John 17
Psalm 28
After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:
“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.
John 17:1-5
We love to be in control of every situation we find ourselves in – whether it’s in our home, work, finances, social life, etc. And the reason for this is because it makes us feel safe and secure! But, the BIG QUESTION is, “Can we be in control of our future after we die?”
In John 17:1-5, Jesus’ prayer to His Father shows us that God is the only person who’s in control of our future after we die. Jesus says that God has given Him authority over all people (past, present and future) so that He can give eternal life to everyone God has given to Him.
In last week’s reading from John 14:9, we read that Jesus says “…Anyone who has seen me (Jesus) has seen the Father.” What Jesus meant by this is that if we want to know who God is then all we have to do is to look to Him (Jesus).
So, the only way that we can know and experience eternal life after death is by knowing God through the person and work of Jesus. Because it’s only through Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross that God’s plan for eternal life has been made possible.
As we approach Easter, let us praise God wholeheartedly for His plan for eternal life through Jesus’ redemptive work on the Cross for our sins. And may we make the most of every opportunity to proclaim this ‘Good News’ to people who are in need of salvation from God’s righteous judgement because of their sins!