Thursday, May 22, 2008
John 17:1-5 Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: "Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was."
HE IS HIS FATHER'S SON
I am my father's son -- and my mother's son for that matter. I came into being by God's grace through them. I thank God that despite the miles, I still have a close relationship with my father and my mother. I know, however, that my relationship with my father isn't nearly as close as the relationship that God the Father and God the Son share.
For one thing, I don't always agree with my father, and we may at times get under one another's skin. Such is the norm among sinful human beings.
Such is not the case within the Holy Trinity. God the Father and God the Son are perfectly united in will and purpose. What the Father wants, the Son wants & always. They are always on the same page, always in agreement.
This is a good thing for me. When God the Father sent God the Son into human flesh at Bethlehem, He didn't have to shove him out of heaven. There was no argument. He went willingly to Bethlehem and to Calvary in order that I might also see the glory which they had before the world was.
I don't even like to think of losing a son. I can't imagine the depth of separation that God the Father felt when God the Son cried out: "My God, my God why have you forsaken me." I can't fathom it, but I still thank God the Father that He forsook God the Son on Calvary for me and for you.
Glory be to Him who loved us,
Washed us from each spot and stain;
Glory be to Him who bo't us,
Made us kings with Him to reign!
Glory, glory, to the Lamb that once was slain!
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 244:2)
