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JOHN - The Light Shines in the Darkness
A Bible Study Course on the Gospel of Christ according to John
PART 3 - Light Shines in the Circle of the Apostles (John 11:55 - 17:26)
E - Jesus' Intercessory Prayer (John 17:1-26)

4. Jesus intercedes for the church's unity (John 17:20-26)


JOHN 17:24
24 Father, I desire that they also whom you have given me be with me where I am, that they may see my glory, which you have given me, for you loved me before the foundation of the world.

Six times in the High Priestly prayer Jesus named God "Father", and once "The True God". With this unique name he expressed his own trust and longing for God. For he was one with the Father in essence, but emptied himself and was humble for our redemption. He had no desire to be famous or possess things. Thirteen time he used the expression "you have given me". The Son regarded humanity, his followers, his works and authority a gift from God, as if they were not already his own. He submitted to his Father’s majesty and honor at all times. This humility assured continuous harmony, so that the Son fulfilled the Father’s thoughts and purposes totally.

On account of this absolute submission he could say in prayer without willfulness, "I desire." So what is the desire expressed by God’s Son? It is that all his followers in time and space would be with him where he is. Thus, Paul testifies that he was crucified with Christ and buried with him to share his rising, and will be seated by him in heaven, to discover the riches of God’s superabundant grace by the gentleness of Christ Jesus (Romans 6:1-11; Ephesians 2:4-7).

Our unity with Christ goes beyond sharing in his sufferings and love, and includes his glory. He desires us to see his glory and dwell in his companionship forever. The apostles knew this goal which is our hope. We shall rejoice with eternal joy unspeakable when we see him. We shall also reflect his glory, transformed into his likeness, because the condition of this radiance is given to us in the outpouring of God’s love into our hearts (Romans 5:5 and 8:29). He gave his glory, since he was glorious even in his lowly manhood. The apostles realized in his presence that his glory proceeded from unshakeable love between him and the Father which existed before the earth’s foundation. This existence in the Holy Trinity is the source of our redemption.

JOHN 17:25
25 Righteous Father, the world hasn’t known you, but I knew you; and these knew that you sent me.

God remains righteous and just, even if the world is unaware. In essence He is holy, and there is no darkness in Him. Whoever experiences His love in Christ realizes that it is not His fault that men do not believe in the Son or find salvation.

But Christ knew his Father from eternity because the Son saw his Father face to face. His attributes virtues and names are known to the Son. The deeper aspects of deity are not hidden from him.

To all who receive the Son, God gives them the right to become His children. Jesus disclosed to them the secret of God’s fatherhood. Those who are regenerate realize that Christ came from God; he was not just a prophet or an apostle, but truly God's Son. All the fullness of deity was in him bodily. The Spirit illumines us to perceive Jesus’ deity in humanity, to become one with him and the Father who sent him. Thus he is the link between God an Man.

JOHN 17:26
26 I made known to them your name, and will make it known; that the love with which you loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

In sum, Christ taught us the revelation of the Father’s name. The clearest demonstration of this is in the cross, where the Father sacrificed His Son, a holy victim, for us to share in the rights of Sonship. When the Holy Spirit came upon us, we cried, "Abba, Father" out of the depths of our hearts. The Lord’s Prayer is the crown of all prayers, as it glorifies the Father, His Kingdom and will.

We discern the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ to the extent that the love that continues between Father and Son is poured into us. He asked his Father to create the fullness of love in us. It is not just the Father who comes to us, but Jesus who personally wishes to abide in us. So he prayed in intercession that the fullness of the deity might come down on us, as John confesses in his epistle: God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

QUESTION:

  1. What is the summary of the High Priestly prayer that Jesus uttered?

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