Glorify your Son ∙
I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. – John 17:4
John 17:1-5
1 Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you.
2 For you have given him authority over everyone. He gives eternal life to each one you have given him.
3 And this is eternal life – to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.
5 Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began.
John 17:20-23
20 I am praying for these disciples and all who will ever believe in me through their message.
22 I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one.
24 Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!
Howard Carter, a British archaeologist, embarked on a quest to uncover the tombs of ancient Egyptian rulers. When he arrived in Egypt in 1891, most of these historical burial sites had already been discovered, and many had been looted throughout the centuries. But Carter, with his exceptional excavation skills, was ready for the challenge. In the early 1900s, his hard work paid off when he unearthed the tombs of Queen Hatshepsut and King Thutmose IV.
In 1907, Lord Carnarvon, an avid collector of antiquities, engaged Carter to oversee excavations in the Valley of the Kings. Carter’s primary goal was to find the tomb of the relatively unknown King Tutankhamun. On November 4, 1922, Carter stumbled upon a stairway that led to the tomb’s portal. He promptly informed Lord Carnarvon, who hurriedly traveled to Egypt. On November 23, 1922, they penetrated a mud-brick door, revealing a passage to Tutankhamun’s tomb.
There were signs that grave robbers had entered the tomb at some point, causing their hearts to sink with the dreadful expectation of another pillaged tomb.
However, on November 26, 1922, their spirits lifted as they breached another door leading to the outer chamber of Tutankhamun’s tomb. Illuminated only by the flickering flame of a candle, Howard Carter peered into the chamber. Behind him, Lord Carnarvon asked, “Can you see anything?” Carter answered, “Yes, wonderful things.”
This moment marked the first time in over 3,300 years that anyone had entered King Tutankhamun’s tomb. The sealed burial chambers held the king’s gold coffin, mummy, and a staggering collection of thousands of magnificent, priceless artifacts. The discovery of King Tut’s tomb remains one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of all time.
Can anything be more glorious? Yes indeed. The most glorious event of all human history concerns the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. How can suffering and death be glorious?
John 17:4-5
4 I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.
5 Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began.
What is the glory for which Lord Jesus Christ prays? For many, it’s an enigmatic treasure yet to be uncovered. To unearth this profound wisdom requires a diligent pursuit and excavation of its concealed marvels, which merely scratches the surface.
The quest begins with a better understanding of the etymology of the Greek word translated as glory.
The Greek word for glory is doxa, which is the source of the English word doxology. It is derived from the Greek verb dokeo. The verb means to think, suppose, form an opinion, acknowledge, or recognize. Dokeo is the Greek verb used when people formulate human opinions or perspectives. Human opinions or perspectives are mutable. They change and shift. They often flip-flop and may be based on inaccuracies or misinterpretation of data (Zodhiates).
Human opinion is the antithesis of the Father’s “opinion.” They are diametrically opposed. The Father’s words and thoughts are not mere opinions. Instead, they are facts; they are absolute truth. His truth contrasts with human truth by 180°. The Father’s truth never varies; it is changeless and absolute. It cannot be synthesized or compromised. “God’s opinion marks the true value of things as they appear to the eternal mind, and God’s favorable opinion is true glory” (Zodhiates). His opinion discloses with certainty how things really are and are to be understood.
Human opinion has a significant downside. It frequently obstructs one’s capacity to discover and comprehend the Father’s truth.
John 5:44 How can you believe when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? (ESV)
John 5:44 No wonder you can’t believe! For you gladly honor each other, but you don’t care about the honor that comes from the one who alone is God (NLT).
REFLECT & PRAY
The Father gives eternal life to every child of the King, sharing His glory with them through the Lord Jesus Christ.
Father Your glory is unfathomable in our earthly existence. Assist us in concentrating on the glory that genuinely matters – Your glory. And let us disregard the fleeting, ephemeral, terrestrial glory of created beings.
INSIGHT
Attempting to comprehend the term glory is like trying to get your arms around the English word trunk. A trunk can denote a myriad of different things: a part of a tree, an elephant’s appendage, a car’s storage compartment, a piece of luggage, and so on. Similarly, glory possesses numerous interpretations. Some ways glory is employed in the New Testament can be pretty baffling. Their mysteries are only unraveled through reflection and the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit.
Glory is the recognition of and honor due an individual. Glory is also the absolute essence of the Father. He is worthy of honor and worship. Glory is something that can be observed. The Father allows His glory to be seen (Exodus 33:18-23). It manifests as bright, shining light, brilliance, or splendor. As such, it catches the eye, attracts attention, or elicits recognition and acknowledgment.
John 13:31 The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified, and God will be glorified because of him.
The Lord Jesus Christ asserts that His crucifixion and resurrection will result in His glorification. How can this be? These events prove that the Lord Jesus Christ is the prophesied Messiah, the Redeemer of the world, the Son of God, and indeed God in the flesh. The Father perceives the death of the Lord Jesus Christ not as a downfall but as a monumental triumph. The plan of redemption required the sacrifice of His life. The Lord Jesus Christ sacrificed Himself and died for the sins of the human race. Christ’s resurrection validated that the Father accepted His sacrifice as a complete payment (Romans 1:4).
Those unfamiliar with the Father’s plan find the death of the Lord Jesus Christ a gruesome waste of a good man’s life. However, His sacrifice is eternally celebrated in heaven.
The Father and the Son can share glory with the children of the King. However, we can merely acknowledge the glory of the Father and the Son. When the Father bestows His glory upon us, He permits us to partake in His glory. But when we glorify the Father, we don’t contribute anything to Him; instead, we recognize, honor, praise, or worship Him for Who and what He is.
When we glorify the Father, we recognize Who He is in His unchanging essence.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 9-29-1
© Dr. H 2024
Dr H Reflections 