Part 24a – John 17
This chapter is often described as the “real Lord’s prayer” because it sees Jesus change from speaking to, and preparing his disciples for life on earth without him, to speaking directly to God.
As we move through this chapter we find Jesus focusing on himself and his relationship with God and later on in the chapter Jesus focusing on those he came to save, mankind.
We see right from the outset of this passage that Jesus is clearly saying and identifying himself with God and in John 17:5 he states that he was with God before the world was. Jesus is saying that he is eternal, that the life lived here on earth is but a passing phase and his sole purpose was to declare and make known, through word and deed, that he was with and is God who revealed Himself in human flesh so that mankind could be redeemed and restored to walk again in harmony with their creator.
John 17:3 says life eternal is knowing “the only true God” and “knowing Jesus Christ who the only true God sent.”
This statement by Jesus here in v3 should really make us ask some deep questions about ourselves as to whether we know God and know Jesus.
- Do we really know God? Do we really know Jesus?
- Do we dedicate our lives and hearts to discovering the hidden depths of the magnitude of this awesome creator who brought life into this barren, formless world and created us out of the dust of the earth so that we could know and interact with this divine power we call God?
- Are we prepared to know God?
- Are we prepared to stand out from the crowd? Unless we are then we will never experience freedom and life eternal.
Life eternal is not only somewhere we go when we die, it is something we live and experience every day we are alive, it’s all about aligning ourselves to God and His infinite wisdom and not being caught up in the mundane trappings of the mechanics of this world, it’s politics and power struggles, it’s bitterness and wars. God, through Jesus, has called us into a different space, a space where we are free to show another way.
What is striking in these few verses is that Jesus is continually pointing to the Father and in John 17:6 he says “I have revealed you to the ones you gave me from this world.” He goes on to acknowledge that these men were always God’s men who the creator set apart for the ministry of being with His Son. As we read on we find that Jesus’ prayer includes some very specific statements concerning his followers. (To be continued)
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