Jesus, in the Gospel of John chapters 14-16, has been teaching (preaching) nonstop! Then in John chapter 17 our Lord prays! Maybe we all would be more effective, more powerful, if we followed that pattern!
I can only find two earlier times in John when Jesus even approximates prayer! (Luke the is Gospel that accents Jesus’ Prayer Life!)
John 11:41-42, at dead 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. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.”
Not really a prayer of petition, but one of thanksgiving!
Then again in John 12:27-28 … “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. Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.”
Instantly prayed, instantly answered!
It seems to me that Jesus gives “reasons” for His petitions here in John 17. The Old Testament Patriarch Job did the same thing as well …
Job 23:3-4 … “Oh that I knew where I might find Him! that I might come even to His seat! I would order my cause before Him, and fill my mouth with arguments.” (Here is a holy man reasoning with his God!)
And the Prophet Jeremiah did the same thing …
“Righteous art thou, O LORD, when I plead with thee: yet let me talk with thee of thy judgments: Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously?” (A conversation with the Almighty! “Let me talk with Thee,” I love that!
The Bible reference for the “Simeon” illustration that I used in class is found at Luke 2:25-32 …
“And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. 26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, 28 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, 29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: 30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, 31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; 32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.” (He had finished his work! He was ready to “depart!”)
The great “I am That I am” reference is Exodus 3:14 …
“And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.”
Wow!
Verse 8 of our Text is similar (purposely so I think) to Deuteronomy 18:18, that well-known prophecy about the coming Prophet!
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.”
Deuteronomy 18:18 … “I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.”
And, obviously, that Prophet is JESUS!
Now, watch the whole Lesson …
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
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