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"These words
spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father,
the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify
thee: as thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he
should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And
this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true
God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified
thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me
to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self
with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. I
have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out
of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they
have kept thy word. Now they have known that all things
whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. For I have given unto
them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received
them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they
have believed that thou didst send me. I pray for them: I pray
not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for
they are thine. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and
I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but
these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep
through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they
may be one, as we are. While I was with them in the world, I
kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept,
and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the
scripture might be fulfilled. And now come I to thee; and these
things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy
fulfilled in themselves. I have given them thy word; and the
world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even
as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take
them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from
the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the
world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As
thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them
into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they
also might be sanctified through the truth. Neither pray I for
these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through
their word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in
me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the
world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which
thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as
we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made
perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent
me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. Father, I will
that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am;
that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for
thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. O righteous
Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee,
and these have known that thou hast sent me. And I have declared
unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith
thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them."
John 17:1-16
LESSON 1, VERSE
1:
"These words spake Jesus, and lifted up
his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify
thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee ..." John
17:1
"These words"
comprise the longest prayer Jesus ever prayed! That is, the
longest recorded prayer! And we have it "word for word"
too! Of course Jesus at times prayer for a longer time than this
prayer would have required, For example,
"And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, He went
out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed."
Mark 1:35 now yields to Luke 6:12, "And it
came to pass in those days, that He went out into a mountain to
pray, and continued all night in prayer to God."
Note His
posture in prayer too. At least, here our Lord lifts His eyes
heavenward. His head apparently is not bowed! Nor eyes closed!
At other times Jesus assumed different positions at prayer. At
Gethsemane we are told, "And He went a
little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my
Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me:
nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt."
(Matthew 26:39) Jesus prayed from the Cross, too, arms
outstretched. Here's one example, "Father,
forgive them; for they know not what they do." (Luke
23:34) Jesus was standing as He prayed, while there by Lazarus'
grave! "Then they took away the stone
from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up
his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast
heard me." (John 11:41) Jesus even talked about "closet"
prayer, a somewhat confined prayer posture for sure!
"But thou, when thou prayest, enter into
thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father
which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall
reward thee openly." Matthew 6:6
Jesus, at
first, did not lodge a petition before His Father. He made a
statement. "Father, the hour is come."
But, what
hour?
Jesus had
talked about that Hour, awaited its arrival for all His earthly
life! During the first miracle our Lord ever worked, the wedding
at Cana of Galilee, water into wine, He told Mary:
"Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I
to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come." John 2:4
After a
particularly strong sermon, Jesus was in danger!
"Then they sought to take him: but no man
laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come."
John 7:30
After Jesus
forgave the woman caught in adultery, John 8:20 tells us:
"These words spake Jesus in the treasury,
as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for
his hour was not yet come."
Then, finally,
"And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour
is come, that the Son of man should be glorified." John
12:23
Jesus
obviously knew well about His coming "Hour!" He even talked with
His Father about it! "Now is my soul
troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour:
but for this cause came I unto this hour." John 12:27
The evening He
washed the Disciples' feet, it is recorded:
"Now before the feast of the passover,
when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out
of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were
in the world, he loved them unto the end." John 13:1
It even got
this intense: "Now before the feast of the
passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should
depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own
which were in the world, he loved them unto the end."
John 16:32
Then, at
Gethsemane, "Then cometh he to his
disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your
rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is
betrayed into the hands of sinners." Matthew 26:45, then
Mark 14:41, "And he cometh the third time,
and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it
is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed
into the hands of sinners."
Next in our
verse comes a
Lesson in "reciprocity!"
Jesus prayed:
"Father, glorify thy Son, that thy Son
also may glorify thee." Yet, obviously, the Father's
"glorifying" the Son involved Jesus' very crucifixion! "Doxazo"
means "to laud, elevate, praise, magnify, honor, and celebrate!"
Jesus, ironically, is asking the Father to allow His Own Son's
Death ... with the return promise that Jesus, somehow, will
bring Glory to His Father through such a terrible Death!
There is an
awkward yet Biblical truth about Calvary that stuns one's very
spiritual senses! Terrible as the Cross was, somehow God the
Father took "pleasure" in the fact that sinners could thereby be
saved! Isaiah went so far as to say, "Yet
it pleased the LORD to bruise Him." Jesus died,
undoubtedly and partly, "for the joy that was set before him"
That's why He "endured the cross,
despising the shame!" Hebrews 12:2
And Jesus,
certainly, glorifies His Father as He sits at His Right Hand
this very second! Having died, been buried, and raised again
from the Grave! And think what Glory will be the Father's in
that yet future day when Jesus shall introduce Him to the Bride!
The People given the Son because of His vicarious Atonement on
Golgotha's Hill!
Mercy!
I though Verse
one was just introductory!
It soars!
Praise the
Lord!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 2, VERSE 2:
The
predominant verb in the second verse is, obviously, "give."
Watch!
Jesus is
talking to His Father, praying really!
"As thou
hast given him
power over all flesh, that he
should give
eternal life to as many as thou
hast given him."
Yes, John 17:2 uses "give" three different times!
Let me place
the precise names next to the pronouns here used by Jesus.
"As Thou
(Father) hast given Him (the Son, Jesus) power over all flesh
(humanity), that He (Jesus) should give eternal life to as many
(the saints of God) as Thou (Father) hast given Him (Jesus).
Numerically,
God the Father here gives two things! Then Jesus gives one
thing, in our current verse.
Here's a fact, based on our verse. It, according
to the first clause, takes "power" for a sinner to get saved!
God gave Jesus "power" over all flesh, in order that repenting sinners
could be saved by the Grace of God!
The noun for
"power" here is "exousia," a surprise! I would have expected "dunamis"
power here. "Exousia" blends two little Greek words, "ek" and "eimi,"
meaning "out of one's very being." Liberty of choice! Doing as a
person pleases! Hence, authority!
Jesus has the
authority to save sinners! It's stated here as delegated authority, but still
authority!
Jesus repeats
this truth after His Resurrection too.
"And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given
unto me in heaven and in earth." Matthew 28:18 also uses
"exousia" for "power." So does John 1:12, still talking about
getting saved! "As many as received Him,
to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even
to them that believe on his name."
This power is
a gift from the God of all power, the omnipotent God!
The noun
"flesh" is "sarx," here just meaning humanity.
As in "flesh and blood." At times Paul
uses the word to identify our old sinful natures, specifically
so.
Galatians 5:17 presents an example: "For
the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the
flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye
cannot do the things that ye would."
The verb
"give," spelled "didomai" in Greek, is formed as
an aorist, indicating that the action being described occurred
in the past. It's "completed action" in other words. Sometime in
eternity past God gave Jesus this power! Maybe at the same time Simon
Peter here describes: "Christ, as a lamb
without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained
before the foundation of
the world, but was manifest in these last times for you."
1st Peter 1:20
And Jesus,
modeling all He does after the Father's good Example, "gives" to
us in
the same fashion His Father "gave" to Him.
God gave Jesus
power to save!
Therefore,
Jesus gives eternal life accordingly.
Salvation is
almost always pictured as originating from the Mind and Heart of
God the Father!
But God not
only gives Jesus power to save!
He gives Him
the very souls to be saved as well!
"That He should give
eternal life to as many as Thou hast given Him."
If you are
born-again today, you are special!
You are one of
God's little "love gifts" to Jesus!
You are part
of the "Bride" of Christ!
God initiates!
Jesus
culminates!
The Holy
Spirit cooperates!
And sinners
are saved!
Jesus reviews
these amazing facts, included in all 26 verses of the John 17 prayer, just hours before He dies on the Cross, there to shed His Blood,
thus providing salvation for the lost!
Now, Truth must be
balanced here. The Bible says both: "And He, Jesus, is the propitiation for
our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of
the whole world." 1st John 2:2
Then too, "As Thou hast given him power over all
flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many
as Thou hast given Him."
John 17:2, our Text for today!
I may not be
able to explain it! I just know it's not a contradiction. It might be
beyond my earthly comprehension!
But I am
enjoying it nonetheless!
I've been
saved!
Jesus gave
me eternal life!
And on top of
that, for the next 24 verses he's praying for me too!
And you
also, if you're saved!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 3, VERSE 3:
Jesus, in His
great John 17 prayer, not only sublimely reveals His Heart, a
Heart of compassion and love and panoramic vision, but also
defines some great Biblical expressions.
Eternal life, for
example!
"And this is life eternal, that they might
know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast
sent." John 17:3
While many great
words can be used in the area of Bible salvation, "soteriology"
the theologians call it, the Lord has just given us the "heart"
of the issue!
Yes, "conviction"
is preliminary.
And "repentance."
Then faith and
belief in Jesus.
"Justification"
occurs as a result.
All of course
because Jesus has fully made "propitiation" on our behalf.
In sum, we have
been "regenerated."
All through the
cooperative effort of God the Father, God the Son and God the
Holy Spirit!
But, again, Jesus
our omniscient Saviour, knowing everything, has blended all
these technical words into one lovely inspired Sentence!
Again,
"And this is life eternal, that they might
know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast
sent."
The Greek words "aionios
zoe," or "eternal life," emphasize the quality of that
life every bit as much as the quantity of it!
It being
"eternal," never ends! The noun "aion," in English "eon," means
an unbroken span of time. Time in perpetuity! Everlasting!
That's a lot of
Life!
But the noun "zoe"
or "life" demands that we understand life as something with
passion, zeal, vitality, quality.
This is not mere
biological life!
It is life with
love and feeling and sensation and joy and gratefulness!
It's this
kind of life. "I am come that they might
have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."
John 10:10
Amen!
Abundant
Life!
That adjective is
spelled "perissos," life that overflows my cup and saturates the
area all around! "Around" is "peri" in Greek.
Life everywhere!
But define
that life please!
Back to our
verse. "And this is life eternal, that
they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom
thou hast sent."
"That they might
know Thee, Father!"
The word "know"
is "ginosko," but as a subjunctive verb. It means "to find out,
to learn, to understand." It expresses a wish or desire on the
part of Jesus too! He longs for sinners to be saved, to have
eternal life, to know God!
Surprisingly,
this verb also implies some effort on our part, not in any way
earning our salvation mind you, but coming to the place of
knowing God, adoring Him more and more, some effort might be
involved!
To really know
God, many distractions will have to be extinguished.
To really know
God, one's heart must be properly tuned, or re-tuned!
To know God,
desire must be present!
But, however
miraculously this may occur, knowing God is the
very essence of eternal life!
If you
personally, experientially know God ... you are saved!
To Know God
intimately!
But that is also
to know God exclusively, "The only true
God!"
We said when we
married: "Forsaking all others, I will keep myself only unto my
Mate as long as we both shall live!"
We say when we
get saved, "I want to know God, Him alone, and forsaking
all other gods, worship and serve the Almighty till He calls me
Home at death!
He is the only
Way to Heaven!
Yes!
But, look at what
Jesus says next. His definition continues!
"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only
true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."
To know God is
also to know the Son of God!
The little
conjunction "and" indicates equality between the two objective
Members of the sentence.
Eternal Life
equals knowing God!
Eternal Life
equals knowing God the Son!
Hence, God,
specifically God the Father, and Jesus, specifically God the
Son, are co-equal and co-eternal and co-everything else too!
Life Eternal is
defined as knowing Jesus!
The One Who walks
with me and talks with me and tells me I am His own! And the
joys we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known!
A friend of God?
Abraham was! "And the LORD spake unto
Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend."
Exodus 33:11
A friend of
Jesus? The Disciples were! "Henceforth I
call you not servants; but I have called you friends; for all
things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto
you." John 15:15
That's it!
If one knows God
like Abraham did ... if one knows Jesus like the Disciples did,
he or she has Eternal Life!
Lord, thank You
today that we can know Thee through the Power of Thy
precious shed Blood!
Then learn Psalm
36:10, those of you who know God! "O
continue thy lovingkindness unto
them that know thee;
and thy righteousness to the upright in heart."
When it comes to
Eternal Life then, it's not so much what one knows nearly
as much as WHOM one knows!
And Jesus invests
the rest of His awesome Prayer, His John 17 Prayer of
intercession, all remaining 23 verses, upon those who know
Him and His Father!
Those who are
already enjoying Eternal Life!
Are you saved?
If not, listen to
Jesus again. "Verily, verily, I say unto
you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me,
hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but
is passed from death unto life." John 5:24
Enough has been
said!
The Holy Spirit
will take it from here!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 4, VERSE 4:
Jesus came to
die!
That was His Life
Purpose!
"For even the Son of man came not to be
ministered unto, but to minister, and
to give his life
a ransom for many." Mark 10:45
As our Lord
prayed His great John 17 Prayer, called by many His "High
Priestly" Prayer, He was near the end of His earthly journey.
Listen to what He
told His Father, John 17:4. "I have
glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou
gavest me to do."
Yes, Jesus came
to die for you and for me!
The woman of
Samaria was right about our Lord, "This is
indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world." John 4:42
But, obviously,
Jesus' first concern, even more than any of us mere humans, was
His Father in Heaven!
"I have glorified thee
on the earth: I have finished the work which
thou gavest me to
do." He's addressing the
Father!
The verb
"glorify" is "doxazo." It gives us such words as "doxology,"
that old Hymn we all sang as young folks, bringing honor and
praise to our Triune God! In its noun form, "doxa," it means
"opinion, judgment, estimate, view," one's "evaluation" of a
person!
Here "doxazo" is
an aorist verb, showing action that is already completed. Jesus
has lived His entire earthly life, over 33 years, bringing honor
and glory to His Father, every second of every minute of every
hour! In John 8:29 our Lord rightly claimed,
"I do always those things that please Him."
Jesus also may
well be viewing the Cross as having already occurred. When One
is eternal He can do such things! The Cross was our Lord's
Crowning Achievement in glorifying His Father!
The verb
"finished" is "teleioo," actually "to make perfect, to fully
accomplish, to complete." Paul is not the only one who "finished
the course!" Like Simeon, Jesus could pray,
"Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart
in peace, according to thy word." Luke 2:29
The little noun
"work" is spelled "ergon," a job or a business or a task or an
assignment. And no doubt, Calvary was Work!
Jesus had
performed every miracle, preached every sermon, walked every
mile, loved every soul, meet every need ... not one thing was
left undone!
The verb "gavest"
is "didomai," meaning "to grant, to deliver, to bestow." Jesus'
incarnation and earthly life and sinless death and literal
resurrection were assignments to Him ... "gifts" from God the
Father!
"Gifts" the Son
gladly received and joyfully completed!
Did any of us
ever think of some "hard place" in life as a "gift?" Listen to
Paul talking to the Philippians. "For unto
you it is given
in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to
suffer for his sake." Philippians 1:29-30, suffering, a
"gift!"
There's a lesson
for us all here today. Maybe still one of the best ways we can
glorify our God is ... to faithfully pursue what He's told us to
do!
A godly life!
Faithfully
executed!
Thus bringing
Glory to God!
Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 5, VERSE 5:
The word
"homesick" comes to mind!
Homesick for
Heaven!
That's what Jesus
was feeling in John 17, a portion of Scripture that one Preacher
calls the "Holy of Holies" in the New Testament.
For example, John
17:5, which says: "And now, O Father,
glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had
with thee before the world was."
The Father is
here being addressed, reverently and submissively, by the Son.
Jesus knows He is facing the Cross, too!
Yet, instead of
praying for courage or strength or a greater threshold for pain,
our Lord asks for Identification with the Father! Glorification,
in other words. That's exactly what our verse is telling us.
Jesus knew fully
well that He had come to die on that old Cross! And that doing
so would be the greatest act of obedience ever recorded in all
history. That those six hours on Golgotha's Hill would bring
more Glory to God than anything else had ever done, including
creation and legislation and incarnation.
Jesus, even
facing Death, longs to experience Glory!
Also our Verse
today defines such Glory!
It is not
self-aggrandizement!
It is not
some sanctified form of self-esteem either!
It is not
merely a good reputation!
It is, to Jesus,
GOD THE FATHER!
The Agent of
further Glory to the dear Son of God ... is None Other than God
the Father Himself!
But the Father is
not just the Agent of Glory ... He IS The Glory!
"And now, O Father, glorify thou me with
thine own self."
The key idea
behind "glory," in Greek "doxa," is "value, worth, estimate,
preciousness," and God the Father is the very Apex, the very
Height, the very Zenith of such Glory!
But even the
preposition "with" is thrilling! Jesus used the word "para,"
which means in this case "alongside" or "beside" too!
Jesus the Son and
God the Father ... equally glorified!
Side by Side!
That's what Paul
taught us in Philippians 2:5. "Christ
Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to
be equal with God." Amen!
Jesus hungers
here for God's "SELF," His Person, His Essence, His Being, His
Darling Character!
Doing something
primarily to please Another!
Specifically,
dying!
No wonder Jesus
could say: "The Father hath not left Me
alone; for I do always those things that please Him."
John 8:29
Jesus also is,
according to our Verse, John 17:5, the eternal Son of
God! "And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self
with the glory which I had with thee before the world was."
That last clause,
"with the glory which I had with Thee
before the world was," is pertinent here.
The verb "had" is
spelled "echo," meaning "to hold on to" something, even in the
sense of "wearing" it, says one Textbook! Jesus sharing the
Glory of the Father!
And here "echo"
is not an aorist verb, but an indicative imperfect active verb.
Jesus possessed that Glory with His Father in eternity past, but
still possessed it the day He prayed that great Prayer!
He still
possesses it too!
And yes, Jesus is
the Agent of Creation too! In cooperation with God the Father
and God the Holy Spirit. "All things were
made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was
made." John 1:3
"Before the world was," Jesus knew
His Father's Glory! That little preposition "before" is "pro" in
Greek. "Before" in the sense of either time or place!
Jesus was,
before creation's first day ever arrived!
Jesus was,
where earth now exists!
And the Jesus Who
was, is too the Jesus who is!
And the Jesus Who
was ... and still is ... always shall be!
"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to
day, and for ever." Hebrews 13:8 is right!
Insight into the
lovely recesses of the heart of our Lord Jesus!
"And now, O Father, glorify thou me with
thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the
world was." John 17:5
Surely, that is
the Holy of Holies, the Heart of God Himself!
God the Son!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 6, VERSE 6:
The Lord
inadvertently, make that reverently, redefines or
restates critically important concepts in this great Prayer.
Verse 6 here gives us another example. Jesus to His Father;
"I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me
out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and
they have kept thy word."
The "saved" of
all the ages are here "gifts" from the Father to the Son!
Blessed objects of Trinitarian Fellowship!
We first belonged
to the Father!
As Creator, if in
no other way!
As Lover of our
souls, for sure!
After all,
"We love Him, because He first loved us."
1st John 4:19
But the Father,
because of Jesus' Death on the Cross, "gave" us to the Saviour!
Love gifts! Rewards! "Spoils" says Isaiah 53:12. The "seed" of
the Lord!
Here's what Jesus
thinks of His Children: "The saints that
are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom
is all my delight." Psalm 16:3, recipients of "all
His Delight!"
Amazing!
But two facts
surface surrounding this Event. This "giving" event!
One is prior and
the other subsequent to our salvation! Again:
"I have manifested thy name unto the men
which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou
gavest them me; and they have kept thy word."
The "manifesting"
came first. It had to!
"Phaneroo" means
"to make visible, to show," even "to realize" something. Our
minds and hearts were blinded by the devil, 2nd Corinthians 4:4.
"In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them
which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of
Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them."
The Lord unveiled
our eyes!
He is The Light!
What happened to
Paul literally on that Damascus Road happened to us spiritually
on the Salvation Road!
We "saw" God!
The Father and
the Son!
But in our Verse
specifically, the Son revealed to us the Father!
"I have manifested Thy name unto the men
which Thou gavest me out of the world."
Without this
"manifestation" salvation is not possible!
"For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath
shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge
of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." 2nd
Corinthians 4:6
The verb "phaneroo"
here is an aorist too, depicting action that is long since
complete! Also it is the first word in the Greek sentence, in
our Verse, lending it great authority and demanding for it great
emphasis!
One just can't
get saved without this "manifestation!"
Then comes the
subsequent act of Christ upon all true Believers,
"And they have kept thy word." They
"obeyed" it! That's the import of "tereo," that is, "to attend
carefully, to guard, to care for, to observe!" It's from "teros,"
a "watch" in the night, a three or four hour span of time in
which one pulls guard duty! A night "watchman!"
Once a man or
woman is born-again, he or she becomes a student of Scripture.
Not just mentally either! Whole heartedly too!
So says Jesus ...
as He prays!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 7, VERSE 7:
The Verse is
short but powerful!
We need to keep
in mind, Jesus is praying!
"Now they have known that all things
whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee." John 17:7
One apparently
did not need to be around Jesus long ... until he realized Who
He was! Christ was, and is, the Son of God! God the Son, really!
The verb "known"
used above is surprising. It's "ginosko," meaning "to learn to
know!" That is knowledge gained by study, by effort, by labor.
It is not the
usual verb used when "inherent" knowledge is indicated.
It, "gnosis," is
acquired knowledge.
As the Disciples
heard Jesus teach and preach, witness was born in their hearts!
Assurance was spawned!
They sensed that
Jesus was speaking words from above! They agreed with the
officers of the Chief Priests and Pharisees,
"Never man spake like this Man."
John 7:46
They had seen His
miracles too! And, like Nicodemus, they thought,
"Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no
man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with
Him." John 3:2
Again, our Text:
""Now they have known that all things
whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee." John 17:7
The little
preposition "of" is quite interesting, too. It is spelled "para,"
meaning "from" in this case, the genitive case.
God's "gifts" to
Jesus!
"Didomai" here is
written in the perfect tense, gifts that have continued all the
days of Jesus' sojourn on earth! A God who keeps on giving!
New every
morning!
Remember:
"It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are
not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are
new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness."
Lamentations 3:22-23
One can tell when
a Preacher has been with God!
And with Jesus,
undoubtedly, such knowledge was extremely apparent!
Yes, our Saviour
prayed the Truth! ""Now they have known
that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee."
Amen!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 8, VERSE 8:
The Lord
continues to pray in Verse 8: "For I have
given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have
received them, and have known surely that I came out from
thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me."
John 17:8
The "path" of
this verse is interesting in that it reveals to us one of the
great ministries of the Word of God!
Perhaps the
greatest!
Jesus notes,
communing with His Father: "For I have
given unto them the words which thou gavest me."
The little
pronoun "them," in Greek "autos," refers to the Disciples,
followers of Jesus.
The noun "words"
is spelled "rhema," usually employed when "speech" is indicated.
This is the "spoken" Word of God as well as the "written" Word.
The root verb here, "reo" or "rheo," means "to flow, to pour
forth," hence, "to utter" something.
Then the clause's
main verb, twice repeated, a form of "to give," spelled "didomai,"
means "to bestow, to grant, to commit!"
The Bible, God's
precious Word, is His Gift to us!
We should
treasure it!
From the Father
to the Son to His followers!
The Bible is,
therefore, an heirloom!
Now, watch what
happens when God's Word is "given" to the saints!
"And they have received them."
This verb, "received" or "lambano," means "to get hold
of" something! To accept it gladly! Maybe even joyfully!
There's no
rejection of Scripture when you're around true Christians! They
are eager to learn!
But then, the
Word of God goes undercover! Its effects are latent, hidden,
quiet! At least, at first! "And they have
known surely that I came out from Thee." The verb "have
known" translates "ginosko," that is, "to acquire data, usually
by some effort on the student's part!"
Studying God's
Word gives us proof that Jesus is Divine! He is of God! He is
God! He is the Son of God! And, He is God the Son!
This is one of
the side-effects of Scripture!
One of its
by-products!
The written
Word of God, the Bible, leads one to the living Word of
God, Jesus Himself!
Amen!
But that's not
all, not yet!
Finally,
sequentially, "And they have believed that
Thou didst send Me." These dear hearers got "saved!" The
Word of God produced fruit in their lives, saving faith!
Remember, "So then faith cometh by
hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Romans 10:17
The verb "have
believed" is "pisteuo," meaning "to trust, to think to be true,
to be persuaded!" Even, "to place confidence in" someone!
"Didst send,"
what the Father did to the Son, is familiarly spelled "apostello."
Jesus is God's "Apostle!" It just means "a sent one." Sent on
official duty! Commissioned! Ambassadorship!
"Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of
the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of
our profession, Christ Jesus." Hebrews 3:1
Jesus was sent
"to die," that we might enjoy eternal life!
"The Father sent the Son to be the
Saviour of the world." 1st John 4:14
Now, in review,
look at the "chain reaction" this verse describes.
"For I have given unto them the words
which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and
have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have
believed that thou didst send me." John 17:8
The Lord Jesus
... gave us God's Word ... which we gladly received ... thereby
learning for sure that Jesus is "God come to earth" ... and
consequently, we were saved!
What a course of
action!
What beauty!
Thank you, Lord!
No wonder they
call it amazing Grace!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 9, VERSE 9:
The ninth verse
contains a major Scriptural principle, one of the laws of
successful praying.
Listen to Jesus,
talking to His Father in Heaven: "I pray
for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast
given me; for they are thine." John 17:9
Wow!
Did our Lord just
say that He was not then praying for the lost? For the world,
the masses of unsaved people?
He said it!
Of course, we do
know that Jesus had a burden to see souls saved! That's why He
came to earth in the first place! "For the
Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."
Luke 19:10
And Jesus did, at
least at times, pray for the unconverted. On the Cross, for
example, "Then said Jesus, Father, forgive
them; for they know not what they do." Luke 23:34
The following
incident also shows the Lord's love for sinners.
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how often would I have gathered thy
children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under
her wings, and ye would not!" Matthew 23:37
But here, in John
17:9, Jesus specifically does NOT pray for the world!
Why?
Because it's one
of God's laws that the salvation of sinners hinges upon the
witness or the influence or the impact of those of us who are
already saved!
Revival among the
saints, God's children, is the forerunner of mass conversions
among sinners!
Watch the
saint/sinner ratio in this Verse! "By this
shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have
love one to another." Here in John 13:35 "all men"
knowing Jesus, multiple salvation experiences, is dependent on
His Disciples having "love one to another!" That's Bible, folks!
Jesus full well
knows that it's profitless to pray for the "world" until the
people of God are living right!
"I pray for them: I pray not for the
world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine."
John 17:9
During the course
of Jesus' intercessory prayer here in John 17, He asks His
Father to help us Christians be pure and holy and faithful and
loving and discerning! All such traits help us witness to the
lost!
The verb used for
"pray," twice in fact, is "erotao" in Greek, meaning "to beg, to
entreat, to beseech!" Intercession has become petition here!
The preposition
"for" is great! It's "peri" in Greek, meaning "all around!"
Jesus is praying "all around" these Disciples of His! This great
Verse has three separate "peri" occurrences!
Then do notice
what Jesus says about His Followers! They are "gifts" from His
Father! "Them which thou hast given me,"
He says!
The verb "hast
given" is "didomai" in its "perfect" tense, the giving being
completed in the past, but its results lingering yet into the
present! "The gift that keeps on giving!"
But Jesus and the
Father share joint ownership of the saints!
"Them which Thou hast given me; for they are Thine."
We belong both to
the Father and the Son!
And, as we live
for God, look what happens. Or so Jesus believes! We're still
using John 17 language now, "Neither pray
I for these (disciples) alone, but for them also which shall
believe on me through their word." John 17:20
Yes!
When God's people
are "right," sinners will turn from their sin!
Through our
words, our testimonies!
Another way of
saying it: "Let your light so shine before
men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father
which is in heaven." Matthew 5:16
Want to see some
sinner saved?
Pray more for the
saints of God with whom that lost person comes into contact!
We should live
the kinds of lives that spark interest in our Saviour, as people
watch us behave! That's exactly what Peter is saying in 1st
Peter 3:15. "But sanctify the Lord God in
your hearts: and be
ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a
reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.
Having a good conscience."
They've seen our
lives. They consequently want to know our Saviour! They even
come asking! It's that simple! This is Matthew 6:33, all over
again! "But
seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all
these things shall be added unto you."
Jesus' great High
Priestly prayer just taught us a point of doctrine, a very
important point too!
Get the saints
right! Then the lost will be moved, perhaps even changed,
changed into new creatures!
It's true!
The Beauty of
Jesus "attracts!"
And He is
altogether lovely!
That's what the
Bride said of the Bridegroom in Song of Solomon 5:16.
"Yea, he is altogether lovely. This
is my Beloved, and this is my Friend."
That's Jesus!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 10, VERSE 10:
The Verse
introduces an amazing concept, one which might be called
"reciprocal possession."
Husbands and
wives participate in this special relationship. For example:
"The wife hath not power of her own body,
but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of
his own body, but the wife." This is Paul in 1st
Corinthians 7:4.
"Reciprocal"
means "interchanged." Again, "given or owed to each other."
Mutually sharing!
Here's John 17:10
now. "And all mine are thine, and thine
are mine; and I am glorified in them."
Amen!
All that belongs
to Jesus ... belongs to the Father too. And all that the Father
possesses is Jesus' property as well.
In review, God
the Father has given God the Son a Body of followers, a Core of
believers in His Name! They are called the Redeemed, the Church!
This Presentation
is a result of Calvary, the shed Blood of our Lord!
So, Jesus says:
"All these (gifts, children, saved ones) are not only Mine,
Father, they are Thine also!
Yes!
And Father, that
which Thou hast, whatever or whoever, is Mine too! We have that
kind of intimacy, between Us!
Shared infinity!
Shared
omnipotence!
Shared
everything!
But I'm
wondering, does the clause "And Thine are
Mine" indicate that perhaps the Father yet has reserves
not made known, at least to us humans.
Of course so!
Jesus is More
than we know Him to be!
For sure!
The Father owns
Such as we have never imagined!
"Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither
have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath
prepared for them that love him." 1st Corinthians 2:9
These words
harbor more meaning than we'll ever glean, while still on earth
anyway.
We are being
given the privilege of overhearing the Son unburden His Heart to
His Father! Inter-Trinitarian Communion at its best!
"And all mine are thine, and thine are mine."
But then, in a
glorious burst of propriety and holiness and perfection, Jesus
exudes: "And I am glorified in them."
Jesus, glorified
in us!
Lord, let it be
so!
The verb, "am
glorified" is spelled "doxazo," but as an indicative perfect
passive. A fact is being stated, thus indicative mood. A
particular sense of timing is also being conveyed; that is,
action completed in the past but with continuing impact and
influence, right up to the very present moment! And a passive
voice verb means that the Subject, Jesus here in our Verse, does
nothing for Himself. We glorify him! Out of love and
respect and adoration and worship! Jesus merely receives such
praise and honour!
Yes!
That's the way it
should be!
All the time!
Oh, by the way, "doxazo"
means "to hold in very high opinion!" To magnify! To celebrate!
To confess the Object's dignity and worth!
Wow!
Think about this
great Verse.
It is short
grammatically but quite lengthy theologically!
"And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified
in them." John 17:10
Jesus is thrilled
... when we worship Him with all our hearts!
A preacher once
said something like this. It's true I believe. "God is most
pleased with us when we are most pleased with Him!"
Let it be so!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 11, VERSE 11:
The Verse today
is longer. Jesus continues to pray. "And
now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I
come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those
whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are."
John 17:11
Although Jesus is
not quite yet "out of the world," His Crucifixion, Burial and
Resurrection being several days away, and His Ascension another
six weeks or so ... He is already viewing Life from a heavenly
perspective!
Paul does this in
a sense, all his ministry! "Blessed be
the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath
blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places
in Christ." He has us here in Ephesians 1:3 already
"in the heavenlies!"
I'm already there
in God's eyes!
"No more" is "ouketi"
in Greek, "not any longer." This blends "ou" and "eti," yielding
"not still."
"These," a plural
demonstrative pronoun, refers to you and me who
are saved by God's Grace!
"I come to Thee,"
Jesus to His Father, reads "erchomai pros su" in Greek. Jesus is
going "to" the Father, with "pros" meaning something like "face
to face!"
Present tense!
One thing that
got Jesus "through" the Ordeal of Calvary was the constant
thought that next, soon, very soon, He would be with His Father
again! In His very Presence!
"And now I am no more in the world, but
these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep
through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they
may be one, as we are." John 17:11
This is the only
place in the whole Bible where the exact string of words
"Holy Father" occurs! "Hagios Pater"
is a name reserved only for Deity, not the Roman Catholic Pope
or anyone else! Let us not usurp God's Glory! Or His Honour!
The verb "keep,"
spelled "tereo," means "to protect or guard." "Teros" is a
"watch," like a watch of the night. It may come from the root
verb "theoreo," that is, "to be a spectator." This verb is
another imperative! Jesus' often uses these when in prayer to
His Father.
None of us would
be this bold apart from God's Own words in Isaiah 45:11.
"Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of
Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my
sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me."
Wow!
"Command ye Me!"
"'Through'
Thine Own Name" translates "en," really "in" Thine Own Name! We,
when saved, are "in" Jesus and "in" God the Father as well! In
the Circle of His Delight!
Again Jesus is
reminded that we who are born-again are gifts to Him, gifts from
the Father above! Rewards from Calvary! Tokens for good! "Given"
or "didomai" is a perfect tense verb here, the action occurring
long ago in the past but still reaping daily benefits!
Now Jesus lodges
a second request, two in this one Verse!
"That they may be one, as we are." And what a
noble request it is!
"May be," framed
as it is in the subjunctive mood, spelled "hosin," expresses a
strong desire! A likelihood! A probability! In fact, since Jesus
prayed it, it's a sure thing! This verb is in the "eimi" family.
"One," a
translation of "heis," takes its meaning from the context. Its
nuanced meaning anyway.
Back to Jesus:
"That they may be one, as we are."
"One" as is God
the Father and God the Son!
That is some kind
of Oneness!
"I and my Father are one."
John 10:30
Indivisibility!
Jesus returns to
this same request in Verse 21, but for another reason.
"That they all may be one; as thou,
Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be
one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me."
Here it's as if
our very "protection" and "safety" are dependent on our being
"one," not torn asunder!
And they well may
be!
It must be harder
for Satan to attack a united front!
Think about it.
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 12, VERSE 12:
The Lord Jesus is
our Protector!
He, in the
Psalms, is called by King David: "My rock,
and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom
I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and
my high tower." Psalm 18:2-3
In John 17:12
Jesus alludes to this great Role. He reminds His Father:
"While I was with them in the world, I
kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept,
and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the
scripture might be fulfilled."
Note that there
is not a single request in the whole verse! Just a statement, a
doctrinal one at that!
"With," as in
Jesus being "with" His Disciples, translates "meta" in Greek. It
means "among" or "in the midst." This is intimacy, personal
on-the-job spiritual training!
Yet today,
thousands of years after Calvary, Jesus is still "with" us, in
an even more intimate way!
Jesus' Presence
apparently "kept" or "guarded" His followers against the enemy,
against the devil.
But this keeping
was done under the auspices of the Father in Heaven! "In His
Name" we are safe!
Jesus constantly
lived under the good Shadow of His Father! Under His permissive
Will! "The Father hath not left me alone;
for I do always those things that please him." Jesus said
this in John 8:29.
God's "gifts" to
Jesus, you and me and every other Believer of all time, have the
guarantee of Safety! Perfect Safety! Eternal Safety! Assured by
both the Son and the Father!
He, Jesus, has
never lost one!
Well, he makes
one exception, and one only!
"None of them is lost, but the son of perdition."
But who is that?
This "son of
perdition?"
Our Lord
obviously has Judas in mind. Judas, who was never really saved
in the first place, although he was a member of the band of
disciples. One of the twelve even!
I say he was not
saved because Jesus called him a devil!
"Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of
you is a devil?" John 6:70, Judas again!
And "perdition"
above means "destruction, waste, damnation!" It's "apoleia" in
Greek, "eternal misery in Hell!"
And Judas did
what he did, of his own will I remind you,
"that the scripture might be fulfilled."
Wow!
Jesus knew the
Old Testament Scriptures!
He even rehearsed
them from the Cross, in all that agony! Nearly dead, our Lord
did this. "After this, Jesus knowing that
all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be
fulfilled, saith, I thirst." John 19:28
Prophecy, Bible
prophecy, being fulfilled in front of Jesus' very Eyes!
He helping it
along a little bit!
But where did the
Bible prophesy about Judas?
"Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I
trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his
heel against me." Psalm 41:9, Judas against Jesus!
And the outcome
of such a wicked deed?
"Let his days be few; and let
another take his office. Let his children be fatherless, and his
wife a widow." Psalm 109:8-9, quoted in the New Testament
by Peter and applied directly to Judas. See Acts 1:20.
The Lord protects
His Own, unless they be reprobates, having never truly believed
from the beginning!
Our Verse again:
"While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name:
those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost,
but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be
fulfilled." John 17:12
Safe ... in
Jesus!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 13, VERSE 13:
Hear the Lord pray, talking to
His Father ...
"And
now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that
they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves." John
17:13
The subject of
this verse is joy.
When Jesus was
present, His Disciples had joy, no doubt. Jesus brings joy!
Peter called it "joy unspeakable and full
of glory." 1st Peter 1:8
But our verse
says that Jesus is leaving earth, going back to Heaven! That's
after His Death, Burial and Resurrection, of course.
The verb "come"
is in the indicative mood, a fact being stated. Jesus' work on
earth is soon to be done. He prayed John 17 just prior to His
arrest and trial and subsequent crucifixion.
Father, "I come
to Thee."
But Jesus will
not leave His followers without giving them instructions. The
words "spoken" by Jesus, essentially the first four Books of the
New Testament, will be preserved for their use.
The verb "speak"
is "laleo," hinting at everyday conversation as well as public
preaching!
That Jesus spoke
such glorious things "in the world" means, I think, on the
hillsides and seacoasts and mountaintops and in the valleys of
all the land of Israel.
Today's verse
again:
"And
now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that
they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves." John
17:13
The little
pronoun "that," in Greek "hina," is introducing a purpose clause
here. Jesus left us His Word, so that a certain
condition might be met in our lives. "That we might have joy!"
The noun for
"joy" is "chara," basically meaning "gladness."
Jesus' Word
produces gladness?
God's Word can do
that?
Yes!
Yes!
Yes!
But notice that
this is not ordinary joy! Not artificial joy of some kind. This
is what Jesus called "my joy!" The very same Joy that Jesus had
residing deep within His Being! This is divine joy!
He has already
given His children His love!
And His peace!
Now His joy
too!
"These things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy
fulfilled in themselves."
But He wants us
to have not just "joy."
And not just "His
joy!"
But His joy
"fulfilled!"
This verb is "pleroo,"
sort of a "to the brim" kind of fullness! Maybe even a bit of
the "running over" kind too! Overflowing joy!
I believe the
heart of Jesus' petition here is that even in His coming
physical absence from the Disciples, His Word will be available
to them.
The very Word
that can and will bring them joy, lots of joy, even supernatural
joy!
But, does
Scripture elsewhere mention this by-product of the Word of God?
This glorious side-effect of Holy Writ?
Yes!
From the pen of
John, too.
Short and simple:
"And these things write we unto you, that
your joy may be full." God's Word, this time the Epistles
as well as the Gospels, brings joy, here "full joy!" I've listed
1st John 1:4.
Well, what about
the Old Testament?
Let's try Psalm
119:62. "I rejoice at thy word, as one
that findeth great spoil." So said the Psalmist.
Or Psalm 119:11
maybe. "Thy testimonies have I taken as an
heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my
heart."
Everywhere you
go, you find it!
The Scriptures
and joy, hand-in-hand!
Has anyone lost
your spiritual joy?
Is the delight
gone?
The expectancy
and wonder and thrill of your life in Christ?
If so, get back
in the Word.
Stay in it.
Live in it.
And there, among
hundreds of other good things, you will also find joy!
And this is so
important in the Christian's life, that Jesus makes it a matter
of prayer.
One of His last
prayers on earth.
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 14, VERSE 14:
The fourteenth verse is
informative, too . It's still part of Jesus' longest prayer on
record, often called His High Priestly Prayer.
"I have given them thy word;
and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the
world, even as I am not of the world."
Jesus is talking, praying,
interceding, with His Father.
With our God.
The implication here is at
least twofold.
First, Jesus came as a Minister
of the Word of God!
"I have given them thy word."
The tense of "didomai," in
English "have given," is "perfect." That means God's Word was
given Jesus' Disciples two thousand years ago, but it is the
gift that "keeps on giving!" It, the Bible, has been imparting
power and wisdom ever since!
Jesus during His earthly
ministry put the whole Bible in new light!
Fulfilling it, expounding it,
living it, really ... being it!
He is the Living Word of God!
He preached the written Word of
God!
Wow!
Jesus, a Bible Preacher!
A Bible Teacher!
But there's more.
"I have given them thy word;
and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the
world, even as I am not of the world."
John 17:14
There's an
"implied" consequence of being a possessor of God's Word here.
"And
the world hath hated them."
The more one loves the Bible,
the less that person is loved by the world!
If your love for God's Word is
red-hot, that fervent, the world will literally "hate" you.
The Scriptures and worldliness
are not compatible!
The verb "hated" is "miseo," to
absolutely "detest" something. However, this verb is an "aorist"
in its "time sense." Past action, now complete. This may be the
case because the world is just not going to last as long as the
Word of God! The Scriptures are eternal. The world is passing
away!
Then comes, I think, a third
fact from today's verse.
If we love the Bible,
internalize God's Word, it will change us!
We will not be "of" the world!
Even as Jesus was not "of" the
world!
The preposition "ek," with a
genitive case noun as here, means "out of, away from" as a
source of origin!
The world has not "generated"
us. It has not "birthed" us. It is not our "source!"
God is!
God is our Father, at least now
that we've been born again!
Putting it all together, Jesus
praying,
"I have given them thy word;
and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the
world, even as I am not of the world."
It's true!
Thank God for the Word!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 15, VERSE 15:
Jesus is praying!
"I
pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou
shouldest keep them from the evil." John 17:15
The verb "pray," in Greek "erotao," is derived
from "ereo," itself a derivative of "rheo." All these words imply
something that flows smoothly from the petitioner's lips, from his heart!
Jesus is asking His Father these things with ease, with familiarity, with
loving boldness!
"To take" translates "airo," meaning "to lift
up, to lift out, to bear away." For the time being, Jesus wanted His
Disciples "in" the world, just not "of" the world. They needed to be in
the world to witness to the world! The world needed them, in that sense.
That's the negative aspect of His two-pronged
request in our verse. "Father, do not yet take them out of the world."
But rather, positively, "Keep them from the
evil" that is in the world.
"Keep" is "tereo," meaning "to guard, to
protect."
Jesus' main concern about our being in the
world is not for for physical safety or emotional health or even financial
stability! Rather, that "evil" not harm us!
"I
pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou
shouldest keep them from the evil." John 17:15
"Evil" is "poneros," by far the most potent
word for wickedness in the New Testament. It suggests evil that is
spreading, infiltrating, contaminating everything it touches!
Bad to the core!
Lord, leave them here, on earth, please! At
least for a while longer.
And also, Father, protect and guard them from
any evil that would hurt them!
"Thank You," Jesus might then have said.
And ... it was done!
Jesus prayed.
The Father heard.
All is well.
Because we learned back in John 11:41-42.
"Jesus
lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast
heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always."
"Thou
hearest me always."
Always!
Our Lord's main concern was sin.
He died because of it.
And he wants us, already forgiven by His
amazing Grace and washed in His shed Blood, to be clear form the taint of
sin.
That it not harm us!
"I
pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou
shouldest keep them from the evil." John 17:15
Sounds like His model prayer,
"Deliver us from evil!" Matthew 6:13. The
Lord's Prayer!
Wow!
John 17:15, just one verse of twenty-six!
But a powerful one!
An answered petition!
We are protected today, largely because of our
Great High Priest's prayer!
And, know what?
He's still praying it, ever living to do so,
right now!
Glory to God!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 16, VERSE 16:
Jesus, while He prays,
makes a statement.
Plain.
Blunt.
Factual.
"They
are not of the world, even as I am not of the world."
John 17:16
"They," the
pronoun subject of this verse, refers to the disciples. Those
who know Jesus personally, who have been born-again.
The adverb "not"
is "ouk," and means "without exception," this negative fact
prevails all the time.
Christians are
not of this world!
"World" is "kosmos,"
from "komeo," something which a persons "tends" or "takes care
of."
The "world"
system as it exists today belongs to the devil! He is even
called "the god of this world" in
2nd Corinthians 4:4.
Satan "tends" and
"takes care of" this whole planet, as far as its sinful
tendencies are concerned.
Even though God
is the Creator, and Jesus died and rose again to save sinners,
and the Holy Spirit lives in the hearts of Believers, still
Satan controls the hearts of the masses of humanity!
The "world," in
that negative sense, is what Jesus has in mind in our Text
today, John 17:16."They
are not of the world, even as I am not of the world."
Now, to the
preposition "of." It is spelled "ek" and often means "out of."
In the sense of being the "source" of something.
That's what Jesus
is saying.
We who have been
saved are not "out of" the world!
The world is no
longer the "source" of our being.
We have been born
"from above." That's another idea behind being born "again."
We are now new
creatures!
We live in a new
environment!
"In the Spirit!"
We now have new
goals!
"Pleasing the
Lord Jesus!"
We now are at war
with this old world, in the sense of its belonging to the devil
and being controlled by him and his helpers.
"For
whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the
victory that overcometh the world, even our faith."
1st John 5:4
But if we are not
"of this world," to Whom do we belong?
To Jesus!
Who is our
Father?
Almighty God!
Who birthed us?
The Holy Spirit!
Back to Jesus'
words:
"They
are not of the world, even as I am not of the world."
The logic behind
our "not" being "out of" this world is next explained this way:
"Jesus is not of this world either!"
The world, its
sinful ways, is not the matrix of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Oh yes, He was
Virgin Born!
And He had a real
human body!
But His Very
"Being" did not find its genesis in humanity!
He is God!
He is God become
flesh, become man!
He is not
man become God!
Jesus is "of" the
Father!
In John 10:30
Jesus plainly says, "I and My Father are
One."
We now live with
our eyes on a different Object!
Heaven!
We walk to the
sound of different maestro!
We have been
"born" anew!
"They
are not of the world, even as I am not of the world."
So Paul teaches
us: "If
ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above,
where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God."
Colossians 3:1
Us, living like
Jesus, at least in this matter!
And some day we
will be "like" Him in every other way too!
"Beloved,
now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we
shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be
like him; for we shall see him as he is." 1st John 3:2
See it in there?
When He comes
again, "We shall be like Him!"
Praise the Lord!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 17, VERSE 17:
Jesus, in His
longest recorded prayer ever, asks His Father in Heaven to
"sanctify" His followers.
But "how" is this to be done?
Here's how: "Sanctify
them through thy truth: thy word is truth." John 17:17
Personally I would have thought the
idea of "sanctification" would have been entrusted to the Holy
Spirit.
But here it is a function of the
Word of God!
Of course, it is the Holy Spirit Who
has written the Word of God, Who authored the Bible!
The opening verb, "sanctify," is
spelled "agiazo," but we must add an "h" in front it it, "hagiazo."
It means "cleansed, purified, set apart from anything that
defiles."
"Hagiazo" here is an imperative
verb, too. And an "aorist" as well. Whatever is involved in this
ministry of sanctification has already occurred, its action is
"complete." At least that's the way Jesus was viewing it here.
Maybe one could say this, "In God's Mind, from His perspective,
we are already sanctified."
Technically speaking, you were
sanctified the very second you believed. When you were saved,
you got it "all!"
But practically speaking,
"sanctification" is a process or a goal toward which we live the
rest of our earthly days! More and more like Jesus, that's what
we long to be!
And again, the "agent" of
sanctification here is the Truth of God, the Word of God, the
Bible.
"Sanctify
them through thy truth: thy word is truth."
"Through thy truth" translates "en
ho aletheia." That is, "in" Thy Truth. It is as we get "into"
the Scriptures, that this sanctification occurs. This great
miracle is accomplished "by" the power of God's Word!
And "truth," if you remember, is "aletheia,"
something that "cannot be forgotten, that cannot be hidden!"
Once you know it, you've "got" it! God ordained Truth, God
taught Truth!
What a request!
Believers on earth today need, must
have, find absolutely essential the precious Word of God!
Then Jesus, as an able
Expositor, as the favorite and perfect Expositor of all time,
explains the concept of "Truth."
"Thy
word is truth."
Wow!
Father, Thy Word is Truth!
"Logos," God's "Word," is a
critically important New Testament noun. It means one's "speech,
something said, that which conceptualizes an idea or fact!"
The Bible is God's written
Word.
While Jesus is God's Living
Word.
The term, "logos," is used of both.
Both are God verbalized!
Both are divine in origin.
Of course, Jesus is God.
The very Son of God, clothed in
flesh and come to earth!
The essence of John 17:17, Jesus'
petition to His Father for His Disciples' welfare and success on
this earth, spiritually speaking, is that God's Word would get
"into" our hearts and souls and minds and spirits! And when that
happens, it will change us and purify us and transform us into
His very Image, like Jesus forever!
And just think about it, you who
read these lines today, you have just spent several minutes
doing just that! Living "in" God's Word!
Thinking about it!
Meditating on it!
Letting it sooth you and bathe you
and saturate you!
And, using Jesus' words now,
"sanctify you" too!
How grateful we should be for the
Bible!
What a tool it is for our spiritual
growth!
"Sanctify
them through thy truth: thy word is truth." John 17:17
Amen!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 18, VERSE 18:
I call it a "missionary" verse.
It's a little
like Matthew 28:19-20. "Go
ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name
of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching
them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and,
lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."
And Mark 16:15.
"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the
gospel to every creature."
Plus Acts 1:8.
"But ye shall receive power, after that
the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto
me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and
unto the uttermost part of the earth."
I'm talking about
John 17:18. "As thou hast sent me into the
world, even so have I also sent them into the world."
This is our verse for today.
I nearly
forgot its "twin," John 20:21. "Then said
Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my
Father hath sent me, even so send I you."
Lots of "go ye"
verses!
Now remember,
Jesus is praying.
To His Father in
Heaven.
The most
"intimate" prayer He ever prayed, as far as we know.
At least, the
most "detailed" one.
"As thou hast sent me into the world, even
so have I also sent them into the world." John 17:18
Jesus has been
"sent" by the Father.
The verb is "apostello."
In it we can clearly see the word, our word, "apostle." Jesus is
an Apostle, The Apostle really!
"Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling,
consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession,
Christ Jesus." Hebrews 3:1
"Apostello" means
"one sent forth to make straight or set in order" certain
things! Jesus came to earth to "set in order" the great issues
of sin and salvation and Heaven and Hell and redemption and
fellowship with God!
He is the
greatest Missionary Who ever lived!
He is more than
That!
He is the Saviour!
He is the
Sacrifice!
The "world" is
the "kosmos," from "komeo," meaning "to take care of, to provide
for, to tend." The world today is a "system" of life, a
"organism" of activity, sadly given to evil rather than good.
This "world,"
this "organization," needs Jesus!
Without Him, the
whole "world" is doomed!
Jesus has come
with the answers to the world's woes!
And now,
according to our verse, we have those answers too!
Just like Jesus
did!
Because we have
been saved by His Grace!
Jesus to His
Father: "As thou hast sent me into the
world, even so have I also sent them into the world."
John 17:18
We are "sent"
too!
We, in a
non-technical sense, are little "apostles," little
"missionaries, "little "ambassadors," taking the lost world the
Message of Jesus and His Cross and empty tomb and plan of
salvation!
As Jesus ... so
are we!
In this
"witnessing" sense anyway.
Have we told
anyone about Jesus lately?
Given out a
Gospel tract?
Prayed for the
salvation of a lost soul?
Yes, the world
will "hate" us, just like it did Jesus.
But we must go
and tell anyway!
That's one reason
Jesus left us here ... until He comes again!
And how do we
know that "witnessing" is Jesus' goal here, our telling others
about Him? Verse 20 explains. "Neither
pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on
me through their word."
Them which
shall believe through their words!
Souls saved,
through our words!
Let's tell
someone about Jesus today!
Helping "answer"
His great prayer!
"As thou hast sent me into the world, even
so have I also sent them into the world." John 17:18
Sent ... by
Jesus!
In that sense, we
are all "called!"
Called to share
our testimonies everywhere we go.
Let's get busy!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 19, VERSE 19:
It's one of the
most logical verses in all the Bible.
Maybe it centers
on the power of influence as much as anything.
Listen to Jesus
praying to his Father. "And for their
sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified
through the truth." John 17:19
"Their sakes" is
a reference to His Disciples. To those who have been saved and
who followed the Lord day after day.
These Believers
spent vast amounts of time with Jesus.
Weeks, months,
you could nearly say years!
So, for these who
were so near His heart, Jesus "sanctifies" Himself!
This is Jesus,
the Son of God!
This is Jesus,
absolutely sinless!
This is Jesus,
who was never defeated by the devil!
This is Jesus,
Who had no sin nature at all!
Yet He says, "I
sanctify Myself!"
Surely this
illustrates the fact that sanctification, defined as "separation
from sin," or just plain "holiness of life," is both a present
state ... and an ongoing manner of life too.
It has an
"I-have-it-now" side.
And it also has
an "I-still-want-more" side!
What I am saying
is this: Jesus was already perfect!
But, still, He
"sanctifies" Himself even more!
"And
for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be
sanctified through the truth." John 17:19
It must be this
way, or else Jesus is just "mincing" words. And He never did
that, never.
Jesus, living
more and more godly every single day, though He never sinned in
the first place!
And He was doing
this, for the sake of His Disciples!
His students!
His followers!
Among this larger
group there were ladies as well as men.
People for whom
Jesus cared, for whom He was determined to set the right
example. And by the way, for whom He died on Calvary!
"For" their
sakes, translates "huper," meaning "in their stead!" Or, "on
their behalf."
Living godly ...
for the sake of those around you!
Why again is
Jesus doing this?
"That they also might be sanctified."
Jesus' holiness
of life will impact these saved folks!
They will live as
he lived, best they could.
"Sanctified"
translates "hagiazo" again, "made different or separated" from
that which defiles.
If you are around
someone for three years, non-stop, they will "impact" you either
for good, or bad!
And if that
Someone is Jesus ... no doubt it will be for good! It's that
plain: "And
for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be
sanctified."
But next, how
is this sanctification to occur?
What is the
tool Jesus uses to accomplish this great fact?
Watch the last
three words of our verse.
"And
for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be
sanctified through the truth." John
17:19
The "Truth" is
God's Word!
We just saw that
two verses ago.
The Bible,
inspired Scripture, will help keep us away from sin!
It will
"separate" us from things that defile!
It is God's means
of sanctification!
At least in this
verse it is.
"And
for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be
sanctified through the truth." John 17:19
Thank You, dear
Lord!
So, every one of
us knows what to do!
Get "in" His
Word!
And "stay" there!
Live "close" to
Jesus!
He can "change"
us too!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 20, VERSE 20:
Someone said that
Jesus did not intercede for the "lost" in His great John 17
Prayer.
But, at least
briefly, He did.
He knows that the
saints will be witnessing for His Name's Sake.
Therefore, He
mentions to His Father: "Neither pray I
for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me
through their word." John 17:20
This petition
alone reveals the success of future soul-winning efforts!
People will be
born again!
"Shall believe,"
the verb, is "pisteuo," meaning "to be persuaded, to believe to
be true." Here Jesus uses it as a future participle. These
things are going to occur! For sure!
Notice too that
the "belief" is "on" Jesus! "Neither
pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on
me through their word."
The preposition
used here is "eis," believing "on" Jesus for sure, but also
believing "into" Jesus! Literally!
That's why Paul
can so confidently and so repeatedly say that we who are saved
are "in" Christ Jesus!
The Holy Spirit,
the very second we are saved, places us "in" Christ!
And all this
happens "through" the word, the witness, the testimony, of
Jesus' followers.
"Through" is "dia,"
meaning "by means of." No testifying, no souls saved! No
witnessing, no folks born again!
"Word" is
"logos," like you would expect. "Logical, thoughtful words
expressed in favor of the Lord Jesus Christ, preaching in His
Name! Telling folks about Jesus! What He did for you! Sharing
the Gospel!
And it is for
these new Believers, these new "little ones," that Jesus is
about to pray!
The Body of
Christ, a growing organism!
The Church of the
Living God, alive and expanding, all because of Calvary, Jesus'
Blood, and the Love of God!
Do you know
someone lost today?
Pray for him or
her.
Witness to him.
Take her to
Church.
Pray, much like
Jesus did, for that person's salvation!
God still saves
sinners!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 21, VERSE 21:
Maybe the right
word is "unity."
Jesus longed for
this quality in the lives of His followers.
"That they all may be one; as thou,
Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be
one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me."
John 17:21
Divisions and
cliques and other kinds of factions are detrimental to the
people of God.
But, question is,
how close can we be?
Being human,
won't there always be some friction between Church folks? At
least to a small degree?
Jesus thinks not!
Notice His exact
words: "That
they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in
thee."
Unless I have
misunderstood, He just asked His Father for unity in the Church,
a oneness identical to that of the Trinity!
That's
astounding!
And such a thing
can only be possible, surely, through the ministry of God the
Holy Spirit!
He is the great
"Unifier" anyway!
By "all" Jesus
means all who are really saved. "Pas" means each individual, no
exceptions!
And "one," in
Greek "heis," means numerically "one." In other words, "not two
or three!"
Here Jesus has
beautifully combined practicality and doctrine!
First, He
desires: "Do not fuss!"
Then He suggests:
"Model the Godhead in your love and fellowship one for another!"
And that
"in-between" clause, "That they also may
be one in Us," sounds to me like Jesus is, for lack of a
better word, "homesick!"
He craves His
Father's Presence!
That Unity they
have shared forever!
And He wants us
to know it, too!
But, should this
high goal ever be reached, what might it contribute to the cause
of Christ?
I will capitalize
the answer to that question. "That they
all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in
thee, that they also may be one in us:
that the world may believe that thou hast sent me."
John 17:21
Souls will be
saved!
This concept
sounds much like John 13:35. "By
this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye
have love one to another."
Jesus clearly
believed that our loving one another, that our being "one,"
would be a great tool of evangelism!
The more we love,
loving in truth now, not a compromising sort of
love, the more lost souls will be "drawn" to the Saviour!
Here's a second
time in as many verses that Jesus focuses His prayer aims at
sinners, those perishing without eternal life.
A lesson in
witnessing!
In the middle of
Jesus' most beautiful prayer ever!
He might even be
still praying this one, John 17, right from the Right Hand of
the Throne of God!
This may be an
integral part of His constant intercession for you and me!
That would not
surprise me a bit.
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 22, VERSE 22:
This is a
difficult verse!
John 17:22 says:
"And
the glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may
be one, even as We are One."
That's Jesus,
praying to His Father in Heaven.
It "hints" that
the basic motivation for true Christian "unity" is something
called "glory!"
And, even so,
what does "glory" mean?
Furthermore, when
did or when will that "gift" of glory be bestowed?
And all these
questions come from one sentence of one prayer, of course it was
prayed by the greatest Person Who ever lived! Jesus, the living
Son of God!
"Glory" is "doxa,"
being derived from a word that means "opinion, estimate, value,
worth, praise, honor." And "dokeo," its parent, means "to think,
to account, to suppose, to be reputed."
Here "glory " may
be what someone is "worth" to you! His or her "value!" What one
"thinks" that person to be!
Preciousness!
It looks like
Jesus is saying something like this. When someone gets saved,
God somehow attaches to that old ex-sinner, now a new creature
in Christ Jesus, the same value and worth and esteem that He had
originally placed in His Only Begotten Son!
Are we being told
that we are made "like" Jesus?
Not identically
so, but positionally so!
As God's newborn
child, I share in that glory, that worth, that value!
Because I am now
"in" Jesus ... I now possess that "glory!"
The verb "given,"
spelled "didomai," is used twice in the verse, both times being
identical. That is, indicative perfect active 1st person
singulars.
That means, among
other things, that this "giving" has already happened in the
past! And it positively has "lasting" consequences! We will
never outlive its presence!
And the "result"
of this glory?
Look for the word
"that," a pronoun.
"And
the glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them; that
they may be one, even as We are One."
This glory leads
to "oneness!"
Using a
subjunctive form of "eimi," John records "may be." It is
possible! The foundation, the framework, the underpinning
exists for such miraculous unity!
The same unity
that is operating in the Godhead, eternally so!
"Even as We are One!"
"One," in Greek "heis,"
is obviously a number. Not "two" or "three," but "one!" That
kind of closeness!
Okay, then.
It's logical.
If I can somehow
see the "glory" God has already invested in my brother or sister
in Christ, I will not fuss or fight or argue with him or her!
I will realize
his or her worth and value to Almighty God!
I will sense the
esteem and preciousness God has already placed on him and her,
no matter their specific backgrounds or educational levels or
social standings or anything else!
One preacher
called this wonder "the weight of glory!"
God sees not only
what we now "are," but also what we "shall become!"
Creatures of
glory!
And that fact
alone should draw us together, in harmony!
As brothers and
sisters in Christ!
"And
the glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may
be one, even as We are One."
Oh, how this
should be preached!
The next time you
look upon a fellow believer, try to see him or her that way! The
way the Lord sees that person!
Simply
glorious!
As much so, dare
I say it?
As much so as
Jesus Himself!
That's what John
17:22 says, exactly.
Wow!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 23, VERSE 23:
Today it's John
17:23. "I
in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one;
and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast
loved them, as thou hast loved me."
Jesus prayed
these very words to His Father.
That opening
pronoun, "them," refers to folks who have been saved. They were
saved through the witness of other Believers in Christ.
These words
reveal Jesus' goal for us Christians, "that they may be made
perfect." This word "perfect," really the whole verbal system,
"may be made perfect," translates "teleioo" in Greek. It means
"to reach the finish line, to be complete, to be filled full."
In one word,
"maturity!"
And this is
possible, how?
Only through the
indwelling Christ!
"I will be in
them," promises our Lord.
And the result of
our maturity?
Of our unity, our
harmony, our "oneness" with Jesus and each other?
The world will
know that Jesus is God's Son, sent directly from Heaven!
"And that the
world may know that Thou hast sent Me."
The verb "may
know" is "ginosko," just meaning "to perceive, to understand" a
thing.
And "hast sent"
is an official term, "apostello," to empower a person so he can
"set things in order." To rearrange anything that might have
gradually been wrongly placed.
But there is one
more thing Jesus wants the world to know.
"That
the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast
loved them, as thou hast loved me."
Love!
The Father has
"loved" this old world!
Its people.
Here Jesus has
God the Father loving the "world," lost men and women, every bit
as much as the father loves the Son!
Or am I
misreading this?
"As," an adverb,
is "kathos" in Greek. And the dictionaries say it means "just
as" or "even as." One says "according as." Intensely so,
especially with that "kata" prefix!
This is nearly a
verse with the same spirit John 3:16 possesses!
"For God so loved the world, that
he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him
should not perish, but have everlasting life." Now,
that's real Love!
And since Jesus
is the One praying, the Intercessor, these words will be
completely fulfilled.
All-the-way
answered!
No doubt about
that!
"I
in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one;
and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast
loved them, as thou hast loved me."
John 17:23
Christians have a
bright future!
Heaven!
Perfection,
maturity!
Their neighbors
saved, some of them anyway!
And all of
eternity without a single disturbing word!
Jesus' Plan for
us!
His prayer for
us!
I just do not
understand why the whole of humanity does not want to be saved!
They ought to be
"beating the door down," seeking the Lord Jesus Christ!
Alas, the devil
has them "blinded."
But, one by one,
sinners are still being saved, the Lord's prayer here yet being
answered!
God's "Plan" is
not frustrated.
It will be
fulfilled and complete, and that right on time!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 24, VERSE 24:
Each verse of
John 17 unveils some new thought, straight from the mind of
Jesus!
Verse 24 is no
exception.
"Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with
me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast
given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the
world."
If this prayer is
answered, and it will be, every born-again child of God in
history will go to Heaven!
Because that's
Where Jesus is!
"Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with
me where I am."
That's the way
Jesus has been describing the truly saved, "those whom the
Father had given Him."
Eternity ... with
Jesus!
But here, even
the reason "why" we are going to Heaven in revealed!
Or, one reason
"why."
"That they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me."
To "behold"
Jesus' preincarnate Glory!
And our Lord here
uses the verb "theoreo," our word "theatre!" It means "to be a
spectator!" Or "to view attentively!" Even "to consider."
Eternity ...
watching Jesus!
Glorious Jesus!
And here comes
still another "why."
"Why" has the
Father given the Son, given Jesus, this awesome Glory?
Because of Love!
"For thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world."
As expected, "lovest"
here translates "agapao." The most unselfish love in the Bible,
perfect love, God's Love! First Corinthians 13 Love!
"Foundation" is "katabole,"
anything "thrown or placed" at the very "lowest" level of a
building. That upon which all the rest is constructed.
Before God
created, Jesus already was invested in such Glory!
Of course, we
believe Jesus is the eternal Son of God!
He has always
been Glory-filled!
Look at the
Heavenly themes Jesus is discussing!
"Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with
me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast
given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the
world."
Saved souls!
Heaven
forevermore!
Eternal Glory!
Unending Love!
Can't you tell?
Jesus is ready to
go Home!
He is near the
time of the Cross of Calvary.
Very near.
He is looking
over on the "Other Side," and already claiming Victory!
And He is taking
us with Him!
Praise the Lord.
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 25, VERSE 25:
The Lord uses the
same verb, three times!
In the same
verse!
And each time
it's in the very same form, too.
"O
righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I
have known thee, and these have known that thou
hast sent me." John 17:25
Notice first that
Jesus calls His Father "righteous." This is the only time in
Scripture that this exact term is used.
Later in the New
Testament John, in his first epistle, calls Jesus "righteous."
Here is that verse. "My little children,
these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man
sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the
righteous." 1st John 2:1
The adjective is
"dikaios," meaning "upright, virtuous." God has never done, nor
can He do, anything wrong!
The noun for
"world," the "kosmos," is that "orderly and arranged system of
life on this earth," without Christ being the
Center! The devil is the prince of this "world." John 12:31
This lost "world"
does not know God the Father!
He loves it,
rather, he loves them, the people of earth, but they do not
know Him.
"O righteous Father,
the world hath not known Thee."
Next, Jesus
"knows" the Father!
That's "ginosko,"
basically meaning "to get an understanding" of something or
someone. Verse 25 again, John 17:25, its first two clauses.
"O righteous
Father, the world hath not known Thee: but I
have known Thee."
What the world
lacks, Jesus possesses!
And remember now,
this "knowledge" of God the Father is once defined by Jesus as
"eternal life!" Back in verse 3 it is.
"And this is life eternal,
that they might know
thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast
sent."
Jesus knows the
Father intimately, perfectly, fully!
But, wonderfully,
not only does Jesus know the Father ... so do those who have
been saved!
You know
Him, Christian friend.
I know
Him, too!
Now we can add
that last clause to our discussion.
"O
righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have
known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me."
Believers are included in the "these" who have known that the
Father sent the Son!
"These have known that thou hast sent Me."
The verb sent is
"apostello," officially "commissioned" by God the Father to come
to earth and die for the sins of the lost!
1st John 4:14
says it this way. "And
we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to
be the Saviour of the world."
Yes!
Be thankful for
that "knowledge!"
God gave it to
us!
We should
treasure it!
"O
righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have
known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me."
John 17:25
Are you saved?
Do you know
the Father?
Through Jesus the
Son?
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 26, VERSE 26:
Another recurring
theme in Jesus' greatest prayer, recorded in John 17, is that of
"love."
He even closes
with that thought. "And I have declared
unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love
wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them."
John 17:26
This great verse
might could be summarized with three short words: "God is love!"
In fact, 1st John 4:8 later will say that very thing!
"He
that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love."
The verb
"declare" Jesus just used is "gnorizo," a derivative of "ginosko"
meaning "to make known." Once in the King James Text it is
expressed "to certify!"
When Jesus taught
something, assurance accompanied His Words! They knew
it to be true!
Matthew 7:29
reminds us of Jesus: "For he taught them
as one having authority, and not as the scribes."
Mark 1:22 says the same thing too, adding one little but
important fact. "And they were astonished
at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority,
and not as the scribes."
But look!
Along with a
knowledge of God's Name comes something else!
"And
I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it:
that the love wherewith
thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them."
John 17:26
That "love" I
mentioned earlier!
Of course the
noun is "agape." It is built on the "agan" stem, meaning "much!"
There is just no limit to the Love of God! It is endless,
inexhaustible, even when it's hard to understand!
The little
preposition "in" is "en" in Greek. It means, "on, at, near, by,
before," as well as "in." Closeness! Internalization!
Assimilation! Inhabitation! How else can it be said?
The very Love God
the Father has for Jesus ... also indwelling us!
That is exactly
what's just been said!
"That the love
wherewith Thou hast loved Me may be in them."
That can only
happen one way, Jesus Himself must live inside us too!
That's the way we
know the Love of God!
But, can it be
proved that Jesus is "in" us?
Yes.
"Christ
in you, the hope of glory." Colossians 1:27 does
that, all by itself.
This great prayer
certainly ends on a "thrilling" note!
The more you
"think" about it, the greater it gets!
"And
I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it:
that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I
in them." John 17:26
Yes!
And Jesus is
still praying it, right now!
Interceding for
you and me!
Our Lord was
prone to use Scripture, word for word, in all the key events of
His earthly life.
And I guarantee
you that's the case in His heavenly Life too!
Re-read John 17
when you can.
It's awesome!
Just as well say,
the greatest prayer ever prayed!
I am so glad we
have spent this time studying it.
Seems like it
helps us know Jesus better.
The words of
Christ are critically important, being part of Paul's very
definition for "sound doctrine."
He calls them
"wholesome words." That's from 1st Timothy 6:3.
"Wholesome
words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to
the doctrine which is according to godliness."
Amen!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
I
AM SO VERY THANKFUL WE HAVE STUDIED THESE 26 PRECIOUS VERSES,
RIGHT FROM THE MOUTH OF OUR DEAR LORD.
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