For years now John 17:24 is and has been responsible for throwing me into catatonic states of heart and mind...in the body or out of the body I don't know, God knows, in the body or out of the body I don't know but God knows. Sorry, I could not resist! Catatonic might be too strong, but I sit and pray over and meditate on what Jesus is talking about when HE says..."Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world."
If this is (and it is) a prayer request from God the Son to God the Father do you think it will be answered? YES! YES! YES! It will come to pass! So those of us that are truly children of the most High God will behold Jesus in HIS magnificent, radiant and blazing glory! I don't know about you, but it makes me what to shout.
I know that if you ask most good Baptists what they want to hear when they see Jesus they will quote the first half of Matt 25:21...let's say it all together..."well done thy good and faithful servant." Please don't miss understand and please don't get mad at me...I long to hear those Words too, but I must confess what really gets me excited is when Jesus says at the end of the verse "enter into the JOY of your Master." Do you hear Peter's Words in the background..."joy unspeakable and full of glory." I do long to hear "well done" but infinitely more than that I burn to SEE JESUS IN ALL HIS RADIANT GLORY...I BELIEVE THAT IS WHAT YOU AND I WERE CREATED FOR AND THEN AND ONLY THEN WILL WE BE CONSUMED WITH THE JOY OF OUR MASTER.
We see God's Word testify to this in 2 Cor 4:6-7, "For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us." Jesus is the manifestation of the glory of God the Father. There are three other verses that come to heart and mind quickly.
Heb 1:3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
Col 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
Tit 2:13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
In Luke 18:41 a man crying out to Jesus repeatedly for mercy and Jesus asks him, “What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, I want to see." Jesus responded to him receive your sight, your faith has healed you.
All I will add to my prayer, all I will add to my request to the Great I AM, is LORD, I want to see, I want to see Jesus!
Father in Heaven,
In the name of your precious Son open the eyes of my heart and mind that I might see and behold your glorious Son...that I might gaze upon HIS beautiful face and be conformed into HIS image...for your glory and my joy in YOU. With ever greater intensity incline my heart and mind to your Word and to be consumed and heart burning with a white hot passion to know you and make you known. I long to hear you say on that day..."enter into the joy of your Master!