Jesus’ prayer in the garden provides an inverted glimpse of true glory. While kings typically seek glory through earthly wealth, power and acclaim, Jesus asks to be glorified through sacrifice and suffering. His prayer shows that the path to eternal life lies not in accumulating heavenly rewards after death, but in knowing the one true God through an ever deepening relationship begun in this life. Jesus’ example teaches us that giving God our full and undivided attention is the only sure path to the “good life.”
- Jesus prays for himself to be glorified. He asks the Father to glorify him so that he may glorify the Father through his death and resurrection. Jesus’ glory is found in his sacrificial death for the sake of others.
- Eternal life is not just something that happens after death, but starts now through knowing the one true God and Jesus. It is a relational knowledge that grows over time through experience.
- Jesus glorified the Father on earth by accomplishing the work the Father gave him to do. He asked the Father to glorify him with the glory he had before the world existed. His glory would be restored through his crucifixion.
- The example of Jesus shows that we should pray not just for others but also for ourselves. We should pray to accomplish the specific work God has called us to do.
- Glorifying Jesus, making much of him, and giving him our full attention is the “good life” and “safe life” because he is the only one we can fully trust with our attention.
Jesus’ prayer and example challenges us to reevaluate what we consider “glory.” True glory is found not in what the world prizes – wealth, power and fame – but in faithfully accomplishing the work God has given us, no matter how humble. Like Jesus, we must be willing to lay down our lives for the sake of others, trusting that in doing so we glorify God and find the lasting joy we truly seek. Only Jesus merits our undivided attention, our complete love and devotion. When we place him at the center of our lives – above all else that may demand our allegiance – we will find true purpose, peace and perspective for living. Jesus calls us to die to ourselves so that, through him, we may truly live.