SHARE HIS GLORY

John 17:22 – “I have given them the glory that you gave me.”

Athletes chase glory. Championships. Trophies. Legacy. It’s built into the rhythm of every game and every season. We fight. We sweat. We strive. We lift weights, run drills, watch film—all to bring glory to the name on our jersey or the team we represent.

But Jesus speaks of a different kind of glory in John 17:22. He says, “I have given them the glory that you gave me.”

Let that sink in. Jesus—Son of God, Savior of the world—says He gave His glory to us. Not earned. Not deserved. Given.

This glory is not about highlight reels or Hall of Fame inductions. It’s about being restored to the image of God, crowned with purpose, and called to reflect His greatness—both on and off the field.

Let’s break it down in three parts:
I. MAN’S BROKEN GLORY
We were made to rule with God.

Psalm 8:5–6 (ESV): “You have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands.”

God gave Adam and Eve dominion—authority—over creation. That’s glory. But sin ruined it. The image was fractured.

Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

It’s like a player who loses his jersey, gets suspended, and is taken off the team. Man lost his status, his purpose, and his place in the starting lineup of God’s creation.

Hebrews 2:8-9 explains, “At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to man. But we see Jesus…”

We’re not running the show anymore. Sin runs wild. Chaos on the field. But that verse gives us hope: We see Jesus.

Think of a player who tears his ACL. He was once the leader, the MVP, the captain. But now he’s sidelined, watching from the bench. That’s mankind—once crowned with glory, now broken. But Jesus stepped into the game to restore what was lost.

II. CHRIST’S RESTORED GLORY
Jesus didn’t just come to coach us from the sidelines. He entered the field. He played our position. And He took the hit for our penalty.

Hebrews 2:9: “Jesus… crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death.”

His crown came through the cross.

Philippians 2:9: “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name.”

Jesus’ victory didn’t come from a blowout—it came through blood, sweat, and tears. He fought death and rose again. Now all authority is His.

John 17:2: “For you granted him authority over all people…”

He’s not just Savior—He’s King. And He’s not hoarding that victory. He’s sharing it with us.

John 17:22: “I have given them the glory that you gave me.”

That’s unbelievable. Jesus restored us to the team—and gave us a championship ring we didn’t earn.

III. OUR SHARED GLORY
What does this mean for you as an athlete?

1. You are chosen to reflect His glory.

1 Peter 2:9: “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood… that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness.”

Your identity isn’t found in stats, performance, or scholarships. It’s in Jesus. He has made you part of His starting lineup—a royal priesthood.

2. You are called to reign with Him.

Revelation 5:10: “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests… and they will reign on the earth.”

You were created to reign—not to live defeated. And not just someday in heaven--now. Right now, on your team, in your school, you’re called to lead with integrity, strength, and humility.

2 Timothy 2:12: “If we endure, we will also reign with him.”

So press on. Don’t quit. The King is watching.

3. You are equipped to share His glory.

Jesus didn’t just glorify Himself—He shared it. That’s how discipleship works. We don’t keep the light—we pass it on.

Matthew 5:16: “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Every locker room, every huddle, every practice—those are places where you can reflect God’s glory. Not just with words, but with actions, effort, and honor.

Let me ask you:
    •    Are you chasing your own glory or living for Christ’s?
    •    How are you using your influence to lift up others?
    •    Are you building your identity on stats and success, or on Jesus’ victory?
    •    What does it look like for you to share God’s glory with your teammates—believers and non-believers alike?

Athlete, you may be gifted. You may be driven. But if you don’t know Jesus, you’re still playing for the wrong kingdom.
 
The Bible says, “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

Jesus took your place on the cross, so you could take your place on His team. He forgives. He restores. He shares His glory. But you have to come to Him in faith.

John 1:12: “Yet to all who did receive him… he gave the right to become children of God.”

If you’ve never made that decision, today’s the day. Receive Him. Repent of your sin. Start walking in the glory He offers.

CLOSING PRAYER:
“Lord Jesus, thank You for stepping into our brokenness. Thank You for going to the cross, wearing the crown of thorns so You could give us the crown of glory. We confess we’ve chased the wrong kind of glory. We’ve tried to earn it, prove it, protect it. But today, we surrender it all to You. Use us to reflect Your glory—to our teammates, coaches, classmates, and communities. Make us humble in victory, faithful in training, and bold in sharing Your name. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

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