And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. – John 17:5
In 1655, the English mathematician John Wallis invented a symbol to indicate an unlimited, endless, boundless unit: the symbol for infinity. Some may describe it as the numeral 8 on its side. Although Wallis did not explain his choice of the symbol, some say he saw it as a ribbon stitched end to end and twisted across itself to where its joint cannot be seen.
In today’s verse, Jesus declares His infinite preexistence. Hebrews 1:2 states it was through Christ that the worlds were created. By His incarnation, Philippians 2:8 says He “humbled himself”—literally from the Greek, He “emptied Himself.” For 33 years, He laid aside all of the honor, glory, and splendor of Heaven, to assume the form of a servant. In today’s portion of His High Priestly Prayer, He prays that He would be restored to the dignity, honor, and glory He had before He came to Earth. Knowing what the coming hours would bring to Him, He also foresaw the status to which He is now exalted (1 Peter 3:22). His eternality is consistent with His deity.
Professor, theologian, and author, Renald Showers wrote, “As an eternal divine being, He had always existed without beginning and end throughout eternity past.” Distinguished professor and author Daniel Segraves wrote, “The prayers of Jesus are genuine and… they reflect the fact that Jesus was not only God but also man. It was not because He was God that Jesus needed to pray; it was because He was also human.” His deity, His preexistence, His incarnation, death, and resurrection contain mysteries outside the scope of human understanding. They must be accepted in faith. Give the Lord praise today for all that He is to you, and for all He has done to secure your place with Him in the future infinity.
Today’s Verse: John 17:5
And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: John 1:1-5, 14-18
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
