Thoughts on the Gospel of John (164) - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2024

Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him.
John 17:1–2

Thoughts on the Gospel of John (164)
There is hardly a chapter in the Bible that contains such depth and fullness as the 17th chapter of the Gospel of John. Jesus, the Son of God, is about to leave this world and go back to His Father in heaven. He had carefully and at the same time lovingly prepared His disciples for this. But now He is no longer speaking to His disciples; here the Son of God is speaking to His heavenly Father.

This prayer is unique. It has the disciples as its subject and all who would believe in Jesus. They are “in the world”, which rejects Christ, and they are therefore in danger. But at the same time, they are already in possession of eternal things. Eternal life, a relationship with God as their Father, union with Christ in glory and a secure future with Him – all this far outlasts their stay “in the world” and already constitutes the happiness of God’s children today.

His sacrificial death and resurrection are still to come for Jesus; chapters 18?20 speak of this. But He sees everything here as having already happened. So, He asks that the Father may glorify Him and crown Him with honour and glory. In this, the Son of God – as always – has only one goal: He wants to make the Father great, and that from heaven.

Jesus is God and man in one person. His “authority over all flesh” was already evident at that time in His raising people from the dead. In the future it will be seen in the judgment of mankind. Today it shows itself in the fact that He gives eternal life to all who believe in Him.

Today’s reading: Ezekiel 11:1-25 · Psalms 119:17-32