After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.” —John 17:1.
John 17:1-26 is one of the most moving chapters in the Bible. Jesus knows he is going to die. He knows he is spending his last few hours before his death on a cross with disciples. These disciples do not understand what he is about to do and why he is about to do it. Jesus has two key goals in mind as he prepares himself and his disciples for their life ahead without him:
- Jesus wants his disciples to be one so they can remain strong and influence the world that the Father sent Jesus to show the world his love.
- Jesus wants what he is about to do on the cross to bring glory to the Father, unite his disciples, and reach the lost world with the love of God.
As Jesus faced humiliation and abandonment, his chief concern and focus were to bless others. Yes, he was in agony, but he desired to honor the Father and bless others. We will also face hardships, trials, and persecutions (John 15:20). What will be our goal when we face these difficulties? Hmm? No wonder the Holy Spirit reminded us to fix our eyes on Jesus and follow his example (Hebrews 12:1-3), as we yearn to bless those who persecute and mistreat us so they can come to know our Savior (Matthew 5:10).