The Glorifying Glory of Jesus and the Father: John 17:1-5

 

In John 17:1–5, Jesus is praying to God the Father just before His arrest and crucifixion. The phrase, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you," carries deep theological significance.

Throughout the Gospel of John, Jesus refers to "the hour" as the time of His suffering, death, and eventual glorification. Here, He is acknowledging that the time for His crucifixion and the fulfillment of His mission has arrived.

Jesus is asking the Father to glorify Him through His impending death and resurrection. The term "glorify" means to reveal or make manifest God's divine nature and power. Through His sacrificial death and resurrection, Jesus would reveal God’s love, justice, and power over sin and death.

Jesus’ death and resurrection would also bring glory to the Father by demonstrating God's redemptive plan for humanity. Through His obedience to the Father's will, even to the point of death, Jesus would show the Father’s love and desire to save the world.

Jesus is asking the Father to glorify Him in His sacrificial work on the cross so that through it, He can bring glory to the Father by completing the work of salvation and revealing God’s character to the world. This mutual glorification emphasizes the unity of purpose between the Father and the Son in the plan of salvation.

More for Lesson 3 Themes in the Gospel of John

Belief and Unbelief: The Consequences from the Gospel of John

 

The Gospel of John, particularly in its prologue (John 1:1–18), introduces the themes of belief and unbelief, contrasting those who receive Jesus and become children of God with those who reject Him. This theme is revisited throughout the Gospel, including in the passages you’ve mentioned. Let's explore how each one repeats and develops the theme of belief/unbelief.

John 3:16–21

This passage is one of the most well-known in the New Testament, especially John 3:16, where belief in Jesus is presented as the key to eternal life.

Belief: Verse 16 states, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." This echoes the prologue's emphasis on the life-giving power of believing in Jesus (John 1:12–13). Those who believe are granted eternal life.

Unbelief: Verses 18–19 focus on the consequences of unbelief. Those who do not believe in Jesus are "condemned already" because they have rejected the light. Unbelief is seen as a choice to "love darkness instead of light," much like in the prologue where some "did not receive" the true light (John 1:10–11).

John 9:35–41

This passage occurs after the healing of a man born blind, leading to a discussion between Jesus and the Pharisees about spiritual blindness.

Belief: In verse 35, Jesus asks the healed man, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" The man responds affirmatively, expressing his belief and worshiping Jesus (v. 38). This aligns with the prologue’s idea of recognizing and accepting Jesus as the source of light and life (John 1:9, 12).

Unbelief: The Pharisees’ reaction highlights unbelief. They claim to see but are spiritually blind, which reflects their rejection of Jesus (v. 39–41). This corresponds to the theme in John 1:5, where the light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. Their refusal to believe in Jesus is characterized as willful blindness, further reinforcing the theme of unbelief introduced earlier.

John 12:36–46

This passage takes place during Jesus’ final public ministry, where He emphasizes the importance of believing in Him as the light.

Belief: Jesus implores the crowd to "believe in the light" while they still have the opportunity (v. 36), reiterating the prologue’s theme of Jesus as the true light (John 1:9). Those who believe in Jesus will become "children of light," a concept echoing John 1:12, where believers are given the right to become children of God.

Unbelief: In verses 37–41, despite the many signs Jesus performed, many people still did not believe in Him. This echoes the prologue (John 1:10–11), where Jesus was not received by His own people. Verses 42–43 also address those who believed but were afraid to confess their faith openly due to fear of the Pharisees, highlighting the tension between belief and public acknowledgment.

In all three passages, John reinforces the themes of belief and unbelief first introduced in the prologue:

Belief leads to life, light, and becoming children of God.

Unbelief results in condemnation, darkness, and spiritual blindness.

These texts emphasize that belief in Jesus is essential for eternal life, while unbelief is portrayed as a rejection of the light and the truth, themes central to John’s Gospel.

More for Lesson 3 Themes in the Gospel of John

People who do not Listen to The Word and Accept Him: Jesus in John 1:9-13

 

In John 1:9-13, the apostle John highlights the tension between Jesus, the true light, and the world's response to Him. These verses depict a profound and somewhat harsh reality about how people react to Jesus and His message.

Here's the passage (NIV):

John 1:9-13

 9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.

 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.

 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.

 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—

 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

 Harsh Realities John Depicts

 Rejection of the Creator (v.10)

 Despite being the Creator of the world, Jesus was not recognized by the world He made. This rejection highlights humanity's spiritual blindness and alienation from God.

 Rejection by His Own People (v.11)

 Jesus came specifically to His own people, the Jewish nation, yet many did not receive Him. This rejection by His own emphasizes the tragedy of unbelief among those who should have been most prepared to accept Him.

 Spiritual Blindness and Unbelief

 The "light" (Jesus) illuminates truth, but not everyone chooses to see it. This reflects the condition of the human heart — hardened by sin and unwilling to accept God’s revelation, even when it's right before them.

 The Gift of Divine Adoption (vv.12-13)

 Despite widespread rejection, there is hope. John shifts the focus to those who do receive Jesus, underscoring the grace and privilege of becoming children of God. This transformation is not based on lineage, human will, or effort, but on divine intervention and grace.

John portrays the reality that Jesus, the true light, was largely rejected by the world He created, including by His own people. This rejection is a harsh reminder of humanity’s tendency to resist divine truth, yet those who do receive Jesus are given the profound gift of becoming God's children.

The Word Made Flesh: John 1:1-3,14 Identify Jesus and is the Most Important Truth

 

John 1:1–3 and 14 are foundational verses in the Bible that speak to the identity and role of Jesus Christ in creation and His incarnation.

John 1:1–3 (ESV):

 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made."

These verses declare that Jesus, referred to here as "the Word" (Greek: Logos), was with God from the beginning and that He is, in fact, God. Jesus is portrayed as eternal, existing before creation, and the agent through whom everything was made. Nothing in creation exists apart from Him.

 John 1:14 (ESV):

 "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."

Verse 14 reveals the most profound act: the eternal Word, Jesus, took on human flesh and lived among humanity. This is the doctrine of the Incarnation—God becoming fully human while remaining fully God. In doing so, He displayed the glory of God in a form that humans could see, and His life was characterized by grace and truth.

 Why is this the most important truth?

It reveals who Jesus is. These verses establish the deity of Christ. He is not just a prophet or teacher; He is God Himself who came in the flesh. Understanding this is key to the Christian faith.

The Incarnation bridges the gap between God and humanity. Jesus becoming human means He can truly empathize with human weaknesses, yet without sin. Through His life, death, and resurrection, He provides a way for humans to be reconciled to God.

Salvation depends on this truth. If Jesus were not both fully God and fully human, He could not provide salvation. Only God has the power to save, and only a perfect, sinless human could stand in our place to bear the penalty for sin. This makes the truth of His divinity and humanity essential for salvation.

It demonstrates God’s love. The fact that God became flesh to live among us and ultimately die for our sins shows the depth of His love and His desire to redeem us. This truth is the foundation of the gospel message.

John 1:1–3, 14 is essential because it declares the divine nature of Jesus and His mission to bring salvation to humanity—a truth upon which the entire Christian faith stands.

Jesus, Logos, and The Word: John 1:1-5

 

John 1:1–5 is a profound passage that introduces the nature of Jesus Christ as the "Word" (Logos in Greek) and His relationship with God, creation, and humanity. 

 The Eternal Nature of Jesus (The Word)

 Verse 1: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

 This emphasizes that Jesus (the Word) existed before time began, coexisting with God. He is not a created being but eternal, just as God is eternal. 

 The Word is identified with God, revealing Jesus' divine nature.

 Jesus' Role in Creation

 Verse 3: "Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made."

 Jesus, as the Word, is the agent through whom all creation came into being. This highlights His omnipotence and role as Creator alongside God the Father.

 Everything in existence owes its origin to Him, underscoring His sovereignty over all things.

 Jesus as the Source of Life and Light

 Verse 4: "In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind."

 Jesus is the source of both physical and spiritual life. His life brings light—truth, righteousness, and understanding—to humanity.

 The "light" symbolizes salvation and the revelation of God's truth, which Jesus brings to the world.

 Jesus Overcoming Darkness

 Verse 5: "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."

 This verse reveals Jesus’ triumph over evil, sin, and death. Darkness represents sin and the fallen state of the world, but Jesus, the light, shines through and is never overcome by it.

 The imagery of light overcoming darkness speaks to the hope and victory that Jesus offers in the face of spiritual darkness and opposition.

These verses reveal that Jesus is eternal, divine, the Creator, the source of all life and light, and victorious over sin and evil. He is central to God's revelation to humanity and the key to spiritual life and salvation.

More: Themes in the Gospel of John, Lesson 3

Sabbath School Lesson 3 - The Backstory: The Prologue

 

Themes in the Gospel of John

Sabbath School Lesson 3

The Back Story: The Prologue

You may use this for presenting and studying the current Sabbath School Lesson.

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> Download the notes for Lesson 3 video here.

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> Download  Themes in the Gospel of John (4th  qtr) Sabbath School Lessons Here

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The Raising of Lazarus and Jesus' Claim of being The Resurrection and The Life: John 11:38-44

 

The raising of Lazarus in John 11:38–44 powerfully illustrates Jesus’ declaration that He is “the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25) because it demonstrates His authority over death and His ability to grant life. Here's how this miracle reveals Jesus in that role.

Lazarus had been dead for four days, which, in the cultural and biological understanding of the time, meant his body had already started to decompose. Despite this, Jesus commands Lazarus to rise from the dead. Only someone with power over life and death could perform such a miracle. Jesus shows that He can restore life even when death seems final.

The miracle of Lazarus points forward to Jesus’ own resurrection. Just as Jesus brought Lazarus back to life, He would rise from the dead after His own crucifixion. This miracle serves as a tangible demonstration of the resurrection power Jesus claims to have, validating His future promise of eternal life for believers.

By proclaiming, “I am the resurrection and the life,” Jesus is not just claiming that He can bring people back to life but that He is the very source of life itself. The raising of Lazarus shows that through Jesus, there is not only physical life but also the promise of eternal life.

Jesus tells Martha, Lazarus' sister, “Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live” (John 11:25). The miracle of Lazarus’ resurrection reinforces that those who believe in Jesus will not experience eternal death, as He can give them everlasting life.

The miracle not only shows Jesus' power over death but also serves as a sign of the eternal life He offers to all who believe in Him.