Page 15 - Living Light Spring 2024

Wednesday March 13 - To see Jesus’ glory
“Father, I want those you have given me... to see my glory, the glory you have given me...” John 17:24
Philippians 2:5-11 is such a helpful, as well as powerful, passage when it comes to understanding the fullness of who Jesus is. As the second person of the Trinity, Jesus gave up his place in the heavenly courts and ‘made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness’ (v 7).
Jesus’ human form is certainly a part of his glory. Philemon of Gaza, in the sixth century, wrote in ‘Meditations of Mark’s Gospel’, ‘Your humility staggers me and makes you still more glorious in my eyes, and it is why I bow before you and worship you...’
But there’s also the glory that only Peter, James and John saw on earth when Jesus was transfigured. In that moment, Jesus’ true nature was revealed – ‘his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light’ – and they heard the Father’s voice saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” When they saw and heard this, they fell face down to the ground (Matthew 17:1-5).
One day, we’ll all see Jesus revealed in his heavenly glory, and that’s the moment Jesus is praying for here. There will be a brightness and beauty we can’t fully comprehend, but it’s something our hearts long for. When we do finally see him face to face, we will also fall down in worship!
Jesus, help me understand more of who you are, in your humility and your glory. Amen.
Thursday March 14 - He’s always been
“...the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.” John 17:24
‘In the beginning was the Word,’ is how John starts his account of the life of Jesus. He’s echoing Genesis 1:1 – ‘In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth’ – making it clear to us that Jesus, the Word, has always existed and was intimately involved with every aspect of creation. John 1:1-18 departs from the other gospels, which give us Jesus’ birth accounts; instead, John paints a cosmic picture of the plans and purposes of Jesus coming from heaven to live on earth as a man.
It matters that Jesus was there at the beginning. Jesus, the second person of the Trinity, with God the Father and the Holy Spirit, loved the world so much that he chose to come and live as part of his creation. By doing so, he showed us how to live – relying on the Father and under the power of the Spirit, he brought the Kingdom of God close, defeating the power of the enemy and bringing renewed life wherever he went. That culminated with his willing sacrifice of himself on the cross, resulting in the tearing of the temple curtain (Mark 15:38), which made it possible for humans to once again be in restored relationship with the Father. Jesus’ resurrection and ascension means we now have the Holy Spirit, his Spirit, to live in and with us.
It’s all about Jesus, and the wonderful thing is, he is all about us!
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for bringing the Kingdom of God close. Amen.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
PRAYER FOR TODAY
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