Glorified Head, April 22

“That the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”—John 17:26JNN 122.1

Christ declares the mission He had in coming to the earth. He says in His last public prayer, “O righteous Father, the world hath not known Thee: but I have known Thee, and these have known that Thou hast sent Me. And I have declared unto them Thy name, and will declare it; that the love wherewith Thou hast loved Me may be in them, and I in them” (John 17:25, 26). When Moses asked the Lord to show him His glory, the Lord said, “I will make all My goodness pass before thee” (Exodus 33:19). “And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty.... And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshiped” (Exodus 34:6-8). When we are able to comprehend the character of God as did Moses, we too shall make haste to bow in adoration and praise. Jesus contemplated nothing less than “that the love wherewith Thou hast loved Me” (John 17:26) should be in the hearts of His children, that they might impart the knowledge of God to others.JNN 122.2

O what an assurance is this, that the love of God may abide in the hearts of all who believe in Him! O what salvation is provided; for He is able to save unto the uttermost all that come unto God by Him.... Those who are partakers of His sufferings here, of His humiliation, enduring for His name’s sake, are to have the love of God bestowed upon them as it was upon the Son. One who knows, has said, “The Father Himself loveth you.” ... This love is ours through faith in the Son of God, therefore a connection with Christ means everything to us. We are to be one with Him as He is one with the Father, and then we are beloved by the infinite God as members of the body of Christ, as branches of the living Vine. We are to be attached to the parent stock, and to receive nourishment from the Vine. Christ is our glorified Head, and the divine love flowing from the heart of God, rests in Christ, and is communicated to those who have been united to Him. This divine love entering the soul inspires it with gratitude, frees it from its spiritual feebleness, from pride, vanity, and selfishness, and from all that would deform the Christian character.—Fundamentals of Christian Education, 177-179.JNN 122.3

Further Reflection: How can I experience divine love if I am disconnected from Christ?JNN 122.4