Every Reason To Believe

Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began! [John 17.24]

John 17 just gets better and better every time I read it. This prayer by Jesus the Messiah from God seals the deal between God and Jesus, Jesus and man, and therefore God and man. Everything about this prayer is good. Everything about this prayer brings comfort, expectation and peace. But I cannot help but believe Jesus' real intention with this prayer was to bring power.

Of all the good sentences in John 17 today though, verse 24 jumped off the page to me today. Jesus stated His desire that His followers be with Him where He is. And there, with Him, His followers will witness all the glory given to Him by God.

What caught my attention is that Jesus did not necessarily indicate this to be a future request. Instead, it speaks to me as a present and timeless request. It makes me believe that any moment I even consider "in Jesus' name..." that I am transported to the very right hand of God with Jesus. And there, in God's presence, I have access to all the resources of heaven including glory.

Why was Jesus able to do such mighty miracles? Because He understood His endowment of God's glory. Nearly all of John 17 speaks of this relationship. Jesus plainly stated that He has given us that same glory (by "us" I mean the apostles and all who believe in Jesus through their testimony - vs. 20). 

We have the very same glory as permeated the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.

John 17.22 says so: "I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one."

I repeat: We have the very same glory as permeated the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.

"I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one."

So there is nothing to doubt when we come to God in prayer with our requests according to His will as it is in heaven. This kind of prayer is Kingdom business.

We have no reason to doubt and every reason to believe.

Father, help me to meditate on Jesus' prayer all day today and consider my place in Your glory because of Him.