When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you. — John 17:1

The first call in Jesus's great prayer is, "Father, the hour has come." These words are essential because they are not words of resignation to an unknown plan but words of resolve that the moment planned before the dawn of time was upon them.

Throughout John's story, Jesus had alluded to this hour. At the wedding in Cana of Galilee, when his mother requested his intervention, he stated, "My hour has not yet come" (John 2:3-4). And along his journeys with the disciples, he reiterated, "My hour has not yet come" (John 7:30, 8:20). But now he declares the moment has come.

Jesus knew his work required one more act — sacrificing his life for human sin. All his miracles and teachings, no matter how effectual, would remain ineffectual until a sacrifice was offered. Only through this act could all things we made wrong by our sin be made right by his sacrifice.

And this hour was predetermined. It was not accidental. The Father and Son had discussed and planned it. Jesus knew exactly when it was to happen, which should terrify us. It does me. This means there was nothing that had not happened in Jesus's life that he did not know before it happened. He knew what his disciples believed. He knew what Judas was going to do. He knew how the disciples would respond to his arrest, flogging, and death. And he knew death and resurrection were necessary to offer penance and produce visible evidence of his defeat of sin and death.

His hour is our hour. His hour of sacrifice is our hour of salvation. This "hour" was the most effectual hour this planet has ever known.

Each day, a believer gets to encounter these "hours." We are given moments to choose. We can either choose to cling to our will and way or surrender to his will and way. If we embrace these moments with the same resolve as Jesus, we'll see them as Jesus saw his hour — as God's glorifying moment.

So today, choose God's will over yours and deepen your relationship with the all-knowing Father and his Son who proclaimed, "The hour has come."

ASK THIS:

1. How does recognizing that Jesus's sacrifice was predetermined and planned by the Father impact your understanding of His mission and purpose?
2. In your daily life, what are some moments when you have the choice to embrace God's will over your own? How can you approach these moments with the same resolve as Jesus did when he declared, "The hour has come"?

DO THIS: Note the hour of your day that your will resists God's. Then choose God's will.

PRAY THIS: Father, as I reflect on Jesus's predetermined sacrifice and the profound significance of His "hour," I pray for the strength to choose Your will over mine in the moments I encounter today. Help me deepen my relationship with You and follow in the footsteps of Your Son, who glorified You through His ultimate sacrifice. Amen.

PLAY THIS: Greater Things.