John 17:1-12

John 17:1-12 “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name — the name you gave me — so that they may be one as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.

As Jesus continues speaking to the Father, he actually speaks to his disciples, restating obvious realities: He tells the Father what the Father most certainly knows, for He designed the plan and controls every element of Christ's existence. He does not require a reminder from the Son that everything Jesus received came from him. Father God knows Jesus gave people his words and they accepted them, knowing with certainty that Jesus came from God. Therefore, they believed God sent him. He knows everything Jesus is going to say about his disciples because Jesus and the Father are one, and God is omniscient, knows the beginning and the end: so why is Jesus praying this way at this time? He prays for the benefit of his disciples, the ones He is preparing for service. He wants them to realize the depth of his relationship with Father God and by extension, the depth of his relationship and his abiding love for them: I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. He is committing his beloved ones into the Father's hands and establishing the oneness between them and him: Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name — the name you gave me — so that they may be one as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me.

Jesus name means Savior, God with us. When Mary was found to be with child by the power of the Holy Spirit, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream to reassure him, saying, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:20-21) As Jesus asks the Father to protect his dear disciples, his words clearly reveal his mission to bring those who accept and follow him into oneness with God through the efficacy of his name: Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God — children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. (John 1:12-13) Only Judas did not accept Jesus as the Son of God. He must have at least viewed Jesus as a good man, a miracle worker, or a prophet. Maybe he followed him as a chance to success or power in this life; whatever his reasons, he did not follow Jesus as his Lord. How could anyone sell the Son of God for thirty pieces of silver? Three years with Jesus did not open Judas' eyes to the divinity of Christ; yet he cared enough to experience bitter remorse and to take his own life after his terrible deed. After Jesus' death, resurrection, and the Day of Pentecost, the disciples experienced the fruit of Christ's loving prayer of commitment to the Father. We see them performing miracles, doing good works, and the phrase in the name of Jesus appears 13 times attached to their actions in Acts alone. One of our favorites: Then Peter said: Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk. (Acts 3:6)

Far removed from the days of Christ, we still must believe in Jesus alone as our Way: our Way to peace and harmony with God and victory in our lives. Jesus alone is perfect, divine, holy, set apart, high and lifted up, at the right hand of the Father, making intercession for us, as the gatekeeper to God's domain. Jesus revealed God's power, wisdom, and knowledge to the disciples. Eleven of them believed Jesus was from the Father: they believed that you sent me. I pray for them. They accepted Jesus' words: He knew the Father. However, in their fleshly state, without the promised fulness of the indwelling Holy Spirit, they lacked full awareness and complete understanding of the way of salvation, the cross, and the resurrection. After Pentecost, the Spirit opened their blind eyes to understand Christ's sacrifice on the cross, the price He paid for them that they might come alive in him with victory over sin and death, to arise in newness of life forevermore: HIS NEW CREATION! While Jesus was on Earth, He was the apostles' umbrella of protection. As He obeyed the Father completely, they were under his wing. Subsequent to the cross and the resurrection, the apostles came under the auspices of the Holy Spirit with amazing freedom from captivity to their former defeating fleshly weaknesses. The Holy Spirit lead his followers through their journey on Earth as they yielded to God's call. Under the Spirit's authority, we are no longer limited by our human abilities: we have power and authority through Christ in us by the power of the Holy Spirit to grow in grace in him, to come alive to serve him.

Do we struggle with insecurities, inclinations to do wrong; do we face trials, temptations? Yes! Does this mean God does not help us or protect us? No! He never leaves us, never forsakes us; we have an eternal everlasting protection; nothing can ever take that away. Jesus lost none of his disciples except Judas, who chose death over life. Storms of life happen to the just and the unjust: Jesus is in the boat. He is with us and the still small voice constantly guides us. All the disciples came under persecution for their faith. All but John probably lost their lives through acts of violence against them. Yet they could say with James, My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. (James 1:2-4) And if we truly understood Christ's meaning when He said do not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4), we would worry less about chance and happenstance, the cares of life, and be much more concerned about the Father's business, the ripe harvest field, hurting people in need of our help. We must believe the memory verses we quote and feed upon them as the bread of life, trusting the LORD with all our hearts, leaning not on our own understanding as in all our ways we acknowledge Him. Then He would be more free to direct our paths. We pray this in the powerful and precious name of Jesus. May He abundantly bless you today and perfect the good work He has begun in you, for we who are IN CHRIST ARE NOW ONE WITH GOD because of the Spirit's work in us!