(tm) Day 27
Back to John Seventeen, Devotional
Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. (John 17:24)
Where is the Lord Jesus Christ? He is in and with the Father and the Father is with and in Him. This is where Christ wants us to be—in and with Him and the Father.
Our attention may be fixed on the hope of dying and going to the peace and joy of the spirit realm—and indeed this is a wonderful hope! But the attention of the Lord Jesus Christ is fixed on us, on our being with Him where He is. This is an even more wonderful hope.
We do not love the Lord Jesus as much as He loves us. Therefore we cannot appreciate His great desire that we be with Him always. As spiritual children we still are occupied and fascinated by the things of Heaven. Some day we will understand the true importance of redemption is found in our relationship to God and to people.
It is Christ’s prayer that the elect behold His glory. Our capacity is so limited in this area! We envision Jesus as the gentle Rabbi holding children in His arms; the watchful Shepherd tenderly leading the nursing ewes. These are true understandings of the Lord.
The Lord Jesus appears to us as a gentle Teacher so we may be able to relate to Him and communicate with Him. If He so desired He could appear as a powerful Emperor, a cunning, fearless, ferocious Warrior compared with whom the Caesars would appear as cooing doves.
If we ever should behold Christ in the fullness of His glory we would be witnessing the light and power of a million suns. He has prayed that we may behold His almighty, galactic, universal glory. Jesus is Christ, the Son of God. He is King of all kings; Lord of all lords.
God loved Jesus long before the creation of the world. Jesus was the One through whom God created all things, including all the angels. Jesus is the Word of God from eternity. Apart from Him there is neither truth, nor light, nor life, nor joy, nor true love, nor lasting peace, nor wisdom, nor knowledge, nor power, nor any other thing of value to God’s creatures.
God’s eternal purpose is to fill the universe with Christ. We of the elect are the firstfruits of the fulfillment of that purpose. No authority or power in the heavens, on the earth, or under the earth can in any manner prevent the total, perfect, complete fulfillment of God’s plan to fill the universe with Christ.