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. 24 “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. 26 And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”
Stop for just one moment and drink in all the beauty of this scripture, revel in it and savor every morsel of truth.
First, note that this is a prayer by Jesus Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane. He is heading to the cross where He is about to take on all the guilt, the shame, and the punishment for my sin and yours. God, who can not look upon sin, will turn His back upon Him with a wrenching pain that we cannot even imagine. He, who knew no sin, was on the road to Calvary to be my sin bearer. The King of Kings, the Lord of Lords in His most desperate moment of pain; knowing what He would face, prayed for me. My great high priest pleaded for me and continues to plead for me.
More than that, look at this incredible prayer. He asked that I might be united in Him and the Father in the same manner that He is united with the Father. Think about this, united in Spirit and Communion with God just as Christ is—this is His plead for me? Me with all my vain desires and stumbling of feet united as one with Christ – what a thought!!! Beyond that He says “And the glory which You gave Me I have given them” He has given me His glory? When I gaze upon Him in all His Magnificent Glory—high and risen up- this Prince of all ages; it is nearly unimaginable that He shares that Glory with me. Who am I that He who created the entire universe would love me so much. He desires that I know and understand that God loved me with that same love as He has for His Son. There it is that is exactly what verse 23 says. We still cannot grasp the full magnitude of this unless we fully behold His Glory and the depth of love the Father has for Him, so He even pleads that we may be given this vision. Just as declared in II Corinthians 3:16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
He is the one who removes that veil of blindness that this human heart has and step by step reveals that Glory which is too great for me to even comprehend without the work of the Holy Spirit. As He reveals the greatness of His Glory He sets about to transform me into that same image of Glory which is His so I might go forth and show forth to a dying world His Love, His Joy, His Hope, and His Glory. How can I do any less than just that !! The cares of this world fade to dimness in the light of His Glory. Is there any hardship or pain to great to endure for this High Priest? Is there any shore to distant to walk for Him? He is right there with me each and every step of the way pleading for my understanding. Whatever befalls my life, I will follow Him, my Shepherd and Savior. The amazing thing is when standing in His presence those things that people consider as suffering no longer even feels burdensome. His overwhelming Joy fills my heart and His perfect peace fills my soul driving out all sorrow and fear. It is a very foolish thing indeed to not make seeking Him the number one priority of one’s life.
My one question is “Do You Know and Believe in Him?” This prayer was for all “those who will believe in Me (Christ) through their word (the teaching of the disciples-The Bible)” It is my earnest desire that if you do not know Him—seek Him. For those who do know Him, I desire that you understand the depth of these truths. His love for me and You was never dependent on us; rather it is dependent on my great Savior, Friend, and High Priest—Jesus Christ.
Love, Effie Darlene Barba