May 28 Eternal Life

John 17:1-6 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.”
 
OUR Lord has just challenged the disciples to fully believe him. He has also assured them of the Father’s presence with himself. Jesus’ conversation with his disciples about his leaving recorded from John 13-16 has ended. Now it’s time for Jesus to converse with the Father before he goes to the cross.
   In his prayer, Jesus’ restates the purpose of his work recorded several times in John. “Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.” Think of this. Jesus sees the cross as a means to glorify God, his Father in heaven. To glorify is to praise, worship and exalt. Because of the cross, today the name of Jesus is worshiped in his church. We exalt the name of Jesus above all names as we confess he is Savior, Priest and King. We can believe and say this because the Son completed his sacrificial work the Father gave him to do on earth. For Jesus’ church to be his church, we must know he is the one we glorify as we minister the gospel. This is why Peter could preach in Acts 4:12 “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
   Then know that Jesus’ prayer of exaltation is more about the Father. When the Son is praised, the Father is praised. When the Son obeys, the Father’s will is done on earth. When the Son acts into his mission, all nations will know God so loved the world. His chosen people throughout the world will worship him.
   Jesus prays, too, for his return to heaven. He desires to leave earth’s limitations to again be with the Father. In heaven, Jesus will return to live in the glorified – exalted –  form as risen Lord and Savior. The work is done. It is time to fully reunite with the Father.
   What great comfort this is for us. The Son of God knows how perfect heaven is in his Father’s presence. He will no longer need to deal with unbelieving religious rules, cautious disciples and a world groaning in its sins. He has come to redeem the world. He knows that process is beginning. With his work done, the King wants to return to heaven’s throne room. The Son desires to be with the Father. In turn, as we read more of this prayer, we will see the Savior wants to live joyfully with those who are saved.
  
Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for your faithful obedience to the Father. I am grateful you are in heaven, at the Father’s right hand, prepared to draw all your people to you. Amen.