The Call to Glorify: Lesson from John 17

 “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.” – John 17:1-5

I heard these words almost every day during the Lenten season throughout my six years in Catholic secondary school. Each evening, during the Stations of the Cross, the priest would recite this prayer, and we, tired from kneeling, standing, and praying, would grudgingly murmur “Amen”.

Today, as I read through John 17, I was flooded with memories of those days, when chapel attendance was obligatory, especially during Lent season—a time to remember Christ’s journey toward the cross. As I sat reading, I recalled the feelings that once filled my heart during those prayers. But today, because I have a deeper understanding, I am moved by a much stronger, profound awareness of what Jesus faced and His desire to fulfil His Father’s will.

One of the recurring themes in John is the word “glorified,” and in today’s reading, I found myself drawn to this word. Jesus was praying that God’s glory might be revealed through Him, and He, in turn, would be glorified in the Father. Jesus deeply desired that God would be honoured, even through His suffering and death on the cross. What struck me most was His humility—His request that God might be glorified in Him. 

This reflection made me consider how often we ask God for things with a self-centred mindset. We ask for wealth and blessings so that others might admire us. We ask for positions of influence so that our social status might be elevated. Yet God’s way is different—He desires that our motives be purely to glorify Him in all things. As I continued reading, I found myself praying for mercy and asking Him to purify my intentions so that, like Jesus, my life would reflect His glory and He may be glorified in me.

I hope this becomes your prayer too. I’ll leave you with these powerful words from Charles Spurgeon: 

“Christ’s motive should be ours. When you ask a blessing from God, ask it that you may glorify God by it. Do you pine to have your health back again? Be sure that you want to spend it for him. Do you desire temporal advancement? Desire it that you may promote his glory. Do you even long for growth in grace? Ask it only that you may glorify him.”

Love,

Ayobambo