John 17:4-5

 Read: John 17; Sing: God the Uncreated One

Today we will be covering two days worth of material. So this is our break, our catch up and our meditation till Monday. Looking ahead we will try and finish John 17 by Thursday so that we can be in 18-21 over Thursday through Monday. This year we will finish up our study the week AFTER Resurrection Sunday.

John 17:4-5

There have been so many thoughts, and verses, and moments of tears and humility and awe as I read this text. So many. Today I yet again come trembling to scripture realizing just how great our God is. He truly is awesome in wonder and deed. He is King Forevermore!

"I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father. glorify me in your presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed."

Jesus has accomplished His task. We have already heard him say that the hour has come. Centuries of prophecy, generations of men have longed for this moment. Heaven came down, He had come to set men free. "I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do." Wow. I can't even comprehend fully this statement. So many thoughts rush to my mind. I think on Colossians 1 and Hebrews 1 immediately, that He is the image of the  invisible God, He is the glory of God, the EXACT imprint of His nature; and by Him and through Him were all things made that were made, and He upholds the universe by the Word of His power. This is Jesus Christ. Son of God. In my bible subtitles these portions of scripture are labeled "the preeminence of Christ, and the Supremacy of God's Son. I am overwhelmed even to think of these thoughts. Yet these thoughts are exactly what we should be meditating on. How different would our opinion of and life after Christ be if we delighted in just these few Scriptures alone?

This passage for some reason continually has lead my mind to thinking on Jesus' interactions with people that had demons, or even Satan himself. Perhaps it is because I am in Luke in my private quite time aside from our study, but perhaps not. I am embarrassed by, quite frankly, the demon's recognition of the Son of God and their immediate obedience to His authority, especially when I think on my own recognition of Christ and obedience to Him. Have you ever wondered why they call out to Him immediately in fear? Over and over we hear them shout "Son of Man, what have you to do with us?" The recognize Jesus because...THEY KNEW HIM before. Demons are fallen angels. They once were with Him in heaven. They knew Jesus on earth because they knew Jesus in Heaven. They also understood His power and authority. Not one of them told him no. He said come out, they did. Satan, in the wilderness was the one who had the gall to press Jesus' position; to no surprise as he has been hell bent on authority and equality with God since Eden and before. He even uses God's own words manipulated to persuade him. "Throw yourself down for it is said he has commanded angels concerning you..."(Matt 4:6) Jesus does not retort with His own opinion, pay very close attention here, Jesus EVERY TIME answers back with the Word of Spirit and Truth- He uses Scripture. Every time. Jesus could have used His own words, and in a way he does....because He is the Word. He quotes the Old Testament to combat the schemes and the lies of the devil. May we be very wise to observe this pattern and practice it in our own lives. 

I bring up this point because Jesus in His prayer asks the Father to glorify him in the presence with the glory He had before the World existed. Before man, before sin entered the world and set the trajectory for this hour. Christ is eternal. In light of this, I want to close, with John 1...it is hard not to even weep as I type it out. Consider deeply now, as to why John started the book with this, and the gravity as we hear Jesus call out to the Father.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All thins were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it...And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. Amen.