What does "see My glory" in John 17:24 teach about Christ's divinity? Framing the Conversation “Father, I want those You have given Me to be with Me where I am, that they may see My glory, the glory You have given Me because You loved Me before the foundation of the world.” (John 17:24) What “glory” means here • A visible, awe-inspiring radiance that belongs uniquely to God (Exodus 33:18–23; Psalm 24:8–10). • The manifestation of divine majesty that Jesus possessed “before the foundation of the world,” indicating timeless pre-existence. • Not merely honor or fame, but the very splendor of God’s own being (Hebrews 1:3). Why this glory proves Christ’s divinity • Eternal origin – Jesus speaks of glory shared with the Father “before the foundation of the world.” Nothing created can claim that (cf. John 1:1–3). • Exclusive ownership – God declares, “I will not give My glory to another” (Isaiah 42:8; 48:11). If the Father bestows His own glory on Jesus, Jesus must share the Father’s divine nature. • Equality within the Godhead – Earlier in the prayer Jesus said, “Now, Father, glorify Me in Your presence with the glory I had with You before the world existed” (John 17:5). – Philippians 2:6 affirms that Christ, “being in very nature God,” did not grasp at equality because it was already His. • Radiance personified – Hebrews 1:3 calls the Son “the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature.” What God is, the Son is. • Confirmed in earthly moments – The Transfiguration gave Peter, James, and John a foretaste of this same glory (Matthew 17:1–2). – John would later testify, “We have seen His glory” (John 1:14). The Father’s desire: believers beholding divine glory • Union: “Be with Me where I am”—Jesus places Himself as the eternal dwelling place of His people (John 14:3). • Revelation: Our ultimate joy is not a place but a Person; we are invited to gaze upon the very glory of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6). • Transformation: “We all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His image” (2 Corinthians 3:18). Take-away truths 1. The glory Jesus asks us to behold is the glory of God Himself; therefore Jesus is fully divine. 2. This glory predates creation, underscoring Christ’s eternal existence. 3. The Father’s gift of glory to the Son does not diminish the Father; it reveals the unity of the Godhead. 4. Believers are destined not merely to admire but to share in that glory (Romans 8:17; Colossians 3:4). Seeing Christ’s glory is more than a future privilege—it is a confirmation that the One we worship is truly and eternally God. |
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