"That they all may be one, as you, Father, are in me, and I in you; that they also may be one in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. And the glory which you gave me I have given them, that they may be one just as we are one: I in them, and you in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that you have sent me, and have loved them as you have loved me” (John 17:21-23).
Jesus says, in essence, “The glory that you gave me, Father, I have given to them.” The Messiah is making an incredible statement here. He is saying that we’ve been given the same glory that the Father gave to him. What an amazing thought. Yet, what is this glory that was given to the Messiah Jesus and how do our lives reveal that glory? It is not some aura or emotion; it is unimpeded access to the heavenly Father!
Jesus made it easy for us to access the Father, opening the door for us by the stake: “For through him, we both have access by one Spirit to the Father” (Ephesians 2:18). The word “access” means the right to enter. It signifies free passage, as well as ease of approach: “In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him - Jesus” (Ephesians 3:12).
Do you see what Paul is saying here? By faith, we’ve come into a place of unimpeded access to God. We’re not like Esther in the Old Testament. She had to wait for a sign from the king before she could approach the throne. Only after he held out his scepter was Esther approved to come forward.
By contrast, you and I are already in the throne room. And we have the right and privilege of speaking to Yehovah our God at any time. Indeed, we’re invited to make any request of Him: “Let us, therefore, come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).
When Jesus the Messiah ministered on earth, he didn’t have to slip away to pray in order to obtain the Father’s mind. He said, “I can do nothing on my own. I do only what the Father tells me and shows me” (see John 5:19). Today we have been given the very same degree of access to the Father that the Messiah Jesus had. You may say, “Wait a minute. I have the same access to the Father that Jesus did?”
Make no mistake. Like Jesus, we are to pray often and fervently, seeking God, waiting on Him. We don’t have to slip away to beseech Yehovah for strength or direction, because we have His very own Spirit living within us. And the Spirit of Yehovah reveals to us His mind and will, guiding us every step of the way towards His soon-coming Kingdom.
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