Jesus made a magnificent statement. Look in two chapters. First, John 14, then in John 17:
“The person who knows my commandments and keeps them, that is who loves me. And the person who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and make myself plain to him” (John 14:21).
To me, that is a tremendous statement. He first said that our obedience is evidence of our love for him, and then he followed that up by saying, if we love him, the Father loves us . . . and, Jesus will reveal Himself to us!
“I’m praying not only for them But also for those who will believe in me because of them and their witness about me. The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind—Just as you, Father, are in me and I in you, so they might be one heart and mind with us. Then the world might believe that you, in fact, sent me. The same glory you gave me, I gave them, so they’ll be as unified and together as we are—in them and you in me. Then they’ll be mature in this oneness, and give the godless world evidence that you have sent me and loved them In the same way you have loved me” (John 17:20-23).
Take another look at those verses. Jesus says, in essence, “The glory that you gave me, Father, I have given to them.” That is incredible! He is saying that we have been given the same glory that the Father gave to him. What an amazing thought, yet, what is this glory that was given to Christ and how do our lives reveal that glory? Now it’s not some aura that radiates from our bodies or emotion; it is unimpeded access to the heavenly Father! And that is Amazing!!
Jesus made it easy for us to access the Father. You don’t have to someone dressed in fancy robes or who wear special beads. No. Jesus opened the door for us His Cross: “Through Him [Through Yeshua] we both [whether far off or near] now have access by one Holy Spirit to the Father so that we are able to approach Him.” (Ephesians 2:18). The word “access” means the right to enter. It shows us that we have free passage, as well as ease of approach: “Because of our faith in Him, we can have the boldness; the courage and confidence, of free access and an unreserved approach to God with freedom and without fear” (Ephesians 3:12). Oh, what a sweet promise!
Do you see what Paul is saying here? By faith, we have come into a place of unimpeded access to God. We are not like Esther in the Old Testament. She had to wait for a sign from the king before she could approach the throne. She had to wait for the king to hold out his scepter, and then Esther was approved to come forward.
By contrast, you and I are already in the throne room. We have the right and privilege of speaking to the King at any time. As a matter of fact, we are children of the King, and that gives us immediate access to the Throne! We are invited to make any request of him: “Let us fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace, to obtain mercy and find grace (God’s Ability) to help in our time need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].” (Hebrews 4:16).
When Jesus walked on earth, he didn’t have to slip away to pray to obtain His Father’s mind. He said, “I can do nothing on my own. I do only what the Father tells me and shows me” (see John 5:19). Today we have been given the exact same degree of access to the Father! Jesus said, “The things I have done, you can do also!” Oh, you might be sitting there saying,, “Wait a minute. I have the same access to the Father that Jesus did? You have got to be a heretic!”
Well, maybe so, but just like Jesus, we are to pray often and fervently, seeking God, waiting on the Lord. We don’t have to slip away to cry out, begging our Father for strength or direction, because we have his very own Spirit living within us. And the Holy Spirit reveals to us the mind and will of the Father.
Father, I am so grateful for being invited into your family. I cry out to you Abba Father, my Father and Lord. When I first entered your family I was overwhelmed with excitement and anticipation for what was in-store for me. Even today, I am refreshed and reminded of the great things I have inherited. You have created a new life within me and provided the presence and guidance of your Spirit. I thank you for all these things and I only ask that you draw me closer and deeper into your wisdom and love. Thank you.
