HIS LAST WILL

Jesus wills us with His last, irresistible will to be with Him in His glory (John 17:24). "Father, whom you have given to me, I will that where I am they may be with me in order that they continually see my glory which you have given to me because you loved me before the foundation of the world." He wills us to join Him in Heaven because true lovers long to be together forever!

Jesus' will is more than want or desire and far more than a wish. Jesus no longer asks the Father. He expresses His will for us to the Father which, taken in the context of impending death, is more like His last will and testament (Godet, John, p. 903). "I will" (θελω) is a "quasi-imperative" (Hanna, Grammatical Aid, p. 180). He wills that we be with (μετ') Him. The preposition suggests being in close association with another person (BAGD, p. 508).

The verb θελω, when used of God in the Old Testament, refers, all but once, to the sovereign will of God, resolute and unbending. The resurrection power of the Son in perfect harmony with the Father gives life to whomever He wills (θελω, John 5:21). Jesus' will determines whether John lives or dies before the return of Christ (John 21:22). It is a matter of His will (TDNT, 3:47-48).

Jesus wills that we be with Him to continually see (θεωρωσιν) His glory. The present tense verb indicates an ongoing seeing not a one-time seeing. The verb carries the sense of being a spectator or observer of His glory (BAGD, p.360). We will see His glory continuously when we are with Him forever.

Here is not the glory Jesus had before the world began (John 17:5). Here is the glory the Father gives to the Son after He completes His saving work on earth. Jesus' pre-incarnate glory is nowhere said to be given to Him. His pre-incarnate glory is His by virtue of who He is as eternal God (Meyer, John, pp. 472-473). Jesus speaks here of His glorious reward proleptically, as if it has been given (δεδωκας) to Him already, so certain is He of the completion of His work. He wills us to see His glory, a glory certain yet not yet seen.

We will be with Him because He wills us to be with Him!