“The Father was glorified by the Son”

Article for May 17, 2026

John 17:1–3   1When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

That this, “The High Priestly Prayer,” was given by Jesus before His crucifixion is more of a farewell prayer from the Son to the Father who sent Him for those who follow Him.  One might think that glory has already been given to the Son as He was given the power to give eternal life to all whom the Father has given Him.  Not that Jesus could not have just granted eternal life to all whom He chose but that His glory becomes more important to us through His suffering, death, and resurrection.  And this is how Jesus is glorified as He becomes the one to volunteer to die for our sins.

It would not be a choice you or I might make to be glorified but that Jesus the Son of the Father makes to manifest the power to give us eternal life.  Jesus did this to fulfill the law that we could not do ourselves.  In holding true to the law, Jesus knew that all who sin deserved the penalty the law demanded and that is death.  Though not all were put to death for their sin, death still played its part in the demands of the law. 

Confession and absolution had to take place that the sin of all was forgiven so that life could continue.  And not that life could just continue but that there was also a deterrent to hopefully sway one from sinning.  Thus, the sacrifice of the unblemished.  The innocent who dies for the guilty.  And the guilt of letting the innocent suffer and die for our sins.  That we might love, fear, and follow our God and our Savior

In all of this Jesus was granted the power to give eternal life.  Jesus goes on to explain to those who listen to His prayer.  What is eternal life but to know the one true God and to know the one who was sent to be glorified, Jesus Christ.  That the Father was glorified by the Son and the Son is glorified by the Father and in their glorification, we are glorified by knowing the one true God who finds the means to keep His beloved creation of all believers alive for all eternity.

John 17:4–6   4I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. 5And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.       6“I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.

A time of beginning, a time of life, a time of turmoil, and a time of strife.  From Adam and Eve to Noah, from Noah to the first chosen, from the first chosen to Jesus, and from Jesus to the calling of the Christians.  Life has been lived in thistles and thorns, in struggle and war, in some peace, and some grief.  But the silver lining of all this is the glory given to Jesus Christ who was given the power to give eternal life.

Yes, we have joy and happiness in this life on earth and we also suffer, but our suffering is just a day in our eternal existence.  Remember, Jesus suffered and died an agonizing death for our sake, and it is this that showed us the power of God.  For Jesus died for our sins but was brought back to life through His resurrection.  For our sake Jesus was given the power to grant eternal life to all who know the Father and know Jesus Christ.  In other words, eternal life to all who believe that Jesus Christ is our savior and our Lord.

John 17:7–8   7Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. 8For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.

Do not let this world confuse you nor let those confused by this world fool you.  For many will discard the word of God for the acceptance of the world and acceptance of the flesh only to find in the end an ending of great distraught, as God’s word says, a gnashing and grinding of teeth.  Faith, in itself or your self is nothing, but faith in God and that Jesus died for our sins is life. 

If we think the word of God is not the word of God, then we have made God a liar and deceiver who then has deceived the world for thousands of years.  But the word of God is true, and God is not a liar or deceiver and we His people can put our faith in Him rather than in man or ourselves.  God has given us His true word and true promises.

John 17:9–11  9I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 10All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 11And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.”

Jesus is praying for the apostles, and disciples gathered with Him, a 120 in all.  Jesus is also praying for all believers, through whom the Father has given Him.  Our Lord is saying farewell?  Maybe, or maybe He is telling us the rest of history to come.  Either way Jesus is praying for those who are with Him and giving the glory to the Father that will be giving the Son the glory for finishing the task He was sent to do.

Jesus our Lord and Savior is glorified through the promise He made to the Father to save those who know the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. 

IT IS FINISHED. 

Amen.