Present Glory: The unity of character for which Jesus prayed would require nothing less than the provision of divine glory (17:22). God’s own beauty and excellence must reside in us if we are to have His holy character shine from us to the lost world around us (17:23). This is God’s will that we become like Him, that we share in His holiness (Heb. 12:10), partake of His divine nature (2 Pet. 1:4), even fill up to all the fullness of God (Eph. 3:19). We are to grow in our sanctification as we behold the glory of Christ in the mirror of Scripture (2 Cor. 3:18). Though the ultimate sight of His glory will be in the future, a fore-taste of that glory has been given to us now, so that as we gaze upon Christ He abides in us[1] and we spread His fragrant aroma everywhere (2 Cor. 2:15-16).
Future Glory: Jesus prayed that we will all enter His presence one day (17:24; 1 Thess. 4:17). His prayer was not only that we dwell with Him, but that we also behold His glory. In heaven,[2] we will witness the magnificent glory of God shine from the face of Jesus (2 Cor. 4:6; Rev. 1:16), the Lamp of heaven (Rev. 21:23), our High Priest decked out in glory and beauty.[3] When we thus see His glory, not dimly but in its full brilliance, we will behold Him as He is and the full sight of His resplendent glory will glorify us into His perfect likeness (1 John 3:2). We see Him now as in a mirror, but then face to face (1 Cor. 13:12). We are being sanctified now, then we will be glorified (Rom. 8:17; Phil. 3:21).
[1] This is the
stunning conclusion “I in them” (17:26). Jesus lived the way He did, because He
was secure and confident in the Father’s love for Him (5:20; 10:17; 11:42; Matt.
3:17; 17:5). Similarly, as we come to know the immense love of God that we also
trust in Him in the same way and manifest Jesus’ life in us (Gal. 2:20).
[2] Jesus spoke
of His glory in the kingdom of God on earth (Matt. 19:28; 24:30; 25:31; Luke 9:26-29;
2 Pet. 1:16-18) which culminates in His heavenly glory in the New Jerusalem (1 Pet.
5:10; Rev. 21:22-23; 22:3-5).
[3] The high priest’s attire was made for glory and beauty (Ex. 28:2, 40). This foreshadowed the true priest of heaven. Christ is dressed in glory and beauty as the lamp of heaven radiating the glory of God (Rev. 21:23).