John 17 reminds me of friends meeting my wife for the first time. The most common reaction I hear is that she is exactly like they expected. I hope that means that I accurately represent her kindness and beauty. I find it so cool that our good friends can love our beloved without ever meeting them. Today’s chapter is about holy unity. First, Jesus prayed to the Father with the disciples present. “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son may glorify You”. I am aware that my behavior under the spotlight of stress will reflect positively or negatively on everyone I represent. Jesus acknowledged that He was given “authority over all people” to “give eternal life to all”. He also provided a definition, “This is eternal life: that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent”. By knowing God, I think He means understanding the heart of God. Some today reference God only while swearing at someone. Romans 1:21 accurately describes many today, “For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him”. Jesus declares He is “finishing the work You gave Me to do” and references “the glory I had with You before the world began”. The Bible teaches that Jesus was with the Father during Creation. That is why we can know God the Father, by reading the words and actions of God the Son. “I have revealed You to those whom You gave Me… For I gave them the words You gave Me and they accepted them”. Friend, how do your friends perceive the God that you serve?
Jesus next intercedes on behalf of the disciples. “I pray for them.” Perhaps you are dealing with difficulties and think, “I see no evidence of God’s blessings”. Jesus adds, “I am not praying for the world, but for those You have given Me”. Please understand, you do not need to “get right with God” to receive His blessings, but you do have to acknowledge His authority in your life. Jesus was preparing for the cross, “I will remain in the world no longer”. And His focus was His disciples, “Holy Father, protect them by the power of Your Name, the Name You gave Me”. Did you know He intercedes for you too? “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13).
In His prayer Jesus accurately describes the world today. He came that all who receive His forgiveness “may have the full measure of My joy within them”. Some despise that inner joy. “I have given them Your Word and the world has hated them”. But Jesus prayed do not “take them out of the world but that You protect them from the evil one”. We have a responsibility to live out our faith before those that deny God. “Your Word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I have sent them into the world”. What about those that are not yet believers? There is still time, “I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their message”. Jesus prays “that the world may believe that You have sent Me… so that they may be brought to complete unity”. Division is a tool of the enemy, but it is always cloaked as unity against a created demagogue. In stark contrast, Jesus laid down His life even for those that hated Him. He prays the world would know that the Father has “loved them even as You have loved Me”. That kind of love is not a warm feeling; it is with an uncompromising love that does not settle. He concludes the chapter, “Righteous Father, though the world does not know You, I know You”. The more we study Christ, the more we know the Father. Jesus desires to “continue to make You known in order that the love You have for Me may be in them”. I pray that the way I describe my Savior would lead you to want to know Him too. My friend, the full measure of His joy will far exceed anything you can possibly expect!