John 17:24-26 24) "Father, I want those You have given Me to be with Me where I am, and to see My glory, the glory You have given Me because You loved Me before the creation of the world. 15) Righteous Father, thought the world does not know You, I know You and they know that You have sent Me. 26) I have made You known to them, and will continue to make You known in order that the love You have for Me may be in them and that I Myself may be in them." This is not your ordinary, standard prayer. Look how many times Jesus has used the words "You" and "I" or "Me" in this heart felt prayer that is remarkable because He is praying to the Father on behalf of every inhabitance of the earth and for our future as well. His prayer, for his disciples show us His testimony in love. It extends beyond the teaching and preaching of today. What Jesus is making sure of is that Gods plan is being carried out to be fulfilled until the end of time. He knows the 12 disciples will begin the great commission to bring the word of God to the world. He has finished His service the Father for in His design plan. This prayer that He is offering to the Father is for the Fathers glory and it takes place prior to His arrest and crucifixion. You can see the union that is taking place between the Son and the Father. It is so profound, because there will be a moment when the spirit will need to separate itself from the mortal body at the cross, so that His divine nature and attributes will bring Him to His power and His glory, at the right hand of God. Knowing His future, Jesus gives this beautiful prayer, as He is saying here, "I am no longer in the world." Wow! You see, the process it takes for Jesus to go to the cross and then to His resurrection is the formality that must take place so that He can obtain the glory that He sacrificed for our sins and rightfully so. Not anyone can sit at the right hand of God, but the ONLY ONE! He is making this known not only through the disciples but through the many teachers and preachers that is to come. Notice His words in prayer. He is praying as though He is talking from the realm of eternity, not of earth, even though He was on earth in physical form, He was still wholly divine in nature. Jesus has always known what the "will" of God was to be, during His ministry. He is an intercessor for the disciples. In verse 20 of John, He states; I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message. He tells us in Luke 24:25 - that the Messiah had to suffer all the things that He did, so that it would enable Him to enter into His glory. Even on the road to Emmaus, as in Luke 24:22, The two disciples are speaking with the Lord about what happened to Him and did not realize who they were talking too. They did not recognize Him. This is so true for many people today. We do not feel His presence or hear His subtle words, or we fail to see how He answers our prayers, because we have grown to take Him for granted. As long as we have what we need in life, there is little to no room for Christ. Luke verses 25 and 26 tells us that we are the foolish ones, who are slow at heart to believe in His word and to what the church leaders are speaking, because there are so many people who do not want to give glory to anyone else but themselves. Christ is the one who is to have the glory, which is why we pray to Him. All things to the Father can only be received through the Son. So we must pray appropriately. So, what takes you so long to believe? Here, we see that Jesus is praying for men and women to have an intimate relationship with God the Father. Jesus came to earth to save us, and as we glorify Him, we must always remember there is a God. Father, Son and Holy Ghost are three in one. Jesus reveals that He will be there to help the disciples. Even as the Holy Spirit came, Thomas still doubted until he actually touched the Lord. We do not have the visual presence that Thomas had, but do have faith in knowing the love of God surrounds us by His hand of grace through the Son. He tells us to extend that faith by loving our neighbors. John 16:28, - I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father. What He is telling you here is that He is the TRUE VINE. He tells us that all that belongs to the Father is His and that the Spirit will receive from Me what He will make known to you. We are the handiwork of the originator and in unity with Him through Christ. In emulating Him we are to represent ourself like Christ, with others, and in prayer to Him. He knows our heart even before we pray. Do you think He will hear you if your heart is not sincere? He expects all to know His presence on earth as well as in heaven, His sacrifice for our sins and His glory, so that when we pray we may do so in a righteous manner, knowing who He is, what He did. He affirms that the believer who prays to Him has come to know Truth and trust in Him. The disciples planted the seed to grow in the house of worship to exceed them in growth, and we will be manifest in the love of God, the same of which He has for His Son. John 17:6 tells us He is praying for His disciples that, "I have revealed you" to those whom You gave Me out of the world. They were Yours; You gave them to Me and they have obeyed Your word. Are you obeying the word of God? If not let me share a final prayer with you...
Heavenly Father, let us find that perfect love in one another that You have for Your Son, Jesus, and for us as well. Your love has no boundaries. It is ever flowing with the light of ultimate love. Father, many people forgot about You, but through You Son, commissioning the disciples, His voice is carried on as a testimony to You. Let our life be a testimony as well. Every time we turn our heads, let us reveal within this world, Your heart, truth and Your reference, so that we may share in Your hand of grace with adoration and prayer. Let our vision manifest from our heart to serve You. Father, let us never forget the words of Jesus as He said, "I have given them the glory, that You have give me." For us, that glory is Christ Himself. Allow the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts when we pray to You in glory through Your unique Son, Jesus Christ, Amen.
God bless, Deaconess Barb...
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