Sermon Guide: John 17:1-5 “The Glory of Christ”
Date Preached: March 23, 2025
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Key Passages
John 17:1–5, ESV
When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.
Exodus 34:5–7, ESV
The LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.”
2 Corinthians 3:16, 18a, ESV
But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed … And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.
Sermon Overview
The glory of God is most prominently on display at the cross of Jesus. God’s character — abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, full of grace and truth — are demonstrated most prominently when Jesus died for the sins of undeserving us.
Sermon Structure
1. Veiled in Cloud
The fire in the cloud (Exodus)
The spoken Word of glory (Exodus 34)
2. Veiled in Flesh
The Word became flesh
Glorified through his character & works
3. Unveiled at the Cross
The Father is most glorified when the Son saves sinners by his death
Beholding the glory at the cross
Definitions & Resources
The Glory of God
The intrinsic power and goodness of God, i.e. his character, displayed. God is most glorified when his character is not only seen, but also enjoyed. The Westminster Shorter Catechism, Question 1, asks: “What is the chief end of man?” Answer: “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and enjoy him forever.”
Theophany
A visible manifestation of God, such as the burning bush, the pillar of cloud and fire, the cloud and fire on Mt. Sinai, and the glory cloud on the Temple.
Incarnation
Incarnation means “en-fleshing.” The eternal Son of God took on human flesh, becoming fully man and fully God, without compromise. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary — truly man — with all man’s limitations, except sinful nature — and truly God.
Questions for Discussion & Reflection
1. Why is Jesus’ concern for his own glory good news for you?
2. If the clouds seem to be obscuring the glory of God in your life, what can be done? (Consider 2 Corinthians 3:18)
3. If Jesus’ chief concern in his prayer (John 17:1–5) is the glory of the Father, how does that inform our prayers?
