Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. (John 17:24)
Our Lord and Savior is not a distant deity but an intensely personal God. Though he rules from heaven’s throne, he is ever present with us as believers and acts with the greatest amount of care in our individual lives. Jesus has so much affection for those whom the Father has given to him, that even as the hour of the cross approaches, we find him pleading here for those whom he loves. Christ is not indifferent to those whom he saves, nor did he simply stoically bear the cross because of his Father’s will. No, he went willingly to the cross not only because it was the Father’s will to save wretched sinners, but because it was his own intensely personal desire! His impassioned plea and longing before his Father was that we who remain here on this earth might not die in our sins, but would one day be with him where he is! But why would Jesus long for such a thing? It was certainly not because he lacked good company. In heaven, he would be in rich fellowship with his everlasting Father and the Holy Spirit. The greatest relationships in the world cannot compare with the intimacy that is found in the triune Godhead, the perfect three-in-one relationship. So, if our Lord does not need us to satisfy a relational need, why does he want believers to be with him?
The answer? That they might see his glory. What our Lord passionately desired as he headed for the cross is that we would not just be with him, but that would see with our very own eyes the great glory of the Son of Man. The glory which he had before the foundation of the world was laid! What a blessing and joy that the sight of the glory of God must be for Jesus to so desire this just moments before his death! The Scriptures attest to the greatness of the glory of God, for none can see the glory of the immortal God and live. Moses saw God’s back and his face shone so brightly that he needed to place a veil over his face. Isaiah upon seeing the glory of the God of Israel threw himself onto the ground and cried out that he was a man of unclean lips! At the sight of the glory of God, the angels in heaven shout for joy! And because of the glory of God, the rocks of the earth cry out and the hills clap their hands. How magnificent is the glory of God! How awe-inspiring it is to the soul! And if his glory is this wonderful, why then should we be surprised that our Lord desires for us to be with him?
Christian, are you awed at the thought of seeing the glory of God? Is it your heart’s desire to go and be with Jesus so that you might see his glory? The longing of our good Lord was to treat our souls to a sumptuous feast of his glory. Therefore, there can be no greater good work, than to introduce other people to the glory of Jesus, so that they too may feast their souls on him and live. No amount wealth, good health or anything else under the sun can compare with the nourishment we will receive from one day enjoying the glory of God. Jesus does not desire for us to be with him so that we might meet a defect in his joy. Rather, he desires for us to be with him to satisfy a defect in our joy. Life is incomplete and ultimately unsatisfying if we are deprived of the glory of God. But thanks be to God, that our Jesus prayed for us, and that one day, we who believe with him, will have the ultimate joy of seeing his glory.
