“Knowing The Father Through The Son!”

“Knowing The Father Through The Son!”(Jn.17:1-8).
Today’s text opens with, “After Jesus had said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: ‘…'” This compels us to look back to find out what he said prior to the text.
John chapters 13-16 are about 90% the words of Jesus direct from the horse’s mouth. The last verse of it says, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Today’s text is the beginning of what has come to be called “The High Priestly Prayer.” In this prayer, Jesus prays for himself, his disciples, and for all believers.
He begins by telling his Father that the time has come for him to be glorified. His Father granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to those the Father has given him.
This eternal life is that humanity should know the Father; the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom the Father sent.
Jesus solicits the Father, “And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.”
He then shifts from himself to his disciples: “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world…”
Apart from putting emphasis on glory, let us worry a bit about predestination and election.
According to the text, Jesus gives eternal life to those the Father has given him. And when he is praying for the disciples he prays, “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world.”
The Christian doctrine of predestination and election up to date has an inconclusive answer. According to the text, the saved are those the Father has given to the Son. Does this mean some are excluded by God himself? If the answer is yes, can such excluded be blamed? These questions also apply to the often debated component of soteriology – election. Is it the Sovereign Act of God to have elected others for salvation and not some others?
If predestination is an act of God, should anyone be blamed for being antichrist?
My friend, there are many questions than answers, and only faith and belief can give us sweet relief. The elected of God are those who exercise their free will by choosing faith and belief in Christ over doubt and unbelief.
We are the chosen when we hear God’s voice and do not harden our hearts.
When Jesus prays that it is time for the Father to glorify him so that he can in turn glorify the Father, he is asking the Father to let us see him in how he feels, thinks and acts in ways that reflect his greatness, giving evidence of the supreme greatness of all his attributes and his multidimensional perfections.
When we see this, we will give glory to God and Christ and not seek credit for ourselves.
It is only then that in the midst of the vissicitude of life we will take heart because Christ has overcome the world! We will take heart because we know with certainty that Christ is from God and holds the key to the door that opens to our future.
Weekend prayer: Holy Spirit, give us the right frame of mind so that we can glow in the glory of Christ. Amen!
Have a blessed weekend! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.
30/01/2026.