04 The Work Finished
The Work Finished The Lord Jesus, our great High Priest and Intercessor, not only prays to his Father — but he pleads with him. He uses arguments, he assigns reasons why his requests should be granted. If he asks the Father to glorify him — he pleads that he may glorify the Father; that he has already received power over all flesh, that he may bestow eternal life; and adds, "I have glorified you on the earth; I have finished the work which you gave me to do" (John 17:4). Precious Redeemer! your Father’s glory was dear to your heart; your Father’s honor was safe in your hands!
WHAT Had Jesus Done? He had glorified his Father. This he did as a son, a servant, and a believer. As a son, he honored his Father, by the surrender of his will, the exercise of his affections, and the preferring his honor in all things to his own. As a servant, he glorified his God, by constant, cheerful, self-denying obedience to his will at all times. As a believer, he glorified his Lord, by receiving his Word, trusting his promise, and placing implicit confidence in his faithfulness.
He was the first of sons, the first of servants, and the first of believers. He takes the lead of all, and in all things he has the preeminence.
He glorified his Father . . .
by manifesting him — giving a clear, correct, and suitable revelation of his nature, will, and works;
by bringing the world to a crisis, judging it, and passing sentence upon it;
by conquering and casting out Satan; and
by securing the complete redemption of his people.
He glorified the Father . . .
in his teaching — when he expounded the law and preached the gospel;
in his miracles — displaying at once his power and his mercy;
in his sufferings — paying the penalty of sin, doing honor to the law, and yielding himself up without hesitation to the stroke of divine justice.
He glorified his Father . . .
by his self-renunciation, not seeking his own glory;
by his constant reference to his Father’s will and decree;
by presenting his Father’s likeness to the world;
by asserting his Father’s claims in the world;
by obeying his Father’s law, making it his rule in all things;
by meeting all the demands that could be made upon him — by the law and justice of God.
Yes, gracious Savior, you did glorify your Father, and may it be my honor and delight to glorify you! WHERE Did Jesus Glorify His Father? "On the earth." It were little to do so in Heaven, where . . .
all are happy,
all are holy, and
all are aiming at the same end. But Jesus glorified him on earth . . .
where God had been most dishonored, and was dishonored still;
where he himself was despised and rejected, and was treated with contempt and scorn;
where it was most difficult to do so, because all and everything was opposed to it;
where Satan reigned, and at the time possessed not only the souls — but the very bodies of men.
God had never been so glorified by anyone, or in any part of his universe before. He was glorified by his own Son, his own Son impersonating and representing his people; his own Son, impersonating and representing his people in their lowest condition — offering himself a living sacrifice, and consulting his Father’s honor . . .
in every word he spoke,
in every work he wrought,
in every pleasure he enjoyed,
in every pain he suffered.
Never was self-annihilation so carried out before. Never did one so live for another before. Besides which, being divine as well as human — he presented not only a living — but a divine sacrifice, as his whole person was subjected to the Father’s will.
Blessed Jesus, one seems to love you for this, with a special love; and we will praise you for this throughout eternity. We had dishonored your Father upon earth — and to earth you came in order that you might glorify him on this polluted, this cursed soil.
How Had Jesus Glorified His Father? By finishing the work which had been given him to do. He had undertaken a work upon which no one else would venture — a work which required . . .
infinite wisdom,
infinite condescension,
and infinite merit.
He was to finish transgression, to make an end of sin, and to bring in everlasting righteousness. He was to do all and suffer all that was necessary to satisfy divine justice, to expiate and put away sin, so that God and man may be reconciled, and live together in peace, love, and holiness.
He was to conquer Satan, overcome the world, and open the kingdom of Heaven to all believers. This work he undertook to perform in the everlasting covenant; and to accomplish this work he came into the world, and was made under the law. The work was now as good as done. His active obedience was complete, and he was prepared to surrender himself passively to suffer all that he had engaged to undergo.
He had finished his work . . .
accurately — exactly according to the plan;
faithfully — in accordance with his engagement;
diligently — without delay or turning aside to the right hand or to the left;
and perfectly — without the least defect. As far as he had gone, all was complete; and as the parts were complete, so would the whole be.
Observe, God who gave him power, gave him work; and so he will empower us to give him glory. If he gives us grace — it is that we may bring him glory. Whatever, therefore, we receive from God — we should use for God; and in all we do, or suffer, or say — seek to honor him.
All was of God — and all a gift.
God gave the person to work, his Son.
He gave him power over all flesh.
He gave him the people to save and bless; and he gave him the work to perform for their salvation and his own glory.
God is glorified by works — rather than by words. Jesus glorified his Father by doing the work given him to do; and so should we. One good work — is worth a thousand mere words. Let us therefore ascertain what work God has assigned us; and if it is to . . .
preach his Word,
write his truth,
teach the young,
relieve the necessitous, or
to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction —
let us do it, and do it in order that God may be glorified.
Jesus glorified his Father in a life of poverty and privation; and so may we. Great gifts, an elevated situation, wealth or station, are not necessary. The poor woman in her cottage home,
the mechanic in his workshop,
the laborer on the farm,
the merchant in his counting-house,
the lady in her drawing-room —
each and all may glorify God; and each may glorify God most in their present position. Depend upon it, if we do not glorify God where we are at present — we would not do so if we were removed to another situation; for it is the state of the heart, and not the situation — which enables us to glorify our Father who is in Heaven.
Gracious Lord, give us grace, that whether we eat or drink, rest or work, or whatever we do — we may do all to your glory. Teach us to make your glory the object and end of life always and everywhere — that in every situation and every relation, we may honor you!