John 17:4-5 meaning...

This passage contains part of Jesus' prayer to the Father before His crucifixion. It gives us a glimpse into the deep connection between Jesus and the Father and sheds light on the purpose and mission of Jesus during His time on earth. Let's break down these verses and explore their significance.

Jesus begins by affirming that He has glorified the Father on earth. Throughout His ministry, Jesus consistently demonstrated the Father's love, compassion, and righteousness. His words, actions, and miracles were all in alignment with the will of the Father. By obeying and fulfilling the Father's commands, Jesus brought glory to His name. This is an example for us as well—to live our lives in a way that reflects God's character and brings glory to Him.

Jesus then declares that He has accomplished the work the Father gave Him to do. He came to fulfill the Father's plan of salvation, which involved His sacrificial death on the cross. Through His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus completed the mission entrusted to Him. He achieved victory over sin, conquered death, and made a way for humanity to be reconciled with God. His work on the earth was pivotal and has everlasting significance for all humanity.

In the following statement, Jesus requests that the Father glorify Him with His own self, with the glory they shared before the world existed. This declaration unveils the eternal nature of the relationship between Jesus and the Father. Jesus existed in perfect unity with the Father before the creation of the world. He enjoyed the divine glory and fellowship with the Father. Through His prayer, Jesus expresses His desire to return to that eternal glory.

This passage carries profound implications for us as believers:

• The Fulfillment of God's Plan: 

Jesus' prayer highlights the fulfillment of God's plan of redemption. Through His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus accomplished what was necessary for our salvation. His work on earth was integral to God's plan, and it demonstrates the Father's love for us. As recipients of this grace, we can rejoice in the completed work of Jesus and the salvation it brings.

• The Model of Obedience: 

Jesus' words affirm His perfect obedience to the Father's will. He lived in complete alignment with God's purpose and fulfilled the tasks given to Him. As followers of Christ, we are called to imitate His obedience, submitting our lives to God's will and seeking to accomplish the work He has entrusted to us. We can find guidance and inspiration in Jesus' example, as we navigate our own journeys of faith and service.

• The Eternal Glory: 

Jesus' prayer reveals His longing for the restoration of the glory He shared with the Father before the world existed. It reminds us of the eternal nature of our relationship with God. Through faith in Jesus, we are united with Him and can look forward to a future where we will share in His glory. This hope sustains us as we face trials and challenges in the present, knowing that our ultimate destiny is to be in the presence of God, experiencing His glory forever.

• The Power of Prayer: 

Jesus' prayer to the Father serves as an example of the power and significance of prayer. Through His communication with the Father, Jesus expresses His desires, seeks God's will, and strengthens His relationship with Him. As believers, we are invited into this same intimacy with God through prayer. We can approach the Father with our needs, desires, and concerns, knowing that He hears us and delights in our communion with Him.

In conclusion, John 17:4-5 captures a pivotal moment in Jesus' prayer to the Father before His crucifixion. It reflects His obedience to the Father's will, the completion of His earthly mission, and His longing for the restoration of eternal glory. This passage inspires us to live in alignment with God's purposes, to trust in the fulfillment of His plan through Jesus, and to approach God with boldness and confidence in prayer. May we find encouragement and guidance in Jesus' example and seek to bring glory to God as we fulfill the work He has given us to do.

John 17:4-5. I glorified you on the earth. I have accomplished the work which you have given me to do. Now, Father, glorify me with your own self with the glory which I had with you before the world existed.

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