“I glorified you on earth by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do. And now glorify me, O Father, with yourself, with the glory which I had, before the world was, with you.” (John 17:4-5)
 

John 17:1-11

St John’s Gospel links glory to Jesus’ crucifixion, and Jesus’ prayer shows how glory moves from earth to heaven. Leading up to this, Jesus, as he entered Jerusalem, said, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” (John 12:23-34) At his betrayal by Judas, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him.” (John 13:31).

There is a connection between Jesus’ words in this prayer and the words he cried out at the hour of his death. In this prayer, Jesus tells God that his work on earth has been accomplished; it is finished. On the cross, at the time of his death, he cried out, “It is finished.” Jesus brought glory to God by accomplishing earthly works and by his crucifixion. God revealed his power during Jesus’ ministry but also at Jesus’ death.

At his crucifixion, the hand of God and his divine glory and power are visible in the strange darkness, the tearing of the temple curtain, the earth quaking and the rising of the saints. Yet St John fails to mention these signs in his account. In John’s Gospel, the crucifixion reveals God’s glory through divine love. The crucifixion shows the world Jesus’ love for God and God’s love for the world. (John 3:16) Jesus returns to the heavenly glory of God by his resurrection and ascension, and he prays that his followers will one day join him to share this glory and love.

As Christians, we glorify God when we reveal God’s love to the world. We are assured that we will be with Jesus and share in heavenly glory because Jesus has completed all that God required and conquered the world.

Consider Jesus’ crucifixion, resurrection and ascension. How is God’s glory revealed to you?
 

Reflections by Gillian Hugo

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