March 20, 2024
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in our Lenten readings from “The Life of Jesus”? Here’s today’s reading:
Day 31 in the Book: “The Life of Jesus“
The Week Jesus Dies
Read Sections 5.38 through 5.40 (pages 167-169)
This book is an account of Jesus’ life and teachings told through in chronological order from the four Gospels to create one continuous story.
*If you do not have a copy of the book please contact the church at (401)667-0775 and we can get you a copy.
On page 164 “ I have told you these things, so you can have the true happiness that I have” I can’t find that sentence in my bible, I don’t wanna be a Debbie downer, but Christ isn’t concerned about our happiness, my statement makes him sound harsh and cold, and He is not, when we bear much fruit there is a peace /joy in our hearts and that may be interpreted as happy feelings , I understand what the author is saying, but to the new believers reading this , they’ll come to the conclusion that Jesus is about being happy rather than salvation
Traditional translations probably translate that as making their joy complete…so not that far off as far as a simpler translation that we have here…but a good point to make, Steve, so thanks for sharing. I have heard it said that God cares more about our holiness than our happiness..which is true…but then our holiness fills us with the joy and peace of God…with a fulfillment that the flesh and the world cannot give.
I was not a fan of the “happy” translation either. I think it is trying to simplify….but what is easier, happy or joy?
It’s an important distinction that is difficult to define to the world.
How moving to hear Jesus speak to His father and raise up Himself, His disciples, and all believers in prayer. His words are simple and sincere and always with the glory of His father being the focal point. Amazing to think Jesus, who is God, takes time to pray to God for us! This so powerfully shows the importance God puts on relationship and prayer.
5.38 Jesus Talks to His Father (John 17:1-5) “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” So often we can get wrapped around the axle wondering what heaven will be like. I have actually listened to believers argue about what form their treasure in heaven will be like…how much of it, what kind, etc. But here, Jesus tells us what eternal life actually is…it is simply knowing God, and Jesus Christ whom He sent. In these verses, Jesus again gives His own obedience to the Father as our example of how to live in as His followers…building upon His statements in John 14. I was just listening to sermon today where the pastor quoted Calvin from his institutes where he says, “For not only does faith, full and perfect faith, but all correct knowledge of God, originate in obedience.” That is of course not to say that somehow our obedience produces saving faith, for we know that we are saved by grace through faith, that which is not our own, but is the gift of God, not of works, so that no man may boast (Ephesians 2:8-9), but rather, that the mature faith, or the “full and perfect faith” as he describes it, as well as correct knowledge of God comes through obedience to the Word. And how can we argue against this point? We know that Jesus has sent us the Holy Spirit to guide us into all Truth, and we know that the Scriptures were written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and we know that all Scripture is breathed out by God, profitable for teaching, correction, reproof and training in righteousness, that the man of God might be complete, equipped for every good work (2 Tim 3:16) . So, to believe that our knowledge of God, which Jesus says is eternal life, comes from anywhere other than our obedience to Christ’s Word…well, it is an interesting conversation to have!
Verse 5 is incredible here as well…”And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I HAD WITH YOU BEFORE THE WORLD EXISTED.” (Emphasis mine :)) If we were confused about the deity of Christ up to this point, well, we certainly shouldn’t be any more.
5.39 Jesus Prays for His Followers (John 17:6-19) Verse 15 “I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.” Jesus knows that his followers have work to do in this world. He commands us to “go and make disciples of all nations!” So, He can’t ask that we be taken out of the world, but rather asks that the Father would keep us from the evil one. And how can we be kept from the evil one? “Sanctify them in the Truth; your Word is Truth.” We must be creatures of the Word, not only hearers, but doers, lest we deceive ourselves! (James 1:22) It is through our obedience to God through following His Word that this prayer of Jesus is fulfilled…”submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” (James 4:7-8). When the sheep obey the voice of their shepherd, they are safe, protected, cared for, and at peace.
5.40 Jesus Prays for ALL Who Will Believe in Him (John 17:20-26) That Jesus includes all that would come to know Him through the work of the apostles into this prayer is absolutely incredible. The intimate unity described by Christ here, the earnest yearning for oneness, that we all would be where Jesus is…verse 24 encapsulates the whole purpose of salvation…that Christ desires that His people, those who have been given to Him by the Father, would be with Jesus where He is, and would see His glory…glory given to Christ through the love of the Father before the foundations of the world…now, we are talking about eternity. We are talking about eternal life. And what is eternal life? That we would know God and Jesus Christ, whom He has sent.
Just soak in Chapter 17. Praise be to God for His Word to us…just absolutely incredible.
”O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”“
John 17:25-26 NKJV
The Life of Jesus 5.38-5.40& Micah 4-5
The Life of Jesus 5.38-5.40; John 7
Often during worship or while listening to a communion service we are reminded that Jesus was thinking of us during His crucifixion. But reading His prayer here feels like He’s breaking the fourth wall and praying for me right then and there. How could you not get a little emotional at that part?
Right Josiah? I completely feel the same way…Jesus, because of His eternal being, is actually praying for every single person who will come to faith in Him, right then and there. Reading that passage transports me to the upper room. Chapter 17 is just incredible.
Jesus in His prayer to the Father is praying out loud so His followers could hear Him. He knows He has finished the work that the Father has given Him. That is except the death and resurrection. But His ministry is finished. Now He is praying for His disciples and all others that would become believers. That would be us. Of course, we know that when He died on the cross; He said it is finished. Meaning that He died for the sin of the world. In this chapter 17, Jesus prays that the believers will be sanctified through the word for it is God`s truth. Have you ever noticed how clean you feel after reading God`s word? That your spirit is refreshed. There are in this chapter two times where Jesus states that He was with the Father at the beginning. vs 5 { And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.} vs 24 { Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.} He also desires that we will join Him in Heaven. Such love that He has for us. God bless.
Day 30!-Day 32
What an incredibly powerful passage of scripture! It shows Jesus’ understanding of Himself, His mission and His connection to His Father. I love the emphasis on the glory that Jesus had with the Father and the glory that Jesus was reflecting back to the Father because of the work that He has accomplished on the earth. I also love the intimate nature of the communication between the Son to His Father and that Jesus says this prayer out loud so we can gain insight into the various aspects of their relationship. And who isn’t struck by the compassionate, understanding and powerful prayer that He prays for His disciples and us. He has got us because of the work He will do on calvary and His greatest wish for us is that we would be connected with Him and the Father and each other. Our unity as believers is mentioned 3 times showing the purpose and value of our relationships with each other. May we tap into all the resources God gives us for relationship to be the answer to Jesus prayer in our day and in our part of the world!