Jesus’ Prayer For Glory

Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you. For you have given him authority over everyone. He gives eternal life to each one you have given him. And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth. I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began.”

John 17:1-5

At the Last Supper, the night of his betrayal, Jesus prayed this prayer. In preparation for the suffering he would endure in the days ahead, Jesus prayed that God would be glorified in his life. We often think the road to glory is lined with success. Yet Jesus’ road to glory was lined with suffering and seeming defeat in the form of a horrible death on the cross. How could this “defeat” bring God glory? Jesus explained in his prayer that God received glory through Jesus’ obedience.

Rarely do we view our suffering and defeat as giving glory to God. But we also rarely have God’s view of our circumstances. God’s glory is reflected in our acts of obedience, love, and faithfulness in this life. Follow Christ’s example today by praying that God might be glorified in your life.

• Dear Father, let me bring glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do . . .