True Glory
John 17:22-23
And the glory which you gave me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:…


I. IS THE SAME IN ALL MORAL INTELLIGENCES. This prayer speaks of several grand unities.

1. One life. The life of God and Christ are here spoken of as one.

2. One truth; "Thy truth." Truth has many sides, but it is one essential whole. Truths are but phases of His.

3. One Church. The Christly in all sects and countries are but one family of which Christ is the Head.

4. One love. Benevolence has many modifications, but in essence it is the same in all.

5. One glory. The glory that Christ had was the glory of God, and this He imparts to us — the glory of moral goodness. In the eye of conscience, in the light of the Bible, and in the estimate of God, the good only are glorious.

II. IS COMMUNICABLE FROM ONE BEING TO ANOTHER. Three things are necessary to its communication —

1. The manifestation of it. Were the Eternal to conceal His glory, no creature intelligence could participate in its rays. A good being to make others good must show his goodness.

2. The contemplation of it. What boots it, if no eye observes the manifested glory. The man who at noonday shuts his eyes is as much in the dark as though it were midnight.

3. The imitation of it. There must be an effort on the part of the observer to imbibe, cherish, and develop the Divine goodness.

III. COMES TO MAN THROUGH CHRIST. Christ is the only perfect Revealer, "We beheld His glory," &c. It is by studying and imitating Him that men become glorious. "For we with open face," &c.

IV. IS CONSISTEST WITH CIRCUMSTANTIAL SUFFERING. As seen in the case of these disciples —

1. How glorious their endurance!

2. How glorious their achievements! To their victories we owe our liberty, Bibles, schools, asylums, Christendom.

(D. Thomas, D. D.)



Parallel Verses
KJV: And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

WEB: The glory which you have given me, I have given to them; that they may be one, even as we are one;




The Mutual Glory of Christ and His People
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