The Gospel of John: John 17.1-26
Read and meditate on John 17.4-8.
Jesus glorified God by His work, which was to give the Word of the Father to the men the Father had given Him. The passing on of the Word of God brings glory to God as men believe, receive, and keep that Word. That has not changed.
4“Now I have finished all
the work that You have given as My call
on earth, and I have glorified Your Name
5Now glorify Me, Father, with the same
eternal glory which I had with You
before the world began. 6For I have, to
the men You gave me from the world, made known
Your Name. You gave them to Me, who Your own
men were, and they have kept Your Word. 7And they
know You have given Me all things. 8I say
to them the words that You have given Me,
and they received them; and assuredly
they know that I came forth from You,
and they believed that You have sent me to
them.”
- John 17.4-8
Reflect
1. Jesus’ work was to communicate God’s truth to the people God gave to Him from out of the world. How could that be a work to glorify God? Complete this prayer: Father, as You gave Your Word to Jesus, You have given it to me as well, so that…
2. Jesus communicated the Word and will of God not just by His teaching, but by His life. In His active obedience, Jesus perfectly fulfilled the Law of God. In Him, all the righteousness God requires has been accomplished (Matt. 5.17-19). Paul summarized this by saying Jesus “knew no sin” (2 Cor. 5.21). Reflecting on Jesus’ life, how did He communicate the Word and will of God by His works? Why does this matter to us? Lord Jesus, You have called me to be a witness as well as to give witness to You. And that means I…
3. Jesus’ complete satisfaction of the righteousness God requires is referred to as His active obedience. But, even as He prayed, more work remained for Him to do. He spoke about it as though it were already a fait accompli, because He had made up His mind to fulfill it. Theologians refer to this work as Jesus’ passive obedience, in which, as Paul says, God “made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us” (2 Cor. 5.21). Of what did this work of passive obedience consist? Why is it important? Lord Jesus, only You could satisfy God’s wrath against my sin, since…
4. Jesus manifested the Father’s Name to those men the Father had given Him from out of the world. According to Acts 1.13-15, who were included in these “men”? What did Jesus mean by saying, “They were Yours…”? Thank You Father, for choosing Me, and for giving Me to Jesus so that…
5. According to Jesus, what are the identifying marks of those whom the Father has given Him, and who benefit from the work He has done (vv. 6-8)? Define each of these words: kept (or, fulfilled),known, received, believed. Using all those terms, write a single sentence defining what it means to be a friend and follower of Jesus. Bring together into one prayer the prayers you wrote from questions 1-4.
Summary
“And yet the action was still in its beginning, or rather had not even yet begun. What did he mean by ‘I have finished’ then? Either he means that ‘I have done all my part’ or he speaks of the future, as having already happened. Or, the most likely explanation is that all had already been accomplished by anticipation because the root of blessings to come had been laid and its fruits would inevitably follow. This is so because Jesus would be present at and assisting in those things that would take place after these did.” John Chrysostom (344-407 AD)
Jesus’ work is done; ours continues daily. In what ways is our work like the work of Jesus? In what ways is it not?
Closing Prayer
Gracious is the LORD, and righteous;
Yes, our God is merciful.
The Lord preserves the simple;
I was brought low, and He saved me.
Return to your rest, O my soul,
For the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.
For You have delivered my soul from death,
My eyes from tears,
And my feet from falling.
I will walk before the LORD
In the land of the living.
I believed, therefore I spoke,
“I am greatly afflicted.”
I said in my haste,
“All men are liars.”
What shall I render to the LORD
For all His benefits toward me?
I will take up the cup of salvation,
And call upon the name of the LORD.
I will pay my vows to the LORD
Now in the presence of all His people.
Psalm 116.5-14
Psalm 116.4-14 (Mit Freuden Zart: All Praise to God Who Reigns Above)
I called to God, “O Lord, I pray, my soul redeem with favor!”
The Lord is gracious in His way, and righteous is our Savior.
His mercy to the simple flies; He lifted me up to the skies –
I rest in Him forever!
Full well the Lord has dealt with me; my soul from death He delivered.
My weeping eyes, my stumbling feet, He has redeemed forever.
Forever I before His face shall walk with those who know His grace,
And dwell with them forever.
Afflicted, I believe His Word, though lying men would undo me.
What shall I render to the Lord for all His blessings to me?
Salvation’s cup I lift above and call upon the God of love
And pay my vows most truly.
T. M. Moore
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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series IV a and b: John, edited by Joel C. Elowsky, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006. Verse translation of John by T. M. Moore.
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