TEXT: John 17:7 Now they have known that all things whatsoever
thou hast given me are of thee.
His disciples have a continuing awareness or knowledge that is now confirmed by experience. The more we obey, the more is revealed to us.
2 Peter 1:16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables,
when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord
Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
Jesus said that all the things that God had given Him were of Him (God). Those things included honor, glory and power, in fulfilling the Old Testament Prophecies and performing the miracles that He did and the teaching that He did.
John 20:30, 31 30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the
presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the
Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life
through his name.
His disciples, and we also, knew that He, His miracles and His teachings were from the Father, therefore they, and we, should honor His Father in their and our mission that He was giving them and has given us to accomplish.
John 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as
my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
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This is one of the verses that show us that Jesus sends us out just as the Father sent Him out. This is called the Great Commission that He gave to His church.
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is
come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in
Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the
uttermost part of the earth.
Here Jesus defines the regions of the world for the purposes of evangelism. The Jerusalem would be our home area. Judaea would be our home state, Samaria would be our neighboring states and country, while the uttermost part of the earth would be those lands that are foreign to us.
John 17:8 For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest
me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I
came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send
me.
Jesus relates in His continuing prayer that His disciples had received His words, that is His doctrines, and that they believed that those doctrines did indeed come from God.
This was further proof for the disciples that He came from the Father and that He did send Him.
John 8:28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the
Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing
of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.
The “lifted up” has to do with His crucifixion. This really did happen. The Roman Centurion, after he had observed all the 26
happenings that took place at the crucifixion, said, “Surely this was the Son of God.” Jesus did not teach anything except what He had been taught of the Father. He did not do anything that the Father did not want Him to do. He was completely obedient in everything He did and in everything He did, He provided an example for us to follow.
John 12:49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which
sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and
what I should speak.
Again, Jesus states again that He only says and teaches as the Father has commanded Him. The word “speak” would indicate those things that the Father commanded Him to teach. In the Greek the word “speak” is different than the word used for the word “say.” In the English we would not see much difference in the two words, but they are different in the Greek.
Say (ep’o) means “answer, bid, bring word, call, command, grant, tell”.
Speak (lal-eh’-o) means “to talk, utter words, preach”.
The first gives the idea of how to answer things, questions, etc. The second how to preach or proclaim something.
John 17:9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them
which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
In this verse, Jesus prays for His own, His own church-people, His chosen witnesses, first.
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2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure,
having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let
every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
At this time Jesus was not praying for those of the world, though He later prayed for His crucifiers. He was concentrating on those that belonged to Him but also later He would teach His church to pray for her enemies.
The term “world” as it is used in this verse refers to wicked, rebellious, vicious men. The prayer, at this point in time, was not offered for the wicked, perverse, rebellious men, but for those who were the friends of God.
Jesus later extended His prayer for all who should accept Him as their personal Saviour. Because His disciples were also God’s, this was a reason why God should protect and guide them. His honor was concerned in keeping them; and we may always fill our mouths with the same request when we come before God and plead that His honor be advanced by keeping us from evil, and granting us all needful grace that is so badly needed.
Conclusion: The last part of 2 Timothy 2:19 reads, … And, Let every
one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
One simple question: Are we doing what this verse says?
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The Lord’s Prayer