Know God

John 17:1-5

1 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, 2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

Notes

The Lord Jesus warned His disciples of coming persecution but assured them of peace and joy in Him. He also proclaimed His assured victory over the world. Following His words of comfort, the Savior lifted His eyes and prayed to the Father, seeking mutual glorification through His impending sacrifice and resurrection. In this prayer, He affirmed His authority to grant eternal life to those the Father had given Him, emphasizing that every believer is a precious gift from the Father to the Son. Furthermore, Jesus’ prayer to be glorified with the glory He shared with the Father before the world existed (John 17:5) affirms His eternal pre-existence. John, the author, stated, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1).

1. Glorify

   The Lord Jesus prayed to the Father, asking Him to glorify the Son, so that the Son might glorify the Father. This mutual glorification highlights the unity of the Godhead. Furthermore, the Father gave the Son authority to give eternal life to all those whom the Father has sovereignly given to Him.

   
   1 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, 2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him (John 17:1-2).

   Application: As believers, we should glorify the Father and the Son as long as we live by declaring the gospel and living according to the word. Moreover, let us rejoice knowing that the Father has given us to the Son so that He may give us eternal life.

   
   

2. Eternal Life

   The Lord Jesus Christ defined eternal life as knowing the Father, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom the Father sent. This knowledge is not merely informational; it signifies a relational communion with the Father and the Son.

   
   3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent (John 17:3).

   Application: Let us know God through Christ, and let us know Christ through the Holy Scriptures. We must cultivate our relationship with the Father and Son through the Holy Scriptures and prayer. Thus, we read, meditate, and study the Sacred Text.

3. Shared Glory

   The Lord Jesus signified the end of His earthly ministry. Although the most crucial part is yet to happen, His suffering, death, and resurrection, the Lord treats it as good as done. The Lord also prayed for the glory that He shared with the Father before the foundation of the world.

   
   4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed (John 17:4-5).

   Application: Let us glorify God by faithfully fulfilling the work He has entrusted to us, just as Jesus accomplished the mission given to Him by the Father. Rejoice in the assurance that your salvation rests entirely on Christ’s finished work, which brings glory to the Father. Let us also proclaim who Christ is, God who created the world.

Reflection & Discussion

1. What is the Father’s role in eternal life? What is the Son’s role?

2. How does Jesus define eternal life? Explain.

3. What does Jesus’ pre-incarnate glory reveal about Him?