Sunday’s message was a communion reflection of the glorification of God in the cross of Jesus Christ. Our text was John 17:1-3.

The following questions are for your use in private devotions or with others.

1. Glory and glorification

God’s glory might be defined as the perceivable qualities of His very nature – or as Piper puts it, “the glory of God is the going public of His infinite worth.” Read Exodus 34:5-8; 29, and describe how God’s invisible nature was made perceivable to Moses and how we might know that Moses understood something of God’s glory?

Connected to this is the idea of bringing “glory to God” or glorifying Him. On Sunday, I offered the following definition: “to bring glory to God is to make the invisible qualities of God perceptible to others in such a way that they are valued as they should be.” How do you think people can bring glory to God?

2. Jesus, the “radiance of God’s glory” (Hebrews 1:3)

Read John 17:1-3. Now consider, how did Jesus glorify God? And how did He do this especially on the Cross? For instance, consider how the Cross of Christ speaks of God’s perfect justice and hatred of sin and yet also speaks of His compassion and love and mercy?

How does Jesus articulate the purpose of His and His Father’s glorification in verses 2-3? What does this say about the heart of God?

3. How does God receive glory from our lives?

Read Psalm 50:15 and Romans 5:20. Reflect on these passages and consider, how is God glorified in our trouble? How is He glorified even in our sin? Are there areas where your perception of how to bring glory to God needs to be more informed by His Word?

4. Pray

Spend some time with the Lord thanking Him for revealing His glory to you in His Son. Talk to Him about how you want to glorify Him in your weaknesses and struggles as well as your gifts and strengths.