John 17:1-5
When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.”
Reflection – Doug Bradle
I have to delve into the Holy Trinity to get a picture of Jesus’ words. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit existed from all eternity into all eternity. The Father sent the Son and the Father and the Son sent the Holy Spirit, different aspects and functions within one Godhead. Some call this relationship the Tri-Unity, three parts of one unified whole. I think it is interesting that Jesus tells His disciples that it is to their advantage that He goes away (John 6:9-11) and that the Helper (the Holy Spirit) will not come until He has returned to the Father. He says that the Spirit will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment. And for those whom the Father has given to the Son, the Spirit will speak to them as Jesus spoke to His disciples, teaching, guiding, disciplining, comforting and revealing the love that the Father and Son have for those who love and follow Him. These wonderful ones have the gift of eternal life and the on-going task of helping others. God, the Son, had to leave because He was limited in time and space as He dwelt in a human body. He could only be in one place at one time. In His spiritual body He counsels His followers through the Spirit who is unlimited and present everywhere. The Spirit only speaks with the authority that is given Him through the Son. And since He dwells within the Believer’s heart, it means that Jesus Himself is always with us. If we let Him, He will always lead us into His purposes for us and the joy of His presence will fill our bodies and minds. What a beautiful picture this is: Emmanuel…God with us!
We know our Savior because the Father has drawn us to Him. Jesus has accomplished all that the Father had given Him to do…to glorify the Father through His work, to convict the world of sin and judgment and to impart eternal life to those who would believe. Our Savior knew that His hour had come to suffer and die for the Gospel and to live forever with the Father. While we were yet sinners. Jesus died for us that we would have everlasting life with Him in the Kingdom of God. Amen.