John 17:24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
It is interesting that this verse and ones like it are often used to argue against the God of Christianity. It is argued that the Jesus is here being supremely egotistical. That he wants people to be with him not for their own good; not so that they can be supremely happy - but so that they would see his glory.
However, what if our happiness and God's glory were not opposites? What if the way for us to be supremely happy was to see Jesus in his pure, pre-incarnation glory.?Then he is not being egotistical at all. He knows that we are most happy when we see him most clearly.
You see – if I said to you – if you take the time to get to know me it would make you really happy – you would recoil ...wouldn't you? But with God ... it is true!! He is not being egotistical – he knows that you will be most happy if you know him, if you see him as he really is. It would be false modesty, it would be a lie, if he pointed you somewhere else for your happiness. No Jesus is praying this verse not for his own kudos but for our good. You will be most happy when you see Jesus as he really is.
Jesus wants you to be with him. He wants you to see him as he really is. He is concerned for you. He knows that will make you supremely happy. And so the principal is that – the more we know Jesus, the more clearly we see him as he is, the happier we will be. This verse has eternity in view, but the principal is true even now. Growing in the knowledge of Jesus and his glory is what Jesus wants for you. He knows it is what is best for you. Will you trust him that that is where true life, true joy will be found?
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