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190
S.D.A. Bible Commentary Vol. 5
spiritual knowledge, to practice His words. Without this, all else is
valueless (
The Signs of the Times, January 27, 1898
).
4-10. Glorified in Those Who Believe
—In the intercessory
prayer of Jesus with His Father, He claimed that He had fulfilled the
conditions which made it obligatory upon the Father to fulfill His
part of the contract made in heaven, with regard to fallen man. He
prayed: “I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. [That
is, He had wrought out a righteous character on earth as an example
for men to follow.] And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine
own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.”
In this prayer He further goes on to state what is comprehended by
the work which He has accomplished, and which has given Him
all those who believe on His name. He values this recompense so
highly that He forgets the anguish it has cost Him to redeem fallen
man. He declares Himself glorified in those who believe on Him.
The church, in His name, is to carry to glorious perfection the work
which He has commenced; and when that church shall be finally
ransomed in the Paradise of God, He will look upon the travail of
His soul and be satisfied. Through all eternity the ransomed host
will be His chief glory (
The Spirit of Prophecy 3:260, 261
).
5. Let the Veil Be Removed
—[
John 17:1-5
quoted.] Christ is
not praying for the manifestation of the glory of human nature; for
that human nature never had an existence in His pre-existence. He is
praying to His Father in regard to a glory possessed in His oneness
with God. His prayer is that of a mediator; the favor He entreats in
the manifestation of that divine glory which was possessed by Him
when He was one with God. Let the veil be removed, He says, and
let My glory shine forth—the glory which I had with Thee before
the world was (
The Signs of the Times, May 10, 1899
).
5, 24 (
Hebrews 1:6
;
1 John 2:1
; see
EGW comment on John
20:16, 17
;
Hebrews 3:1-3
). Public Reinstatement of Christ in
Heaven
—The prayer of Christ was answered. He was glorified with
the glory which He had with His Father before the world was. But
amid this glory, Christ does not lose sight of His toiling, struggling
ones upon earth. He has a request to make of His Father. He waves
back the heavenly host until He is in the direct presence of Jehovah,
and then He presents His petition in behalf of His chosen ones.