The Gospel Of John Chapter 17 Pt. 3 "I Have Given Them Thy Word!"

Jesus prayed for His disciples and future church leaders. 

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. 

Jesus begins to pray and what wonderful opening words He used! "I pray for them" our Lord says, referring to His disciples, who would be sent out as apostles for Great Commission work.

But, Jesus' prayer is not limited to the apostles alone. He prayed for all godly pastors, evangelists and teachers who would carry on the mission when the apostles passed from the scene. 

Thus, we see that our Great High Priest, Jesus Christ, is still praying and interceding for all men who presently labor, to share the Word of God within the churches.

Jesus is not praying for the world, which is composed of all who are rebellious against God. He is praying specifically for His disciples, and all future generations of leaders within the church. 

These men need the mighty help from God's Holy Spirit. These men need to fully grasp the glory of our Savior and the Majesty of our King. 

These men need to have the same heart of compassion that Jesus has for saving souls. 

Jesus looked forward to sinners coming to repentant faith. 

John 17:10  And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.

With these words, Jesus anticipates all those who would hear and heed the gospel as it is preached in the world. 

Christ receives glory for each sinner who turns from sinning with repentant faith in Jesus. 

Jesus prayed for the Father to keep His disciples safe.

John 17:11  And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. 

Jesus continues His prayer for His disciples and for all successive generations of pastors, elders, teachers and evangelists. 

Jesus looks ahead to the cross as a finished work. He looks forward to His resurrection and return to the Father, as an already completed event.  

Thus, Jesus is no longer in the world, but His disciples and all future generations of gospel preachers, must contend with a hostile culture and an active enemy. 

Jesus' prayer for His disciples and future church leaders, is that the Holy Father in heaven would use all His mighty power, to keep them safe from the attacks of Satan, and free from the pollution of the culture. 

Jesus is leaving the world, and therefore these men are in need of Divine assistance and support. They need all of the influence of Christ's intercession, that they may be preserved in God's truth. 

The idea of "keep through thine own name" refers to the full doctrine of the Godhead. These men must know this truth, embrace it, live by it and pass it on to others.

Jesus safely kept all His disciples while He was on earth. 

John 17:12  While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

While Jesus lived and ministered on earth, He kept all those disciples that the Father gave Him.

The Father's perfect foreknowledge meant that He knew Judas was not a true disciple of Christ. Yet he was chosen, but as Jesus said, "Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?" (John 6:70).

Judas' betrayal of Jesus Christ was not a surprise to our all knowing Father. 

Jesus kept the 11 pure and safe and allowed Judas to do his vile work, fulfilling many prophecies about Messiah. 

Even when Jesus washed the disciples feet, He also washed Judas' feet (See John 13). This was one last invitation for the betrayer to follow Christ, but he turned away. 

Jesus prayed for His disciples to have full joy. 

John 17:13  And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.

Jesus wanted His disciples and all future pastors, evangelists and teachers, to know that He is in heaven interceding for us, praying for our faith to be strengthened.

This is necessary, so that we might stay focused upon fulfilling the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). 

This is why Jesus gave such powerful parables, to teach us that we must faithfully sow the good seed of God's Word, and that we must trust God for the results.

Thus. the joy of knowing Jesus Christ is our advocate and High Priest, will permeate our hearts, and comfort us when we meet resistance to the gospel. 

Jesus gave us the Father's Word!

John 17:14  I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 

Now we come to a most wonderful truth. Jesus has given His disciples and all future generations of pastors, teachers, and evangelists, exactly what we need: the Word of God. 

So many problems within the modern church and society could be addressed if faithful men of God would simply pick up the Bible, and preach and teach what God says. 

The Devil and the culture at large will hate it when we preach or teach the scriptures, but this is what all people need to hear. 

Jesus possessed all the fulness of the Spirit of God. 

John 3:34  For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.

John's testimony about Jesus is that the Father gave His Son, the fulness of the Holy Spirit, without restriction. 

Therefore, when Jesus spoke and taught, He spoke with all the authority of the Father in heaven. What words did Jesus speak? "The words of God!"

The Spirit of God and the scriptures have quickening power. 

John 6:63  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

Jesus taught that He was the Bread of Life, come down from heaven, to give eternal life to all who repent and believe on Him. 

The Holy Spirit is the one who causes the scriptures to penetrate our sin hardened minds and hearts. He quickens us, which means to give life to something that was dead. 

Jesus spoke the word of God every time that He spoke, because He was God manifest in the flesh (1 Timothy 3:16). He spoke living truth that can impart life to a repentant heart. 

This is the word that Jesus gave to His disciples and which was handed down to us to preach and teach today. 

Jesus showed that the Word and Works of God are connected. 

John 14:10  Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

God is a God of words. Genesis 1:3 makes it abundantly clear that when God speaks, things happen. The Bible tells us: "And God said, Let there be light: and there was light." 

This is why Jesus connects the works of God with the Word of God. The two are inseparable. Jesus spoke the words of the Father and did the works of the Father. 

How vital is the Word of God for the spiritual well being of each Christian?

"The Word" cleanses us when we sin, and helps us avoid sinning. 

Psalm 119:9  BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

Psalm 119:11  Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

The cleansing power of God's word in the heart of a Christian cannot be overemphasized. 

If we have sinned, "The Word" tells us how we can be made right with God (See 2 Timothy 3:14-17). 

"The Word" helps us refrain from sinning when we hide it in our heart. This means that we must carefully and attentively read the scriptures. We must commit them to memory and think of them often. 

"The Word" gives life to our spirit and strengthens our inner man. 

Psalm 119:25  DALETH. My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word.

Psalm 119:28  My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word.

"The Word" has quickening, life giving power. We can become weary in well doing or be struggling under the burdens and cares of this life. 

It is God's word that revives our weary soul, and renews our inner man. 

"The Word" is the basis of God's unshakable promises to us. 

Psalm 119:58  I intreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word.

Psalm 119:65  TETH. Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O LORD, according unto thy word.

God's promises are communicated to us in His Word. God's blessings are recorded in His Word. 

We can seek the lovingkindness of God, because He tells us in His Word that He is full of grace and mercy. 

We can praise God when He answers our prayers or pours out a blessing upon us, because He did what He promised to do for us in His Word. 

"The Word" shows dangers near us and lightens the way for us. 

Psalm 119:105  NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Psalm 119:130  The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. 

The light of "The Word" illuminates the immediate dangers that we might readily fall into. 

It is like a man walking in the dark from one place to another. Without a flashlight, he can trip over a rock or step into a hole, but with a flashlight, he avoids the rock and does not step in the hole.

"The Word" lights the path that God wants us to walk on, so that our hope and affection and direction is set above, where Christ is enthroned in heaven. 

Thoughts to Ponder....

How should we respond to the Word of God?

"The Word" should fill us with joy and we should treasure it. Does any book, magazine, or digital media command more of our attention than the Word of God? 

If so, we must make adjustments and give the highest priority to reading, studying and meditating on our Bible. 

Psalm 119:162  I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.

We treasure a lot of things in this life. Do we place a high value on the Word of God? 

"The Word" tells us of Gods love for us and we ought to love His Word. It teaches us how to love and serve our God, and how to love and serve others. 

Psalm 119:140  Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.

"The Word" becomes something we love at all times. People love many different things in life, but for a Christian, we ought to love God's Word more than anything else. 

When we read God’s Word we are letting God speak to us. If we do not read God’s Word then we are refusing to allow Jehovah to speak to us. 

Psalm 119:20  My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times.

To long for something is to have a deep desire to be close to something or someone. The Psalmist teaches us that we ought to have a deep longing for the judgments of God to be manifested in the world. 

Psalm 119:161  SCHIN. Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word.

"The Word" makes us amazed and awestruck. God tells us the wonderful and awesome way that He created everything that exists, and He tells us how He governs it all by the power of His Word.

God tells us of His great love for us, such that even though He knew man would sin, He was still willing to create all things, and to allow His Son to die, to save us from our sins. 

Psalm 119:74  They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word.

Psalm 119:76  Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant.

"The Word" gives us hope and joy and blessing and happiness and comfort to our hearts. 

Psalm 119:133  Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me. 

"The Word" brings great comfort to our heart. Therefore, let us seek the Lord's help in learning His Word, understanding His Word, and living according to his Word. 

Thus, when Jesus said "I have given them thy word" it reminds us that He has given us a priceless treasure from God in heaven and He has given us His Spirit to help us.

May our Lord glorify Himself and His Word. May His word dwell in us richly, so that we might grow closer to Jesus, and be His faithful servants. 

Bob