“O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.” (John 17:5)

This passage is taken from Christ’s prayer to the Father shortly before His crucifixion. It’s one of the clearest biblical statements of the preexistence of the God-man Jesus. Here, Jesus declares that He existed before the world’s creation in Genesis 1, which is equivalent to saying that He is eternal.

The great reformer John Calvin said, “This is a remarkable passage, which teaches us that Christ is not a God who has been newly contrived, or who has existed only for a time; for if his glory was eternal, he himself also has always been.” Jesus had previously claimed eternity and unity with Yahweh, saying, “Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58). In Psalm 90:2, Moses says, “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.”

The eternal Christ temporarily “took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men” and “humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:7-8). He was looking and praying toward a future glory: “Who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).

Praise God, this future glory involves a redeemed race of rebels who will enjoy it with Him. As Jesus prayed, “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 lovedst me before the foundation of the world” (John 17:24). JPT

Days of Praise Podcast is a podcast based on the Institute for Creation Research quarterly print devotional, Days of Praise. Start your day with devotional readings written by Dr. Henry Morris, Dr. Henry Morris III, Dr. John Morris, and others to strengthen and encourage you in your Christian faith.