By A.B. Vines
In John 17:1-2, Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you gave him authority over all flesh, so that he may give eternal life to everyone you have given him.”
As believers, we know Jesus hasn’t only given us eternal life in the future. No, He also provides us a certain mindset we can embrace today.
Armed with the knowledge that our life is in Him, we should have a peace that allows us to live our lives with passion and excitement every single day.
Author Doe Zantamata writes, “Starting something new or making a big change requires effort, persistence, and motivation. Doubt, fear, and worry only slow you down, so focus on doing your best now and celebrate every step of the way.”
In the above passage from Scripture, John gives three insights I’d like to share with you—insights I believe will give you hope. In John 17:1-2, we see the person, the purpose, and the promise of Jesus.
1. The Person of Jesus
First, let’s look at the person of Jesus as He’s praying to have the strength to finish the work of Calvary. What do you think was going through His mind?
If you can, imagine seeing this moment at the ground level—actually seeing the pain and the weight of the Savior’s task at hand. It must have been exhausting for Jesus to know His hour had come and that the final moments leading up to Calvary were finally upon Him.
Oh, what joy comes from hearing our Savior’s ultimate words of encouragement and surrender found in Matthew 26:39: “Going a little farther, he fell facedown and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.’”
2. The Purpose of Jesus
We now move from the person of Jesus to see the purpose of Jesus, which was—and still is—to glorify His heavenly Father. Jesus was always about his Father’s business, whether it was teaching in the temple as a child or cleansing the temple as an adult.
Jesus’ chief goal was to finish the work of His Father. It’s with this same intense focus on our Father’s business that we’re to face the difficulties in our lives.
3. The Promise of Jesus
We now come to the promise of Jesus, which is to give eternal life to all who believe in Him. Once again, this promise doesn’t only apply to our future heavenly state; it also applies to right now.
Jesus states in John 10:10, “A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.” Friends, we’re promised abundant life in Jesus.
Having abundant life doesn’t mean having a pie-in-the-sky attitude or assuming God will drop a new car in our garage overnight. Abundant life in Christ means we’re filled with a certain peace that surpasses all understanding. J.I. Packer once said, “The stars may fall, but God’s promises will stand and be fulfilled.” Let’s remember that.
As you continue to walk by faith, remember there’s a person named Jesus whose purpose is to glorify His Father. Christ promises us the gift of eternal and abundant life, both now and forever.
Dr. A.B. Vines
A.B. is the pastor of New Seasons Church in San Diego. He has also served as the first vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention, president of the California Southern Baptist Convention, and as a trustee at the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. He is husband to Karen, the father of four, and “PaPa” to nine.
