March 26

John 17:4

I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

When Jesus came into the world, he had a DEFINITE task to perform. He said, “I am come that you might have life, and that you might have it more abundantly; THAT WAS HIS PURPOSE. In order to do that, He had to live a perfect life, perform miracles, teach His disciples, and die the terrible death on the cross. There was a limited amount of time to do all this, since his life on earth was over at the age thirty three. Even at the age of twelve He was conscious of the limitations of time; He said, “I must be about my Father’s business”. Jesus brought glory to the Father by coming to this world and living a perfect life. Now what lay before Him was the agony in Gethsemane, the treacherous betrayal, his outrageous arrest, the mock trial before Pilate, and the excruciating agony of the crucifixion. His heart was so completely set on fulfilling the will of the Father and enduring the suffering of the cross, that He could say before it was actually done, “I have finished the work that thou gavest me to do”.

In His mind, it was an accomplished fact. God has a work for US to do: to live soberly and righteously in this present evil world; to let our light shine before men that they may see our good works, and GLORIFY our Father in heaven; to let our life and example say to all the world, Jesus is my LORD, and my Savior; I serve Him and honor Him, and it is the purpose of my life to please Him and to walk worthy of the One who has called me to glory. Then we will be able to say, “I have FINISHED the work that thou gavest me to do”.

Commentary by Francis L. Harris

"...what must I do to be saved?" Acts 16:30