Glory!

Discipleship Group Questions for May 8, 2005

Scripture:

John 17:1 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you - Ah! we’re going to come back to this! Glorify your Son that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

John 17:6 “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we are one.”

Discipleship Questions:

1.The central theme in this pericopy – this short section of Scripture – is Glory – it’s all about God’s revealed power and presence – His glory! Have you ever been overwhelmed by His Glorious Presence?” This is what it’s all about! Knowing God in all of His glory! Anything else is a pale counterfeit of the full-blown reality of God! Please discuss.

2.What does Jesus mean when He asks for this from His Father? What’s He really asking for? The idea of “glory,” has to do with making palpable or substantial the Power and Presence of the unseen God. We get a scent of this concept in the Old Testament when Moses saw the glory of God revealed to some extent in the burning bush. It was a palpable sign of God’s power and presence. How does Jesus make God’s power and presence palpable.

3.Please discuss the following quote by Fr. Brannan Byren: “Jesus death on the cross renders the love of the unseen God transparent to the eyes of faith.”

4.What we’re talking about here is called Sacramental living – living in such a way to reveal God’s glory in our lives – God’s Presence and Power in our very bodies just as Jesus did! We’re Christians – doing what Jesus our Lord did and wants to continue to do in and through us! Please discuss this.