Living for God's Glory
In our life, glory comes and glory goes. This last week we saw the glory of the cup leave us empty. The glory we anticipated never arrived and all our hopes of a hockey championship were marred by a brutal riot. In our lifetime glory comes and glory goes.
Jesus however, knew what it was to live in the eternal state of God’s glory, where the preeminence of God overshadows everything; where His goodness was greater than any evil. His light would always outshine any darkness. He was with the Father before the world began.
Jesus knew God’s glory that existed before anything else was created -
This sets Jesus apart from anyone who has ever lived or walked on this earth.
5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.
John begins his gospel with…
John 1:1-2 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning.
Then Jesus says of himself…
John 8:54-58
Jesus replied, "If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. 55 Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and keep his word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad."
57 "You are not yet fifty years old," the Jews said to him, "and you have seen Abraham!"
58 "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!"
And It blew their minds – he existed before the creation of the world – He knew what it was to experience God’s glory that never ends.
Jesus is praying to the Father like a young adult child would call home remembering what it was like to still live at home. The place where things were good and safe.
Jesus is recalling the place he had in his Fathers presence and He knew that was a glorious place but yet he has had the most incredible opportunity - to bring His Father glory here, for the sake of his creation. Jesus loves His Father and longs to please him in everything he does.
People do lots of things for lots of reasons - mostly for their own reasons or purposes.
We wonder “am I doing what God wants me to do?” We hear the words of Jesus …
John 6:27
27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval."
Most son’s grow up wanting to please their fathers, to fulfill their father’s hopes for them, or just to have a father to look up to and hope to fulfill his dreams for you.
Jesus knew what it was to please His Father. He was in a relationship with His Father and to please His Father was to participate with His Father in His work…
John 5:17
Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working."
Jesus lived his life to glorify God - Bringing glory to God was the highest priority to Jesus.
4 - “I have brought you glory on earth…”
This was demonstrated from the very beginning of Jesus’ ministry when he turned water into wine and it was the very best… for Jesus, bringing glory to God was to do and be the very best, he did not cut corners, he never compromised for God’s glory and it said when he saved the day at the wedding feast
John 2:11 This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.
Everything Jesus did was right, good and for God’s glory. He knew better than anyone else what God’s glory was and drew out the very best.
He wanted to please His dad and Jesus was clear on what his Father expected of Him.
4 - “I have brought you glory on earth…” “…by completing the work you gave me to do”
Jesus glorified God by making Him known
John 4:34-38
34 "My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. 35 Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. 36 Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life,
John 5:36-37
36 "I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the very work that the Father has given me to finish, and which I am doing, testifies that the Father has sent me.
What was this work that Jesus was to complete? What warranted his descent from glory, what was this assignment he was to bear for God?
Did he only come to die? Was his work on the cross the only purpose for his presence in history.
The work of Christ – the revelation of God in Himself
John 6:28-29
Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?"
29 Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."
Jesus understands as he prays that he has already accomplished much of what God had sent him to earth to do. Jesus saving work began in Bethlehem, not on Golgotha.
The incarnation, God’s union with humanity in itself was a saving deed. By uniting with our humanity, God not only made known who he is (revealing his glory) but also brought about the conditions to make Christ’s death efficacious and powerful for us all.
Because God took up flesh, he was able to embrace us and express his affection for us. He is not standing far off and announcing a way of salvation through some messenger, rather in Christ, God was “reconciling the world to himself” (2Cor 5:19)
Jesus prays “I have done what you asked” He became one of us and showed God to the world and by doing it he brought the glory of God into the human sphere.
WE need to understand the great work that Jesus accomplished through the incarnation.
God showed his love for us not only by sending his son to the cross, but in coming himself to be with us. The death of Christ was not the requirement for God to love us, as if we were despised by him, or as if we had angered him and only at the cross was his feelings for us changed.
Jesus did not come to change God’s mind about us; instead he came to express Gods mind – because God so loved the world he sent his only son into the world so we could know him and trust him and find him to be both good and loving towards us.
Jesus aim in life has been to bring glory to God and he prays
4 I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.
He was clear focused and single minded towards this effort. It was his sole ambition that the world would see the glory of God that was radiating from his life. He wants to honor God’s glory in everything he does, he wants it to visibly show up in signs, miracles and actions, he speaks of it in his teaching and he announces it from the cross and his resurrection shouts it out.
Jesus’ life is a participation in the glory of God.
This is precisely what he invites us to participate with him in – living a life that brings God glory in everything we do.
Paul attempts to put this life into words in
Col 3:22-24
Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Jesus says; “I came to give myself for you so I would be in you” that the Glory of God that no one knows better about than me actually shows up in your life, your flesh, blood, time, spending habits, conversations – everything.
Col 1:26-27
26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. 27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Jesus lives his life to bring glory to God, and he invites us to do the same, he makes it possible only through a relationship with him that will by it’s very nature bring glory to God.
Pray…
Father, Thank you for loving us and sending your son to demonstrate how our lives may bring you glory. Father, I am sorry when I have let other things dominate my life and steal the glory you deserve. Father, Help every moment of my life bring your glory, because you alone are worthy of it.
Communion
So we partake in communion to remember and celebrate the incredible relationship we have with Christ who is living to bring God glory.
1 Cor 11:24-26
24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
As you receive the communion elements this morning say:
“So I remember that I live for God’s glory”
Me: “Christ in you, the hope of glory”