“LIVING FOR GOD’S GLORY”

5 “And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.” 

John 17:5

The Bible tells us that God is merciful and gracious, and that he saves people. From the earliest accounts in Scripture, we can see how God intervened to rescue people from harm and death. But more than just saving people's earthly lives, God's role as the Savior is seen in Christ's sacrificial death on the Cross. Because Jesus died for us, we are saved. What's our right response to this undeserved kindness?

John chapter 17 is a heartfelt prayer known as Jesus’ “High Priestly Prayer.” After delivering His Farewell Discourse, Jesus now prays for Himself, the disciples, and future believers. This moment is also the start of Jesus’ “time.”

In our previous blog, we learned that Jesus’ earthly life was spent glorifying the Father.

In verse 5, Jesus reveals another aspect of God’s glory—one He shared with the Father prior to the Incarnation. He is now looking past the cross. It now seems to refer to the shining splendor of God’s presence, which Paul calls the “unapproachable light.” Jesus revealed God’s manifest glory at the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-13). His glory overwhelmed the disciples, prompting Peter to want to build shelters for the Lord on the mountain. 

Looking at the big picture, glory applies to God as the Creator and Ruler of the universe. As such, all knees must bow before Him. From this teaching comes one of the mottos of the Reformation, Soli Deo Gloria (To God alone the glory”). 

Here’s an important implication you and I should consider.

Just as Jesus glorified the Father, so Christians live for God’s glory.

Just as Jesus’ life centered on glorifying God, so should ours be. Jesus set aside His own will and submitted Himself to the Father. He endured the pain and shame and gave up His life that we might be saved.

The purpose of this salvation is for us to glorify God with our lives. God’s glory is the very reason Jesus wants us to be the salt and light of the world (Matthew 5:14-16) and to bear much fruit (John 15:8). Moreover, the NT teaches that we are not our own, having been bought at a price. As such, we are to glorify God in our bodies (1 Corinthians 6:20). 

If Jesus lived a perfect life that has now been credited to our account, and died so we might have eternal life, isn’t it a great motivation for us to spend each day doing things that glorify God?

Pursue the Savior today!

Photo by Jonathan Borba on Unsplash