St. John - session 8
How confusing it must have been for the disciples! "What does He mean? We don't understand what He is saying." (John 16:18) For Jesus had said,
You will weep . . . you will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. (John 16:20)
For the disciples and all Christians, there is much JOY knowing that He is with us at all times. Yet, of course, they didn't know that at the time. Who could have known THEN, that the Holy Spirit would bring Christ directly into our lives, into our being? For some, that is still hard to believe.
Jesus knew the persecution that awaited His followers. His words have been a blessing to all Christians when He said,
Jesus knew the persecution that awaited His followers. His words have been a blessing to all Christians when He said,
In this world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. (John 16:35)
Chapter 17 is well worth reading—word for word—and not just once. This was Jesus' longest recorded prayer. He spoke to His Father, as we would expect, with intimacy. He had completed the work His Father had sent Him to do. John often used the quotes from Jesus that tell the world He was WITH the Father as His only begotten Son "before the world began" (John 17:5).
As C. S. Lewis wrote in his book Mere Christianity, was Jesus lying or crazy? Of course not, for He was telling the truth. How can one call Him only a great teacher if one thought He was lying about Himself?
One can "hear" His passion, because of His love for His followers—including us! He did not want to leave them (nor us) helpless without His love, courage and strength.
As C. S. Lewis wrote in his book Mere Christianity, was Jesus lying or crazy? Of course not, for He was telling the truth. How can one call Him only a great teacher if one thought He was lying about Himself?
One can "hear" His passion, because of His love for His followers—including us! He did not want to leave them (nor us) helpless without His love, courage and strength.
My prayer is not that you take them out of this world, but that you protect them from the evil one. They are NOT of this world, as I am not of it. (John 17:15)
My prayer is not for them alone . . . but for all who will believe in me . . . that they all will be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so the world will know that you have sent me . . . I in them and you in me. [I] will continue to reveal you to them so that the love you have for me may be in them and I myself may be in them. (John 17:20-26)
Editorial Aside
So often we say "The Lord's Prayer" in unison. Many believe this is the best one to say, because Jesus taught the disciples to say this. Yet, this final prayer of Jesus carries with it the full understanding of how we are to live, i.e. letting Christ live in and through us.
For instance, how can we "forgive our trespassers?" Is that humanly possible? How can we stand against evil that we find in situations, or the evil in control of people? If Christ is in us and "we in Him" only THEN is this possible.
For instance, how can we "forgive our trespassers?" Is that humanly possible? How can we stand against evil that we find in situations, or the evil in control of people? If Christ is in us and "we in Him" only THEN is this possible.