John 17:24-26

 “Father, I desire that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am, in order that they may behold My glory, which Thou hast given Me; for Thou didst love Me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, although the world has not known Thee, yet I have known Thee; and these have known that Thou didst send Me; and I have made Thy name known to them, and will make it known; that the love wherewith Thou didst love Me may be in them, and I in them.”

 

Jesus is coming to the conclusion of His prayer. He has been praying for His disciples, and He has been praying for those who would believe on Him through His disciples’ testimony. That includes today’s believers. What does Jesus ask the Father for with respect to all of these believers?

 

Jesus asks that we might all be with Him. That is Jesus’ desire. Why? Because Jesus wants us all to see His glory – the glory the Father gave Him because He loved Jesus before the foundation of the world. And we have already learned that Jesus’ glory points to the Father’s glory, so we know that this prayer is in line with the Father’s will. When we all are with Jesus and see His glory, then we will all glorify not only Jesus, but the Father! So Jesus’ desire is that we may be with Him. And knowing the glory that it will bring to Him and the Father, this should be our desire, too.

 

How can this happen? Jesus concludes His prayer by talking about His relationship with the Father – His righteous Father. Unlike the world, Jesus actually knows the Father. And the disciples have come to know that the Father sent Jesus. Through His time with the disciples, Jesus has made the Father’s name known to them. The disciples, in other words, have come to know the Father as they have come to know Jesus. And Jesus promises that He will keep making His Father’s name known. Jesus will keep putting the Father’s words into His disciples lives, and the Father’s love accompanies His words. Because the disciples bear the Father’s words, the Father loves them as He loved Jesus. Because the disciples bear the Father’s words, Jesus is in them, because Jesus came to proclaim the Father.

 

Father, thank You for sending Jesus, who so clearly showed us Your will in His prayer. Thank You that He spoke Your will, and that Your will is that we may be with Jesus. You deserve all the glory I can give, and far more. So please do what will glorify Jesus and what will glorify You – draw people to Jesus! Thank You for sending Jesus, who knew You, to teach us that we may know You, too. Thank You that Your love rests on us who believe in Jesus just as it rests on Jesus. What grace! Thank You that Jesus is with us – that God is with us. What joy! Father, thank You for all the comfort You have given us while You have left us in this world.