Glorifying the Father

Awesome start to the series!!

I really liked the distinction that DJ made between asking what God wants FROM us versus FOR us in John 17. He explains that the word used for “ask” here means to ask with great intensity, interrogate boldly – never used as a synonym for prayer except here when Jesus asks something of God. Jesus is asking God (with boldness and great intensity) to show us the deepest desire of his heart and show the world the glory of the Father.  

It’s not that he is asking something from us… he is asking God for something FOR us!! DJ speculates that Jesus lets us hear this prayer for 3 reasons (as Reid mentioned) – and all of them have to do with Jesus revealing more of himself to us so we can have deeper intimacy. I love the terminology beloved disciple = someone who has their head on Jesus’s heart.

Jesus's greatest desire is for us to see the Father’s glory! Jesus washing feet… glorifies the Father. Jesus healing… glorifies the Father. Jesus feeding the 5000… glorifies the Father. Admin team serving the drivers/trainees/barneys… glorifies the Father. Admin team loving youth leaders who are challenging and frustrating… glorifies the Father. Admin team sacrificing sleep and meals… glorifies the Father. What Jesus wants more than anything is for the world to “experience the full embrace of the scandalously glorious love of God” through the glory of the Father.