimes we must face difficult situations. We are not promised a life of ease. Pain, problems and heartaches do come. Perhaps you are facing the greatest trial of your life right now. When you face such an ordeal, it is tempting to quit. Yet quitting is not an option. How can we make it through the painful events of life? Like Jesus, we need to look beyond the grief to the glory. While we enjoy mountain-top experiences, we often must travel through the valleys. Brothers and sisters, look ahead. Glory is waiting just beyond this life of pain and problems.
Although we refer to heaven as “glory,” this is not primarily what Jesus was praying about in our text. Instead, He is referring to the position of majesty He once enjoyed with the Father in heaven.
In our Lord's prayer, Jesus prayed, “O Father, glorify thou me...” There is nothing more special for a man than to receive the praise and appreciation of his earthly father. Sadly, most boys grow up without such affirmation. Yet more than once during His earthly ministry, Jesus was praised by His Father, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Now as His ministry draws to a close, Jesus asks His Father to glorify Him. Jesus did not seek the glory of men, but the glory of the Father.
In His prayer, we learn about this glory. Jesus prayed, “... glorify thou me with thine own self...” The glory that Jesus prayed about was not to be experienced on earth, but in the Father's presence. To be bestowed with glory in the presence of the Father is the highest honor known … but it was reserved for the Son, Jesus Christ. He is worthy of such glory.
Jesus prayed that the Father would glorify Him, “...with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.” Jesus once enjoyed immense glory with the Father. Temporarily, He placed it aside to come to earth. Paul referred to Jesus in Philippians 2:6-8 when he wrote, “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
Jesus taught His disciples that if they wished to be great, they must first of all be servants. In Matthew 22:27-28, Jesus said, “... whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” Jesus taught and modeled this truth. In Luke 22:27, Jesus said, “For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.”
James 4:10 states, “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” That is a great word for us … but didn't Jesus already model this for us? He humbled Himself when He came to earth and died. “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Jesus humbled Himself, but now He has been exalted. Now, and forever, He is enjoying the glory that He deserves.
Soon we will see Him in all His glory!
