The Gospel of John Lesson 75 (05-18-14) John 17:11- 15

The Gospel of John Lesson 75 (05-18-14)

Lesson 75 – John 17:11- 15

In v. 11 of John chapter 17 Jesus knows that even though death is before Him that that is not His end. In v. 11 Jesus is focused on the prize, so to speak, and His eventual reunion with the Father. In this prayer, in v. 5 Jesus said that He was with the Father before the world was in existence. Now after completing His task and duty He is looking forward to the prize, the glory, union and fellowship that He had shared with the Father before He came to earth.

It is interesting that in this prayer, even knowing that He and the Father will have a time of separation due to His bearing our sin on the Cross, that He knows and is assured beyond a shadow of a doubt that what would be an end for most, ending in death, will not be His end. He knew that even death would not keep Him from the Father.

It tells us in II Cor. 5:21 that even though Jesus was perfect, knowing no sin, that He had become sin for us, bearing our sin for us on the Cross. In Jesus becoming sin fellowship would be broken with the Father. This is why on the Cross Jesus cried out in Matt. 27.46 ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me’. However, in His prayer to the Father here in John 17 He is not focused on the pain, suffering and punishment He would receive for our sins, nor is He focused on the separation from the Father that He will bear for us, but He looks even past the major event of the Cross to His reunion with the Father reestablishing full fellowship with Him again. Jesus was completely assured of His outcome and of the Father’s faithfulness.

However, in doing so, He does not turn His back on the past and leave it all behind going on to better things. In going forward, He will not forget His friends. He prays to the Father to keep them in His absence. He knew that the Father had originally given them to Him, and, that the Father Himself also loved them. However, Jesus in this prayer secures for His friends eternal protection, praying to the Father for their eternal safety.

In v. 11 Jesus asks the Father to keep them in His own Name. In doing this He secures their safety. However, in praying this pray, knowing that these His friends will also receive the same persecution in the world that He did, He does not pray that the Father remove them from all of the difficulties in being connected to Him in this world, but like Himself, He commits them into the Father’s hands for safe keeping.

In v. 11 He also prays one more thing. I personally believe that it is one of the most important components of His prayer and is often overlooked or not given enough of our effort or attention. It is obvious that what Jesus says at the end of v. 11 was important enough to Him for it appears to be the heart of His prayer. We often overlook the full meaning and intent of this portion of His prayer because this kind of fellowship and union that He speaks here of is foreign to us. However, in looking at this section of Scripture and the overall intent of Jesus’ prayer, what He prays here is the central focus and message of not only this prayer, but the entire Bible, including all aspects of His work.

Although all of Jesus’ work was important, the purpose of everything that happened to Him and everything that He did is for this cause, the restoration of fellowship. Jesus took His union and relationship with the Father seriously. Nothing was more important than this. It is amazing; all of Jesus’ work that He did was to reestablish our fellowship with God. His work was not done to just establish a peripheral relationally attachment to Him or even connect us to Him in a servant type relationship. All of His work was done to reestablish us to Him in a full relationship that He referred to as ‘one’.  In Galatians chapter 4 Paul makes it clear that because of Jesus’ work we are given the privilege of having the closest relationship possible being called, and, actually becoming, family. In doing this He intended for us to have the same relationship that He had with the Father. What a privilege!

It is important to remember that all of Jesus’ prayers will be answered in the affirmative. We know that Jesus always did the Father’s will, and that He also always prayed according to the Father's will. In Jn. 14:13 and 14 Jesus promised His disciples that if they were to ask anything in His Name that He would do it for them. And in Jn. 15:7 Jesus told His disciples that if they were to abide in Him and His words abide in them that they could ask whatever they desired and it would be done for them.  In Jn. 16:23 Jesus also told them that whatever they would ask the Father in His Name that the Father would answer their request and give it to them. So, how would the Father deny Jesus any of His requests, knowing that all of Jesus’ requests were asked according to the Father’s will?

Jesus’ request and prayer here in v. 11 was not just for His disciples. In v. 20 of this chapter Jesus refers to this prayer and His requests as including all believers.  Jesus’ request to the Father here is a tall order. His request was obvious. He had asked His Father to make the Church one in relationship as He was one in relationship with Father. His answer to this prayer would not be denied by His Father. It is important to remember, however, that not all of Jesus’ prayers were answered immediately. Some, like this one, are yet to be fully realized.

Some might say that this prayer was answered in the era of the early church. It is true that if ever a time during the history of the Church that Jesus’ followers worked and lived as one that that would have been it. In Acts 1:14 it tells us that all that met together at that time met and prayed in one accord. And in Acts 2:1 some translations say that when they met at that time they all met in one place and were of one accord. However, can we say that Jesus’ prayer was fully answered at that time?

If we were to look at the Church at large today how would we currently describe it, as unified or un-unified? In taking an objective look at the true Church of Jesus Christ, which would only include true believers or followers of Christ and not categorized by the denominations that claim to be labeled as Christian, it could in no way during most of the Church age be categorized as being one in spirit. However, this is what is prayed here in John 17. He did not pray that His followers would be kind of sort of one. His prayer was specific that they would be one as He and the Father were one.

Jesus thought this act of fellowship and communion was so important that He brings it up again in this prayer in v. 21. It is important to note that the fellowship that He is referring to is not the type of ecumenical oneness that is sought for in our world today through governmental or social organization implementation. The Oneness referred to here will be Spirit generated affording true fellowship and not just a connection through compromised agreement for the purpose of just getting along. The type of Oneness that Jesus was talking about would be supernatural and could only occur by the power that they had just been promised in the coming of God’s Spirit. It would take a change of heart, seeing things Jesus' way, not living from the perspective of the world or of self.

In this verse, v. 11, Jesus also asks the Father to keep those that are His by the highest power possible. He asks for them to be kept in the Father's Name. Jesus knew how important the Father’s reputation was to Him. In the Father’s name is represented everything that He is. The Father would never go back on His word. And, if the Father agreed to a request it would be so. Jesus asks for His loved ones the highest degree of security available in heaven or on earth relying on the Father’s power to keep them.

He tells us in v. 12 that while He was in the world that Jesus Himself personally was their Shepard and protector. While with them He watched His followers like a hawk, protecting them personally with the same power that He requested of the Father in v. 11. It says in v. 12 that He kept them in the power of the Father's Name. To the Father His Name is everything. The Father has sworn to our protection, putting the stamp of His Name upon it. Again, there is no other authority or power greater.

Jesus continues in v. 12 saying that none were lost, but the son of perdition. This is not to say that Jesus had been given Judas originally and had lost Him to forces of evil. However, in saying this He says that Judas having been associated with Jesus and the 12 had opportunity to see and know the truth and still chose evil. The fate and choice of Judas is a testimony to God's Sovereignty. One out of the twelve would betray Jesus. It was prophesied to be so. Judas had chosen to be that one. By his choice, Judas was lost.

Jesus knew that the only hope of true redemption for His followers was truth. They too had been blinded by the lies and deceptions that were the basis of the function of this world. In v. 17 Jesus prays to the Father to sanctify them, correcting their perspective and misconceptions about life which they had been indoctrinated with. V 13 tells us that this, the words that He spoke while He was in the world, were their only hope in experiencing the joy that Jesus knew and had experienced in communion with the Father. Jesus knew that they would not get these truths from the world that they grew up in. But, Jesus had called them out of that world and had better things for them, one of them being joy. However, the reality was, to be different you have to be different. In v. 13 it says that Jesus had given them a different perspective...a new life, one that was out of this world.

But, all was not completely rosy in adopting this new perspective and new way of life. In doing so, they now shared Jesus' perspective which those of this world did not agree with and did not tolerate. The views of this world are set in stone. They do not tolerate outsiders. By their actions, His followers were rejected just as Jesus was rejected.

However, in v. 15 Jesus prays an interesting prayer. He prays not that His followers would be insulated and completely sheltered from their source of oppression and opposition as any parent would. He does not request that they be removed from difficulty, including pain, but instead He prays that they be kept free from the world and its perspectives by the Father and His words and ways. They had been called out of this world and now they were of another world, Heb. 11:13-6. It was the words of Jesus that had saved them.

The Gospel of John Lesson 74 (05-11-14) John 17:3-10

The Gospel of John Lesson 74 (05-11-14) 

Lesson 74 – John 17:3-10

In v. 2 we are told that Jesus is responsible for giving eternal life to those that the Father gave to Him and in v. 3 of chapter 17 we are told what that eternal life is. So what is eternal life? One might say, “Well, it is obvious. It is life that lasts forever, having no end.” But, is that enough of a definition to explain what Jesus has offered and/or is giving us?

In v. 3 Jesus tells us that there is more to it than that...more than life that does not end. If all we were given was life that did not end then as a result we might go on living as we are, being miserable forever. Some would desire the proverbial ‘fountain of youth’ instead of what Christ offers here, but that would not help us or our condition much.

Jesus says in v. 3 that eternal life really is ‘knowing’ God and not just knowing about Him. This was the mistake of the Pharisees. They knew about God, but they did not know enough about Him personally to recognize Him when He showed up.

Specifically John 17:3 says that we ‘might know God and Jesus Christ’. From Jesus’ statement and prayer here we can assume that prior to coming to Christ in reality we did not know God. However, if we study further in the Scriptures we would find out that in really it is much more grave than this. When looking at the Scriptures it gives the picture that prior to coming to Christ we did not know God at all, being in reality dead to Him.

This may be hard for us to acknowledge and receive. If asked, most of us would say that we at least believe in God, and, that we would consider ourselves at least somewhat enlightened, knowing God on some level.

However, Jesus says later in this prayer in, v. 25, that the world does not know the reality of God. The truth is, if God had left man alone and had not invaded this world, first in revelation and second with His Presence in Jesus Christ, man would have willingly replaced the concept or reality of God with himself. (The song ‘Imagine’ by John Lennon is a good example of this.) The Bible refers to this lack of knowing God as death. This death is both physical and spiritual.

Eph. 2:1-5 says:

(Ephesians 2:1-5)

Amplified Bible (AMP)

2 And you [He made alive], when you were dead (slain) by [your] trespasses and sins

² In which at one time you walked [habitually]. You were following the course and fashion of this world [were under the sway of the tendency of this present age], following the prince of the power of the air. [You were obedient to and under the control of] the [demon] spirit that still constantly works in the sons of disobedience [the careless, the rebellious, and the unbelieving, who go against the purposes of God].

³ Among these we as well as you once lived and conducted ourselves in the passions of our flesh [our behavior governed by our corrupt and sensual nature], obeying the impulses of the flesh and the thoughts of the mind [our cravings dictated by our senses and our dark imaginings]. We were then by nature children of [God’s] wrath and heirs of [His] indignation, like the rest of mankind.

⁴ But God—so rich is He in His mercy! Because of and in order to satisfy the great and wonderful and intense love with which He loved us,

⁵ Even when we were dead (slain) by [our own] shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ; [He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him, for] it is by grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved (^[a]delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation).

However, even though we were once dead to God, Eph. 2:5, because of Christ He has made us alive. Alive to what? Alive to God. John chapter 1 verse 4 tells us, “In him (Christ) was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.” In Jn. 11:25 we also see Jesus tell Martha and those present, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in (knows) me will live, even though they die; In Jn. 6:57 Jesus also said, “Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.” And, Jn. 10:18 says, “No one takes it from me (My Life), but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."

So often, however, our actions would say that in reality we want to take or receive our eternal life and run, running off back to our own way of life. But, we do not just get eternal life from God like receiving a ticket , getting into heaven. We have eternal life because we know Him. It is a relationship that begins with a focus and knowledge of God and that focus never ends. God continues to be our Life throughout eternity.

Eternal life is found in knowing Him and will eternally be about Him. In claiming to know Jesus and God and having eternal life this is something that we need to be sure we are comfortable with. Eternal life is not just knowing about God or Jesus, but eternal life is knowing Him, meaning an ongoing relation. Our ‘Eternal Life’ comes from knowing Him, continually. Knowing Him will be an ‘eternal’ prospective!

So, a question comes up in my mind when thinking about this. If eternal life is found in knowing God in relationship and not just knowing about Him, then why is it that many claiming to be His followers appear to spend so little time getting to know Him not reading and studying the Bible?

In v. 3 John says gives us some more interesting details about God. He says that in knowing God one of the facts about Him is that He is the One and only. Jesus in His prayer in v. 3 says that this is eternal life that we know Him and that He is ‘the only True God’. There is no other. Isaiah 44:6, 8, 45:5, 18-25

John also says in v. 3 that they that know God will also know Jesus Christ, that they would know Him not only as God’s messenger and representative, but that they would also know Him personally and in time know Him intimately.

V. 4 Jesus says that He has presented and shown God’s Glory to all the earth and those on it. This was something that was not known in its fullness until Jesus had come. Prior to this time God’s glory was a mystery and man was blinded to it. Prior to Jesus man was caught up in his own pride giving himself or something else the glory and credit for God’s deeds and goodness toward man.

However, Jesus’ presence and witness and testimony revealing the truth of the Father and His goodness by His words and His life did nothing but praise the Father for His continual goodness. Isaiah 6:3 tells us that the whole earth is full of God’s glory. (Read)  The Psalmist prays to the Lord in praise to Him, praying for the whole earth to be full of His glory.

However, man did not and still does not recognize the goodness and mercy of God’s continual goodness toward him. Jesus admirably represented the true Glory of the Father which the Father rightly deserved for His love and goodness toward His creation and especially toward man. Even though Jesus deserved credit and honor for His acts and deeds, He lived His whole life in obedience to the Father and showed forth the Father and His glory.

However, at the end of v. 5 Jesus makes an interesting declaration. In His prayer to the Father He asks the Father to restore the union and position of glory that He had with the Father before the world was even in existence. Two things are of interest here in v. 5. One, that Jesus found and received His own glory by the Father’s presence. Jesus did not find His glory, even though He was worthy of it, in Himself. It was in the Presence of the Father that Jesus found His life and it was the Father’s Presence that was His glory. And, second that Jesus says that He had this union and glory with the Father before the world was even in existence, before Jesus as a man appeared on the earthly scene.  This is a clear claim to Jesus’ deity being equal and one with the Father.

But, not all listened to Him. V. 6 says that only those that the Father had given to Jesus would listen and understand what Jesus was saying. They would see what Jesus was referring to concerning the Father’s glory and would also keep the Father’s words that He had given to Jesus, Jesus having shared these words with them. V. 7 and 8 says that they were the ones that believed Jesus’ words and His witness concerning the Father. They clearly understood that what Jesus had shared with them were words from the Father and had no doubt that Jesus was sent by Him to declare this to them.

In v. 9 Jesus makes another interesting statement. He tells us that He prayed to the Father for those who the Father had given to Him, but He says that He does not pray for those who the Father had not given to Him, or those He refers to as of this world. In saying this it is clear that Jesus’ focus and eye of protection was on those that the Father had given to Him and not on those that had continually rejected Him. Those receiving Jesus’ words and message showed clearly who the Father had given to Jesus and those who rejected Him and identified with this world being blind to the truth that Jesus was proclaiming.

This is a great mystery. We know that Jesus declares in John 15:16 that the thought of deciding to follow Jesus did not originate with His followers. In that verse, Jesus tells us that before they chose or decided to follow Him, He had already chosen them to follow Him. As we have discussed earlier, Jesus refers to those that the Father had given to Him seven times in this prayer. He says in v. 10 that all that are the Father’s are His and all that are His are also the Father’s. It appears from the conversation and content of this prayer that there were a definite amount that were ordained to come that were given to Christ by the Father and that there were those who would in the end chose to remain in darkness remaining blind to God’s open invitation to come.

This indeed is a great mystery. That God knew who would choose to come, and, even a greater mystery that God had chosen those who would come beforehand, before the foundation of the world, and, that others would remain in darkness blind to God’s offer. Eph. 1:4; Rev. 17:8 At the end of v. 10 it tells us that Jesus was glorified in this mystery, in particular being glorified in those that the Father had given to Him.

The Gospel of John Lesson 73 (05-04-14) John 17:1-2

The Gospel of John Lesson 73 (05-04-14) 

Lesson 73 – John 17:1-2

In chapter 17 Jesus seals the deal. Knowing that His disciples do not have what it takes to accomplish what He has entrusted to them to do He resorts to the only sure and trustworthy thing that He knows, prayer to the Father. He prays to the Father knowing that the Father has the ability to make it so and that without Him it ain’t happening!

Having instructed His disciples in the things that they would need to preform and accomplish the mission that He has given them, Jesus turns to the Father entrusting Him with the process and the outcome. (Prov. 16:9) Jesus knows that the Father will do it because it was the Father Himself that had given Jesus His mission and task. Now having completed His mission Jesus commits it back to the Father for the outcome.

A couple of quick observations, Jesus in praying to the Father looks up. Some would say that God is everywhere and technically they would be right. There is not any place where the Presence of God cannot be found. But, we must consider Jesus’ focus and posture for He knew where the Father was and in praying in this fashion and direction He gives us an example of where to put our focus especially during prayer. Jn. 8:23

Second, in v. 1 Jesus knew the will and timing of the entire plan of God for Him. Knowing that all the details of the Father’s will were completed and also knowing the exact timing of these events, Jesus now knows that it is time for His work to be completed asking the Father to finish His plan and glorify Him. What is this glory? It is rather obvious; it is the Cross, doing the work, taking the penalty for our sin and making payment and restitution for our offenses.

Most would say, “What glory is that”. That’s only pain and suffering…blood and guts. But, some would understand by replying with a well-known phrase, ‘no guts no glory’. Jesus knew that those that would receive the benefit of His death would be eternally grateful giving Him glory forever.

Jesus knew the sacrifice that it took to receive glory, and, we know that He did not do it for the glory, however, Jesus knew that it was the Father’s will to glorify Him putting ‘duty’ before Him in the end receiving the glory that went with it. But, at the end of v. 2 Jesus in justly receiving glory having earned it does not keep it, so to speak. Instead He gives the Glory that He receives back to the Father.

This glory and glorification is on a level that we do not fully understand or comprehend. Being human it is only natural to want some credit, or glory, for an act or mission well done. We naturally at least want to be recognized and or appreciated for our duty and personally sacrifice. However, God’s acts are not done for any recognition. His works are done because He is who He is and because they are right. It is because of His acts, in and of themselves being right, and, as such being the acts of God, that glory is naturally given. It is how it is.

In v. 2 Jesus in praying to the Father tells us that the Father has given Him authority and power over all flesh. All too often we read past statements like these too quickly, not pausing long enough to consider their meaning and implication. When He says all flesh we might want to know what is meant by this statement because all flesh would include us.

We find a parallel reference to this in Matthew’s Gospel in chapter 28 and verse 18 where Jesus declares that all authority in heaven and on earth is given to Him. This means that if what Jesus is telling us is true then He is responsible for us giving accountability to the Father concerning us, and, that we are under Him and in turn accountable to Jesus.

He says in v. 2 of John 18 that the Father gave this authority to Him. If this is true then Jesus is not making a claim as to who He is and what His level of authority is, but instead is coming acting on an edict given to Him from a source of authority, in this case God the creator of the universe. (Edict - an official order or proclamation issued by a person in authority.) 

What Jesus tells us that He is responsible for in v. 2 is pretty important. In His prayer that He says to the Father He says that He is responsible for things eternal saying that it is His responsibility, and, that He has the power to give life that is eternal. Wow! I thought that only God could do that. Maybe Jesus is telling us something here that we need to be sure to listen too. Maybe…what Jesus is saying here will be a reality that in the end when it is all said and done will be so even if our opinion does not agree or match what He is saying here.

If what He says is true, His authority to carry out this job and task comes from a pretty high source, and, if what He says is true, He will have the power to see it through completing His mission exactly as given to Him by His Father. It would be wise to for us consider what He says from His perspective remembering that our opinion may not be as practical as we may think.

In v. 2 Jesus in His prayer to the Father Jesus tells us that those that He will give eternal life to are given to Him by the Father. Jesus will make mention of this 7 times in this prayer. Jn. 17:2, 6(twice), 9, 11, 12, and 24. Scofield makes reference to this in his reference Bible saying that Jesus was God the Father’s love gift to the world, Jn. 3:16, and that believers are the Father’s love gift to Jesus. It is Jesus that commits believers to the Father for safe keeping, and, because of this the believer’s security rests upon the Father’s faithfulness to His Son.