May 14, 2018 Monday

“Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, “as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. “And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.” (John 17:1-5 NKJV)

            To me John 17 is really the Lord’s Prayer while what we call the Lord’s Prayer is our prayer which taught us.  In this chapter we are given a rare glimpse of God communicating through prayer for as much as this is a prayer of God it is also a prayer for us to hear!

            This part of the prayer of our Lord is worth meditating on and discovering a deep way of praying.  But it might be helpful to look at four themes from this passage.

Glorification – To some it might seem arrogant for a human being to talk like this and that would be true!  Here we see God communicating, declaring and sharing God’s glory!  Everything God does proceeds from Who God is and so glory proceeds from glory!  Jesus reminds us of the glory He left behind out of love for humanity and looks to return to the glory of God.

Authority – Jesus has been given authority “over all flesh” and like all authority should be, it is given for a specific purpose.  Jesus has the authority to give eternal life to all the people given to Him.  This phrase is remarkable by its impact and its meaning.  Are those given to receive the ones Jesus came to bring eternal life or is there a select group given to Jesus to receive eternal life? This is a reminder authority should be given for a specific purpose and must be clearly understood.  Brevity at the expense of clarity is very costly!

Eternal Life – Many have debated what eternal life really is and on our own there really is no answer.  Jesus defines eternal life clearly and unambiguously.  “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”  Eternal life is so much more than existence but it is to grow in a relationship with God!  Life is to know God, the only true God.  Notice the way Jesus talks about Himself.

Obedience – Jesus proclaims that the task and work He was given authority to do have been finished.  Does this statement not seem prophetic for Jesus has not died on the cross where He would proclaim “It is finished”?  But God is not limited by the time God created so Jesus could proclaim obedience before the foundations of this world was laid.

            It is interesting that Jesus speaks as though talking about someone else calling for the Son to be glorified and not the “me” we would expect.  Could this be part of what we cannot conceive about who God is?  Even as we see this glimpse of who God is we are really left with few answers, just deeper questions!

            How does looking at this passage affect your view of God?  What does this passage teach you about prayer?  How does this passage affect how you will serve God?

            Was barely able to get through worship at Asbury and had to go home.  Jonathan came over and we had lunch together for Mother’s Day.  Later Bonnie made a great supper and took some over to her Mom.  So many good things on Sunday.  I fell asleep for about 2 hours in the afternoon and it didn’t seem to help much.

            Monday was worse as I am getting wearier each day.  Got up about 2:30 AM and spent time of prayer.  Went back to bed about 5:50 AM got up still feeling tired.  We wonder if the incredible weariness, weakness and brain fog could be coming off the Nuvigil so quickly.  The last time I tried I went down slowly and when I got down so low I started browning out again.