Posts by Yong Joo Park:
Jesus’ Prayers for Glorification & His Assurance of Mission Completion
John 17:1–5 (NKJV)
Christ Prays for Himself
17 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, 2 as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. 4 I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. 5 And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.
Message
The Crucifixion and the Resurrection are about to happen. And these events will restore the relationship between the Father and mankind. And mankind will be able to directly approach and ask the Father in Jesus’ name (John 16:23-27).
We note that His final and complete victory over the world was foreshadowed when He overcame the temptations of the devil in Matthew 4:1-11.
Before the Crucifixion and the Resurrection, Jesus described the impending accomplishment as if it were already completed, using the past perfect tense: “I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33).
After this, Jesus prayed the Father.
I. Jesus’ Prayer for Glorification & Eternal Life (1-3)
See v1-2.
1 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, 2 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 begins with Jesus’ prayer to the Father. Here, the Glorification Jesus mentions in v1 is related to the Crucifixion and the Resurrection. This reminds us of Romans 8:18 NKJV.
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Even if we experience shame or pain in the Lord, we can look forward to the forthcoming, incomparable glory from God, calling the entire process or experience ‘glorification’ or ‘sanctification’.
Based on v2, these events are required to give eternal life to those whom the Father has given to Jesus. Jesus teaches the definition of eternal life in v3. See v3.
3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
Here, the knowledge is not just necessary information. Rather, it is an experiential relationship. So, Eternal life is experiencing God and having a relationship with God. The redemptive work of Jesus restored our relationship with God, making eternal life possible.
II. Jesus’ Assurance After Asking the Father: Mission Complete (4)
See v4.
4 I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.
Jesus said, “It is finished!” just before he bowed his head and gave up His spirit on the cross (John 19:30). However, Jesus says in v4 that He has finished the work, speaking of the future event in the past perfect tense – similar to when He said, ”I have overcome the world.” in John 16:33.
A similar example is when David knew and told Goliath that he would win the fight (1 Samuel 17:45-47) and then actually won the fight (1 Samuel 17:48-51).
Jesus taught in Mark 11:24 NKJV.
24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
Jesus not only taught but also practiced. After He asked the Father in v1-3, Jesus believed that He received them. He knew He would resurrect gloriously after the crucifixion. So, in v4, Jesus said He had finished the work the Father had given Him to do.
III. Jesus’ Prayer for Exaltation (5)
See v5.
5 And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.
After the Resurrection, Jesus remained on earth for 40 days. Then, He ascended to heaven and sat at the right hand of God (Mark 16:19). Sitting at the right hand of God signifies that the Father glorifies Jesus together with the Father Himself.
Jesus was in the beginning with God, was God and existed before the creation (John 1:1-3).
Peace and Victory through Jesus’ Redemption
John 16:16–33 (NKJV) The Prediction of Christ’s Death and Resurrection 16 “A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father.” 17 Then some of His disciples said among themselves, “What is this that He says to us, ‘A little while, and […]
The Role of the Holy Spirit and Persecution Foretold
John 15:26–16:15 (NKJV) The Promise of the Holy Spirit 26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning. 16 “These things […]
The True Believers Hated By The World Without A Cause
John 15:18–25 (NKJV) The Relationship of Believers to the World 18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the […]
Abide in Christ’s Love and Love One Another: A Call to Friendship and Obedience
John 15:9–17 (NKJV) 9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. 11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, […]
Pruning of the Vinedresser, The Father and Abiding In The True Vine, Jesus
John 15:1–8 (NKJV) The Relationship of Believers to Christ 1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word […]
Jesus’ Promise of Greater Works, His Manifestation, and the Gift of Peace
John 14:12–31 (NKJV) 12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in […]
Jesus’ Assurance of Paradise, the Only Way to the Father, and His Unity with the Father
John 14:1–11 (NKJV) Christ Comforts His Disciples 1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place […]
Jesus’ Glorification, the New Commandment, and Peter’s Denial Foretold
John 13:31–38 (NKJV) Christ Announces His Departure 31 So, when he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him. 32 If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and glorify Him immediately. 33 Little children, I shall be with you a little while […]
Jesus Predicts His Betrayal and Highlights Representation
John 13:18–30 (NKJV) 18 “I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.’ 19 Now I tell you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe that […]
