Sunday October 14
Jesus Prays for Himself
The high-priestly prayer is divided into three parts. First, Jesus prays for Himself (John 17:1-5), then for His disciples (John 17:6-19), and finally for those who would later believe in Him (John 17:20-26).
17:20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
17:21 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.
17:22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
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.
17:24 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.
17:25 O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.
17:26 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.
Read John 17:1-5.
17:1 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:
17:2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
17:4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
17:5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
What is the essence of His prayer, and what does it mean for us?
Jesus is acknowledging His mission to come to this dark spot in the universe to not only rescue sinners, but to glorify the only true God through revealing Him (His character) by His life of holiness. For it is through the knowledge of our heavenly Father that we gain life eternal. Is there one particular verse in Scripture that reveals the underlying principle that will help us understand this truth? Yes, very clearly it reveals by knowing His character, by beholding it, we are transformed in character from sinners into saints which reveal His character. "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, [even] as by the Spirit of the Lord." 2 Cor. 3:18.
Jesus intercedes first for Himself. In preceding events in the Gospel of John, Jesus had indicated that His hour had not yet come (John 2:4, 7:30, 8:20). But now He knows the hour of His sacrifice is here. The moment for the dramatic conclusion of His earthly life has arrived, and He is in need of strength to complete His mission. It is a time for prayer.
With Jesus it was always time for prayer. Each day was a great trial for Him.
Jesus will glorify His Father by doing His will, even if it means He must endure the Cross. His acceptance of the Cross is not some kind of fatalism; rather, it is in fact how He exercises the authority the Father has given Him. He did not die a martyr’s death but willingly glorified His Father by fulfilling the reason for His incarnation: His sacrificial death on the cross for the sins of the world.
Yes, but this was not involved in His prayer as much as was the truth that His whole life was glorifying His Father the only true God. And, that His mission was to bring fallen humans to the same point of glorifying our Father through our lives. By abiding in Christ and He in us, we reveal the same glory that Jesus does. This is the focus of His prayer. That we and Him will glorify the only true God by abiding in Him and He in us. "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."
What is eternal life according to John 17:3? What does it mean to know God?
Just what is says, to know of His character. To know Him is to love Him. We love Him because He first loved us. It is His love, grace, that transforms us from sinners into saints. We must be reminded of who He is (His character) daily in order to maintain our connection with Him. By beholding Him, His character, we are changed into the same image (character) that we might be one (in character) and glorify Him who is the only true God.
First and foremost, Jesus tells us eternal life consists in our personal knowledge of God. This is not salvation by works or by knowledge, but rather it is the experience of knowing the Lord because of what Jesus has done for us at the Cross. This knowledge is mediated through a personal relationship with the Father. Our human tendency is to limit knowledge to facts and details, but here Jesus aims at something deeper and more fulfilling: a personal relationship with God. Jesus’ first advent was also for the purpose to guide humanity in its search for a more meaningful and saving knowledge of God and the unity with each other that such knowledge will lead to.
Amen! If we want unity in the church there must first be a conversion of hearts by making a full heart surrender to Christ. How can that be done? Listen to the Words of Jesus in John 3.
3:3 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
3:4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and [of] the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
3:9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
3:10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Study the lesson given in the wilderness that it may be understand why Jesus brought the subject up when Moses lifted up the serpent.
What is the difference between knowing about God and knowing God personally? What experiences have you had that have helped you come to know God?
Knowing God leads to a broken heart, a new heart, which creates knowing God personally. We cannot trust someone we do not know.