Glorify Your Son ∙∙

Glorify Your Son ∙∙

Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you. For you have given him authority over everyone. He gives eternal life to each one you have given him. And this is eternal life – to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth. Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began. – John 17:1-5

John 17:20-23

I am praying for these disciples and all who will ever believe in me through their message. I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one.

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!

The Discovery of King Tutankhamun’s Tomb

Howard Carter, a British archaeologist, embarked on a remarkable journey to uncover the tombs of ancient Egyptian rulers. By the time he arrived in Egypt in 1891, most of these burial sites had already been discovered, and many had been looted over the centuries. Undeterred, Carter, renowned for his exceptional excavation skills, was determined to take on the challenge. His efforts bore fruit in the early 1900s when he unearthed the tombs of Queen Hatshepsut and King Thutmose IV.

The Search for King Tutankhamun

In 1907, Carter was hired by Lord Carnarvon, an avid collector of antiquities, to oversee excavations in the Valley of the Kings. Carter’s primary objective was to locate the tomb of the relatively obscure King Tutankhamun. On November 4, 1922, Carter stumbled upon a stairway leading to a sealed portal. He immediately informed Lord Carnarvon, who traveled to Egypt to witness the unfolding discovery.

On November 23, 1922, Carter and Carnarvon broke through a mud-brick door, revealing a passage to the tomb. Their initial excitement was tempered by signs that grave robbers had entered the site, raising fears that the tomb had been looted.

A Moment of Wonder

However, on November 26, 1922, their spirits soared as they breached another door into the tomb’s outer chamber. By the flickering light of a candle, Carter peered into the chamber. When Lord Carnarvon asked, “Can you see anything?” Carter famously replied, “Yes, wonderful things.”

This marked the first time in more than 3,300 years that anyone had entered King Tutankhamun’s tomb. Inside, they found the king’s gold coffin, his mummy, and an astonishing collection of thousands of priceless artifacts. The discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb remains one of the most significant archaeological finds in history. Can anything be more glorious? Yes indeed.

A Greater Glory

As awe-inspiring as the discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb was, it pales in comparison to the most glorious event in human history: the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. But how can suffering and death be glorious?

John 17:4-5:

“I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began.”

The Meaning of Glory

What is the “glory” for which Lord Jesus Christ prays? It is profound and multifaceted, requiring careful exploration to grasp its depth. The Greek word for “glory” is doxa. Doxa is the root of the English word doxology. It originates from the Greek verb dokeo, which means “to think, suppose, form an opinion, acknowledge, or recognize.”

While dokeo often refers to human opinions or perspectives, these are inherently mutable and prone to error. Zodhiates notes that human opinions frequently shift, flip-flop, or stem from misinterpretations of data. In contrast, God’s “opinion” is the absolute truth. His words and thoughts are not mere opinions but unchanging facts.

Zodhiates states that “God’s opinion marks the true value of things as they appear to the eternal mind, and God’s favorable opinion is true glory.” Unlike the often flawed and shifting nature of human perspectives, God’s truth stands as unchanging and absolute. It transcends human error, bias, and misinterpretation, offering a clear and definitive understanding of the ultimate reality. While human opinions are subject to change and influenced by limited knowledge, God’s truth remains constant, providing an unwavering foundation that reveals the true nature of all things.

The Danger of Human Opinion

Human opinion often hinders our ability to perceive, comprehend, and embrace God’s truth.

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.”

John 5:44 emphasizes the tendency of people to seek validation and glory from one another rather than pursue the eternal glory that comes from God.

REFLECT & PRAY

The Father shares His eternal glory with His children through the Lord Jesus Christ. This glory far surpasses any fleeting earthly recognition or honor.

Father, Your glory is beyond comprehension in our limited earthly existence. Help us focus on the glory that truly matters, Your glory, and disregard the transient, fleeting glory of this world.

INSIGHT

Unpacking the Multifaceted Concept of Glory

Grasping the meaning of the term “glory” is complex and challenging, as is defining the English word “trunk.” A single word, trunk, can signify a tree’s base, an elephant’s appendage, a car’s storage compartment, or a piece of luggage, depending on its context. Similarly, “glory” encompasses a wide variety of meanings, each contextually rich and nuanced. In the New Testament, the term is used in ways that can be both profound and perplexing. Through thoughtful reflection and the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit, we can begin to penetrate the upper layers of this very rich, seemingly bottomless concept.

In the New Testament, the term is applied in ways that are both deeply meaningful and occasionally enigmatic. Through thoughtful, deep reflection and relying on the Holy Spirit’s guidance, we can only begin to grasp the surface of this rich and seemingly boundless concept.  

The Essence and Visibility of Glory

At its heart, “glory” signifies the recognition and honor rightfully due to an individual. It also represents the very essence of God, embodying His unparalleled worthiness of worship and adoration. By its nature, glory transcends human understanding, yet it is made accessible through God’s self-revelation. Far from being an abstract or intangible concept, glory can be visibly manifested and observed.

The Father reveals His “glory” in ways that captivate and command attention. As described in Exodus 33:18-23, His glory is displayed as radiant light, brilliance, and splendor. This awe-inspiring manifestation draws recognition and reverence, serving as a testament to His majesty and power.

John 13:31: “The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified, and God will be glorified because of him.”

In this passage, the Lord Jesus Christ declares that His crucifixion and resurrection will lead to His glorification. This statement may seem paradoxical, yet it underscores the profound truth of His mission.

Glory Through Sacrifice

The crucifixion and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ stand as the ultimate confirmation of His identity as the prophesied Messiah, the Redeemer of the world, the Son of God, and God incarnate. What may appear to human eyes as a tragic end is, from the Father’s perspective, a monumental victory. The divine plan of redemption required the sacrifice of Jesus’ life, and He willingly offered Himself to atone for the sins of humanity.

Romans 1:4: “And he was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord.”

The resurrection of Christ is undeniable evidence that the Father accepted His sacrifice as the complete and sufficient payment for sin. To those unfamiliar with the Father’s redemptive plan, the crucifixion may seem a senseless and tragic loss of a virtuous man. However, in heaven’s eternal perspective, it is celebrated as the cornerstone of salvation, a triumph that secured redemption for all who believe.

Sharing in Glory

The Father and the Son graciously share their glory with the children of the King, yet this sharing is not reciprocal in the same way. When the Father bestows His glory upon us, He invites us to partake of His divine essence and splendor. However, when we glorify the Father, we do not add to His glory, which is already infinite and complete. Instead, we acknowledge, honor, and worship Him for who He is and what He has done.

To glorify the Father is to recognize His immutable essence and respond with heartfelt adoration and praise. It affirms and celebrates His eternal majesty. His glory remains unchanging, transcending human limitations and comprehension.

This concept of glory carries significant implications for our relationship with the Father. It goes beyond human comprehension. Attempting to define and categorize the term “glory precisely” is impossible; it has too many dimensions. It’s like trying to nail Jell-O to the wall. However, it becomes real and accessible through the life, death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him, the eternal glory of God is revealed and shared, inviting us into a deeper relationship with the divine.

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© Dr. H 2026