The REal Lord's Prayer - Pt. 2

 

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, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.  I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. (John 17:1-5 ESV).

 

If you knew you were going to die tomorrow, what would you pray for? Jesus prayed for glory. Now, that seems a bit grandiose, but when we truly understand what He’s asking, we can see His deeply rooted commitment to His calling. Glory means “to honor or praise.” But it’s not just applause. It’s recognizing the worth or character of something. There is a wonderful Civil War movie titled “Glory”. It is based on the true story of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry regiment, which was a military unit made up mostly of African-Americans. It begins with the story of their humiliation and disrespect and ends with their heroic charge on Fort Wagner. To glorify something is to reveal its honor. They were pressed down by racism, but they broke through as they broke the fort’s wall, revealing their inherent courage, bravery, and valor.

 

Likewise, glory is God’s presence revealed (cf. Exodus 33:14). So when Jesus prays, “Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you” he is praying to reveal the honor of the Son so that the Son may reveal the honor of the Father. When Moses was on Mount Sinai talking to God, the people of Israel got worried and made a golden calf to worship. They needed to “see” the glory of God. Of course we know the rest of that story. After Moses intercedes on their behalf, God stays His judgment and precedes them into the wilderness. We see the record: The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” (Exodus 33:14).

 

I remember the first time I actually saw the Smoky Mountains. I had no experiential reference to the beauty of the mountains until that moment. That moment changed my understanding completely. Pictures and words couldn’t compare to actually seeing it first-hand. So it is with God. So Jesus prays for the glory of God to be finally revealed in all its perfection for all men to experience. And, so it was! That ought to be our prayer today as well.