The words Now, Father, glorify Me are among the most profound statements spoken by Jesus in the Gospel of John. Found in John 175, this phrase comes during what is often called the High Priestly Prayer, where Jesus prays to His Father before His passion and crucifixion. It is a request that reveals both His deep relationship with the Father and His mission to bring salvation to the world. These words are filled with layers of meaning, touching on themes of divine glory, obedience, sacrifice, and eternal life. Reflecting on this prayer allows believers to better understand the unity between the Father and the Son and the hope that is extended to all who follow Christ.
Context of the Prayer
To fully understand Now, Father, glorify Me, we must place it in its biblical context. In John 17, Jesus lifts His eyes to heaven and begins to pray for Himself, His disciples, and all who will believe in Him through their message. This moment occurs just before His arrest and the events leading to the cross. It is a prayer of deep intimacy and surrender, spoken at a time when suffering is near. The request for glorification is not about earthly honor, but about the fulfillment of God’s plan of redemption.
The High Priestly Prayer
John 17 is often called the High Priestly Prayer because Jesus acts as an intercessor, speaking to the Father on behalf of His followers. The prayer is structured in three parts Jesus prays for Himself, for His immediate disciples, and for all future believers. The words Now, Father, glorify Me appear in the section where He prays for Himself, but the request is deeply connected to the mission He is about to complete for the sake of all humanity.
The Meaning of Glory
When Jesus speaks of being glorified, He does not refer to praise or recognition in the human sense. Instead, glory in the Gospel of John refers to the manifestation of God’s presence, power, and love. Glory is the visible revelation of God’s nature. Jesus’ glorification is most fully revealed through His death and resurrection, where the love of God is made clear and salvation is accomplished.
Glory Through the Cross
Paradoxically, the glorification of Jesus comes through the cross a place of suffering and shame. What the world sees as defeat becomes the very means by which God’s glory is displayed. Through His obedience, Jesus shows the depth of God’s love and His willingness to give Himself completely for humanity’s salvation. The crucifixion is not a loss of glory but the very pathway to it.
Glory Before the World Began
In John 175, Jesus adds, Glorify Me in Your presence with the glory I had with You before the world began. This points to His eternal divine nature. Before creation, the Son shared in the fullness of divine glory with the Father. The incarnation involved laying aside that visible glory to take on human form. Now, as He prepares to complete His earthly mission, Jesus asks to return to that eternal glory with the Father.
The Relationship Between Father and Son
The words Now, Father, glorify Me highlight the perfect unity and love between the Father and the Son. Jesus is not asking for something selfish but for the restoration of the divine glory that He willingly set aside for the sake of humanity. This prayer reveals that the mission of Christ is rooted in His relationship with the Father, a relationship marked by love, trust, and eternal unity.
Obedience and Submission
Jesus’ prayer is also an act of obedience. He knows the suffering that awaits Him, yet He submits to the Father’s will. His desire for glorification is linked to the completion of His mission on earth. In this, He models perfect obedience for all believers, showing that true glory comes through surrender to God’s plan.
Revealing the Father’s Name
Throughout His ministry, Jesus emphasized that His purpose was to reveal the Father to the world. His works, His words, and His sacrifice all pointed to the love of God. By asking to be glorified, Jesus is also asking that the Father’s nature be made known more fully through His death and resurrection. The glorification of the Son leads directly to the glorification of the Father.
Implications for Believers
Although Jesus’ prayer is unique to His divine mission, it also has meaning for those who follow Him. The request for glorification opens a pathway for believers to share in God’s glory through Christ. By uniting with Jesus, Christians are invited into the life of God and into the hope of eternal glory.
Sharing in the Glory of Christ
Believers are not passive observers of this prayer. Scripture teaches that those who are united with Christ through faith and baptism will also share in His glory. This does not mean worldly recognition but participation in the eternal life of God. The resurrection of Jesus becomes the promise of resurrection for all who believe in Him.
Finding Glory in Suffering
Just as Jesus found glory through the cross, Christians are called to find meaning and even glory in their own trials. Suffering, when united with Christ, becomes a way to experience God’s presence more deeply. While the world may see weakness, God reveals His strength. The prayer Now, Father, glorify Me reminds believers that suffering is not the end, but the path to resurrection and hope.
Practical Reflections
To apply the message of Now, Father, glorify Me in daily life, believers can reflect on how they seek glory and where they place their trust. Jesus points us away from human approval and toward divine purpose. His prayer encourages us to live with faith and to find strength in God’s will.
- Reflect on the meaning of glory as God’s presence, not human praise.
- Embrace obedience and trust, even when life brings challenges.
- Find courage in the example of Jesus’ surrender before the cross.
- Seek ways to reveal God’s love through words and actions.
- Hold on to the promise of eternal life and resurrection in Christ.
The Eternal Perspective
Now, Father, glorify Me also lifts our eyes to eternity. Jesus speaks of the glory He had with the Father before the creation of the world, reminding us that life with God is not limited to this earthly existence. For Christians, the ultimate goal is to share in that eternal glory, dwelling in God’s presence forever. This prayer assures us that Jesus has prepared the way, and that through Him we are invited into the same glory.
The words Now, Father, glorify Me capture the heart of Jesus’ mission and the depth of His relationship with the Father. They remind us that true glory is not found in earthly honor but in fulfilling God’s will. Through the cross and resurrection, Jesus is glorified, and in Him, believers are offered the hope of sharing in that glory. This prayer continues to inspire Christians to live with faith, obedience, and hope, trusting that God’s love transforms even suffering into a pathway to eternal life. By reflecting on this powerful request, we are drawn closer to the mystery of God’s glory and the promise of salvation revealed in Christ.