22 The glory which You have given Me I also have given to them, so that they may be one, just as We are one; 23 I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and You loved them, just as You loved Me. 24 Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.

John 17:22-24 (NASB)

A few posts ago we dedicated a post to glory called, “All about glory”. That was from John 17:1-5, the beginning of the chapter. Now we reach the end of the chapter and what is Jesus talking about again? Glory! We’ve discussed many times how Jesus likes to repeat topics to let the truth sink in over time. Each subsequent time, he adds a little additional seasoning if you will to “tease more taste” out of the subject.

Double repeat

In the process of reiterating the idea of glory, Jesus reiterates the idea of unity among the disciples like it exists between the Father and Him. Yesterday we looked at the unity of the disciples patterning the unity of the Godhead. 

What do we know about this glory that Jesus received from the Father and passed to the disciples? I think John wants us to look back to John 1:14 where John writes, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” 

Purpose of glory giving

And the purpose, again, as yesterday, is that the disciples may be one as Jesus is one with the Father. And this leads to the world knowing that the Father sent the Son, and loves them as He loves the Son. We notice that Jesus says the disciples’ unity needs to be perfected; whereas the Father and Son’s unity is, of course, perfect. 

See the glory

John said in 1:14 that they had seen Jesus’ glory. And we can see it too. “And when you meet [Jesus], through these inspired stories of his words and deeds, his glory shines through…” (desiringgod.org) Yet He has even greater glory in Heaven and He so desires His disciples to see it, to see His Heavenly glory. He already promised in John 14:1-4 that His disciples will be with Him. He reiterates at the end of this prayer to the Father. 

RЯeflection

• We can look forward to seeing Jesus’ full glory in Heaven. We get glimpses of it through the gospels and through the wonders of Creation. I guess we will be literally stunned when we see it.