Paul mentions two places where he desires that the Father will be glorified. One is the church and the other is Christ Jesus. How is the Father glorified in the church? Many answers could be given to that question, and here are some.
The Father, who chose his people before the world began, is gloried when they are converted, and he will be glorified when the number is completed. The Father is glorified as sinners become Christlike, remade in the image of his Son. The Father is glorified as believers are enabled to overcome indwelling sin and the devil. The Father is glorified when the answers he gives to prayer are accomplished.
How is the Father glorified in the Son? The Father is glorified in his Son as he fulfils his role as Mediator. In John 17:1, Jesus prayed: ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you…’ In verse 4, he says to the Father, ‘I have glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.’ The immediate context is the cross, and Jesus by his achievements on the cross brought glory to the Father. But his bringing glory to the Father did not cease at Calvary or with the resurrection. He ascended to heaven with the aim of bringing glory to the Father. How is he doing that today?
One way in which he does it is by building his church. Human analogies don’t always work, but we could say with regard to the church that the Father is the architect and Jesus is the builder (as well as the cornerstone). He seeks for lost sinners until he finds them, and each time he does he brings glory to the Father.
Once he finds them, Jesus fulfils the roles of prophet, priest and king in regard to each of them. He does this by the Holy Spirit. We are taught by him, we are strengthened by him, we are protected by him. In those three roles, he does other activities as well. For him, it is a constant activity and he always brings glory to the Father.
A third way in which Jesus works as the Mediator is by bringing residents to the Father’s house. His people enter heaven at the close of their lives on earth. The Father is glorified as his house becomes inhabited by the perfected spirits of the just.
Jesus will bring great glory to the Father when he delivers up the kingdom to God. Recall Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 15:24: ‘Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power.’ At the second coming it will be seen how much Jesus has done to bring great glory to the Father. And after that, in the eternal ages, even as Paul indicates here in our text, Jesus will bring glory to the Father, and in ways beyond our comprehension now his people will be involved in the providing of glory to the Father.
All we can say is that we have a very high calling.
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