RECOVERING THE GLORY
John 17:1 ¶ These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: 2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. 4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
John 17:20 ¶ Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. 24 ¶ Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
The entire human race lost the glory of God due to their sin when they fell in Adam. Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; And no human can recover it. For God will not give his glory to another. Isaiah 42:8 I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
Therefore the entire human race is hopelessly lost unless God alone undertakes to recover His glory for us! We must have one, not born in sin, who has not come short of the glory to recover it for us. And since God will not share his glory with another, it must be God Himself to accomplish this for us. He must be man to represent the human race. And he must be God to have access to the glory!
And thanks be to God, we have hope of the recovering of the glory through our Lord Jesus Christ! Isaiah 59:16 He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him. John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
For seeing the glory is essential to justification! John 2:11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
And it is required for progressive spiritual growth! 2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, (that is, from a lesser to a higher degree of glory), even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
And by Christ’s prayer, recorded in that John 17:24 verse, (listed above), we shall be provided with our eternal glorification! 1John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
Let us now give heed to the clear and precise order of the Son’s understanding of the priorities of the Trinity concerning the accomplishments of the cross. For organized religion has only had us consider that its sole benefit is for us to be able to “go to heaven!” But that is not the main priority of the Lamb of God as He rehearses these matters with the Father.
And we first come to understand that this was “the” precise “hour” set by the Almighty for these matters to be accomplished. And once the Son had exclaimed to the Father that this was their eternally proposed hour, He give the priority that must always take the first place. And that is The Glory of God! Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
Moses learned that God’s glory was to be found within His mercy. Exodus 33:18 And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. 19 And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.
And that is what the angels proclaimed as they announced the birth of the Lamb of God. For the Incarnation of the Redeemer was unto God’s highest glory! Luke 2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
For God does not redeem the sinner just to keep him out of Hell! God redeems the sinner in order to glorify Himself! For the Spirit’s effectual call of sinners into grace and life is mainly done to the base and weak, so that the human cannot boast in the presence of the Almighty! 1 Corinthians 1:26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
Then the second matter of which the Son clearly understands as being the issue of the Cross is His absolute sovereignty! John 17:2a As thou hast given him power over all flesh, Consider Romans 14:19 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. This is contrary to the mind of organized religion! For it clearly and unmistakably states that the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus was that He might be Lord!
Also consider these verses: Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Acts 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. 1 Peter 3:22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
And we read that this was the mindset of the Father for his Son. Philippians 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
The first Adam was give “dominion” over all God’s creation to rule over it in God’s place. But Satan came and stole it from him, becoming “the god of this world.” (See 2 Corinthians 4:4) But Christ, the last Adam, destroyed him by his own death! Hebrews 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
And then finally the third priority in this hour of the Cross is the salvation of God’s elect people. John 17:2b that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And it is in these three priorities in which the glory of God is recovered! For it is by the gift of faith in the Son by whom we have the glory recovered. John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 11:4 When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. 40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
Carefully read the Son’s words as listed above in John 17:20-24 to see His accomplishment in Recovering the Glory. And then understand that the application of that glory is exclusively by the Holy Spirit as He quickens the Lord’s people and bestows upon them the gifts of repentance and faith. Acts 20:21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
For it is not just a mental assent to the bare fact of Jesus dying on the cross that has redemptive value. For even the demons are aware of that fact! James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 2 Corinthians 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
For it is in seeing of the glory of that event which is unto salvation. Romans 2:6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds: 7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: {That is, only those to whom the Holy Spirit reveals the glory of the cross are granted eternal life.} 8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, 9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; 10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: 11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
Here again is the statement of God, the Son, of the glory being recovered. John 17:22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one;