(1)v.1-5
v.1b Glorify your Son, so that your Son may glorify you—17:2 just as you have given him authority over all humanity, so that he may give eternal life to everyone you have given him.
(BKC) Jesus then prayed, Glorify Your Son (cf. 17:5). This request for glorification included sustaining Jesus in suffering, accepting His sacrifice, resurrecting Him, and restoring Him to His pristine glory. The purpose of the request was that the Father would be glorified by the Son, that God’s wisdom, power, and love might be known through Jesus.
The word, "glorify," was repeated in this section. Note, one of the examples of the Father glorifying the Son/Son glorifying the Father was that Jesus was given authority to give mankind eternal life v. 1-3. Jesus was going to glorify the Father by completing His work and died on the Cross v.4.
Reflection: Death was seen as glory to Jesus because in the process Jesus exercised authority over humankind and brought them eternal life. Since the Fall in the garden of Eden mankind was under the control of sin/death. Now, by dying for us Jesus could exercise authority over us. Jesus cares about mankind more than anyone. Thank God for loving us. Thank you for giving us the opportunity. Mankind was and still is without hope without Jesus.
(2) Special phrase
17:3 Now this is eternal life—that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you sent.
(NET) The author here defines eternal life for the readers... It is not just unending life in the sense of prolonged duration. Rather it is a quality of life, with its quality derived from a relationship with God. Having eternal life is here defined as being in relationship with the Father, the one true God, and Jesus Christ whom the Father sent. .. 1:18... Jesus has fully revealed what God is like, with Jesus’ statement in 10:10 that he has come that people might have life, and have it abundantly. These two purposes are really one, according to 17:3, because (abundant) eternal life is defined as knowing (being in relationship with) the Father and the Son.
Reflection: Eternal life is abundant because we have a chance to know God, the only true God and Jesus Christ. Just like what our speaker this morning reminded us today: being saved perhaps was a point in our lives, but continuing our relationship with God should be a continuing line. Why dont we spend time with God and get to know Him more?
Audrey
Audrey
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