Devotionals

I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word (John 17:6).

In His High Priestly Prayer, Jesus made it clear that salvation comes to those whom the Father has given to Him out of the world. This underscores the biblical doctrine of the sovereignty of God and His election of those who will be saved. It also underscores the truth that sinners are responsible and are held accountable for how they respond to the Gospel. Although some may question the validity of this doctrine and its relationship to salvation, Scripture makes clear both the sovereignty of God and the accountability of man.

I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do (John 17:4).

As noted before, there were a number of ways in which Jesus glorified the Father on earth. Here, the fullest expression of Jesus’ obedience that glorified the Father on earth was His death on the cross (Philippians 2:8). It was God’s plan from the beginning that Jesus should die a sacrificial, atoning death. Everything about His life culminated in the cross, expressed by His final two words from the cross, (John 19:30) So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” and (Luke 23:46) He said, “Father, ‘Into Your hands I commit My spirit.’” Having said this, He breathed His last. 

And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent (John 17:3).

. . . as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him (John 17:2).

This prayer of Jesus is fraught with highly controversial, yet solid biblical theology. This verse is a prime example. First, authority over all flesh (humanity and creation) has been given to Jesus Christ by the Father.

Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You . . .” (John 17:1).

THE HOUR HAS COME
Sunday, August 07, 2022

Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You” . . . (John 17:1).

Every word of this prayer is precious, important, and revealing. It is purposeful. By that I mean it is not a prayer where the one praying is simply rattling off random thoughts and ideas, wants and desires, meaningless information (as if God doesn’t already know all things!), etc. No. Every word of Jesus in this High Priestly Prayer has meaning and purpose - it stands on a firm foundation, it goes somewhere, it accomplishes a higher and nobler purpose than mere praying for prayer’s sake. 

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world (John 16:33).

Here the instructions of Jesus to His disciples are concluded until after the resurrection. It was a monumental body of truth that He gave, often repeating certain truths for emphasis. As stated earlier, I have no doubt the disciples couldn’t grasp much of it because of their emotional pain, frustration, and sorrow. But the promise of the Holy Spirit was included in these words of Jesus, and the comforting reality that He would remind them of all that Jesus had said and would give them insight to the meaning of His words.

Jesus answered them, "Do you now believe? Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me (John 16:31-32).

I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father." His disciples said to Him, "See, now You are speaking plainly, and using no figure of speech! Now we are sure that You know all things, and have no need that anyone should question You. By this we believe that You came forth from God." Jesus answered them, "Do you now believe? Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me (John 16:28-32).

In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God (John 16:26-27).

Some of the teachings of Jesus are difficult to understand and accept. They challenge some of the ideas we have held for years, ideas that have developed from a less than thorough study and understanding of Scripture. 

And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full (John 16:23-24).

Biblical joy is choosing to respond to external circumstances with inner contentment and satisfaction, because the believer knows God will use those circumstances to accomplish His work in and through their lives.

And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full (John 16:23-24).

Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them, "Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said, 'A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me'? Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you. "And in that day you will ask Me nothing.

A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father (John 16:16).

However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you (John 16:13-14).

Truth is what is real. Not only would the Holy Spirit teach the disciples all things, and bring to their remembrance all things that Jesus said to them (John 14:26), not only would He fulfill the Lord’s promises to the disciples, not only would He convict the world with regard to sin, righteousness, and judgment, He will also lead the followers of Jesus into all truth.

And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged (John 16:8-11).

And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged (John 16:8-11).

Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you (John 16:7).

But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them. And these things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you (John 16:4).

Over and over again Jesus warned the disciples of the coming opposition to the Gospel and persecution to those who bear witness of it. He again emphasized the necessity to be prepared when the time of testing arrived. At that time the Holy Spirit would bring to their remembrance those things He told them.

They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me (John 16:2-3).

These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble (John 16:1).

Scripture teaches us that God is omnipotent (all powerful), omniscient (all knowing) and omnipresent (present at all times). Scripture teaches us that Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit share in these same attributes because they are one with God the Father in essence, character, nature, and purpose. This begs the question, “If Jesus knew the disciples would fail in their loyalty to, and faith in Him, then why warn them about it?”

These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble (John 16:1).

The word ‘stumble’ (skandalizo) is translated as ‘fall away’ in the NET, ESV; ‘abandon faith’ in the NLT, GNB; ‘stumble’ in the RSV, NASB, NKJV, ASV; ‘offended’ in the KJV; ‘lose faith’ in GW; to ‘doubt’ in the BBE; and to ‘be afraid’ in the CEV. The Greek word skandalizo sounds very familiar to our English word ‘scandal’ or ‘scandalize’. Literally it means to ‘trap’ or ‘trip up’; ‘entice to sin’ or ‘cause to stumble’ spiritually.

And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning (John 15:27).

But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning (John 15:26-27).