BWVC - The Apostle John's Desire (Part 3)

Now let's look at the unity of the Father and the Son in glory; for there is where Jesus desires for His Church to emulate. Jesus said in one place, "I and my Father are one."And He said in another, "And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:" Glory does involve the high recognition of one's name but it is more than that; glory in Scripture carries a sense of weight, a force expressed in physical quantities like light, fire, and smoke. Glory is Jesus and His Father's greatest desire; and Jesus prayed that those believe on Him would see Him in His restored glory. (John 17:24)

One fundamental quality of God's glory is His love. It is a part of His Trinitarian nature; "And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him." (1 John 4:16) God the Father loves God the Son; (John 3:35) God the Son loves God the Father. (John 14:31) And from thence they love those that love the Son, Jesus. (John 14:21) This is a love that gives. (John 3:16, 3:35, 4:14, 5:26-27, 6:27, 6:37, 6:51, 10:11, 10:28-29, 12:49, 13:3, 14:16, 14:27, 17:6-11, 17:24; 1 John 3:24, 5:20; Revelation 2:7, 2:10, 2:17, 21:6, 22:5)

Another fundamental quality of God's glory is the revelation of His purity. "This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all." (1 John 1:5) Light is used metaphorically in Scripture to refer to God's revelation through His word. (Psalm 36:5-9; 119:104-105) It also refers to God's righteous verdict on people whose actions are evil and those who do the truth. (John 3:19-21) This is a God who loves to reveal Himself and His glorious holiness.

Jesus (and John) wants us to emulate this relationship. How? By being set apart for holy use by God's word. How does His word enable us to relate to one another like the Father and the Son? First, protecting us with God's honor. (John 17:11) Second, encouraging us to live with a Gospel purpose and with loving unity. (John 17:22-23) This is John's desire for Christians not only for his co-workers in the Apostleship but "for them also which shall believe on me through their word;" (John 17:20)

Next we go over the means that John would have us to use for building our relationship with the true God and Jesus Christ who He sent.