John 17
COMMENTARY:
: 4 I have glorified you on the earth: I have finished the work which you gave me to do. (5048 “finished” [teleioo] means make perfect, concentrate, complete, full number, to bring to an end, or bring to full measure.)
DEVOTION: Every time I read this word it reminds me of some of the unfinished projects that I need to finish. Most people have these projects. They start some and then they go for years before they are finished. Some families have so many unfinished projects that their house looks really different from one where the individuals finish what they start.
Jesus was returning to heaven with his work finished. HE wanted HIS glory that HE had before the world was created. HE couldn’t receive it until HE died on the cross for our sins. Praise the LORD for HIS sacrifice.
HE came to this earth to live thirty- three years. During that time period we have only one incident in HIS life at the age of twelve. HE was in the Temple asking questions of the theologians of HIS day. HE was even answering questions they thought were too hard for someone HIS age.
At the age of thirty HE started HIS public ministry with twelve disciples. There were many other followers. Some of them were genuine followers and others were just following to see what they could receive from HIM. When there was trouble they disappeared.
Now HE is on HIS way to the cross. This chapter is HIS prayer to the Father for HIMSELF and HIS disciples. HE wanted to return to heaven with all the glory HE had before HE left. HE told the Father that HE had completed the work HE had sent HIM to do.
That is quite a statement. We would think that to complete HIS assignment every human being would be a follower of HIM. HE gave them many miracles. HE taught them truth. The problem was that most of the people were not in the mode to become HIS followers because they thought they were good the way they were. They were lying to themselves but Jesus couldn’t convince them otherwise.
God gave man a free will. HE has allowed all of mankind to make their own choice regarding their relationship with HIM. Most have been deceived by the enemy. Satan has convinced people that they don’t have to straighten out and follow the LORD. He likes to bring up all the commandments of the LORD. He likes to show them a good time for a moment with the promise it could last a lifetime. They believe the lie.
Are we serving the LORD, so that, our work will be finished when we go to heaven? Remember that HE is coming as a thief in the night. We have to be ready for HIS return. HE wants to find us working. HE wants us to bring glory to HIS name.
CHALLENGE: Look at your life and see if you are completing your mission to this earth. The answer is only between you and the Holy Spirit. What is HE saying to you now?
: 5 And now, O Father, glorify YOU ME with YOUR own self with the glory which I had with YOU before the world was (1392 “glorify” [doxozo] means to praise, extol, magnify, celebrate, do honor to, adorn with luster, render it excellent or cloth with splendor.)
DEVOTION: In this prayer, which is, the true LORD’S prayer. Jesus is communicating with the Father regarding those who were given him by the Father. Jesus was communicating that he wanted HIS luster given back to him that HE had before the foundation of the world. Jesus had this clothing of splendor before the world was.
HE existed before the world was created because HE is eternal just like the Father and the Holy Spirit. There was never a day when HE was created. HE was born but before that HE was active with the Father and Holy Spirit in the creation of the world.
HE was the one person of the Godhead that walked in the garden with Adam and Eve. HE was the Angel of the LORD that talked with many of the Old Testament saints. HE was the fourth person in the fiery furnace with the three Jewish men who refused to bow down to the image that was built by the king of Babylon. HE had many other appearances in the Old Testament which are called Theophanies by theologians. The word means the visible appearing of Deity in the Old Testament. We are waiting for HIS final appearing which is yet future.
Jesus wanted the Father to receive praise right along with him because HE was the one who sent HIM into the world to receive those who would be his followers. Jesus has willingly added a human body to his deity when HE took on the form of a servant.
With the addition of a human body, HE could not show forth the brightness HE had when he was in heaven. The three disciples received a taste of it on the mount of transfiguration.
We will see it when he calls us home to heaven. The relationship between the Father and Son was one that is co-equal and co-eternal. Yet, Jesus was communicating with the Father concerning the disciples both in the present and which will be in the future who would follow him. These disciples would be hated by the world, just as Jesus was hated by the world.
In this prayer, Jesus wanted them to be one as they were one. HE wanted the individuals in the church to have unity. HE wanted the church to form a united front against the world.
CHALLENGE: We are sanctified by the Word of God. Are we glorifying the LORD with our knowledge of HIS WORD?
: 9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which YOU have given ME: for they are YOURS. (2065 “pray” [erotao] means ask, beseech, desire, intreat, request, urge, inquire of, or beg.)
DEVOTION: Here is a reality check. Here is Jesus Christ praying to the Father. Remember that the Scriptures state “HE is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”(II Peter 3: 9)
The verse in II Peter brings home the fact that the LORD is long-suffering. HE has not returned yet because HE is giving everyone many opportunities to repent of their sins and become a follower of HIM. HE promised that salvation was available to the whole world. Jesus died for the sins of the whole world.
If everyone would become a believer there would not have to be one more drop of blood shed on the cross for this to happen. Everyone is without excuse when they stand before the LORD at the Great White Throne Judgment. No one can say I didn’t have a chance to become a follower.
The LORD will be able to rewind their brain to every spot in their life when they had an opportunity and said NO to God.
Jesus is only praying for the believers in this verse. All those who will ever become believers have their name written in the book of life before the creation of the world. God doesn’t dwell in time only we dwell in time. HE has no past or present or future. HE is omniscient. HE knows it all.
CHALLENGE: With the knowledge that Christ is praying to the Father for us how should we be praying for others?
: 24 Father, I will that they also, whom YOU have given ME, be with ME where I am, that they may behold MY glory, which YOU have given ME: for YOU love ME before the foundation of the world. (2334 “behold” [theoreo] means see, perceive, consider, look on, to be a spectator, to view attentively, to perceive with the eyes, observe, or to see with attention.)
DEVOTION: It doesn’t seem possible that there can be unity in the church of Jesus Christ. There are so many denominations it is hard to even understand how there can be so many different beliefs between the groups. There are at least 22 (twenty-two) different types of Baptists in our world. Many of those who used to have Baptist on their sign in front of the church have changed their name because they are afraid of scaring people away from the church.
Jesus is praying HIS prayer to the Father before HE goes to the cross. HE spent many times in prayer on the mountain tops alone with the Father. We don’t have recorded what HE said in those prayers but John is recording this prayer.
HE has a desire that HE wants the Father to know. Now remember that both of them are omniscient. Yet they talk to each other. Do you think that the Father didn’t know what the Son wanted from HIM? The answer is NO! There is no limit to the knowledge of God.
Communication is important between the Godhead or Trinity just as it is important between us and the Father. We are to pray to HIM regarding our desires and HE will hear us and give us the desires of our hearts as long as they bring glory to HIS name. Giving Christ the glory HE had before HE came to the earth is a no brainer for the Father. But they give us an example of the necessity of communication.
Prayer is the way we show our dependence on the LORD and our willingness to ask HIM for what HE already knows what we desire and need. If it brings glory to HIM HE will give it.
CHALLENGE: Are we asking the LORD to show us HIS glory on a regular basis? HE wants to be seen by HIS own disciples and HE wants us to see HIM.
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