I Have Glorified You on the Earth (John 17) ج3
This lecture explains the prayer of Christ in John 17, especially the phrase: “I have glorified You on the earth,” clarifying the true meaning of glory from the perspective of the Cross and redemption, not worldly glory.
The Glory of the Cross, Not of the World
Pope Shenouda III emphasizes that the hour of the Cross is the hour of glory, because in it Christ offered Himself as a sacrifice of love and obedience, surrendering Himself to death for the salvation of all humanity. Thus, the Father was glorified in His justice, and the Son was glorified as Redeemer and Savior.
Christ as Representative of Humanity
Christ, being perfect in His divinity and perfect in His humanity, prayed, fasted, and suffered as a representative of all humanity. When He prayed, humanity prayed in Him; when He obeyed, humanity obeyed in Him; and when He was crucified, He redeemed all.
Glory Through Suffering
Christian glory is not found in temporal greatness, but in accepting the Cross without murmuring and walking the narrow path with joy and gratitude. True glory is found in suffering accepted out of love for God.
Eternal Life: Knowing God
Eternal life is not pleasure or worldly glory, but the knowledge of God—true, experiential knowledge that comes from relationship and love, not merely intellectual belief in God’s existence.
Experiential, Not Merely Intellectual Knowledge
Knowing God is a continuous spiritual tasting, through which God gradually reveals Himself according to the capacity of the heart. This knowledge can never be fully grasped because God is infinite, yet it fills the soul with fulfillment, wonder, and joy.
Christ and the Salvation of All
The text explains that Christ’s authority is given to grant eternal life to all who believe in Him, to all nations and not only the Jews. This authority must always be used for salvation and building the Kingdom, not for personal glory.
Spiritual Conclusion
Whoever truly knows God despises the trivialities of the world and begins from now to know God through His Word, personal relationship with Him, the lives of the saints, and nature that proclaims the glory of God. This knowledge is the essence of eternal life.
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