Bowled Over!

 

 

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. --Psalm 23:4

If you or someone you know works in law enforcement, you may have heard many stories of dramatic arrests. A law enforcement officer must be prepared for any number of different scenarios when making an arrest.

Sometimes a suspect is caught in the act. The officer is there, witnesses the event, and makes the arrest. This scenario happens most often in traffic stops. Other times the police are called when a citizen detains a suspect. For example, a department store security officer witnesses a theft, and approaches the suspect, and the suspect cooperates.

Other times a detective may have spent some time building a case against a suspect. Once the threshold of probable cause is met, officers are dispatched to arrest the suspect wherever he or she may be staying. If lawyers are involved, a suspect may be given the opportunity to turn himself in. In more dramatic and dangerous situations, the law enforcement personnel may be met with armed resistance. In those cases, law enforcement must either have a greater show of force (as in a shoot-out), or they may bring in a negotiator, who will attempt to talk the suspect into surrendering.

In each case, you can't know beforehand how it will go down. Law enforcement must be prepared for anything and everything.

When Jesus was arrested, the traitor disciple called Judas brought with him some or all of the Temple Guard. "A Roman cohort was a tenth of a legion, and this would be six hundred men," says Warren Wiersbe in The Bible Exposition Commentary. "It is not likely that Judas brought that many to the Garden, but apparently a full cohort was made available to him had he needed it. Did he not realize that the Lamb of God would meekly submit and that there would be no need to battle?"

Let's read about it in John 18:1-14.

When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered. And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with His disciples. Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, "Whom are you seeking?" They answered Him, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said to them, "I am He." And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. Now when He said to them "I am He," they drew back and fell to the ground. Then He asked them again, "Whom are you seeking?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus answered, "I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way," that the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke, "Of those whom You have given Me I have lost none." Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. So Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?" Then the detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him. And they led Him away to Annas first, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was high priest that year. Now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.

It might be easy to skim over this passage. A simple arrest. The Jews had overwhelming force. The only resistance was Peter, who did some non-lethal damage to a servant, but afterward there was no evidence of bodily harm, so Peter was not detained. In essence, Jesus turned Himself in.

However, this passage goes much deeper than that.

Jesus led His disciples over a brook called Kidron. The portion of the brook that Jesus and the disciples crossed was downstream from the Temple. The water was dark, as the brook served as a drainage for the Temple sacrifices. Commentator David Guzik wrote, "This small stream was the drainage from the temple, and would be reddish from the blood of thousands of Passover lambs. This would have been a vivid reminder to Jesus of His soon sacrifice." Whenever we go through "dark waters" we can be reminded what Jesus Himself went through for us.

The garden itself was named in the other Gospel accounts. They called it Gethsemane, which literally means "an oil press." This area was known for its olive groves and it is where they produced olive oil. Olives are placed in a press and crushed, so that the oil runs down and is collected in containers. Isaiah 53:5 says, "But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed" (ESV).

Jesus had apparently spent a lot of time in this very garden, for Judas knew that was where He would go after the Passover meal. When Judas arrived, he was followed by soldiers, but also by chief priests, Pharisees, captains and other officers--all "Type-A" personalities, to be sure.

Who was in charge?

The answer to this question is, simply, Jesus was in charge. 

He was the One who stepped up.  He was the One who spoke up first. He was the One who was giving orders, not only to His own disciples, but also to the chief priests, the Pharisees, and the soldiers. Jerome Neyrey, in The New Cambridge Bible Commentary, wrote:

With few exceptions, those who ask questions of others do so to challenge them. This happens regularly in the synoptic Gospels when Jesus' enemies put Him and His disciples on the spot with questions. Here, Jesus asks the questions; and by taking the lead in this confrontation, He exercises control over the situation: "Whom do you seek?" The soldiers might answer a question with a question, "Who are You?" but they follow the script, which emphasizes Jesus' authority: "Jesus of Nazareth!" His answer, "I AM," both identifies Himself and communicates power, another aspect of control. "Drawing back and falling to the ground" is not the typical gesture of armed soldiers before an unarmed man. But if shoved back, then they have met a superior force; if overwhelmed, they are not in control. The pattern repeats, as Jesus again asks and they answer. Still in control, Jesus commands the soldiers to let His disciples go. He not only asks questions but commands the soldiers who have come to seize Him. Thus He manifests complete control over the situation: He speaks the first and last words. He lays down His life; no one takes it from Him.

This reaction by the soldiers is not fully explained. It is notable that Jesus' confession of His identity mirrored the words that God spoke to Moses at the burning bush. "I AM." To make it more grammatically correct and therefore easier for us English speakers to read, most translators add the word "He."  

"I am He" is a human response, as in, "I am the Man you are looking for." However, "I AM" is a divine response, as in "I AM the very nature and essence of God Himself; when you see Me, you see the Father; I and the Father are One."

This admission would certainly leave the Pharisees and Priests dumbfounded, perhaps taking a step back to ponder. But the reaction of the soldiers is a miracle of divine power over human strength. Bible commentator Adam Clarke wrote, "Our Lord chose to give them this proof of His infinite power, that they might know that their power could not prevail against Him if He chose to exert His might, seeing that the very breath of His mouth confounded, drove back, and struck them down to the earth." 

The cohort of Roman soldiers, who were individually and collectively trained to kill, were bowled over by the word that Jesus spoke. This is the power of I AM.

Jesus commanded the soldiers, "Take Me, but leave these others alone." Maybe Malchus, the servant of the high priest, came and took hold of Jesus to arrest him. Maybe he was just the one closest to Peter when Peter decided to be a hero. He had already told Jesus, "I will die for You" (John 13:37). He grabs his sword, and in a clumsy attempt to cut the man's head open, instead lands a glancing blow, resulting in Malchus losing an ear.

This was not the way to diffuse the situation.

In fact, it could have ended up much worse for the disciples.

In 1775 at Lexington, Massachusetts, the British army was under orders not to fire unless they were fired upon. They confronted the colonial militia, and there was a stand-off. Out of nowhere, a single shot went off. No one knows who fired, or whether it was someone's rifle that misfired accidentally. Nevertheless, that single shot triggered the British volley that began the battles of Lexington and Concorde, the start of the Revolutionary War in America.

A single act of aggression against a superior force usually results in a forceful response. When Peter wielded his sword, he likely expected the Roman cohort to draw swords and spears in response. Whether he believed that an angelic army would come to their rescue is unclear. Peter only seemed intent on defending his Master, even at the cost of his own life.

As we saw before, however, Jesus was in charge of the situation. He commanded Peter to stand down and holster his weapon. He healed the severed ear of the servant, so that charges were not brought against any of the disciples, especially Peter. By His power, Jesus kept the Roman soldiers at bay. By His word, Jesus rebuked Peter, the unruly disciple.

Jesus drank from the cup His Father had given Him. He submitted to the Father's will and allowed Himself to be taken. Even though He had the power to knock them backwards, He submitted Himself to them and allowed Himself to be arrested and taken before the High Priest. Wiersbe writes:

Jesus deliberately gave Himself to His enemies. They bound Him and led Him to the house of Annas, which was not too far away. Annas had served as high priest until he was deposed by the Romans; now his son-in-law Caiaphas was the high priest. Got had ordained that one man should serve as high priest for a lifetime, so it is easy to see that the Jewish religious establishment was in sad condition. It is generally believed that the high priest's family was in charge of the temple "business," and the fact that Jesus twice cleansed the temple must have aroused their anger against Him.

The Jews were doing everything they could to silence Jesus, up to and including hiring false witnesses to ensure a death sentence. But make no mistake: Jesus was the one in charge. Not Annas. Not Caiaphas. Not the captains of the Roman cohort. Certainly not Peter.

Whenever we find ourselves in a situation that appears to be spiraling out of control, we must realize that God is in control. Not the circumstances. Not the people who accuse us or persecute us. Certainly not ourselves. It is God who is in control, and it will be God who will ultimately receive the glory. 1 Peter 4:14 says, "If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified." Later in verse 19, Peter goes on to say, "Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator."

Many times, we are "bowled over" by the goodness of God; other times, God may be glorified in our suffering. Either way, it is God who gets the glory. 

We beheld His glory--the glory as of the Father's only Son

 

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. --2 Corinthians 3:18

There is one thing that both angels and followers of Christ have in common. Luke 2:14 says that when Jesus was born, angels appeared and said, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men." Fast forward to the triumphal entry into Jerusalem, near the end of Jesus' earthly ministry. Luke 19:27-40 tells us this:

The whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, saying, "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, "Teacher, rebuke Your disciples." But He answered and said unto them, "I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out."

Do you see the connection? The overriding theme of Jesus' ministry can be summed up in these two ideas: Glory to God, and peace on earth. These two things are specifically what Jesus prayed for in the last section of John 17. He said:

I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one; I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. (John 17:20-23)

Remember the context, that Jesus started praying in verses 1-5 specifically for Himself; He then broadened His prayer, asking God's protection and joy for the eleven disciples who were present there with Him. In our passage today, Jesus is praying for us, for you and me. We are the ones who believe because of the testimony of disciples who have gone before us.

NT Wright, in his commentary John For Everyone, writes, "Jesus is [here] talking about you. And me. 'Those who believe in Me through their word,' that is, through the word of His followers. His followers announced the message around the world. Those who heard them passed it on. And on, and on, and on. The church is never more than one generation away from extinction; all it would take is for a singel generation not to hand the word on. But it's never happened. People have always told other people. It's awesome, when you come to think about it."

What does Jesus pray for specifically for us? First, He prays for peace and unity, "that they may be one." Historically, there have been divisions among believers. In the first three chapters of the book of Revelation, John was told to write to seven different churches, each in their own city, and each with their own errors in interpreting Scripture. Today, there are an estimated 45,000 Christian denominations worldwide. Each may have differing interpretations of minor Scriptural passages, but most adhere to the same central doctrine of the Gospel: that Christ lived a sinless life; that he died a substitutionary death for us, taking our sin upon Himself and becoming our perfect sacrifice; and that He rose from the dead on the third day, to the glory of God.

Puritan preacher Thomas brooks wrote, "Discord and divisions become no Christian. For wolves to worry the lambs is no wonder, but for one lamb to worry another, this is unnatural and monstrous." Charles Spurgeon wrote, “Beloved, those in whom Christ lives are not uniform, but one. Uniformity may be found in death, but this unity is life. Those who are quite uniform may yet have no love to each other, while those who differ widely may still be truly and intensely one. Our children are not uniform, but they make one family.”

There are two sub-headings in this petition for unity. The first is that it might be for God's glory. "And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one (verse 22)." Bible commentator David Guzik writes, "Where there is a sense of God’s glory, unity is so much easier. Lesser things that often divide us are set far in the background when there is a sense of God’s glory at work."

The second sub-heading in Christ's High Priestly prayer for unity among Christians is love. "I in them and You in Me; that they may made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me" (verse 23). Warren Wiersbe writes in his The Bible Exposition Commentary, "It has well been said that truth without love is brutality, but love without truth is hypocrisy." David Guzik takes this even further:

• Take love from joy and you have only hedonism.
• Take love from holiness and you have self-righteousness.
• Take love from truth and you have bitter orthodoxy.
• Take love from mission and you have conquest.
• Take love from unity and you have tyranny.

 This leads us to the second part of Jesus' prayer for us.

Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them. (John 17:24-26)

Dr. Wiersbe said that he has often used verse 24 as a text for funeral sermons. "How do we know that Christians go to heaven? Because of the price that Jesus paid (1 Thes. 5:9-10), and the promise that Jesus made (John 14:1-6), and the prayer that Jesus prayed (John 17:24). The Father always answers His Son's prayers, so we know that believers who die do go to heaven to behold the glory of God.

This glory--God's own glory--is what Jesus said would occupy the attention of His people in Heaven. "There must be something so deep, so enthralling, so vast to the glory of Jesus that it can occupy the attention of God’s people in eternity" (Guzik). The latter part of verse 24 gives us a glimpse of the relationship between the Father and the Son. "For You have loved Me before the foundation of the world." Jesus said this in connection with the glory that God the Father gave to God the Son. This glory was given in the context of a love relationship, and a love relationship extending into eternity past.

Jesus sums up His High Priestly prayer in verses 25 and 26. Assuming that He knew already the pain and agony which He would suffer on the cross, and assuming also that he already knew that the disciples would temporarily fall away, this makes the triumphant tone all the more striking. "I have declared Your name,'' He says, "and I will declare it." As for the disciples, which includes you and me, "The love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them."

God's love is greater than our mistakes. It is greater than our puny, feeble, faltering faith; His great love is greater even than our sin. This is a glimpse of God's glory in us, and our basis for joy in unity with fellow believers.

Branded by Christ

 

But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy." --1 Peter 1:15-16

The phrase “he’s a real company man” is a colloquial way of saying that someone is loyal, dependable, and committed to the organization or group they work for. It often implies that the person is not driven by personal ambition or outside interests, but by a genuine sense of duty and professionalism toward their workplace or team.

According to Wikipedia, Company man is a term for the loyal employee of a large corporation that was in use from the early 19th century to the late 20th century. It was often used to describe an individual who had worked for the same company for their entire careers, and whose identity was thus closely tied to their employer. In the context of corporate United States, the term was used to describe an implicit social contract that emerged in the 1950s, between a middle-class worker who was willing to sacrifice some measure of autonomy in return for a steady salary from their employer, along with benefits, bonuses, promotions, and a secure retirement.

Being called a Company Man can be a compliment. It could mean that you were recruited and trained by a business to represent the Company's image, and to promote the idea that if you placed your trust in a particular business or product, then you could trust an employee or salesman associated with that business or product. However, it can also have a negative connotation. If the business or organization is corrupt, then their members would be smeared with that same broad brush. More recently the term came to describe someone who might be overly focused on pleasing management at the expense of integrity or personal values.

Being called a Christian means being called by God, sort of like being recruited by a big firm. It means being trained or discipled in godly living so that you can represent Christ to others. It also means being set apart or sanctified--made holy--to the glory of God.  Being called a Christian can either be a compliment or a condemnation, depending upon one's level of dedication to Christ or the worldly perspective of the one making the observation.

When Jesus prayed for His disciples in John 17:6-29, He asked that they would continue His work.

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. Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me. (John 17:6-8).

Here Jesus is giving what amounts to a graduation speech. He has shown the disciples the Father. He has given them His words, the words that the Father had sent Him to give to them. Their training is complete.

To be sure, the final exam will come in the next hours and days when Jesus is arrested, tried, and crucified. For now, though, their training is complete. Jesus prayed that they would remember all that He told them, and that God would be glorified in them, just as the Father had been glorified in the Son.

Next, Jesus focuses His prayer for the disciples and their mission.

I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. (John 17:9-10).

For sure, Jesus came into the world, so that the world through Him might be saved (see John 1:10-23, 3:16-18). However, this specific prayer was made for these specific people, the eleven who had followed Him faithfully for a little over three years. David Guzik writes, "When Jesus said, I do not pray for the world it was not because He did not care for a lost and fallen world; it was to focus on His own disciples. 'He was praying for the instrument He was creating, through which He would reach the world.' (Morgan)."

Irish theologian Adam Clarke put it this way: “I am now wholly employed for my disciples, that they may be properly qualified to preach my salvation to the ends of the earth. Jesus here imitates the high priest, the second part of whose prayer, on the day of expiation, was for the priests, the sons of Aaron.”

What does it mean to be a Christian? It means to be Company Man for Christ. His glory should be evident in us, and we should not be tainted by the world.  The Apostle Paul later understood this, using phrases such as "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27) and noting that God’s work in us moves "from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord" (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Jesus prayed that the disciples would be kept.

Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You have given Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the sone of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. (John 17:11-12).

Jesus was speaking as though He had already left them. He knew that His time was short, and that the disciples would not need to go and find another Rabbi once He was taken from them. Jesus prayed that God would keep them. What does this mean?

David Guzik writes:

We need Jesus our intercessor (Romans 8:34, Hebrews 7:25) to pray for us, asking God the Father to keep us. Our continuing on in Jesus is not left to our own efforts alone. The world, the flesh, and the devil are so mighty, so pervasive, and so seductive that we could never keep ourselves in our own efforts. If we stay with Jesus, it is because Jesus has prayed for us “Father, keep them.”

• We need keeping from division: Keep them that they may be one.
• We need keeping from error.
• We need keeping from sin.
• We need keeping from hypocrisy.

We should be careful not to read into this passage false doctrine. Jesus did not mean that they could fall away, that His disciples were in danger of losing their salvation. Many Scriptures speak of the security of the believer. Our names are written in the Book of Life (see Luke 10:20, Philippians 4:3, and Revelation 3:5). Scripture indicates that this Book was written before the foundation of the world (see Revelation 13:8).

Many tend to look at Judas, the "son of perdition", as a disciple who walked away from God. They infer that those who come to Christ can somehow walk away from God or lose their salvation due to unconfessed sin. The truth is that Jesus can forgive sin. The truth is that it is God who keeps us, not ourselves by our own confessions or our own good works. The truth is that Judas was not a true disciple, and that his name was never written in the Book of Life; rather, it was written that Judas would betray Christ before Judas was ever born.

Let's move on. Jesus prayed that His disciples would continue in His joy.

But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. (John 17:13-15)

We preach that Jesus was a "Man of Sorrow, acquainted with grief." And so He was. But we can also rest assured that the joy of the Lord was upon Him. Again, from David Guzik's commentary:

Jesus had a life filled with joy; He could speak of My joy. If He did not, this part of the prayer would make no sense. Truly Jesus was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief (Isaiah 53:3). Nevertheless there was a joy and a satisfaction in the life experience of Jesus that surpassed the joy of any other who ever lived.

• His joy was rooted in unbroken fellowship with God His Father.
• His joy was the fruit of true faith and confidence in His Father.
• His joy came from seeing the great things God had done.
• His joy was never diminished by His own sin.
• His joy was never diminished by deception.
• His joy was never diminished by allowing even the smallest foothold to the devil.

Jesus knew that in a short time He would be taken out of this world, but the disciples should remain in it. His prayer was that they would remain untainted by the world while they remained in it.

Finally, Jesus prayed for their sanctification.

They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I have also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth. (John 17:16-19).

Sanctification is the process of being made holy. Jesus said we are made holy and set apart from the world by holding to the truth found in God's word. Conveniently for us, the word of God is now written down for us. It is the Bible. 

We should read our Bible and take its words to heart daily. This is the only way we can keep ourselves unstained by the world. It is the only way to stay humble, to not try to glorify ourselves but to glorify Jesus every day in every way.

We are ambassadors for Christ. When people look at us, they should see Him. That is our purpose, to His glory. 

 

Jesus was a Man of prayer

 

I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came One like a Son of Man, and He came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him. And to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him; His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom one that shall not be destroyed. (Daniel 7:13-14, ESV)

 A well-known Christian story recounts that in the 1940s, a theology professor took his students on a tour of England. Included in the tour was a stop at the home of John Wesley, founder of the Methodist Church and one of the leaders of the 18th century revivalist movement. The professor took the students into Wesley's bedroom and showed them that there were two worn impression in the carpet beside the bed. "That," said the professor, "was where Wesley spent so much time on his knees in prayer, praying for revival."

At the end of the tour, the professor noticed one student was missing. He returned to the house, and found the student kneeling at Wesley's bedside, his knees in the very same impressions that Wesley had made as he had knelt in daily prayer for revival. The student was praying fervently, repeating the phrase, "Do it again, Lord. Do it again."

That student was Billy Graham, who went on to lead an American revival in the 1960s and 70s. If you don't know who Billy Graham was, I would encourage you to look him up, and to listen to some of his sermons. Billy Graham was a powerful preacher; but before that, he was a man of prayer.

John's Gospel shows us that Jesus was a Man of prayer. Many times in the Gospels we see where Jesus would go away by Himself to pray, particularly before He preached to the multitudes or performed His miracles. We do not know what Jesus prayed during these hours of communion with His Father, but the Gospel of John gives us the text of His prayer just before He and the disciples reached the Garden of Gethsemane.

Perhaps you remember what Jesus prayed after He had reached the Garden, just before His arrest. The Synoptic Gospels record that Jesus asked His closest disciples to come and pray with Him, but the disciples fell asleep. At that time, Jesus prayed, "Father, if it is Your will, let this cup pass from Me. Nevertheless, not My will but Yours be done." He prayed these words in such agony that Luke records He sweat drops of blood.

John doesn't record that prayer like the other Gospels do. John records the prayer that Jesus prayed before they got to the garden. It has been called a High Priestly prayer. Most Bible commentators divide it up into three sections: Jesus' prayer for Himself (John 17:1-5); His prayer for the disciples (John 17:6-19); and His prayer for all believers (John 17:20-26).

Today we will look at the first section.

Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said, "Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son may also glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent. I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work You have given Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was" (John 17:1-5).

The first thing that strikes me in this passage is that Jesus speaks of Himself in the third person. In the English language, we most often refer to ourselves in the first person: I, me, myself. Although it does not necessarily mean that we are putting ourselves first, that is placing more emphasis on ourselves, it does kind of seem that way in most of our prayers.

A quick English lesson: most simple English sentences are structured in this way--Subject, Verb, Object. The element with the most importance is the Subject, with the Verb coming in a close second, and the Object being the least important. In fact, in many sentences, the Object is not even mentioned. Here is an example: The woman (Subject) reads (Verb) novels (Object) can be restated, "She reads a lot." The phrase "a lot" is descriptive of the verb "reads", making the object "the woman" sound educated.

The point I am trying to make is that most times in our prayers and petitions, as well as our worship songs, the most important person is the first person (I, Me, Myself). We are the object of our worship and our prayers. Let me give you an example. We might begin our prayer, "I ask, Father, that You would bless us." It elevates us, and not the Father. Many of us sing, "I love You, Lord, and I lift my voice..."

Notice Jesus didn't pray this way.  Instead, He said, "Father, glorify Your Son." Who is the object? The Father. What does Jesus ask the Father to do? To glorify Himself in His child. We can co-opt this prayer that Jesus prayed. We can petition God to glorify Himself in us, making God the most important One and ourselves below Him.  Remember Billy Graham's prayer? "God," he prayed, "do it again." Only God could bring revival, either through the preaching of Graham or someone else.

The second thing that I see in this passage is what Jesus asks God to do. He asks God to bring glory, because God is the only one who can give glory. Glory is God's to give. We can bring God glory in our thoughts, words, and deeds, but our glory is but a shadow of the heavenly glory of Almighty God. In verse 4 Jesus said, "I have glorified You on the earth." The glory that Jesus gave is like that of the glory of God, because Jesus is God.

John 1:14 says, "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." In John 17:5, Jesus, who spent His life reflecting God's glory to us, says, "Now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was."

The hour had come when Jesus, through His death and resurrection, would both receive glory and also give glory to the Father. His main purpose was to bring glory to God. This should be our main purpose, as well.

The third thing that leaps out at me in this passage is that we were given to Jesus by the Father, and by that gift we have received eternal life. "And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus the Messiah, sent by God." In other words, the gift that we have been given is to get to know God the Father and God the Son throughout eternity, by the power and presence of God the Holy Spirit.

Jeremiah 9:23-24 says, "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight, says the Lord."

So, from this passage we see Jesus praying to the Father to glorify Him, and to give us eternal life. He will go on to pray for us, His disciples, further along in the passage. We will study more about those petitions, God willing, next time.

God has no secretary; we have direct access

 

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.  --1 John 4:4

In his commentary John for Everyone, NT Wright makes an astute observation. "In the world of business," he writes, "you can often tell how important someone is by finding out how many people you have to 'go through', as we say, in order to speak to them." If I wanted to speak to the chairman of a company, I would look up the phone number to the company. If I call the number, I may get a receptionist or, if the company is large enough, I may get their call center. If I ask to speak with the chairman, I may be transferred to a secretary. If I persist, I may be put through to an executive assistant. "And that's probably it for the day," Wright muses. "The Great Man is busy. Or he's in a meeting. Or he's playing golf, or taking a nap (no, they won't say that, but it might be the truth). Three, four or five people to charm your way around, and still you can't get there."

Thankfully, our access to God is not like that.  Jesus says as much in John 16, beginning in verse 23.

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 it to 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).

Jesus was saying that we have direct access to God the Father, because of our faith in Jesus, the Son of God. We can approach the Almighty with confidence, not fear. We can ask anything, not in our own position or standing before God, but in the name of Jesus. The fact that we have direct access to God should bring us joy.

We don't have to pray to Jesus to go to God on our behalf. I know that many people pray to Jesus as God, and that's fine, because Jesus is a divine Person of the Trinity. The point that Jesus is making here, though, is that the God of the universe is only a whisper away, because Jesus is our mediator. He bridged the gap between God and man, so that sinful man could stand before a holy God without fear.

Sadly, many people deny this truth. They believe that God is too important or too busy to hear our puny little prayers. Jesus, God's Son, is also too busy to be bothered by us. They end up praying to saints, people who have died and have absolutely no power to answer our prayers. They twist logic, somehow thinking that if they ask Mary, the mother of Jesus, then she will whisper something in His ear (like she did at the wedding at Cana) and then He will do something for us.

Scripture prohibits us from praying to anyone but God. Deuteronomy 18:10-11 says, "There shall not be found among you anyone...who inquires of the dead." Necromancy, or communicating with the dead, is strictly forbidden in Scripture (see Leviticus 19:31 and 20:9). Paul wrote to Timothy, "For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy 2:5). In other words, God is all knowing and all powerful, never too busy to answer your prayers. He is not like a high-powered executive or CEO of a Fortune 500 company, where you have to go through five different secretaries, vice presidents, personal assistants, and only then will He hear your petition.

Jesus underscores this truth as John records His words:

These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but I will tell you plainly about the Father. 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. I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father (John 16:25-28).

Jesus had taught the crowds with parables.  In the upper room He has used symbolic language to get His point across. He had washed their feet as a symbol of humility and service; He had spoken of "the Father's house" to describe heaven; He had compared their relationship with Him as branches attached to a vine. He even described their coming trials as being like a woman giving birth. Warren Wiersbe writes, "Jesus explained that there would be a new situation because of His resurrection and ascension, and because of the coming of the Holy Spirit. He would no longer speak to them in terms that demanded spiritual insight for their understanding." 

Wiersbe continues, "There would be not only a new situation in teaching, but also a new situation in their praying. He had already intimated this in John 16:23. Jesus would return to heaven to be with the Father, and there He would minister as our High Priest, making intercession for us (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25)." (The Bible Exposition Commentary). Not only would He act as our High Priest, but He would also act as our Advocate (see 1 John 2:1) along with the Holy Spirit. "As our High Priest, Jesus gives us grace to keep us from sinning. As our Advocate, He restores us when we confess our sins. His ministry in heaven makes possible our ministry of witness on earth, through the power of the Spirit." (Wiersbe).

Somehow, the disciples who were listening to Jesus were focused on what Jesus had said about speaking plainly, and missed the point that Jesus was making about prayer. Maybe they were offended by His words, thinking that He was calling them stupid. They interrupted Jesus.

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" (John 16:29-30).

It was as if Jesus had told them, "I know I'm talking over your heads now, but one day you may catch up to what I am saying." Their response strikes me as, "Nuh-uh! We understand every word that comes out of Your mouth. You don't have to worry about us--we believe in You."

Jesus must have smiled, shaking His head. Knowing all things, He predicted that they would all fall away. Fortunately, this would not result in Him abandoning them. He would love them through the next few hours and days, and they would return to Him with their faith tested.

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. 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 16:31-33).

Jesus knew that John, along with his brother James and Peter, would not be able to watch and pray with Him in the Garden. He knew that the rest of the disciples would scatter when Judas led the authorities to arrest Him. He knew that Peter would deny Him three times. It is striking, then, that knowing these things about them, that He loved them all dearly.

His next words to them were not words of condemnation or disappointment; instead He gave them words of encouragement. Bible commentator David Guzik writes, "When Jesus wanted to comfort and strengthen His disciples, He spoke of His victory, not directly their victory. This wasn’t 'cheer up' or 'try harder.' Jesus knew that His victory would be theirs." Scottish theologian Marcus Dods (1834-1909) wrote, "Nikeo (the Greek word translated "overcome") occurs only here in the Gospel, but twenty-two times in the Johannine Epistles and Apocalypse.” In other words, the thought that Jesus has overcome was precious to John.

"Knowing that Jesus has overcome the world brings us good cheer. It is the foundation for our peace in Him. We see that Jesus is in control, we see that although He leaves He does not abandon, we see that He loves, and we see that the victory is His. We can be of good cheer indeed" (David Guzik).

Today Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father (March 16:19, Romans 8:34, Ephesians 1:20, Hebrews 1:3) acting as our Advocate, our Mediator, and our Peace. Through faith in Him we can overcome all the trials and tribulations the world can throw at us.

Spiritual respiration, aspiration, and inspiration

 

But there is a spirit in man, And the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding.  --Job 32:8 (NKJV)

Why do churches have steeples?

Some might say it is to identify them as houses of worship. Others may say it is to point our eyes to the heavens. Still others may feel that it represents beauty and architectural traditions passed down from centuries ago.

Steeples are also known as church spires. In English, we find many words with the suffix -spire. According to WordReference.com, the root word spir comes from Latin, where it has the meaning "breathe; have a longing for.'' This meaning is found in such words as: aspire, conspire, expire, inspire, perspire, respiration, respiratory, respire, spiracle, spirit, transpire.

In our Christian walk, we aspire to be more like Christ. We are inspired by His teaching. We perspire in our work for Him, as the world conspires against Him. Finally, we try to work for Him until our dying day, when we expire or take our last breath on this earth. All of this would, of course, be impossible without the Spirit living within us.

The concept of the Holy Spirit was not foreign to the disciples. They had been taught from childhood lessons in the Torah about the Spirit of God falling upon Moses and seventy elders, causing them to prophesy (Numbers 11:25). They knew that in the history of Israel, the Spirit was given to men who were appointed as Judges over the people. Such men as Gideon (Judges 6:35), Jephthah (Judges 11:29), and Samson (Judges 14:6-19, and 15:14) were used by God for specific purposes in their leadership roles, and the Spirit of God was upon them.

The Holy Spirit also came upon kings of Israel: Saul prophesied (1 Samuel 10:10), David ruled (1 Samuel 16:13), and Zechariah spoke (2 Chronicles 24:20), all under the influence and filling of the Spirit of God. Prophets were sent by God to preach repentance and to foretell future events, such as Ezekiel (Ezekiel 11:5). All of these Old Testament examples, though, told of the Spirit falling upon people for a specific time and a specific purpose, and in at least one case, being removed from him (see 1 Samuel 16:14, when the Spirit of God departed from Saul).

Jesus spoke to them of the Spirit of God in a new way.

I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, 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 declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that He will take what is mine and declare it to you (John 16:12-15).

The knowledge that the disciples had at this point was incomplete. Much would transpire between now and the Lord's ascension into heaven. Even more knowledge would need to be imparted to them as they learned to live the Christian and share the Christian message with others after Jesus left them, but the disciples were not ready for this information at this moment. Warren Wiersbe explains it this way:

The Lord was always careful to give His disciples the right amount of truth at the right time. This is always the mark of a great teacher. The Holy Spirit is our Teacher today, and He follows that same principle: He teaches us the truths we need to know, when we need them, and when we are ready to receive them (The Bible Exposition Commentary).

The Holy Spirit's ministry is revealing Jesus to us, to bear testimony of Jesus. When a witness is about to testify in a court of law, they swear an oath to "tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth." Jesus said that the Spirit would "guide you into all the truth." Bible commentator David Guzik writes, "In one sense, this was fulfilled when the New Testament writings, divinely inspired by God, were completed. In another sense the Holy Spirit continues today to personally lead us into truth, but never in opposition to the Scripture, because God’s supremely authoritative revelation is closed with the New Testament."

When you compare John 14:26 with 16:13, you see the wonderful way that God arranged for the writing of the New Testament Scriptures. The Spirit would remind them of when Jesus had taught them; this gives us the four gospels. The Spirit would also "guide" them into all truth, and this would result in the Epistles. "He will show you things to come" refers to the prophetic Scriptures, especially the book of Revelation (Wiersbe).

2 Timothy 3:16 says, "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness." It was under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that Paul wrote these words. Paul was inspired to point us to God, as the word of God has the effect of glorifying God. When we memorize Scripture, we act as a church spire, to point people to Jesus. 

This passage also affirms the Trinity. Jesus says in verse 14 that He (the Spirit) will glorify Me (the Son). Further, the Spirit will take the truths that belong to Jesus and share it with us. All that God (the Father) has belongs to Jesus--all truth, all insight, all knowledge, for God is omniscient. Jesus said that the Spirit would take this gift from the Father to the Son and give it to us.

Jesus goes on:

"A little while, and you will see Me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see Me." So some of His disciples said to one another, "What is this that He says to us, 'A little while and you will not see Me, and again a little while, and you will see Me'; and, 'because I am going to the Father'?" So they were saying, "What does He mean by 'a little while'? We do not know what He is talking about." Jesus knew that they wanted to ask Him, so He said to them, "Is this what you are saying, 'A little while and you will not see Me, and again a little while and you will see Me'? Truly, truly I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you." (John 16:16-22)

 Jesus' prophetic words were not well received at this particular moment. NT Wright puts it this way:

This isn't just a matter of Jesus saying, "there's trouble coming, but it will be all right afterwards." It's a matter of seeing that when we find ourselves, a few chapters from now, at the foot of the cross, and then when we find ourselves after that with Mary Magdalene in the Easter garden, we shouldn't miss the significance of these events. They are not merely strange, shocking and even unique. They are the visible sign that God's new world really is coming to birth. It's hardly surprising, then, that Jesus has another warning as well. There are all sorts of things He would love to talk to them about which they aren't ready for, which they couldn't cope with. As it is, they are no doubt sleepy at the end of a long day and a festive evening, and He is facing them with warnings and encouragements the likes of which the world has never heard before or since. It's already too much. The funny little dialogue in verses 16-19, with the disciples tossing Jesus' words to and fro, makes that clear enough. No: they won't understand much of it just now. But part of the job of the Spirit, the 'Helper', will be to lead them into all truth. The Spirit will remind them of what Jesus had already said to them. The Spirit will also guide them, nudging their minds and imaginations into ways of knowing, and things to know, that Jesus would like to have said but couldn't at the time (John for Everyone).

When a baby is first born, one of the first signs of life is respiration. Being able to breathe in and vocalize shows that new life has begun, and growth is starting. In the same way, when we are born again, one of the major signs of the Christian life in us is being filled with the Spirit of God, breathing in His words and vocalizing them to others who have not yet heard.

There is joy in heaven when a sinner comes to faith in Christ (Luke 15:7-10). There was much joy in the disciples' hearts when they saw the resurrected Jesus. The events leading up to the Resurrection were like labor pains--hard to go through but soon forgotten when we see His face. 

Parting is such sweet sorrow

 

For I am going to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I am coming back. And I will take you to Myself--in order that where I am, you also may be.            --John 14:3 (Disciples' Literal New Testament).

Life is full of emotional moments. From a young mother having to drop her infant or toddler off at day-care and hearing the child crying, to an elderly person taking his or her last breath with the family gathered all around hearing the sniffles and sobs of those dear family members they leave behind, and many more in between--life is filled with tears of sorrow stemming from separation.

The extended passage from John 14 to 17 is written as a farewell message from Jesus to His disciples. We can see the fear and anxiety building in the disciples in hearing these words. Today we will focus on the beginning of chapter 16, and in this portion of Scripture we can truly see the depth of emotion that Jesus has for His followers. 

I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor Me. But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you. (John 16:1-4a).

In the last chapter, Jesus had warned His disciples that they would be hated by the world. Indeed, they would face persecution and even death for His name. Jesus begins this chapter explaining why He was telling them this now.

Different Bible versions translate verse 1 in many ways. Why did Jesus say these things to them? The ESV says to keep them from "falling away." The NKJV says it is so they would "not stumble." The KJV says it was so they would not be "offended." The Greek word John uses here is skandalizo, from which we get the English word scandalize. 

The world might be scandalized at the behavior of Christians, but Jesus did not want this coming trouble to come upon them unawares. Bible scholar Randolph Tasker wrote, "A skandelethron was not a stumbling block that might trip you up; it is used as the spring of a trap that might 'go off' when you were least expecting it." One of my favorite commentators, David Guzik, writes, "Jesus warned His disciples of coming opposition because He did not want them to be surprised and stumbled by it. He also did not expect that His disciples would immediately leave the synagogues, or leave them by their own choice. They would be forced out of the synagogues for Jesus’ sake." 

In our nation of diversity, equity, and inclusion, the idea of being shunned by society for any reason is foreign to us. However, in a tight-knit community where conformity to social and religious norms forms the group's identity, shunning is often used as a punishment for those who step outside those established norms. It also serves as a deterrent for members of the group who may rely on the community for both social and commercial interaction.

You may have read The Scarlet Letter, where Nathaniel Hawthorne describes early Puritan communities in the United States. In the novel, Hester Prynne is branded as an adulterer, and is denied participation in the church, the community, and in commerce.

Earlier in our study of John, we read of the man who was born blind, whom Jesus healed. The Pharisees demanded an explanation from him. When his testimony pointed them to Jesus as the healer sent from God, the Pharisees expelled him from the synagogue and threatened to do the same to his family. In the tight-knit Jewish communities of the first century, being expelled from the synagogue was a big deal. Again, it was not just that changing one's religion was a personal choice that one could make in his own heart and mind. There were social and economic consequences as well.

There is no reason for the believer to stumble ("be offended," John 16:1) when the world stokes up the furnace of persecution. He should expect persecution, if only because his Lord told him it was coming. (Note especially John 13:19 and 14:29, where the Lord warned His disciples in advance.) Furthermore, they must not stumble when this persecution comes from religious people who actually think they are serving God. The word translated "service" in John 16:2 means "priestly service." This statement is certainly a description of Saul of Tarsus, who though he was serving God by destroying the church (see Acts 7:57-8:3; 22:3-4; 26:9-12). (Warren Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary.)

Four different times (John 13:9, 14:29, 15:11, and 16:4) Jesus repeats the phrase, 'I have said these things to you, so that when the hour comes" they may remember and believe. The New Cambridge Bible Commentary says, "Jesus is no mere prophet but someone who, knowing and controlling events, cares about the fate of His disciples."

Jesus may have read the minds of His disciples, because in the next passage He answers an unasked question.

I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. But now I am going to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, 'Where are you going?' But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. (John 16:4b-6). 

An astute reader of Scripture might point out that in John 13:36, Peter had asked this very question. "Lord, where are You going?" Warren Wiersbe explains it this way:

For three years, Jesus had been with them to protect them from attack, but now He was about to leave them. He had told them about this earlier in the evening (John 13:33), and Peter had asked Him where He was going. However, Peter's question revealed more concern about himself than about the Lord Jesus! Also, his question centered on the immediate, not the ultimate. It was necessary for Jesus to explain why it was important for them that He return to the Father. (The Bible Exposition Commentary).

In other words, when Peter asked where Jesus was going in chapter 13, he was thinking "What will happen to me/us?" When Jesus said in chapter 16 that none of them had asked where He was going, He was pointing out that none of them seemed concerned about His whereabouts as much as their own. Sorrow had filled their hearts because He would no longer be there with them. His leaving them, however, would be to their advantage.

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 go, I will send Him to you. And when He comes, He will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see Me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. (John 16:7-11).

 While He was with them, Jesus had kept them together and out of danger. Once He left them, they would face increased danger, but the Holy Spirit would act as their Defender and Advocate. 

Although "advocates" appear in a court, they more readily appear in other venues, such as palaces, temples, and forums. Even in a court, and advocate does not function in a forensic role but rather as a partisan supporter. In Philo, and "advocate" may give advice about a difficult decision or provide support for someone making a claim or settling a dispute. But Advocate/Paraclete did not mean and advocate in the sense of a lawyer. It meant rather a man who would appear in court to lend the weight of his influence and prestige to a case of his friend, to convince the judges of his probity, and to see a favorable verdict. (The New Cambridge Bible Commentary).

The Holy Spirit would be God with us, just as Jesus is called our Immanuel. (That is, God With Us.) The expanded role of the Holy Spirit is that He is available to all Christians everywhere at once, where Jesus, God in the flesh, was limited in space and time.  Moreover, the Holy Spirit will convict the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment.

Convicting of sin

It is the job of the Holy Spirit to convict people of their sin, not to bring condemnation, but to bring salvation. The sin of the world is unbelief. It is the job of the Church, as Christ's representatives here on Earth, to testify against unbelief and to give testimony of the truth.  Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by Me."

Convicting of Righteousness

The Spirit also convicts the sinner of righteousness, not unrighteousness. Whose righteousness? The righteousness of Jesus Christ the perfect Lamb of God. The world would not receive the Son of God (John 1:10), so He has returned to the Father. When He was here on earth, He was accused by men of being a blasphemer, a lawbreaker, a deceiver, and even a demoniac. The Spirit of God reveals the Savior in the Word and in this way glorifies Him (John 16:13-14). The Spirit also reveals Christ in the lives of believers. The world cannot receive or see the Spirit of God, but they can see what He does as they watch the lives of dedicated believers. (Wiersbe).

Convicting of judgment

Satan is the "ruler of this world." When Jesus said the Holy Spirit would convict in judgment, He was referring to the judgment of Satan that was effected by His death on the cross (John 12:31). "When a lost sinner is truly under conviction, he will see the folly and evil of unbelief; he will confess that he does not measure up to the righteousness of Christ, and he will realize that he is under condemnation because he belongs to the world and the devil (Ephesians 2:1-3)" (Wiersbe). There can be no conversion to Christ without conviction of the Holy Spirit. That is why we use the Word of God to witness as a child of God.