Enduring Glory
Rev. Charles Oppong-Poku | September 26 2024 | John 17:24-26
KEY VERSE:
Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. John 17:24 (NIV)
MESSAGE:
In John 17:24-26, Jesus concludes His prayer by expressing His deep desire for believers to experience the fullness of God's glory and love. He emphasizes the eternal connection between Himself, the Father, and His followers, asking that they see His glory, which has existed since the beginning of time.
While people often seek earthly glory, true glory comes from God, and Jesus Christ longs to share this eternal glory with us. This enduring glory is not just a future hope but a transforming reality we can experience as we grow closer to Christ. Jesus Christ also reveals God's eternal love, contrasting the world's ignorance with the revelation He has given to His followers. This love, which existed between the Father and the Son, is now extended to us.
In verse 26, Jesus affirms that the glory and love of God are intertwined, inviting believers to share in the unity and love between the Father and the Son. This enduring glory, which binds us to God, is sustained by His love for eternity.
FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE:
Jesus' prayer in the closing verses reveals a beautiful picture of His heart for us—to experience His enduring glory and to know the depth of God's love. It teaches us that our ultimate destiny is to be united with Christ in His glory, both now and for eternity. Do you know Him?
PRAYER:
O Lord God, my glorious heavenly Father, I long for the day that I can see you and your Son in all of your glory. I know my limited imagination cannot even begin to grasp the beauty, majesty, and brilliance of your glory. Please stir my passion and steel my will to live with purity and holiness for that day of glory. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!
DAILY word study: GIVEN
The word "given" comes from the Greek didōmi (δίδωμι), which means to bestow, grant, or entrust. It signifies something purposefully conferred by one party to another. In our key verse, "given" is used twice—first, to refer to the believers who are entrusted to Jesus by the Father, and second, to the glory bestowed upon Jesus by the Father.
The first use of the word given in our key verse refers to believers emphasising that they are a gift from the Father to Jesus. It shows that believers are divinely chosen and entrusted to Christ, demonstrating God’s sovereign grace in salvation. Theologically, this reveals the security and care that comes from being chosen by the Father and held by the Son. Believers are not self-selected but called into a relationship with Jesus, reinforcing their value and the permanence of their bond with Him.
In the second usage, "given" refers to the glory the Father bestowed on Jesus, which existed before creation. This speaks to the eternal and divine nature of Christ’s glory, a glory that He desires to share with believers. Theologically, it points to the pre-existence of Christ and the eternal relationship within the Trinity. Believers are invited to witness and participate in this glory, highlighting their ultimate destiny of sharing in divine glory, a process that begins now and is fulfilled in eternity.
Reflections:
How does knowing that you were given to Jesus by the Father and that you are called to share in the glory given to Christ, affect your understanding of your identity and relationship with God? Are you living with the security of being divinely chosen and with the hope of experiencing His eternal glory?
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