Palm Sunday: The Revelation of Glory
The Saturday before Passover, Jesus arrives in Bethany to stay with Mary, Martha and Lazarus. His final march to Calvary and Easter starts with a prayer that has blessed and encouraged the Church for two millennia. Often referred to as the High Priestly Prayer of Jesus, it is a powerful, personal and passionate conversation with his Father. Ultimately, it is a prayer that emphasizes the glory of God. We will break this prayer down into seven sections, looking at the unique focus of each. Here is our outline:
Palm Sunday – The Revelation of Glory
Holy Week Monday – The Transfer of Glory
Holy Week Tuesday – The Covering of Glory
Holy Week Wednesday – The Distinction of Glory
Maundy Thursday – The Spread of Glory
Good Friday – The Unity of Glory
Holy Saturday – Anticipation of Glory
Easter – Incarnation of Glory
These are precious days. In the devotions that follow we will look through the lens of a steward to discover the lessons Jesus has for us on each day of this extraordinary week. Come, let us walk with the Master on the road to glory
Palm Sunday – “The Revelation of Glory”
Jesus spoke these things; and raising His eyes to heaven, He said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, so that the Son may glorify You, just as You gave Him authority over all flesh, so that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I glorified You on the earth having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do. And now You, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world existed. (John 17: 1-5)
Thought
We hear three things about glory in these opening phrases in Jesus’ prayer. First, The Son is the revelation of the glory of God. We know the heart of God, and His glory through His self-revelation in His Son. Second, God is glorified in the work of the Son. Everything Jesus did on earth was focused on glorifying His father. And third, God is glorified in us through our faith in the work of the Son.
As Jesus rides triumphantly into Jerusalem to the cries of ‘Hosanna’, the glory that was being bestowed on Him was not the glory He was seeking. Instead, Jesus ties that glory to the work He did in the name of and for the sake of the Father. His glory came from His obedience to the will of the Father, and that glory transcends all the earthly human praises.
How about us? Can it be said of us that we have brought God glory on earth by finishing the work He gave us to do? Is there any greater purpose in life?
The work God calls us to begins by knowing God through the intimate relationship we have with Him in and through the person of Jesus Christ empowered by the Holy Spirit. As we enter into this triune relationship, we fulfill God’s purpose in our life, and He is glorified through us.
As Jesus prepares for His last week of life on earth in His bodily form, He declares the glory of God revealed in the work for which He came. May God grant us a fresh vision for the purpose of our life as ones who bear the image of God and bring Him glory through our knowledge, trust and obedience to Him.
Encouragement for the Day
On this first day of Holy Week, give thanks that you know the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom He has sent, and rest confident in the purpose for which you were created and the calling on your life to reflect the glory of God in all you do.
Prayer
Lord, on this Palm Sunday, we seek to glorify you not only through hymns and praises and worship, but by our acceptance of the work you came to do, our knowledge of our Father in heaven who loves us dearly, and our lives lived in ways that point the world to your saving grace. We are children of God, created in your image for the purpose of bringing you glory. As we walk with you this Holy Week, give us opportunities to shine forth your light into our dark world that your glory may be seen through us, glory that draws people to you. In the name of our glorious Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
