The High Priestly Prayer (Part 2)

John 17: 1 – 26
 
This rare conversational window between two members of the Trinity gives us some insight into their foundational relationship (John obviously did not hear it, he merely transmitted it, but wouldn’t it be wonderful to listen to the Father’s replies). One thing is clear - the Father and the Son mutually and eternally glorifies each other (Jn 17:1-5; together with the Holy Spirit too). This incomprehensible divine activity has its basis anchored in agape or selfless love (1 Jn 4:16), for without it, it would be impossible to positively acknowledge and esteem each other’s character, nature and attributes (i.e., to glorify each other). In fact, Jesus’ earthly life demonstrated this unbroken relationship with His Father (Jn 17:2). It is interesting that the blatant shame and ignominy of the cross was flipped over and referenced as the Father glorifying the Son and vice versa! (Jn 17:1). Perhaps, the way we can understand this is to conclude that as Jesus obediently sacrificed Himself at the cross to satisfy God’s holiness, He was glorifying His Father, and the latter glorified His Son’s submission by accepting His redemptive price. Jesus’ prayerful intent was to align His heart to His Father’s glory, an object lesson of intimacy for us in our Godward prayers, to focus away from our often self-centred requests. 
 
This process of perpetually exalting the other inevitably implies certain outcomes. There is an immense depth of loving joy when they seek to glorify not themselves but each other, and God being God, He was not about to keep His love and glory to Himself, as He shares it expansively and inclusively with His creation, specifically those imaged after Him (Jn 17:22). It seems crystal clear that the purpose of Jesus’ coming was to share what they enjoyed within the Trinity, and His redemptive ransom was the pathway to it (cf., Phil 2:7), exemplifying for us the heart of God. It is pertinent to remind ourselves that Jesus gave up His glory during His tenure on earth to glorify ‘the new man in Christ,’ the redeemed imago Dei (Jn 17:22; Col 1:27). And the reality of it is that we only discover who we are designed to be when unhindered servanthood towards God is part of our makeup.
 
The internal relationship within the Godhead reflects His outward approach to man. Does God really listen to everything? Well, yes, from every living thing in our world, inclusive of the universe. I am sure, being God, He does, simply because He is intensely and passionately relational, caring and loves His creation (cf., Rom 8:22-25). The human character, on the other hand, tend towards self and group polarization, where the tendency is to gravitate towards a partisan echo chamber, where they mostly hear more and louder echoes of their own voices (from others) that mirror their point of view - reinforcing their existing beliefs on a multitude of issues and making them prefer to be with those who are like themselves. To be like Jesus is never a simple matter, where our new ‘hearts of flesh’ require us to listen and weigh graciously and with lovingkindness the diversity of voices around us identifying us as children of our Lord and King (cf., 1 Cor 13:1; James 3:8). I cannot imagine what would become of us if Yahweh were a lesser god listening only within his own trinitarian echo chamber! 
 
Being on this side of the Fall and exacerbated by our constant frustrations with our temptations, there is a sense of yearning and impatience to be embraced by the perceptible glory of God. However, the reality of the fullness of His presence is future-oriented (Jn 17:24), but with the gift of eternal life, His Word and the presence of His Holy Spirit, we commence our timeless journey of knowing and relating experientially here and now (Jn 17:3; the Greek ‘to know’) with our holy and glorious God. Daily, He needs to remain our first love!