Like many people, when I have wakeful periods during the night, I spend them talking to the Lord. Some time ago, during just such a period, I was telling God how much I longed for deeper intimacy with Him, for a greater knowledge of the Persons of the Holy Trinity and for growth in loving fellowship with Them. I was wondering which section of Scripture would be a good place of meditation to pursue my goal and God said, John 17. I pondered the great privilege of listening to the words of the Lord Jesus in prayer to the Father, just shortly before the agony of Gethsemane and Calvary. This would be looking right into the heart of the Saviour. So I began to look into this section of the Holy Book, one verse at a time and here are just a few of the thoughts which came. Of course this is just a smattering; the treasures could never be exhausted in JOHN 17.
(1) (Jesus lifted up His eyes to Heaven and said, Father).
Why did He lift up His eyes? It wouldn't make prayer more real or
bring God closer. I think because everything in Him yearned
toward the Father -- so yearning for closeness now when He knew of
the horrible separation that was soon to come. We do that now –
when our hearts are filled with longing, we lift our eyes and our
hands heavenward. (Father, the hour is come; that pivotal hour We
planned before the foundation of the world). What did He ask for?
Glory, exaltation, honour for Himself -- Why? -- SO THAT He would
glorify, honour and exalt the Father. Was His prayer answered?
Yes, of course but -- consider the awful cost of that answer.
Did any of the disciples pick up on the intensity of that prayer?
What about when we ask for glory, success, convenience, etc.
Is it just for ourselves, so we'll look good, be applauded, etc?
Do we see the bigger picture -- the grander opportunity --
everything for the glory of God? Maybe we need failure more than
we need success -- have we become our own idol? Turn your eyes
upon Jesus. (This is My beloved Son -- focus on Him).
(2) (You have granted Him authority over all flesh). Over all flesh --
all human kind; over Judas, over Ciaphas, over Pilate, over Herod,
over the soldiers. How did He handle His authority? He could
have squashed them like bugs under His heel. But He had a
different desire, a different goal for the exercise of His
authority. Rather than use His authority to pull rank or destroy
His attackers, He chose to use His authority to give a gift, even
to His enemies. His authority would be used to give eternal life
to everyone the Father gifted to Him. No selfish motives, no
avoiding pain. Some of us become obnoxious if given even a little
authority -- flaunt ourselves, lord it over others -- never seeing
that having authority is an opportunity for giving. This insight
is good to counteract the desire to control and to see why it is
so wrong and anti-Christian. Because controlling is all about me,
not about giving. Authority wisely used is a sacred trust and
very costly. Paul had all the authority of an apostle and the
(8) I have given them the uttered Words that You gave Me ... and
they have received them. Why did they receive His Words?
Because the penetrating power of absolute truth was in those Words
spoken by Almighty God; and the Messenger Who brought the Words
was the Living Word, made flesh, and living right there with them.
When they received the truth they also got knowledge -- marvellous
insight into a mystery.
Because they had received the Words of truth into their very
beings, now they knew that this praying Man did not originate from
Planet Earth. He had come from far above, from the Sovereign
Ruler of the universe, had actually been sent by Him to express
the very Words of God in the heart-language of the people.
Fishermen listening, holding their breath, listening to a
Carpenter-turned-Teacher ... and knowing that they were listening
to the God-Man. Listening in silence, listening in awe, with
straining minds and trembling hearts.
I am there, I am there with the hushed disciples, eavesdropping on
that magnificent prayer, beginning to realize the transcendent
privilege of receiving the Words and going deeper in knowledge.
Everything around seems muted.
I just want to be near Him.
(9) Not for the world .....
He is not praying for the world.
Very soon now Jesus will suffer terribly and die horribly for the
whole world, which God so loved. So why is He not praying for the
world?
No, oh no, not just now.
The hellish agony and the suffocating
loneliness lie just ahead. Their dark shadows press in on Him.
But in this special, precious, intimate moment, He holds to His
heart His own, His very own, dearly loved ones. He needs the
closeness of familiar, loving friends and He knows how very great
is their need. It is staggering to realize that He has taken them
in, included them in this hallowed time of prayer with His
Father. He yearns to envelop them in His caring and His love.
What did His disciples hear?
Right from His heart, flowing from His lips came a prayer, a
prayer for them -- and what a prayer! The glories and wonders of
relationship, protection, provision, joy, holiness -- all beyond
their grasp and all claimed for them -- and enfolding them in the
secure armour of God's unfailing love. Standing? Kneeling?
Glued to His words -- how are they feeling, what are they thinking?
Hold it! Was His prayer wasted? Doesn't Jesus know they will
desert Him and leave Him to die alone? Yes, He knows but it
changes nothing. He writes the cheque and will sign it in Blood,
the guarantee for the answer to His prayer. These cowardly
failures -- and again I'm one of them -- can be transformed by
Resurrection Life out of death; His death ... His life.
Not just now, Father, in this sacred moment -- not for the world.
10) They belong to Me .....
In a while, a short while, a very short while, Jesus will be alone
-- forsaken -- despised -- abandoned. But right now He is
joyously exulting in the eternal fact that this unlikely group
will belong to Him forever. And I am amazed at the faith of this
One Who, although never less than God, is truly Man. He had laid
aside all the attributes of Deity and it was as truly Man that
He lived - trusted - obeyed. Not only for Himself to come through
but for all these, and me, He trusted God. His faith took Him
beyond to that triumphant moment, that pinnacle of history, when
He would shout in victorious declaration the most amazing words
that ever fell on the ears of a startled universe,
"IT IS FINISHED!"
I'm listening intently now. I hear Jesus speak again and I cannot
believe my ears.
He is risking His glory with this motley crew -- and with me!
Jesus, oh Jesus,
Without Him how lost I would be.
(11) (I am coming to You, Holy Father .....)
Not just the disciples but also the angels were listening to this
prayer, listening with wonderment. Longing to look into these
mysteries, the angels are caught between anguish and joy --
jubilant that Jesus is returning, yet knowing that a Cross and a
tomb stand between Him and His return to the heavenly realm.
Listen to Jesus -- I am no more in the world but they are.
Angels bending low -- looking at Jesus -- looking at the disciples
-- bewildered -- can these be trusted, can they make it?
Father, keep in Your Name: Ah! Throughout all the universe that
Name represents total authority. This is the signet ring of the
Absolute Sovereign, this is the imperial seal recognized
everywhere by angels and demons. Throughout all the regions of
earth, space and the underworld none can gainsay its
all-encompassing supremacy.
Because You gave them to Me, Father, keep them for Me. It all
depends not on them but on You. That's why I didn't tell them to
take care of themselves -- they can't. With complete confidence
I ask You to keep them by the omnipotent power of Your Almighty
Name. Father, precious Father, You know why I'm asking -- this is
Your will too. That they may be one, that their minds and hearts
may be opened to grasp the tremendous glory of belonging to You
and to each other in an unrivalled unity that matches Our own.
(12) I kept them, I guarded and protected them in Thy Name.
Now that I have to leave them, I am committing them to You. Not
one of those You gave Me is lost -- except -- Oh God!
Those wonderful beings We created, bearing the Divine image and
possessing the God-like power of free will -- some cannot seem to
grasp the awesome responsibility of choice. Assuredly the
Scriptures are destined to be fulfilled but no one is destined to
be damned.
Judas ..... he shared My food and lifted up his heel against Me.
His words were smoother than butter but they were drawn swords
because war was in his heart. What horrible traffic with devils
decided him to step into a chosen destiny of irreparable ruin?
Loving Father, keep these, these so precious to Me. Looking ahead
through centuries to come I see more, Father, millions more,
priceless redeemed ones to be given to Me by You.
Keep them, Father, oh keep them in Your Name.
(13) I am coming to You, Father, but I pray these things while I'm
still in the world. I want these, My beloved disciples, to hear
My prayers for them, to let the words sink deep into their hearts.
Sorrow has filled their hearts and they cannot understand why I
speak of joy. All they can see is a bitter ending and a hopeless
future.
Father, open their eyes to begin to see that it will actually be
in them that My joy will be completed and My gladness will fill
their souls. They do not yet begin to realize the Divine purpose
in their having been chosen, nor the limitless scope when they
share My life, My love, My joy.
On this dark and terrible night they are walking with Me -- weary
footsteps dragging -- walking in mute sadness and in fear. I hear
their sandals flapping on the pathway -- each sound like the beat
of their trembling hearts.
Just wanting to be with Me -- longing to be courageous, hoping
desperately that they will be brave.
Oh how I love them! Father, You know how I love them and My love
for You and for them demands that I go the way of the Cross.
(14) They are not of the world -- not of the world -- how can that be?
Even more astonishing -- not of the world --
JUST AS I AM NOT OF THE WORLD!
What happened to make them different from the majority -- to put
them in a select category with Jesus Himself?
Listen ... I hear Jesus saying -- I have given them Thy Word,
the eternal Word of the Living God. They believed the Messenger
and received the Message -- with two results. They received new
citizenship and the world hates them because of it -- because they
now belong to an entirely different realm. Along with their new
citizenship, they were given the illuminating and preserving
qualities of light and salt -- penetrating the darkness and
exposing the evil, as they too become messengers of the
life-giving Message. The lovers of evil deeds and darkness hate
them with murderous hatred and they are the target of all
unrighteousness.
This is why they need My joy. They will discover the phenomenal
secret that when the ominous threats of seething hatred swirl and
boil all around them -- they will have joy. Danger will dog their
steps and they will sing in prison, rejoice in suffering, die
triumphantly -- and never die!
Yes, this hostile world will hate them -- but they will turn this
world upside down.
(15) Jesus doesn't ask that they be taken out of the world because the
world -- the hostile, hating world -- desperately needs them.
His prayer is that they be protected from the evil one --
the evil one. That holy angel whom God created to be the anointed
cherub who walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire
(Ezekiel 28:6-8) -- this one became Satan, the evil one.
This explains why Satan, the wicked one, the evil one, is so
intrinsically evil -- the supreme hater of God and everything God
loves. The most horrifying thing about sin and wickedness is not
that they are sinful and wicked; the staggering fact is that they
are good gone wrong! In all the perfection and grandeur of God's
sublime creation there could not be evil, wickedness, sin, and
there was none. The devil, who is also called the destroyer,
cannot create; he can only pervert. Everything noble and lovely,
every object of God's holy love, every disciple of Jesus, becomes
the target of his loathing and malevolent attack.
Jesus knew His beloved disciples would need the Father's
protection against the evil one. Jesus also knew His prayer would
be so well answered that Satan would fear their very names.
Yes, they were -- and we are -- needed in this world, clad in the
full armour of our Saviour's prayer.
(16) They are not of the world just as I am not of the world.
This is the second time Jesus has said that. Why -- did He think
God might have missed it the first time? Or did He think
repeating it would make it carry more weight with God because it
proved He really meant it? Of course not. His sincerity and the
tremendous significance of His prayer were never in question.
But what about the dear ones standing by -- with every fibre of
their beings drinking in the import of this magnificent prayer for
them? Didn't they need this reminder now -- now -- there with
Jesus -- as He lifted them right to the Father's heart?
The evil one -- the prince of the world -- was poised for attack
to destroy them. The flaming hatred of the world would seek to
silence and remove them. Scorn and abuse would be their constant
companions in the world. On this night of nights -- oh let them
soak up the liberating truth -- not of this world.
Our destiny is not here but we have a definite and glorious
destiny. The world's seductions -- the world's bribes --
the world's persecutions -- do not signify.
They are all temporary but we are forever -- because --
we are not of the world.
(17) Separate them for Yourself, Father.
I have to think about these words -- I want to savour this
wonderful request. Jesus is asking God to separate them from
everything else to be His very own. Since the Father has granted
His Son's request, what does it mean for the disciples?
Within His petition is a related request -- make them holy!
Belonging to the Father -- separated for the Father -- sanctified
by the Father -- equals holiness. How could these ever be
considered holy -- what means could possibly be used to make this
lot holy? That could never happen for the disciples -- or for me
-- could it?
BY THE TRUTH. What is Truth? Your Word is Truth.
Which particular Truth -- what specific Word can accomplish this
amazing transformation? Is it in reading the Old Testament
scrolls, which is all the written truth they have? No, it's
because the Word Who became flesh said -- I am THE TRUTH.
This awful night -- this night of horror -- this night of cosmic
war -- became a morning of such tremendous victory that the
holiness of our Great Intercessor can be imparted to us.
I join His prayer.
Father, whatever it takes -- make me holy.
(18) In the same way You have sent Me, I have sent them.
Was that fair -- wasn't He better equipped -- didn't He have
advantages we don't have?
How did the Father send Jesus -- how was He equipped?
Was He sent with all His Divine attributes obvious in their
splendour? No, when He came He emptied Himself -- stripped
Himself (Phlpns 2). Was He sent with the outstanding stature and
superb appearance of a being from a non-earthly realm? No, He
came as the weakest thing in all of God's creation -- a human
Baby. Well ..... what did He have?
A body -- just a body (Hebrews 10:1-10). Is that all? Yes, exactly what
the disciples had -- no more, no less -- a body.
Except for His sinlessness Jesus had no more going for Him than
the disciples -- and I -- have going for us. So He could send
them just as He had been sent -- with just a body.
What did He do with that body which had been prepared for Him?
He yielded it completely to God -- a living sacrifice -- and
revealed the way to victory and joy. A yielded body is a
Spirit-filled body with ears to hear the Saviour's reassurance --
all that the Father was to Me when He sent Me, so I will be to you
as I send you.
In the same way, Father -- the same wonderful, miraculous way.
(19) And so ..... so that ..... For their sake ..... For their sake I dedicate Myself.
The only way for them to be
made holy in the Truth is by the complete consecration of Myself.
On their behalf I set Myself apart to win for them what otherwise
would never be possible. I know Your heart, Father, and Your
longing and purpose to restore the Divine image to fallen man and
rescue him from the deep, inner loneliness which resulted from a
broken relationship with their Creator. Help them to know that to
be holy is to be energized by the very Life of God in the eternal
security of personal, loving relationship.
For their sake -- the plan was made.
For their sake -- I give Myself totally.
This is why I came -- not to be served -- but to serve.
I have counted the cost -- the horrendous cost -- and despising
the cost, I give Myself gladly -- for their sake.
Oh Love that will not let me go.
(20) Neither for these alone do I pray .....
Not for these alone -- but for all those who will ever come to
believe in Me.
This morning I looked up at an autumn sky painted with blue and
rose and gold -- and I was overwhelmed with admiration for the
artistry of our glorious Creator.
But what I hugged to my heart was this: -- that on His way to
Gethsemane -- Jesus prayed for me -- for me -- He prayed for me.
How would I and countless millions through more than twenty
centuries come to believe in the Lord Jesus?
Through their word -- this unlikely handful of men -- Jesus said
it would be through their message. Wasn't He taking an awful
risk? Was He risking my soul by depending on them?
Ah but -- each one in this unlikely handful had been hand-picked
-- as I have been -- but not because they --or I -- were
dependable. They were chosen to learn such dependence on God that
He could take them and use them as grains of wheat -- grains of
wheat that would fall into the ground -- and die -- and transform
the whole landscape with the rich harvest.
Everything in this transcendent prayer -- Jesus prayed for me.
Into the heart of Jesus, deeper and deeper I long to go.
(21) So that the world may believe .....
Believe that You have sent Me.
How will that come about?
His prayer is for their relationship -- their union -- their
oneness with the Father and Himself.
Awesome relationship -- startling concept -- surely a plane too
high for sinful mortals -- especially me.
Then the Saviour's prayer reveals the unfolding of a mystery --
the soon-to-be open secret of INDWELLING. Jesus is indwelt by the
Father and His promise is that He will actually - truly -- really
indwell His disciples. My faltering mind strives to ponder the
staggering scope of being indwelt by Almighty God.
The disciples -- and I -- listening -- fearfully wondering --
hoping -- don't have to struggle to reach higher up; our Sovereign
comes down to inhabit our humanity with His Divinity -- making it
possible for us to so reflect the Lord Jesus that our world will
believe -- cannot help but believe -- that Jesus was sent by God
-- back then -- and now -- in us!
Surely the world -- our world -- must notice the difference
because of this amazing, precious prayer which so lovingly
included me. That they may be one in Us -- just as -- in the same
way that You, Father, are in Me and I in You.
Since I have the astounding privilege of being a suit of clothes
for Jesus, what excuse can I offer if my particular world doesn't
believe that Jesus came and was truly sent by the Sovereign God?
(22) I have given them ..... given them the glory -- the glory which You have given Me.
Glory -- actually given -- freely given -- to these who would soon
abandon Him at His moment of greatest peril and flee into hiding.
Who can probe the loving, breaking heart of Jesus at this point
in His prayer?
Why had He given? What had He given? What was the glory?
As very God, Jesus had always had superlative glory -- but what
was the particular glory given to Him by the Father for His
sojourn on earth as Man -- the glory which He was now giving to
His disciples? I sense that they are bewildered.
Is Adam listening to this prayer -- listening -- remembering?
Oh, Adam!
This is the shining glory which clothed Adam's nakedness in
splendour and caused Him to accurately reflect the glorious God --
in Whose image he had been created -- for that very purpose.
This prayer with its answer is the guarantee that God will work in
us a process to restore the Divine image with its accompanying
glory. Why? Why? Why?
Listen -- oh listen to Jesus --
so that they may be one -- as We are.
How can I grasp such love -- love lavished on me -- love desiring
to have me -- yes me -- even me -- in tender, intimate
relationship with my Saviour and my heavenly Father, my Creator,
the Sovereign Ruler of the universe?
How can I ever know even the beginning of adequate gratitude?
My mind can go no farther. My heart bows low.
(23) Something more for the world to know .....
Another reason for ever-deepening intimacy with the Lord Jesus and
the Father .....
In this God-hating world, so filled with animosity toward the
followers of Jesus, there would dawn a new recognition --
not only that God had sent Jesus -- but also that these despised,
weak, vulnerable disciples were loved by the Sovereign Supreme
Ruler of the universe -- and they call Him Father.
Their names would be known and feared by the wicked minions of
Satan, the fiendish emissaries of hell.
The night is pregnant with foreboding -- the disciples -- and I --
come as close as we can -- drinking in the Saviour's words --
inhaling the marvel of the Father's personal love for us.
But there's more -- and we're stunned.
We listen closely to Jesus. He says -- and we draw in a sharp
breath of utter amazement -- not only does the Father love us --
He loves us even as He loves Jesus Himself!
The disciples -- and I -- stare blankly at one another --
grappling with what seems a sheer impossibility for the likes
of us -- we know what we are. Can we have heard correctly?
Yes -- He did say it -- It's really true -- we are wrapped
securely in love Divine, all loves excelling -- accepted in the
Beloved just as the Beloved Himself is accepted. Oh, sweet
wonder!
Let the world hate --
their hatred can never match the Father's love.
Was there ever so much condensed -- yet conveyed -- in so few
words? We long -- the disciples and I -- to reach out and touch
Him and say that we love Him.
(24) He wants them with Him .....
He treasures them as the Father's gifts --
and He wants them with Him -- always --
these -- who would soon desert Him.
He desired that they would be with Him to see His full, majestic,
royal glory in the culmination of it all, at His coronation.
They had seen another kind of glory but they didn't realize then
that it was glory. They hadn't recognized the glory when Jesus
took a basin and washed their weary feet. The cool water felt so
good on their calloused feet, especially where stones had cut in
-- but they didn't understand that kind of glory then -- as their
Creator -- God on His knees -- performed this lowly service and
forever transformed the menial.
Now Jesus reveals that there is a magnificent, glory-filled future
where they will see the glorious outpouring of all the splendour
of the Father's love for His only begotten Son -- and they --
and I -- as also the Father's gifts -- will be part of that glory
-- His glory.
Then Jesus said something else in His prayer -- it wrenches my
heart. Father, You have loved Me before the foundation of the
world. Is He clinging to this eternal truth -- holding it like
balm to His aching heart -- in the face of the horrendous,
tearing, agonizing separation from the Father -- which is just
hours away?
Oh, what a Saviour, that He died for me.
Make my heart an altar and Thy love the flame.
(25) O righteous Father --
You Who are morally excellent .....
Continually -- every moment -- I have known You.
The world has not known You --
but they could have known.
They deliberately failed to recognize that he that has seen Me has
seen the Father. Not because I'm God -- though God I Am -- but
because -- I as Man, am man, as I as God, created man to be.
Once again, as I listen to Jesus pray, the immense privilege of
being created a human being penetrates deep into my soul. To be
fully human -- is to be like Jesus. In every respect that I am
not like Jesus -- I am less than human. I begin to perceive --
just barely -- the tremendous birthright Adam threw away. For the
first time I see that Esau was not the first one to despise his
birthright -- but how eternally far-reaching was the tragedy
resulting from Adam's trade. There is coming a day -- a glorious
day -- when the Divine image will be completely restored and the
breath-taking beauty of full-orbed humanity will be returned
to us.
But just now, these, Father, these precious ones -- they know that
You have sent me -- and You know that I will send them -- send
them to the world -- the unbelieving world -- and through them My
glory will be achieved in the world.
(26) I have made Your Name known to them .....
What's in a Name?
All of the moral character, Divine attributes and the loving,
Father-heart of God are represented in the Name of God.
The disciples -- and I -- could never have known God the Father by
Name if Jesus had not revealed Him. Just so -- the world will
never know Jesus unless He is revealed in us.
That's why Jesus prayed that the love which the Father lavished on
Him would be in us to lavish on the world.
The world? This world? This cruel, obnoxious, hate-mongering
world? Not possible of course!
Except -- except that Jesus made one last request for the
disciples -- and for me -- Father, that I Myself may be in them.
An ardent persecutor of Jesus and His followers was revolutionized
and discovered the secret .....
It is not I who lives this impossible resurrection Life
but Jesus lives His Life in me.
It seemed to me that Jesus had stepped a little way off the path into a secluded spot. There in the shelter of friendly trees, He poured out His heart to His Father. Petitions which could no longer be restrained flowed from the depth of His being -- and because He would pay the unfathomable cost -- those petitions would result in life-changing, world-changing miracles. I would have thought He'd have wanted complete privacy -- but no -- this unique and loving One could not exclude His wondering disciples -- nor any who would come after -- from the precious intimacy of His eternity-spanning prayer. The shadows are deepening -- the night air is growing colder. Now they are walking again -- walking -- walking to Gethsemane.
Angels strain downward-- longing to understand - ancient olive trees bear silent witness -- an epoch event is beginning to unfold -- because -- the HOUR has come.
Here in the Saviour's Presence -- in this holy, privileged place -- allowed to listen while the beloved Son prays to the Father --here -- the old hymn fits in so beautifully.
