In John 17 we have the place that the Son occupies in relation to the working out of the Father's thoughts as the One whom He has glorified. The blessed Lord has done with the world, for He "Lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee." He speaks as beyond the cross and all that it meant for Him: in His thoughts He is engaged with the glory of the Father in the place where He soon will be, glorified as Man before Him. While upon earth all His desire had been to do the Father's will, and to secure His pleasure; in His place of glory the same desires would fill His heart.
Power, or authority, over all flesh was His in the place of glory, and this would be used for the glorifying of the Father in the communication of eternal life to those who were the Father's gift of love to Him. In the coming day of Millennial glory, this divine authority will be exercised publicly by the Lord as Son of Man, for the subjugation of all evil, and the maintenance of the rule of righteousness.
Eternal life is now given to those who have been given to the Son that they might be brought into the joys of the knowledge of the Father and of Jesus Christ whom He sent. How blessed are the relationships, affections and privileges that belong to the eternal life the Son has communicated to us from His place on high! The joys of this life are known in communion with the Father and the Son. We do not have to wait till the Son brings us to the Father's house to enjoy the eternal life, for even here, as having the Holy Spirit, we taste the sweetness of divine love in known relationships with the Father and the Son.
Every step that the Son of God had taken on earth was for the Father's glory. In John 8 He could say, "I do always those things that please Him"; now He says, "I have glorified thee on the earth." There was never a word, action or movement of the Son but brought glory and pleasure to His Father. Simple dependence and obedience marked all His ways. The prayer at the grave of Lazarus brings out His dependence. When He heard of Lazarus being sick, He waited two days, for He was directed by His Father's will, not by natural affection. He was able to tell His disciples that the sickness of Lazarus had in view the glory of God, and His own glory as Son of God.
Jesus had come to work in this world, even as He said in John 4, "My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me, and to finish His work." Now He says, "I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do." His words in chapter 4 show that involved in His work was the securing of a company of worshippers for the Father, who would worship Him in spirit and in truth. For this the cross was necessary; every barrier that hindered the full blessing of His own must be taken out of the way, so that they might be brought into nearness and intimacy to enjoy the Father's love, and to worship Him as He desired.
In John 17:5 the Son prays, "And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was." The eternal glory of the Son was His in the rights of His Person, but in having come into Manhood He entered into the place of obedience and dependence, so that on returning to heaven He asks for the glory that He had laid aside to become Man. Having become Man, He will never cease to be Man; He has, like the Hebrew servant, become a bondman forever, because of His great love. Yet as Man, He will enter into the glory, indeed has already entered into it, that was His before time began. It is the glory of the Eternal Son, which He has in the Father's presence.
This is not the glory of the Son of Man which will be displayed publicly in the coming kingdom; it is a glory which will be seen by those who are brought into intimacy with the Son of God. Of this the Son speaks in verse 24, where He says, "Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovest me before the foundation of the world." To behold this glory, the saints of God, at the desire of the Son, will be brought to where He is in the presence of the Father; yea, He will come Himself to bring us there.
R. Duncanson.