What Was Jesus’ Primary Focus?
Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper. Public Domain.
By: Frank Tunstall, D. Min.
As the clock moved closer to midnight, Jesus took the role of the High Priest of the New Covenant and offered His High Priestly prayer to His Heavenly Father. In doing this Jesus interceded for Himself and His disciples, as well as for generations unborn.
The Apostle John wrote that Jesus’ High Priestly prayer was followed by a hymn, most probably Psalm 118. Jesus led singing the thousand-year-old hymn at the Last Supper. Examples include affirmations like:
“Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His love endures forever” (118:1).
“The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid (118:6).
“I will not die but live and will declare what the Lord has done” (118:17).
“The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this and it is marvelous in our eyes” (118: 22-23).
“This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it” (118:24).
The hymn was sung at Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, a thousand years after King David wrote it, and at the Last Supper. It was also the final event in the Upper Room before Jesus led the disciples out under the stars to Gethsemane (John 17:1) ]
We should not miss Jesus’ motivation that fixed His focus: “Father… glorify your Son that your Son may glorify you” (John 17:1).
The greatest joy of Jesus’ life was to venerate His Father and give Him the ultimate glory by fulfilling at Calvary the plan of redemption. Hence, Jesus’ deeply felt desire and His heartthrob was to honor His Father by going to Golgotha and staying on the cross until He died.
The strategy had been in the mind of God from eternity.
It was a vision opposite to the thinking of the first century Jewish leadership (Psalm 93:2; Isaiah 57:15; John 1:29, 36). In their minds, Messiah would be far too wise and too powerful to let such shame come to Him.
To Jesus, honoring His Father amid His suffering would reveal His heartbeat to save whoever would repent, including all those who believe the gospel (Mark 1:9 – 11).
THINK ABOUT IT: Jesus was not focused on praying for the strength He would need to endure the cross, but for the strength to honor His Father. The difference is profound.
Fellow pastor, is your primary focus when you preach to honor your Heavenly Father?
Beloved teacher, do you teach to honor your Heavenly Father?
January 7, 2024 9:55 am|
Oh, what a rich and sweeping view of the relationship between Father and Son. You always lift your readers higher so they can see further. Thank you.