The Time Has Come

Scripture: John 17:1-5 (Click link for scripture in Bible Gateway)

1 After saying all these things, Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you. 2 For you have given him authority over everyone. He gives eternal life to each one you have given him. 3 And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth. 4 I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 5 Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began. (John 17:1-5 NLT)

John, Chapters 13-16, contains John’s Spirit-inspired memory of Jesus’ “Famous Last Words” to his closest followers and friends on the night before he was crucified. Jesus spoke to them about serving each other, about the way to the Father, about how to have peace of mind and heart, about the coming Holy Spirit and how they would continue to learn about Jesus and the Father, about accessing their life-source in him, about the challenges they would face in “the world.” Then he wraps it up in this beautiful, comforting statement, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NLT)

Then the focus shifts. Jesus turns his attention from instructing his disciples to praying to his Father. In this prayer, he will pray for his disciples, then and now, and he will pray for you and me, something he has continued to do through all the generations and centuries to this very day! Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf. (Hebrews 7:25) That’s us, friends! But before all that, he prays for himself.

Let me paraphrase: “Father, it’s time! I’ve completed the assignment, I’ve done what you sent me here to do! I came here a cosmic moment ago as a Spirit-Spark implanted in Mary’s womb, and I’ve walked through a life-time of God learning what it’s like to be a Son of Man, and a man learning what it’s like to be a Child of God. I left home a Spirit-spark and I’m coming home a God-Man! Neither Heaven nor Earth will ever be the same! I’ll leave here through death’s door and I’ll arrive home through resurrection’s portal. It’ll be good to see you, Father! Bring me home!”

Prayer:

Father, Thank you that Jesus became a Son of Man so I could become a Child of God! Please help me to be faithful to my destiny as Jesus was to his! In Jesus’ Name!