WHEN I was preparing for my spring lectures, I gave a lot of thought to two questions: What would it be like to be a modern-day disciple of Christ? What did Jesus set before me as my model?
I came across some touching ways Jesus talked to God as his Father and author of his life purpose. This is how he saw his mission: "I have glorified thee on the earth" (John 17:4).
In these few words Jesus expressed the reason behind everything he did. When he healed a paralyzed man, Matthew tells us: "But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men" (9:8). Of the blind man from Jericho, Luke records: "And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God" (18:43). There it was: to heal with God's power, honor and magnify Him. In all his work, Jesus' great desire was that God should get the credit and the praise.
