Couched within Christ’s High Priestly prayer is the expression by him that we, being all members of God’s elect church, might know God and that we might also know him (John 17:3). This is the ultimate expression of the idea that God seeks after his children to have relationship with them. It is the expression in prayer by Christ of the many parables of the kingdom taught during his preaching ministry. God is seeking and desiring to have us know him so much so that he would become human; that he would incarnate himself and enter into our flesh. It is because he has done this thing, revealed himself to us in Jesus Christ, that we may know him. This knowing happens on multiple levels. First, we may get to know the character and nature of God through the earthly life of Christ. By his teaching and works Christ reveals the character and nature of the Father. Christ’s teaching reveals an ethic which he calls his disciples to live out (i.e. the Sermon on the Mount). Christ’s kindness and mercy to the poor, healing of the sick and fellowshipping with sinners reveals the character of God as he seeks to save and redeem his children. Secondly, we may get to know the character and nature of God by the inward ministry of the Holy Spirit. A major thrust of Christ’s High Priestly prayer is his prayer that we become one with God (John 17:21). He prays this saying that he will “continue to make known” to us the name of God. Which I take to mean that even now, the Spirit of God is at work in my heart teaching, convicting and conforming my character to reflect God’s character. In this way Christ’s teachings, example, and Spirit work in the lives of the Children of God to make him known as we see him reflected in our own character which is being transformed more and more into his likeness.
