"(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. (John 17:1-5)
The time had come for the world to truly know who Jesus
really was. Many had believed in Him as He traveled, spoke, and worked wonders,
including His disciples who we was with constantly during the years of His
recorded ministry. But even His disciples did not clearly see what laid ahead
for Jesus and them. Only God knew. As such the Son lifted up His eyes to heaven
and spoke to the One who truly understood with Him. Jesus’ time had truly come.
The reason for Him becoming man was finally being realized, and shortly He
would be nailed to a cross, crucified, and buried. This is the occasion that
would bring rejoicing among His enemies. But it did not have in mind what was
to follow next. Jesus would rise from the dead on the third day just as the
Scriptures had said. For the first time in the history of man would someone lay
down His life for others and take it back up again himself. And in taking it
back up He would give life to all who believed.
It was this very act that not only brought great pleasure to
the Father in the obedience of the Son and His return to the Father’s right
side, but it was also this act that would cause countless men, women, and
children to turn to God through Christ believing themselves and also receiving
life. Jesus Christ was not a man to be pitied as He hung on a cross, but He is
the living God who brings salvation to man. And as we read in Scripture there
will be a day yet realized in the future where every knee will bow and every
tongue will confess that He indeed is Lord.
With His resurrection the nail scarred body of Christ would
become glorified for all time, and because of what He did to gain those scars
He rightfully draws the worship of numbers only known to God. Jesus is back
where He belongs glorified and worshipped alongside the Father, receiving all
of those who the Father had called since before the foundation of the earth,
where Jesus was eternally even then.
What an amazing thing to realize that our eternal God as
Father, Son, and Spirit sent the Son by the will of the Father to step out of
eternity in the form of man for such a small period of time so that He might
bring into eternity all who believe.
"(11) Then I looked, and I heard around the
throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels,
numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, (12) saying with a
loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and
wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” (13) And I heard every
creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all
that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be
blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” (14) And the four
living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.”
(Revelation 5:11–14, ESV)
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