Wednesday 17 April, 2019

20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. 25 “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26 I have made you[a] known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

This is Jesus praying directly for you and me (and all who have believed because of his disciples’ message). This is significant. This is personal.

His prayer for us focuses on two related things: glory and unity.

Glory is not a word I use often, so I looked it up. With reference to God, it is the revelation of who he is: his appearance in thunder and lightning, in a cloud and a pillar of fire, in his tabernacle and his temple and sometimes in person; in his character; through what he does: in creation and in miracles; and in the person of Jesus.

He prays that we would

• Be his glory. As we are united in relationship with him, and with each other, we reveal Jesus to the world around us. We testify that Jesus was sent by God; and that God loves us as much as he loves Jesus.
• See his glory. It’s exciting that he says he will continue to reveal his glory to us.

(By implication disunity goes with a damaged relationship with Jesus and his glory being hidden. That’s serious!)

I’m challenged in three things:

• It begins with unity with Jesus. If I want to see Jesus’ glory revealed (and I do), I need to focus on my relationship with him first.
• I should look for Jesus glory to be revealed in my brothers and sisters in Christ (not look for fault).
• Jesus will reveal his glory through me most readily when I’m working with other Christians, not alone (and certainly not if I’m working against them).

Jesus, I want to see your glory revealed today.

Written by David Cornell