The Glory of Christ

11 Father; I will that they also whom Thou hast give ft me be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which IViou hast given me.” — John xvii. 24.

“Where I am.” Strange place that in which to behold His glory! We could have understood Him if He had said, “I will that these whom Thou hast given me be with me where I was — in the glory which I had with Thee before the foundation of the world.” We could have understood Him if He had said, “I will that these whom Thou hast given me be with me where I shall be, when Thou shalfc glorify me again with Thine own self.” But when He says, “be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory,” we are startled. What glory had He now and here? Had He not just come to that hour which men called the hour of His humiliation? was He not on the very borders of the valley of the shadow of death? Surely it was the last spot where He should have wished His disciples to behold His glory. We should have expected Him to have pointed them on to a time when this shame would be compensated by the glory to come; instead of that He says that the glory has already come, and that He only wishes they were near enough to see it. He says, “Father, I wish that these whom Thou hast given me, these who think this the hour of my humiliation, could see it as it really is — the hour of my triumph; I wish they could get so close to my heart as to behold this hour in the light that I behold it — the light of a glorious crown laid on the head of my humanity; then would their sorrow be turned into joy.”

My soul, marvel not at this exaltation in humiliation; Christ’s human glory was His power to bear. When He said, “Father, the hour is come; glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son may glorify Thee,” He asked not salvation from His hour, but strength in His hour. He asked that He might be able to take the cup with a hand that did not tremble, to say with a voice that did not falter, “Not as I will, but as Thou wilt.” Canst thou be with Him where

He then was and behold His glory? Canst thou see the conquest in His stooping, the kinghood in His serving, the greatness in His humility, the crown in His cross? Canst thou bow clown before the majesty of that rod and staff which comforted Him in the valley of the shadow? Canst thou adore the omnipotence of that strength which could bear the burden of a world without protest, could bear the sins of a world without losing His love for an hour? Then thou hast reached the privilege which thy Lord desired for thee, for thou hast seen in kindred sympathy with Him that His day of death was His day of glory.