The Glory and Beauty of Christ 3

John 17:24 “Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.

One of the greatest privileges and advancements of believers, both in this world and unto eternity, consists in their beholding the glory of Christ. This, therefore, He desires for them in this solemn intercession, as the complement of all His other requests in their behalf: “That they may behold my glory,” that they may see, or contemplate my glory. John Owen

Human beings who swell in pride long for, live for, and deeply desire for others to see their glory, but do so for their own selfish purposes without a true regard to God or other human beings. But Christ prayed for His people to see His glory and that to the glory of God and the highest good for other human beings. True humility, which Christ had in and to perfection, desires to see the glory of God and to have others behold that glory as well. The Gospel of the glory of God and of the glory of Christ is quite consistent with this prayer. The Father had given the Son (or shared with) perfect glory from all eternity and the glory of the Father was and is shining forth in the Son. So the Son wanted others to behold His glory out of love for the glory of God and for others.

In this the two Greatest Commandments shine forth in their beauty as well as setting forth the greatest example. We see the Son seeking the glory of God in all that He did and we also see Him seeking the highest good for His people. We see the Son wanting others to behold Him in order that they may behold the glory of the Father in Him. We see the prayer of the Son and notice His greatest desire and then His desire for His people. The two desires are never really separate in reality, but in desiring the glory of God He wanted others to behold it and then to manifest it. So the Son is our example in what He loved the most (the Father’s glory) and how He sought that (for others to see and manifest that glory).

This prayer of Christ sets forth the Lord’s Prayer as well. In it Christ taught His disciples to pray for the name of the Father to be hallowed and glorified. This is, more or less, a prayer for at least the third commandment. The desire for the Father’s name and glory to be revered and glorified should be the chief love and purpose of the believer. If Christ sought that in what He did and sought that in prayer as well, then each person redeemed by Christ should give him or herself to prayer and seeking that same goal. It is more than a mere duty, but it is a great privilege beyond all compare.

If we could but draw back the curtain and peer into the heavenly realms, what would we see? We would see the seraphim singing in praise and worship to God of His glory at all times. We would see all of heaven bowing in worship as others sing of the holiness of God and how worthy He is of praise. The greatest thing and purpose for human beings is to join the Lord of the universe and the heavenly throng in praying for and seeking the manifestation of the glory of God. While it is a privilege to do so, it is a privilege far greater than we can imagine. So enough of dutiful Christian living without worship and adoration, but let us see that it is part of our duty to bow before the living God and seek His praise both now and forever. After all, this is what the Lord Jesus prayed for.

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