What does "glory I had with You" reveal about Jesus' relationship with God? Verse in Focus “And now, Father, glorify Me in Your presence with the glory I had with You before the world existed.” – John 17:5 Immediate Setting • Jesus is praying aloud on the night before His crucifixion (John 17). • He has just affirmed that He has finished the work the Father gave Him (v. 4). • Now He asks to be restored to a glory He once possessed. Eternal Pre-Existence • “before the world existed” points back beyond creation. • Cross-references: – John 1:1-2: “In the beginning was the Word… He was with God in the beginning.” – Colossians 1:17: “He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” • Conclusion: Jesus did not begin in Bethlehem; He eternally existed alongside the Father. Shared Divine Glory • Glory belongs exclusively to God (Isaiah 42:8; 48:11). • Jesus claims to have already possessed that very glory. • Therefore, He shares in God’s unique divine nature; He is not a lesser, created being. Personal Distinction yet Perfect Unity • “I… with You” shows two distinct Persons. • Yet the glory is singular and shared, revealing intimate, eternal fellowship within the Godhead. • Hebrews 1:3: “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature.” Voluntary Humbling in the Incarnation • Philippians 2:6-8: Though equal with God, Jesus “emptied Himself” and took human form. • On earth He veiled His glory; at the cross and resurrection it would be displayed again, then fully restored at His ascension. Implications for Believers • Confidence in Jesus’ deity—our Savior is fully God, fully trustworthy. • Assurance that His atoning work is sufficient; only One sharing God’s glory could provide eternal redemption. • Hope of future sharing in that glory (John 17:22; Romans 8:17), because He has opened the way back to the Father. Summary Points • Jesus existed with the Father before creation. • He shared God’s exclusive divine glory. • The phrase affirms both His deity and His distinction from the Father. • His earthly mission was a temporary lowering; now He asks to resume the glory rightfully His. |
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