“…that Your Son also may glorify You.” (Psalm 141:2a)
That God would be glorified
As one reads this sublime chapter of the Bible, John 17, we see something of the driving purpose of the Lord Jesus Christ in His life, His public ministry and He in His particular ministry.
The latter being very much in mind as He prays to His Father with reference to His death and resurrection with all its implications for those who would believe in Him.
The Son’s intent in the whole of His earthly ministry was to exhibit, through obedience, the glory of the Father (John 4:34; 14:13; Phil. 2:10-11). This is the governing principle of this prayer even as it was Jesus’ ministry.
Barry Horner on this is both encouraging and challenging:
‘While this overriding principle of glorification was such a passionate concern of the Son of God, and the Christian is to follow in the steps of his Master, yet today in so much of evangelical Christianity this priority is almost lost to sight. Sometimes confessional orthodoxy will recite this fundamental truth, but there is rarely any heartfelt fervency, as this prayer manifests.’
As we think of this today, may the Lord bless to us the example given to us by Jonathan Edwards concerning David Brainerd, missionary tot eh American Indians, who dying of tuberculosis exclaimed three weeks before he expired:
Near night, while I attempted to walk a little, my thoughts turned thus; “How infinitely sweet it is to love God, and be all for Him!” Upon which it was suggested to me, “You are not an angel, not lively and active.” To which my soul immediately replied, “I as sincerely desire to love and glorify God, as any angel in heaven.” Upon which it was suggested again, “But you are filthy, not fit for heaven.” Hereupon instantly appeared the blessed robes of Christ’s righteousness, which I could not but exalt and triumph in; and I viewed the infinite excellency of God, and my soul even broke with longings that God should be glorified. I thought of dignity in heaven; but instantly the thought returned, “I do not go to heaven to get honour, but to give all possible glory and praise.” Oh, how I longed that God should be glorified on earth also!’