Meditations

Question on moody radio Chicago on openline on September 7, 2019:

Can you explain what Jesus meant by glory in John 17:22. “I do not ask on behalf of these alone,” this is Jesus praying to God the Father, “but for those also who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, even as You Father are in me and I in You, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that You send me. Here’s the verse specifically that Chris is asking about, ” The glory that you have given me, I have given to them, that they may be one, just as they are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You send me, and love them even as you loved me.” So, when Jesus talks about that glory which you have given me, I have given to them, what does he mean by that word?

Answer from Dr Michael Rydelnik:

Well, you can just look back at verse 5 and it talks about how the Father glorify me in your presence, with that glory I had with You before the world existed, isn’t that kind of amazing? Here, God Incarnate, God the Son Incarnate, who gave up that glory, didn’t give up that Godness at all but it’s veiled in flesh, He says now glorify me and that’s the glory of perfection, perfect holiness, and then what He says here in verse 22, “I have given the glory you given me, He says Father give it back to me and he told his disciples, I am going to give them that glory, but I don’t have it yet, we just have ours positionally, but one day, we are going to be glorified, that’s going to come a time, this is hard for me to believe but I won’t sin and not only will I have the imputed righteousness of Jesus but one day when I stand in His presence, it will be with the glory He has shared with me, that’s what we are talking about we are justified, we are being sanctified and one day we will be glorified because of what He has done for us. I don’t have a hard time imagining Eva glorified or you Tricia glorified, I have a real hard time considering me, because I know how wicked I am but it’s an amazing thing that Jesus prays for us and assures us and by the way, positionally, in God’s eyes, we are already like that, which is just amazing. Positional truth is true truth. So, in Romans 8, for example in verse 17, seeing that we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him, but then here’s what interesting, in verse 30, Romans 8, those he’s predestined, he’s called and those that he called, he also justified, justified means declared righteous and those that he declared righteous or justified, he also glorified. So, he’s talking about those of us who are believers and there it says not only have we been declared righteous but we have also positionally been glorified, it refers to something in God’s eye it’s already done so we can be assured that it will be done in the future when we are in glory. It’s kind of a cool thing.

John 17

²⁰ “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; ²¹ that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. ²² And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: ²³ I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. -nkjv

John 17

1Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, ² as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. ³ And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. ⁴ I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. ⁵ And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was. -nkjv

Romans 8

¹² Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. ¹³ For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. ¹⁴ For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. ¹⁵ For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” ¹⁶ The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, ¹⁷ and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. -nkjv

Romans 8

²⁸ And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. ²⁹ For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. ³⁰ Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. -nkjv