Read John 17:1-3
After saying all these things, Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you. 2 For you have given him authority over everyone. He gives eternal life to each one you have given him. 3 And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth. (NLT)
Discover
1. In His prayer, who did Jesus want to give glory to?
2. What kind of life does Jesus give?
3. What is the way to have this type of life?
Respond
Jesus was hours away from being tried and crucified, and today’s verses give us a glimpse of what He prayed in that moment. His desire was to give God glory and to see us come to know Him. The word ‘know’ in Greek doesn’t refer to head knowledge. It means heart knowledge that comes from firsthand personal experience. Jesus died so that we could know Him, so that we could spend eternity with Him in heaven.
This is the kind of knowledge we want to pursue as a church and help others experience for themselves, and it starts with each of us individually. Here are some next steps you can take in response:
How You Can Pray
Praise God for being a God who wants to be known. Confess where you’ve pursued head knowledge over heart knowledge. Ask God to deepen your personal experience of Him, and commit to learning His truth while also keeping your eyes open for His presence in your life.
What You Can Do
Set a regular reminder to dive into God’s Word each day, and jot down how the passage deepens your personal knowledge of Him. Throughout your day, keep a running note of ways you see or experience His presence at your home, work, school, or anywhere else you go.