#27 – Knowing God Better – John 17 continued

Before we keep going on John 17, I’d like to interject a quick comment. In John 17 we’re listening in on an incredibly unique conversation:

God the Son, talking with, God the Father.

Obviously, some of what Jesus says in that prayer is going to be foreign to us. The nature of God is different from our human nature.

For one thing, we live in a 3-dimensional world. I, as a person, am separate from another person. God is not limited by spacial dimensions. So, the Son can be separate from the Father, and yet not.

Ok, starting at John 17:9

9 “My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you.

Jesus is very mindful of the disciples, whom he is soon leaving. He really cares about them and their welfare. The majority of Jesus’ prayer is focused on them.

11 Now I am departing from the world…protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are. 12 During my time here, I protected them by the power of the name you gave me. I guarded them.

13 I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy.

Jesus then mentions that the world hates the disciples, just like they hated him. So he prays:

15 I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one.

Do you know who Jesus is referring to by “the evil one?” Satan.

In John 8:44, Jesus describes Satan as “a liar and the father of lies.” So it makes sense that Jesus then goes on to pray:

17 Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. 18 Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. 19 And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.

Q – Jesus has prayed for their protection in the world. What does Jesus mention as a protections for them? Look at the following verses:
A –

11 …protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are. 12 …I protected them by the power of the name you gave me.

For those who believe in Jesus, we belong to him. We have become his child (John 1:12) and bear his name (Christian – Christ in one, or inside one.) So, simply belonging to him is one level of protection.

Q – What other protection does Jesus give us? (see below)
A –

17 Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.

Q – And finally, what else does Jesus mention as our protection from the evil one and the world?
A –

21 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one–as you are in me, Father, and I am in you.
25 “O righteous Father, the world doesn’t know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me.
26 I have revealed you to them, and I will continue to do so. Then your love for me will be in them, and I will be in them.”

So, in summary, Jesus is about to go to the cross, and leave the disciples. He is concerned for them and wants to protect them through:

his name (belonging to him, God as our Father)
his word, which is truth
his love in us
himself in us

Q – Can we securely go through this world if we have that?
A –

Jesus does not pray or promise that they will escape all pain or all problems. But as we go through this world, this is what we have from him.

I skipped verses 20 and 21, so let me give them here:

20 “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message.
21 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one–as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.

Next chapter…Jesus is arrested. Isn’t it amazing that he would be so mindful of the disciples (and us) right before what he knew he would soon endure?
You don’t need to wonder if God is aware of you or if he cares about you. If you are tempted to doubt that, look at what he says here.
Next chapter, things get intense.

Sincerely,

Marilyn Adamson
director of EveryStudent.com
and StartingwithGod.com