The Lord’s Prayer
Jesus began the Lord’s prayer by asking the Father to glorify Him in order to glorify the Father. Jesus needed the Father to demonstrate He was truly the Son of God who would take away the sin of the world in order to glorify the Father. As the Father glorified the Son, so Jesus would glorify God.
Eternal life is the Father glorifying Jesus. Jesus described eternal life in His prayer: “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (John 17:3). The Amplified version states it like this: “And this is eternal life: [it means] to know (to perceive, recognize, become acquainted with, and under-stand) You, the only true and real God, and [likewise] to know Him, Jesus [as the] Christ (the Anointed One, the Messiah), Whom You have sent.” Eternal life is not only going to heaven but is also a relationship with God now.
It is important to recognize that learning theology is not the same as being in relationship with Jesus. The major difference is the heart. Learning theology and knowledge is important to understand God’s Word, but knowledge without application does not transform you. Therefore, eternal life is not studying the Bible but being in a love relationship with Jesus. Eternal life is surrendering your heart to Him and allowing Him to change you from the inside out. Only the Holy Spirit can accomplish this work. Many are afraid of the Spirit because they have preconceived ideas of Him. The Spirit is alive and active in those who love God even if people misinterpret His work. Jesus spoke a lot about the Spirit in John. Many miss out on the incredible work of the resurrection because they negate the Spirit’s work in a believer.
Without the Holy Spirit, you would not be able to have a deep, abiding relationship with Jesus. The Lord’s Prayer is only accomplished by the work of the Spirit. The way in which Jesus stayed connected to the Father was by the Spirit. You cannot separate the Trinity and abide in Christ. Christ asked to be glorified in order to give eternal life to those the Father gives Him. If you are a believer, then that includes you. You cannot know God without Spirit and Truth, and you will not honor the Word without the Spirit (see John 4:24).
The glory Jesus asked for was not for Himself but for us. If Jesus was not glorified, then the price of our sins would not be paid. When a person wants to be honored, it is usually to gain personal recognition. The glory Jesus was looking for was what would enable Him to complete His sacrifice for us. The Father could only glorify Jesus through the cross, death, and the resurrection.
Jesus recognized that God had given Him authority over all flesh in order to give eternal life to as many as God had given Him. Jesus glorified God by giving eternal life to those who would receive Him, and this eternal life would be communion with God.
Providing this to those who would believe is one of the greatest acts of Kindness that anyone could have done, because Jesus had to lose His Life in a brutal way. Jesus knows exactly what persecution for righteousness is and what you need to not only endure but also to continue to have joy in the Father and the Son! Eternal life is NOW.
From John: True Belief Brings Joy (Book 3) by Alison Veazey and Kerry Skinner.