© Eric M Schumacher – Preached March 28, 2010 at Northbrook Baptist Church, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
“If you really loved me…!” All of us at one time or another have either spoken or heard those words. Perhaps a child yelling at a parent when he didn’t get his way, one spouse trying to convince the other into something, or even a desperate prayer thrown up to God.
How would you fill in that statement, if made to your children, your parents, your spouse, your friend or a church member? For someone to love you, they must ____________________.
How that statement ends relates closely to how you define love. So, let’s turn it into a question about God: If God really loved you, what is it that he must do? If God really loved me, he would give me __________.
What do you fill that blank in with? healing? a loved one brought back from the dead? beauty? friends? sex? money? fame? the perfect spouse? a fixed marriage? obedient and successful children? a restored friendship? a better job? the assurance that my children will be okay? grandchildren? an early, long and enjoyable retirement? a resurrection body that will live in a New Heavens and New Earth, free from pain, sickness, sadness and death forever?
None of those is the biblical answer. The biblical answer to that question is one word. But, before I tell you what it is, let me make an observation: Whatever you fill that blank in with is your God. Whatever you filled that blank in with is the thing that you desire most, whatever you ascribe the most worth to. You answered with what you worship.
The greatest thing that Adam and Eve (and all of mankind in Adam) lost in the Fall was not paradise, perfect bodies, the freedom to romp around naked, or the enjoyment of endless fruit. What Adam and Eve lost in the fall was God—the enjoyment of unhindered fellowship with the Creator of all things.
And what is promised at the end of the Bible (for all those who are in Christ). When John sees the New Heaven and the New Earth in Revelation 21, the highlight of his description is (3):
Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.
The last promise made in the Bible is from Jesus (22:20), “Surely I am coming soon.” And the corresponding final prayer in the Bible is, “Come, Lord Jesus!”
What the Bible promises us in salvation is perfect and unhindered fellowship with God—we, free from sin in resurrection bodies in a new world, will see and know and fellowship with God in Jesus Christ.
This was King David’s one prayer request in Psalm 27 (verse 4):
What the Bible promises us in salvation is perfect and unhindered fellowship with God—we, free from sin in resurrection bodies in a new world, will see and know and fellowship with God in Jesus Christ.
This was King David’s one prayer request in Psalm 27 (verse 4):
One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple.
Above all else, David wanted to see the Lord.
And so, we should not be surprised to find that as the Lord says farewell to his people, his final, crowning prayer request on their behalf is that they might see him. Jesus’ ultimate desire for his people is for them to see his glory.
Jesus’ final petition.
And so, we should not be surprised to find that as the Lord says farewell to his people, his final, crowning prayer request on their behalf is that they might see him. Jesus’ ultimate desire for his people is for them to see his glory.
Jesus’ final petition.
In the past weeks, we have looked at how Jesus prays for his people—for those who had come to believe in him and those who would believe in him in the future. He has asked for the Father to keep them in his name, to keep them from the evil one, to sanctify them in truth, to make them all one so that the world would know Jesus.
But, none of these is his ultimate request on their behalf. Perseverance in the faith, deliverance from the evil one, personal holiness, unity with other believers and successful mission are not ultimate. They are only means to a greater end. (And, therefore, none of them should be the ultimate thing that we seek individually or as a church. They are not our idols—only means to a greater end.)
In verse 24, Jesus addresses his Father with his final petition, “Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me.” Earlier, Jesus has prayed for those who already believed, and then for those who would later believe. But now, he prays for them together, for the sum-total of all who have and will ever believe in him. He is praying, as he says, for all those “whom the Father has given him.”
He continues, “that they…may be with me where I am.” Jesus desires his people to be in his presence. This echoes what Jesus told his disciples as he began to say “farewell” in chapter 14:
But, none of these is his ultimate request on their behalf. Perseverance in the faith, deliverance from the evil one, personal holiness, unity with other believers and successful mission are not ultimate. They are only means to a greater end. (And, therefore, none of them should be the ultimate thing that we seek individually or as a church. They are not our idols—only means to a greater end.)
In verse 24, Jesus addresses his Father with his final petition, “Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me.” Earlier, Jesus has prayed for those who already believed, and then for those who would later believe. But now, he prays for them together, for the sum-total of all who have and will ever believe in him. He is praying, as he says, for all those “whom the Father has given him.”
He continues, “that they…may be with me where I am.” Jesus desires his people to be in his presence. This echoes what Jesus told his disciples as he began to say “farewell” in chapter 14:
John 14:2-3 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
There Jesus spoke of departing to prepare for his disciples eternal dwelling places in the Father’s house. On the last day, at the consummation of all things, he would raise his people from the dead. And they, with perfect, imperishable, resurrection bodies would go to dwell with him forever.
At this point, it might seem as though Jesus is praying for himself. He simply wants the people he loves to be with him. But then, Jesus states the purpose for his request. Jesus continues, “that they…may be with me where I am, to see my glory.”
The purpose for which Jesus wants his disciples to be with him, where he is, is that they might see the fullness of his unveiled glory.
What Glory?
At this point, it might seem as though Jesus is praying for himself. He simply wants the people he loves to be with him. But then, Jesus states the purpose for his request. Jesus continues, “that they…may be with me where I am, to see my glory.”
The purpose for which Jesus wants his disciples to be with him, where he is, is that they might see the fullness of his unveiled glory.
What Glory?
What glory is this that Jesus is speaking of? After all, haven’t Jesus’ disciples already seen his glory? Aren’t they, simply by looking at him here, seeing the glory of God?
Remember what we saw last week: There are two types of “glory” spoken of in this prayer.
(1) There is Jesus’ preincarnate glory, which he shared with the Father before the world existed. This is his glory as God. That is what Jesus prayed for in John 17:5, “And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.” The way in which Jesus prays reveals to us that this glory was set-aside when he took on flesh to live on earth. In some sense, he did not have it—and therefore, his people could not see it.
(2) The second type of glory is the glory of his humiliation. Jesus revealed glory by humbling himself and taking on human flesh and becoming a suffering servant who dies. So, John writes:
Remember what we saw last week: There are two types of “glory” spoken of in this prayer.
(1) There is Jesus’ preincarnate glory, which he shared with the Father before the world existed. This is his glory as God. That is what Jesus prayed for in John 17:5, “And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.” The way in which Jesus prays reveals to us that this glory was set-aside when he took on flesh to live on earth. In some sense, he did not have it—and therefore, his people could not see it.
(2) The second type of glory is the glory of his humiliation. Jesus revealed glory by humbling himself and taking on human flesh and becoming a suffering servant who dies. So, John writes:
John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
And, this glory was seen in his miracles (2:11). And this glory was seen supremely in his crucifixion (12:23).
As we said last week, when looking at verse 22, the glory Jesus received was the task of revealing the Father to the world by being an obedient, suffering servant, who sacrificed himself for the glory of God and the good of his people.
Pre-incarnate Glory as God
As we said last week, when looking at verse 22, the glory Jesus received was the task of revealing the Father to the world by being an obedient, suffering servant, who sacrificed himself for the glory of God and the good of his people.
Pre-incarnate Glory as God
Jesus says this glory is “my glory which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.”
This is glory that the Father gave to the Son. It is given because the Father loves the Son. And the glory is given and the love is expressed, “before the foundation of the world.”
So, we see an eternal Father-Son relationship within the Godhead. And we see a sharing of glory between the Father and the Son in eternity past. This is the glory he enjoyed pre-mission; the glory he prays will be restored to him.
Jesus is praying that his disciples could see and experience the fullness of the glory of God.
When will this be?
This is glory that the Father gave to the Son. It is given because the Father loves the Son. And the glory is given and the love is expressed, “before the foundation of the world.”
So, we see an eternal Father-Son relationship within the Godhead. And we see a sharing of glory between the Father and the Son in eternity past. This is the glory he enjoyed pre-mission; the glory he prays will be restored to him.
Jesus is praying that his disciples could see and experience the fullness of the glory of God.
When will this be?
So, when will this be? I do not believe that Jesus is speaking of what happens at death. True, to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. But, even then, that is less than what God has promised his people.
This enjoyment of Jesus’ glory is what will be experienced in the resurrection at the consummation. This is what Jesus taught at the beginning of his Farewell Discourse:
This enjoyment of Jesus’ glory is what will be experienced in the resurrection at the consummation. This is what Jesus taught at the beginning of his Farewell Discourse:
John 14:2-3 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
He is speaking of the end of all things, when he says “I will come again and will take you to myself.” That “coming again” is what Jesus promises at the end of Revelation, when he grants his people resurrection from the dead to live in a resurrected universe.
That is the purpose for which the Father sent him—to raise his people from the dead.
John 5:28-29 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.
John 6:39-40 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.
And that resurrection enjoyment of the glory of God is not something that we each individually get when we die. It is something that Hebrews 11:40 says all of God’s people will receive together—they will be made perfect together.
And, so the prayer remains. It is true of us that we have seen a glimpse of Jesus’ glory by believing the Gospel. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 3:18, that “we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.”
But, as John reminds his readers in 1 John 3:2, it is not until later that we will see Him as He is. “Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.”
Two Observations:
And, so the prayer remains. It is true of us that we have seen a glimpse of Jesus’ glory by believing the Gospel. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 3:18, that “we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.”
But, as John reminds his readers in 1 John 3:2, it is not until later that we will see Him as He is. “Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.”
Two Observations:
1. This is salvation.
This is the purpose for which Jesus came. Jesus was given one type of glory, so that he might show us another glory. Jesus was given the glory of humiliation (in becoming man, suffering and dying) so that he might display his glory in the consummation.
He was given the glory of humiliation—he took on flesh, he lived under the curse, he obeyed in the form of a slave, he was despised, betrayed, mocked, whipped, beaten, and crucified. He did this, bearing the curse that we were under for our sin. He did this to satisfy the wrath of God against our sin. He did this so that the world might see—and be saved by or condemned by—a vision of the Father’s love, mercy, grace, wrath, justice, righteousness—the glory of God.
When we look at this glory of humiliation, and we repent and believe in Jesus—we are granted eternal life. We are granted full pardon and right standing with God. Our sins have been imputed to Jesus on the cross. His righteousness is imputed to us.
But, so often, we tend to think of salvation as merely the forgiveness of sins, merely the promise of life in heaven, merely a resurrection from the dead. All these things are true—but they are not ultimate.
If our sins were forgiven, our bodies were raised imperishable, and we were to live forever in a new heavens and new earth, in which we could eat and drink, never grow old, never grow sick, and never die, but we were not given the presence of God—we would not have eternal life.
Jesus has already defined eternal life in this prayer (17:3):
He was given the glory of humiliation—he took on flesh, he lived under the curse, he obeyed in the form of a slave, he was despised, betrayed, mocked, whipped, beaten, and crucified. He did this, bearing the curse that we were under for our sin. He did this to satisfy the wrath of God against our sin. He did this so that the world might see—and be saved by or condemned by—a vision of the Father’s love, mercy, grace, wrath, justice, righteousness—the glory of God.
When we look at this glory of humiliation, and we repent and believe in Jesus—we are granted eternal life. We are granted full pardon and right standing with God. Our sins have been imputed to Jesus on the cross. His righteousness is imputed to us.
But, so often, we tend to think of salvation as merely the forgiveness of sins, merely the promise of life in heaven, merely a resurrection from the dead. All these things are true—but they are not ultimate.
If our sins were forgiven, our bodies were raised imperishable, and we were to live forever in a new heavens and new earth, in which we could eat and drink, never grow old, never grow sick, and never die, but we were not given the presence of God—we would not have eternal life.
Jesus has already defined eternal life in this prayer (17:3):
And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
Eternal life is knowing God in Jesus Christ. Anything less is not life. And so, we see here that Jesus has his heart set on our salvation, our eternal life, in the truest and richest and fullest sense imaginable—we get to see God’s glory in him.
2. This is true love.
2. This is true love.
Godly love is the desire to give to someone that which is best for them (that which will give them the greatest amount of pleasure for the greatest amount of time)—which is to see the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ—and the willingness to suffer to bring that to pass.
I say that because this is how John defines love in 1 John 4:9-11:
I say that because this is how John defines love in 1 John 4:9-11:
In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
“God sent his Son into the world, so that we might live through him.” God acted so that we would have life (which is to know him—the best thing for us.) And, he was willing to suffer for it—he gave his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. He killed his Son to satisfy his wrath against our sin.
It is the same with Jesus—he desires what is best for his disciples, that they might be with him to see his glory. And, he is willing to suffer to bring it to pass.
In this we see:
It is the same with Jesus—he desires what is best for his disciples, that they might be with him to see his glory. And, he is willing to suffer to bring it to pass.
In this we see:
(a) Love for man and love for the glory of God are not separate pursuits. Jesus has not shifted from his original prayer in verse 1, that the Father might be glorified in him, and now set his highest affections on man. Jesus has both the glory of God and the greatest good of his people in mind.
When we see the glory of Jesus, we will be seeing the perfect display of the glory of the Father. And, as we enjoy that vision, we will be glorifying God. What is best for us, will be most glorifying to God.
(b) For us to love others as Jesus loved us is: to desire what is best for them—to see the glory of God in the face of Jesus—and to be willing to suffer to bring it to pass. For us to imitate the love of Jesus (which Jesus commanded) is not for us to desire for people to be with us where we are to see our glory. Rather—we want people to be with us on the last day in the presence of Christ, beholding his glory.
And we imitate the love of Christ, when we are willing to lay down our lives, to die to ourselves, to sacrifice, to suffer pain in the pursuit of bringing others to see God’s glory in Christ.
And so, when you think about how to love your children, your spouse, your neighbor, your co-worker, an orphan, an unreached people group—we must desire their good (to see Jesus in all his glory) and we must be willing to die to pursue that end.
And, when you think of what it means for someone to love you, you must not think it means that they must sacrifice for your present comfort and pleasure. For your parents to love you, your spouse to love you, your pastor to love you, your boss to love you, your fellow church member to love you—is not for them to make life easy for you now. Rather, it is for them to labor to bring you to see God’s glory in Jesus’ face. (Anything less from them is not love.)
(c) And a word to those who are unbelievers. This verse should show us one thing for certain—the world does not love you!!! The world promises you pleasure—in illicit sex outside of marriage, in intoxication and drunkenness, in self-esteem, in wealth, in fame, in friendships, etc.—and all of it is something less than seeing God’s glory. And, therefore, the world lies and offers you empty promises.
If you want to see something great, if you want to experience fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore, then you must come to Jesus. For, he alone is the one who has lived and died and rose again so that you might see what is altogether and eternally lovely—himself.
Will It Be?
When we see the glory of Jesus, we will be seeing the perfect display of the glory of the Father. And, as we enjoy that vision, we will be glorifying God. What is best for us, will be most glorifying to God.
(b) For us to love others as Jesus loved us is: to desire what is best for them—to see the glory of God in the face of Jesus—and to be willing to suffer to bring it to pass. For us to imitate the love of Jesus (which Jesus commanded) is not for us to desire for people to be with us where we are to see our glory. Rather—we want people to be with us on the last day in the presence of Christ, beholding his glory.
And we imitate the love of Christ, when we are willing to lay down our lives, to die to ourselves, to sacrifice, to suffer pain in the pursuit of bringing others to see God’s glory in Christ.
And so, when you think about how to love your children, your spouse, your neighbor, your co-worker, an orphan, an unreached people group—we must desire their good (to see Jesus in all his glory) and we must be willing to die to pursue that end.
And, when you think of what it means for someone to love you, you must not think it means that they must sacrifice for your present comfort and pleasure. For your parents to love you, your spouse to love you, your pastor to love you, your boss to love you, your fellow church member to love you—is not for them to make life easy for you now. Rather, it is for them to labor to bring you to see God’s glory in Jesus’ face. (Anything less from them is not love.)
(c) And a word to those who are unbelievers. This verse should show us one thing for certain—the world does not love you!!! The world promises you pleasure—in illicit sex outside of marriage, in intoxication and drunkenness, in self-esteem, in wealth, in fame, in friendships, etc.—and all of it is something less than seeing God’s glory. And, therefore, the world lies and offers you empty promises.
If you want to see something great, if you want to experience fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore, then you must come to Jesus. For, he alone is the one who has lived and died and rose again so that you might see what is altogether and eternally lovely—himself.
Will It Be?
How do we know this isn’t all wishful thinking? What reason do we have to believe that what Jesus prays for will actually come to pass? Many understand verses 25-26 to be a summary of Jesus’ ministry and prayer, which is separate from the rest of the prayer. It is better to see it as a ground for what Jesus has just prayed.
We know that this vision of Jesus’ glory will come to pass because he has been and will be committed to the work the Father has given to him.
Mission Accomplished
We know that this vision of Jesus’ glory will come to pass because he has been and will be committed to the work the Father has given to him.
Mission Accomplished
In verse 25, Jesus prays, “O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me.”
First, Jesus addresses what may look like failure—“the world does not know you.” John told us at the beginning of the Gospel (1:10), “He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.”
Nevertheless, his missions was not a failure. Because his mission was, as he prayed in John 17:2-3:
First, Jesus addresses what may look like failure—“the world does not know you.” John told us at the beginning of the Gospel (1:10), “He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.”
Nevertheless, his missions was not a failure. Because his mission was, as he prayed in John 17:2-3:
…to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
And, as Jesus prayed earlier, he accomplished just that:
John 17:6-8 I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.
And so, Jesus asserts that, despite the world’s hatred of the light, he knows the Father. And these, those who believe in him, know that he is the one the Father sent.
Furthermore, in knowing the Son, they have come to know the Father. For, Jesus asserts, in verse 26, “I made know to them your name.”
Furthermore, in knowing the Son, they have come to know the Father. For, Jesus asserts, in verse 26, “I made know to them your name.”
In this, then, we are reminded that Jesus accomplished everything the Father had given him to do. Thus, there is no failure in what Jesus was sent to do that will keep his own from seeing his glory. He has been perfectly committed to the work the Father gave him.
Jesus’ Resolve
Jesus’ Resolve
Jesus concludes by resolving to make the Father’s name known to his people in the future.
Jesus says, “and I will continue to make it known.” That is, just as in the past, Jesus will, in the future, reveal the Father’s name to all that the Father has given him.
Some understand this to refer to the cross. Jesus, at the end of the prayer, resolves not to quit revealing the Father after three years of earthly ministry, but to go forward and reveal him through his crucifixion.
Certainly, Jesus is resolved to go to the cross to reveal the name of the Father to all his people.
I would suggest that Jesus means something further. We must remember that Jesus has been praying, not only for those who believed at the time of his praying and would be eye-witnesses to the crucifixion, but also for all those who would believe in him through the witness of the disciples.
The assignment given to Jesus by the Father was to “lose nothing of all that he has given me” (John 6:38-39). That includes a believing people who were not yet even born. There were people who would believe in the future—people who would, but as of then had not yet, have the name of the Father made known to them—people like us.
And here, Jesus resolves to make the Father’s name know to all those given to him. He will make it known, through the Holy Spirit-empowered witness of his disciples. He will make it known through the witness of his set-apart, unified church on mission, preaching the words of the apostles of Jesus Christ.
Our security in salvation is based in the love of the Father for the Son, and the Son’s determination to love the Father and do his will.
Isn’t our salvation so incredibly secure! It is based upon the Father’s eternal love for the Son. And, it is based up the Son’s eternal love for the Father and resolves to bring his will to pass. The Son’s love for us, his people, is fixed in eternity past and must continue into eternity future.
Those of us who believe in Jesus should know this: Our salvation can no sooner fail than the Father can quit loving the Son or the Son can quit loving and obeying the Father.
That is the heartbeat of William Gadsby’s great hymn:
Jesus says, “and I will continue to make it known.” That is, just as in the past, Jesus will, in the future, reveal the Father’s name to all that the Father has given him.
Some understand this to refer to the cross. Jesus, at the end of the prayer, resolves not to quit revealing the Father after three years of earthly ministry, but to go forward and reveal him through his crucifixion.
Certainly, Jesus is resolved to go to the cross to reveal the name of the Father to all his people.
I would suggest that Jesus means something further. We must remember that Jesus has been praying, not only for those who believed at the time of his praying and would be eye-witnesses to the crucifixion, but also for all those who would believe in him through the witness of the disciples.
The assignment given to Jesus by the Father was to “lose nothing of all that he has given me” (John 6:38-39). That includes a believing people who were not yet even born. There were people who would believe in the future—people who would, but as of then had not yet, have the name of the Father made known to them—people like us.
And here, Jesus resolves to make the Father’s name know to all those given to him. He will make it known, through the Holy Spirit-empowered witness of his disciples. He will make it known through the witness of his set-apart, unified church on mission, preaching the words of the apostles of Jesus Christ.
Our security in salvation is based in the love of the Father for the Son, and the Son’s determination to love the Father and do his will.
Isn’t our salvation so incredibly secure! It is based upon the Father’s eternal love for the Son. And, it is based up the Son’s eternal love for the Father and resolves to bring his will to pass. The Son’s love for us, his people, is fixed in eternity past and must continue into eternity future.
Those of us who believe in Jesus should know this: Our salvation can no sooner fail than the Father can quit loving the Son or the Son can quit loving and obeying the Father.
That is the heartbeat of William Gadsby’s great hymn:
The love of Christ is rich and free;
Fixed on His own eternally;
Nor earth, nor hell, can it remove;
Long as He lives, His own He’ll love.
His loving heart engaged to be
Their everlasting Surety;
’Twas love that took their cause in hand,
And love maintains it to the end.
Love cannot from its post withdraw;
Nor death, nor hell, nor sin, nor law,
Can turn the Surety’s heart away;
He’ll love His own to endless day.
Love has redeemed His sheep with blood;
And love will bring them safe to God;
Love calls them all from death to life;
And love will finish all their strife.
He loves through every changing scene,
Nor aught from Him can Zion wean;
Not all the wanderings of her heart
Can make His love for her depart.
At death, beyond the grave, He’ll love;
In endless bliss, His own shall prove
The blazing glory of that love
Which never could from them remove.
Gadsby wrote that hymn as a meditation on John 13:1:
John 13:1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
Do not those words, “having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end,” take on an even greater meaning in light of the full context of Jesus’ farewell and prayer!
O, brothers and sisters in Christ, live within that reality—that having loved you while you were in this world, he is committed to loving you to the end!
The Purpose of the Revelation of God in Christ.
O, brothers and sisters in Christ, live within that reality—that having loved you while you were in this world, he is committed to loving you to the end!
The Purpose of the Revelation of God in Christ.
But, we must not stop there for now. For, as Jesus does throughout the prayer, he prays with his mind, with logic, with intended results.
Jesus gives the result that he intends to occur from his revelation of the Father. He prays, “that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
Two results will occur from Jesus revealing the name of his Father to his people:
Jesus gives the result that he intends to occur from his revelation of the Father. He prays, “that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
Two results will occur from Jesus revealing the name of his Father to his people:
1) The Father’s love for the Son will be in them.
The result of Jesus manifesting the Father to us, is that the love with which the Father loved the Son would be in us. Just as we will be one, as the Father and Son are one, we will love as they love one another.
Seeing God the Father in Jesus Christ—which we do through believing the Gospel—is to have an effect on us. It is to change us.
It would be wrong to conclude that the only thing the Gospel does is tell us about God’s love. The Gospel does not only show us to be a loved people, it transforms us so that the love of the Father is our own. It makes us a people of Gospel-love.
This means that if we have come to know the Father through the Gospel of the Son, we will be a people in whom the love of God dwells. We will be a people characterized by the love we discussed earlier.
Let me encourage you with this: Often we shrink back from ministry (which is love—laboring to show people God’s glory in Christ through the Gospel) because we think we are both too sinful and too weak.
God’s righteous anger against our failure to love has been fully removed in Christ. Jesus lived the perfect life of love that we did not, in our place. And, Jesus died the death we deserved for failing to love. Furthermore, the purpose for which Jesus died was to put the love of God in you. This means that through believing the Gospel, God grants us grace to become what we are not—loving.
So, hope in Christ—and love one another.
2) Jesus will be in them.
Seeing God the Father in Jesus Christ—which we do through believing the Gospel—is to have an effect on us. It is to change us.
It would be wrong to conclude that the only thing the Gospel does is tell us about God’s love. The Gospel does not only show us to be a loved people, it transforms us so that the love of the Father is our own. It makes us a people of Gospel-love.
This means that if we have come to know the Father through the Gospel of the Son, we will be a people in whom the love of God dwells. We will be a people characterized by the love we discussed earlier.
Let me encourage you with this: Often we shrink back from ministry (which is love—laboring to show people God’s glory in Christ through the Gospel) because we think we are both too sinful and too weak.
God’s righteous anger against our failure to love has been fully removed in Christ. Jesus lived the perfect life of love that we did not, in our place. And, Jesus died the death we deserved for failing to love. Furthermore, the purpose for which Jesus died was to put the love of God in you. This means that through believing the Gospel, God grants us grace to become what we are not—loving.
So, hope in Christ—and love one another.
2) Jesus will be in them.
The other purpose for which Jesus makes known the Father’s name is so that he might be in his people.
Back to the beginning, this is what was lost in the Fall, promised in the Prophets and brought pass in the Gospel—God dwelling in the midst of his people.
And, with that resolve, Jesus ends his prayer and marches forward to the cross, to make it happen.
Back to the beginning, this is what was lost in the Fall, promised in the Prophets and brought pass in the Gospel—God dwelling in the midst of his people.
And, with that resolve, Jesus ends his prayer and marches forward to the cross, to make it happen.
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