Spend time in prayer and silence with God asking Him to meet with you and speak to you.
Bible Reading
After Jesus said this, He looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify You. For you granted Him authority over all people that He might give eternal life to all those You have given Him. Now this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought You glory on earth by completing the work You gave Me to do. And now, Father, glorify Me in Your presence with the glory I had with You before the world began.”
– John 17:1-5
Devotion
After revealing the meaning of His approaching departure to His disciples, Jesus prays with them before entering the Garden of Gethsemane. Here we see Jesus acting as a High Priest as He prays for Himself, His disciples, and for future believers. In this first part of His prayer, He refers to a past glory and anticipates the coming glory resulting from the cross and His sacrificial death. He longs to return to the Father and share the glory that He shared with Him from the beginning. He also prays that the world would come to “know” the Father and Himself, and that by believing in Him they would receive eternal life.
The Big Question
What do you think Jesus is feeling as He prepares to complete His mission and be reunited with His Father in heaven? Is there anything in the first part of this prayer that encourages you? If so, why? Why was it important for Jesus to complete His mission?
Conclude your time in prayer and silence, reflecting on what God revealed to you today.