In various statements in the studies on the Restoration Light website, reference is made to Jesus' returning to where he was before. An argument has been forwarded that Jesus never used the word "return" and that the usage of the word "return" is misleading.
Jesus was indeed with his God and Father before he left that glory and came to earth, and he spoke returning to "where" he was before, that is, with his God and Father. While on earth until he died and and was raised, he did not have the glory of the heavenly (spiritual) body that he had before coming to the earth, but that of the earthly. Not having the glory of the heavenly, he prayed for that glory to be returned to him by his God and Father in the resurrection. However, in the resurrection he received in greater reward, in that he "became a life-giving spirit". -- John 1:1; 6:62; 17:1,3,5,13; 1 Corinthians 15:38,40,44,45.
John 6:62 - What if you would see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?
I believe the act of returning is shown in Jesus' statement, even though he did not use the word "return". By placing the emphasis the non-usage of the word "return", however, attention is displaced from the point made, that Jesus was indeed "where" he was before; that Jesus existed in a "where" -- a place -- before he came into the world of mankind. He was indeed with his God and Father, the only true God who sent him into the world of mankind. -- John 1:1,2; 17:1,3,5.
Several scriptures have been given concerning Jesus' "going":
John 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I GO TO [not return to] prepare a place for you.
Jesus, of course, was still on the earth when he spoke this. His use of the present tense would have to refer to his future event of going to "where" he was before. Similarly, we might say "I am going to the store," with reference to the act of going to the store that is yet future.
John 16:10 ...because I GO TO my Father, and ye see me no more;
The argument is made that Jesus said "I go to", not I "return" to.
And yet "where" Jesus was before he came into the world of mankind was indeed with his God and Father. -- John 1:1,2,9,10; 16:28.
This is "where" he said he would go to in his ascension, thus the thought of returning to where he was before the world of mankind was made, even though Jesus does not use the word "return".
John 20:17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
The argument is made that he says nothing of "returning."
And yet this does not do away with the fact that "where" Jesus was is the same "where" to which Jesus ascended.
Regarding John 17:5, the argument is made nothing is said of "returning" his glory to him. The claim is made that such an idea has to be be read into it. The claim is made that Jesus existed in God's "foreknowledge" from the very beginning, and that Jesus is simply confirming that.
Actually, at that time when Jesus prayed those words, it is evident that Jesus did not have this glory, and he says that he had that glory before the world of mankind was made, and he prays that this glory be given to him again. What else could this be but asking for this glory to be returned to him? The default understanding would be that Jesus had a glory with the only true God before the world of mankind was made, that he did not have that glory when he was praying, and that he was asking that this glory be returned to him. Any idea that Jesus was speaking of having a glory with his God and Father only in the "foreknowledge" of his God and Father whom he was with only allegedly in the foreknowledge of his God and Father has to be added to and read into what Jesus said. Additionally, such an idea would mean that when Jesus said that he was to ascend to "where" he was before would mean that Jesus would ascend to being with his God and Father in the foreknowledge of his God and Father, if that was "where" he was before.
Christian love,
Ronald
