... John 17:24-26 ...
In these final few verses of John 17, Jesus talks to His Father and points to His desire for us. His desire is that we “may be with (Him) where (He is).” Jesus desires to see us, His disciples, completed—to be in heaven with Him—for His sake and for ours. Throughout these verses Jesus’ desire is to point to His Father’s glory, and God’s desire is that His glory may be seen through His Son.
Everything that Jesus did on earth pointed to His Father’s glory. He says, “I made known to them Your Name.” The perpetual mission of Jesus is to make God known to man. So we see three missions in these verses. 1) The mission of God is to be glorified. 2) The mission of Jesus is to make God’s glory known. 3) Our mission is to know Jesus and make Him known to others so that all people might be reconciled to God.
As we go on mission and seek to make Jesus known, we can have confidence that some people will respond. It’s not our clever explanations, marketing, or missional living that wins people over. It’s the work of the Father and the Son.
Notice that verse 24 indicates that the Father has given people to Jesus. Those who are saved—who are in heaven and seeing the glory of Jesus—are gifts from the Father to the Son. When we live missionally and share the gospel, we are participating in divine gift-giving within the Trinity. The Father gives the Son His people.
Notice that verse 26 indicates that the Son makes known to people the Father’s name. Those who are saved—who for all eternity will experience the same love that the Father has for the Son—come to know the Father through the work of the Son. When we live missionally and share the gospel, we are participating in what the Son does to introduce people to the Father.
The pressure is off. We simply live missionally. We simply tell His story. And we watch the Father give people to the Son and we watch the Son introduce people to the Father.
***
Father, I want Your glory to be known. As I look around this beautiful creation I am in awe of You, the Creator. You have given me the mission of pointing to this glory so that others may know You. As I live my life, may I always be on mission to know You and make You known. Fill me with Your power to boldly proclaim the glory that is due You.
In these final few verses of John 17, Jesus talks to His Father and points to His desire for us. His desire is that we “may be with (Him) where (He is).” Jesus desires to see us, His disciples, completed—to be in heaven with Him—for His sake and for ours. Throughout these verses Jesus’ desire is to point to His Father’s glory, and God’s desire is that His glory may be seen through His Son.
Everything that Jesus did on earth pointed to His Father’s glory. He says, “I made known to them Your Name.” The perpetual mission of Jesus is to make God known to man. So we see three missions in these verses. 1) The mission of God is to be glorified. 2) The mission of Jesus is to make God’s glory known. 3) Our mission is to know Jesus and make Him known to others so that all people might be reconciled to God.
As we go on mission and seek to make Jesus known, we can have confidence that some people will respond. It’s not our clever explanations, marketing, or missional living that wins people over. It’s the work of the Father and the Son.
Notice that verse 24 indicates that the Father has given people to Jesus. Those who are saved—who are in heaven and seeing the glory of Jesus—are gifts from the Father to the Son. When we live missionally and share the gospel, we are participating in divine gift-giving within the Trinity. The Father gives the Son His people.
Notice that verse 26 indicates that the Son makes known to people the Father’s name. Those who are saved—who for all eternity will experience the same love that the Father has for the Son—come to know the Father through the work of the Son. When we live missionally and share the gospel, we are participating in what the Son does to introduce people to the Father.
The pressure is off. We simply live missionally. We simply tell His story. And we watch the Father give people to the Son and we watch the Son introduce people to the Father.
***
- How does knowing that the Father gives people to the Son take the pressure off you when it comes to missional living and witnessing?
- How does knowing that it’s really the Son who makes the Father known to the people encourage you in evangelism?
- How will you actively complete your mission (to know Jesus and to make Him known to others) today?
Father, I want Your glory to be known. As I look around this beautiful creation I am in awe of You, the Creator. You have given me the mission of pointing to this glory so that others may know You. As I live my life, may I always be on mission to know You and make You known. Fill me with Your power to boldly proclaim the glory that is due You.
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