John 17 is one of the most glorious passages in the gospel as it reveals so much about the glory of Christ and indeed the Triune God. John gives us a very detailed account of the night before the crucifixion of Jesus. We gain a glimpse not only of his intimate love for his disciples in the way He served and instructed them, but also in the way he prayed for them. This high priestly prayer tells us as much about Jesus' glory as it does about Jesus' desire for his disciples know it and live in it.
John 17:4-5 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.
The glory of Jesus is displayed to us in that he has fulfilled his work on earth and has taken seat in reigning authority with the Father. Another way of saying this is to say that we see Jesus' glory in His condescension and exaltation.
If you meditate on the condescension of Jesus, you will soon find there is a list of wonder for you to marvel at as you think on him. He came from the glory of the presence of the Father in heavenly wonder to be a developing baby in the womb of an imperfect human in a sin-cursed world. While the distance between heaven and earth cannot be measured, we know that the distance between the perfect glory of God in heaven and the nature of humanity in a sin cursed world is an infinite one. Jesus, while having no sin nature as a human (or ever having any sin of his own), condescended the infinite distance of heavenly glory to human dwelling as he lived and breathed among rebellious wretches like us. If that wasn't reason enough for us to marvel, we know that Jesus came not only to be with us but die for us. The Son of God came for the cross. The glory of God is on overwhelming display in the sacrifice of our Savior. The infinite love, compassion, humility, justice, grace, and mercy of God and more are all on display in the work of Christ substituting himself for our sin.
The glory of Christ is also seen in the exaltation of Jesus. Jesus has taken his rightful place on the throne of Heaven with the glory he had with the Father before the world existed. The glory of God is on display in Christ in that he has shown us the very wonder of God and is exalted because he is God and has fulfilled the purpose and decrees of God in bringing reconciliation to creation. When we see the glory of Christ in his condescension and exaltation, we can easily see how we will marvel at his return when he comes to finally make all things new. He will return in unveiled glory with shouts of angels and ultimate power and authority for the consummation. His church will worship and praise him and glorify his name. This glory will be greater than we can ever imagine, but there is also an aspect of the glory of Christ that is so amazing it should overwhelm us to tears of joy.
John 17:10, 22 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. ... 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one.
WAIT....WHAT?... "I (Jesus) am glorified in THEM!" and "The glory that you have given me I have given to THEM!" What can we possibly give in the way of glory to Jesus? But... there is something that God has done in us that does shine the glory of Christ. Those who have rebelled against God and worshipped idols have been saved and transformed. It has been the Father’s will that wretches would be saved and worship and honor the Son. The Father has given us to the Son as a redeemed gift for his glory. Jesus, because of himself and not us, is glorified in us.
Furthermore, the unity that is so perfectly one in the Trinity is now on display in Christ's church. It is not a display in perfection (yet), but because of the sanctifying effect of Christ in us, we can know something of the glorious unity of holiness in the Trinity as we live as one body for him. In other words, as we all live in Christ and grow in his holiness together, we are a glorifying display of his work in us. Ephesians 3:17-19 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith--that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
These few small thoughts about the glory of Christ in his high priestly prayer help us to understand that the glory of Christ is possibly greater than we think. It is not just in his exaltation but in his condescension. It is not just in his glorious person and work, but in us as the recipients of his grace. This permeating glory is to be enjoyed now as we anticipate its fullness when he returns.
To God be all the glory!