Friday, May 23 — John 17, Matthew 27

1. Why does Jesus pray to be glorified? (John 17:1-5)

2. What is one vital object lesson drawn from John 17?

3. Following the chronological events of Jesus’ last days, what major themes do we find in Matthew 27?

The seventeenth chapter of John speaks clearly about the personality of God and Christ and their relation to each other. “Father, the hour is come,” Christ said: “glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee.” (John 17:1)

This chapter portrays the intercessory prayer of Jesus with His Father just before his betrayal and crucifixion. It was offered just before He went into the Garden of Gethsemane, where He was to be betrayed and taken. So, this would be his final prayer with the disciples. In this prayer, “He claimed that He had fulfilled the conditions which made it obligatory upon the Father to fulfill His part of the contract made in heaven, with regard to fallen man. He prayed: “I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. [That is, He had wrought out a righteous character on earth as an example for men to follow.] And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. (John 17:5).” (The Spirit of Prophecy 3:260, 261).

John 17:5 is deep: Jesus is asking the Father to glorify Him, not in a selfish way, but so that through His glorification (especially through the cross), He can glorify the Father. In essence, Jesus is saying, “It’s time. Let what’s about to happen bring glory to You through Me.”

“Glorify me with thine own self…” This statement by Jesus tells us that He is asking to return to His pre-incarnate glory, the divine majesty, and honor He had before taking on human flesh. He’s looking ahead to the resurrection and ascension, when He will be exalted and restored to that full glory at the Father’s side.

“With the glory that I had with thee before the world was.” The latter portion of verse five is mind-blowing. Jesus is claiming:

1. Préexistence – He existed before creation.
2. Divine equality – He shared in the same glory with the Father.
3. Intimacy with God – He was with the Father in eternity past.

This is one of the most explicit declarations in the New Testament of Jesus’ divine nature—His oneness with God before time began. In a nutshell, Jesus says, “Father, as I prepare to finish the mission on earth, restore Me to the glorious fellowship and majesty we shared before the world was even made.”
Object Lesson: Throughout Jesus’ prayer in chapter 17, He emphasizes the importance of knowing God. He defines eternal life as knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent (John 17:3). We are taught that the essence of our faith is not just about rules or rituals but about a deep, personal relationship with God.

This message offers an object lesson to demonstrate that we can live in the world without being swallowed up in its snares. It is a beautiful and blessed thought to know that Jesus prays for us. (John 17:9)

Continuing the narrative of Jesus’ final days on earth, Matthew 27 records the events after the Garden of Gethsemane. It is one of the New Testament’s most intense and emotionally powerful chapters, describing Jesus’ trial, suffering, and crucifixion.

Various themes are found in Matthew 27:

• The innocence of Jesus vs. the guilt of others (Judas, Pilate, the crowd).
• Prophecy is fulfilled at every step, showing Jesus as the promised Messiah.
• Jesus’ suffering and obedience to the Father’s will, Christ’s suffering was not for his own sins, but for the sins of the world. He endured unimaginable agony and felt God’s great displeasure against sin.
• The Resurrection and its significance—Here is a demonstration of Christ’s victory over death and a promise of eternal life for believers. The resurrection was not just a physical event (seen in nature’s reaction, the temple curtain tearing, and even the resurrection of the dead) but also a spiritual transformation.