WilliamBarclay'sDailyStudy

Bible
John17
Verses126
Chapter17
THEGLORYOFTHECROSS(John17:15)
17:15WhenJesushadspokenthesewords,helifteduphis
eyestoheaven,andsaid:"Father,thehourhascome.Glorify
theSonthattheSonmayglorifyyou.Glorifyhim,justasyou
gavehimauthorityovermankind,thathemaygiveeternallifeto
everyonewhomyouhavegiventohim.Itiseternallifetoknow
you,whoaretheonlytrueGod,andtoknowJesusChrist,
whomyousent.Ihaveglorifiedyouuponearth,becauseIhave
finishedtheworkwhichyougavemetodoandnow,Father,
glorifymeinyourownpresencewiththeglorywhichIhadwith
youbeforetheworldbegan."
ForJesuslifehadaclimax,andthatwastheCross.TohimtheCrosswastheglory
oflifeandthewaytothegloryofeternity."Thehourhascome,"hesaid,"forthe
SonofMantobeglorified"(John12:23).WhatdidJesusmeanwhenherepeatedly
spokeoftheCrossashisgloryandhisglorification?Thereismorethanoneanswer
tothatquestion.
(i)Itisoneofthefactsofhistorythatagainandagainitwasindeaththatthegreat
onesfoundtheirglory.Itwaswhentheydied,andhowtheydied,whichshowed
peoplewhatandwhotheyreallywere.Theymayhavebeenmisunderstood,
undervalued,condemnedascriminalsintheirlives,buttheirdeathsshowedtheir
trueplaceintheschemeofthings.
AbrahamLincolnhadhisenemiesduringhislifetimebuteventhosewhohad
criticizedhimsawhisgreatnesswhenhedied.Someonecameoutoftheroom
whereLincolnlay,aftertheassassin'sshothadkilledhim,saying:"Nowhebelongs
totheages."Stanton,hiswarminister,whohadalwaysregardedLincolnascrude
anduncouthandwhohadtakennopainstoconcealhiscontempt,lookeddownat
hisdeadbodywithtearsinhiseyes."Therelies,"hesaid,"thegreatestrulerofmen
theworldhaseverseen."
JoanofArcwasburnedasawitchandahereticbytheEnglish.Amidstthecrowd
therewasanEnglishmanwhohadsworntoaddafaggottothefire."Wouldthatmy
soul,"hesaid,"werewherethesoulofthatwomanis!"Oneofthesecretariesofthe
KingofEnglandleftthescenesaying:"Wearealllostbecausewehaveburneda
saint."
WhenMontrosewasexecuted,hewastakendowntheHighStreetofEdinburghto
theMercatCross.Hisenemieshadencouragedthecrowdtorevilehimandhad
actuallyprovidedthemwithammunitiontoflingathim,butnotonevoicewasraised
tocurseandnotonehandwaslifted.Hehadonhisfinestclothes,withribbonson
hisshoesandfinewhiteglovesonhishands.JamesFrazer,aneyewitness,said:
"Hesteptalongthestreetwithsogreatstate,andthereappearedinhiscountenance
somuchbeauty,majestyandgravityasamazedthebeholder,andmanyofhis
enemiesdidacknowledgehimtobethebravestsubjectintheworld,andinhima
gallantrythatbracedallthatcrowd."JohnNicoll,thenotarypublic,thoughthimmore

likeabridegroomthanacriminal.AnEnglishmaninthecrowd,agovernmentagent,
wrotebacktohissuperiors:"Itisabsolutelycertainthathehathovercomemoremen
byhisdeath,inScotland,thanhewouldhavedoneifhehadlived.ForIneversawa
moresweetercarriageinamaninallmylife."
Againandagainamartyr'smajestyhasappearedindeath.ItwassowithJesus,for
eventhecenturionatthefootoftheCrosswasleftsaying:"TrulythiswastheSon
ofGod"(Matthew27:54).TheCrosswasthegloryofJesusbecausehewasnever
moremajesticthaninhisdeath.TheCrosswashisglorybecauseitsmagnetdrew
mentohiminawaythatevenhislifehadneverdoneanditissoyet.
THEGLORYOFTHECROSS(John17:15continued)
(ii)Further,theCrosswasthegloryofJesusbecauseitwasthecompletionofhis
work."Ihaveaccomplishedthework,"hesaid,"whichYougavemetodo."Forhim
tohavestoppedshortoftheCrosswouldhavebeentoleavehistaskuncompleted.
Whyshouldthatbeso?Jesushadcomeintothisworldtotellmenabouttheloveof
Godandtoshowittothem.IfhehadstoppedshortoftheCross,itwouldhavebeen
tosaythatGod'slovesaid:"Thusfarandnofarther."BygoingtotheCrossJesus
showedthattherewasnothingthattheloveofGodwasnotpreparedtodoandsuffer
formen,thattherewasliterallynolimittoit.
H.L.GeetellsofawarincidentfromBristol.AttachedtooneoftheAirRaid
PrecautionsStationstherewasaboymessengercalledDerekBellfall.Hewassent
withamessagetoanotherstationonhisbicycle.Onhiswaybackabombmortally
woundedhim.Whentheyfoundhim,hewasstillconscious.Hislastwhispered
wordswere:"MessengerBellfallreportingIhavedeliveredmymessage."
AfamouspaintingfromtheFirstWorldWarshowedanengineerfixingafield
telephoneline.Hehadjustcompletedthelinesothatanessentialmessagemight
comethrough,whenhewasshot.Thepictureshowshiminthemomentofdeath,
andbeneathitthereistheoneword,"Through!"Hehadgivenhislife,thatthe
messagemightgetthrough.
ThatisexactlywhatJesusdid.HecompletedhistaskhebroughtGod'sloveto
men.ForhimthatmeanttheCrossandtheCrosswashisglorybecausehefinished
theworkGodgavehimtodohemademenforevercertainofGod'slove.
(iii)ThereisanotherquestionhowdidtheCrossglorifyGod?Theonlywaytoglorify
Godistoobeyhim.Achildbringshonourtohisparentswhenhebringsthem
obedience.Acitizenbringshonourtohiscountrywhenheobeysit.Ascholarbrings
honourtohisteacherwhenheobeyshismaster'steaching.Jesusbroughtgloryand
honourtoGodbyhisperfectobediencetohim.Thegospelstorymakesitquiteclear
thatJesuscouldhaveescapedtheCross.Humanlyspeaking,hecouldhaveturned
backandneedneverhavegonetoJerusalem.AswelookatJesusinthelastdays,
weareboundtosay:"SeehowhelovedGod!Seetowhatlengthshisobedience
wouldgo!"HeglorifiedGodontheCrossbyrenderingtheperfectobedienceof
perfectlove.
(iv)Butthereisstillmore.JesusprayedtoGodtoglorifyhimandtoglorifyhimself.
TheCrosswasnottheend.TherewastheResurrectiontofollow.Thiswasthe
vindicationofJesus.Itwastheproofthatmencoulddotheirworst,andthatJesus
couldstilltriumph.ItwasasifGodpointedattheCrossandsaid:"Thatiswhatmen
thinkofmySon,"andthenpointedattheresurrectionandsaid:"ThatiswhatIthink
ofmySon."TheCrosswastheworstthatmencoulddotoJesusbutnotalltheir
worstcouldconquerhim.Thegloryoftheresurrectionobliteratedtheshameofthe
Cross.
(v)ForJesustheCrosswasthewayback."Glorifyme,"heprayed,"withtheglory
whichIhadbeforetheworldbegan."Hewaslikeaknightwholefttheking'scourtto
performsomeperilousandawfuldeed,andwho,havingperformedit,camehomein
triumphtoenjoythevictor'sglory.JesuscamefromGod,andreturnedtohim.The
exploitbetweenhiscomingforthandhisgoingbackwastheCross.Forhim,
therefore,itwasthegatewaytogloryand,ifhehadrefusedtopassthroughit,there
wouldhavebeennogloryforhimtoenterinto.ForJesustheCrosswashisreturnto
God.

ETERNALLIFE(John17:15continued)
Thereisanotherimportantthoughtinthispassage,foritcontainsthegreatNew
Testamentdefinitionofeternallife.ItiseternallifetoknowGodandtoknowJesus
Christwhomhehassent.Letusremindourselvesofwhateternalmeans.InGreekit
isaionios(Greek#166).Thiswordhastodo,notsomuchwithdurationoflife,for
lifewhichwentonforeverwouldnotnecessarilybeaboon.Itsmainmeaningis
qualityoflife.Thereisonlyonepersontowhomthewordaionios(Greek#166)can
properlybeapplied,andthatisGod.Eternallifeis,therefore,nothingotherthanthe
lifeofGod.Topossessit,toenterintoit,istoexperiencehereandnowsomething
ofthesplendour,andthemajesty,andthejoy,andthepeace,andtheholiness
whicharecharacteristicofthelifeofGod.
ToknowGodisacharacteristicthoughtoftheOldTestament.Wisdomis"atreeof
lifetothosewholayholdofher"(Proverbs3:18)."Toknowthypower,"saidthe
writerofWisdom,"istherootofimmortality"(WisdomofSolomon5:3)."By
knowledgearetherighteousdelivered"(Proverbs11:9).Habbakuk'sdreamofthe
goldenageisthat"theearthwillbefilledwiththeknowledgeofthegloryofGod"
(Habakkuk2:14).HoseahearsGod'svoicesayingtohim:"Mypeoplearedestroyed
forlackofknowledge"(Hosea4:6).ARabbinicexpositionaskswhatisthesmallest
sectionofscriptureonwhichalltheessentialsofthelawhang?Itanswers,Proverbs
3:6,whichliterallymeans:"Knowhim,andheshalldirectthypaths."Againthere
wasaRabbinicexpositionwhichsaidthatAmoshadreducedallthemany
commandmentsoftheLawtoone,whenhesaid:"Seekme,andlive"(Amos5:4),
forseekingGodmeansseekingtoknowhim.TheJewishteachershadlonginsisted
thattoknowGodisnecessarytotruelife.WhatthendoesitmeantoknowGod?
(i)Undoubtedlythereisanelementofintellectualknowledge.Itmeans,atleastin
part,toknowwhatGodislikeandtoknowthatdoesmakethemosttremendous
differencetolife.Taketwoexamples.Heathenpeoplesinprimitivecountriesbelieve
inahordeofgods.Everytree,brook,hill,mountain,river,stonehasitsgodsandits
spiritallthesespiritsarehostiletomanandprimitivepeoplearehauntedbythe
godslivinginperpetualfearofoffendingoneofthem.Missionariestellusthatitis
almostimpossibletounderstandthesheerwaveofreliefwhichcomestothese
peoplewhentheydiscoverthatthereisonlyoneGod.Thisnewknowledgemakesall
thedifferenceintheworld.Further,itmakesatremendousdifferencetoknowthat
Godisnotsternandcruel,butlove.
WeknowthesethingsbutwecouldneverhaveknownthemunlessJesushadcome
totellthem.Weenterintoanewlife,wesharesomethingofthelifeofGodhimself,
when,throughtheworkofJesus,wediscoverwhatGodislike.Itiseternallifeto
knowwhatGodislike.
(ii)Butthereissomethingelse.TheOldTestamentregularlyusesknowforsexual
knowledge."AdamknewEvehiswife,andsheconceived,andboreCain"(Genesis
4:1).Nowtheknowledgeofhusbandandwifeisthemostintimatetherecanbe.
Husbandandwifearenolongertwotheyareoneflesh.Thesexualactitselfisnot
theimportantthingtheimportantthingistheintimacyofheartandmindandsoul
whichintrueloveprecedethatact.ToknowGodisthereforenotmerelytohave
intellectualknowledgeofhimitistohaveanintimatepersonalrelationshipwithhim,
whichislikethenearestanddearestrelationshipinlife.Onceagain,withoutJesus
suchintimacywithGodwouldhavebeenunthinkableandimpossible.ItisJesus
whotaughtmenthatGodisnotremoteandunapproachable,buttheFatherwhose
nameandnaturearelove.
ToknowGodistoknowwhatheislike,andtobeonthemostintimatetermsof
friendshipwithhimandneitherofthesethingsispossiblewithoutJesusChrist.
THEWORKOFJESUS(John17:68)
17:68"Ihaveshownforthyournametothemenwhomyou
gavemeoutoftheworld.Theywereyoursandyougavethem
tome,andtheyhavekeptyourword.Nowtheyrealizethat
everythingyougavemecomesfromyou,becauseIgaveto
themthewordsyougavetome,andtheyreceivedthem,and
theytrulyknowthatIcameforthfromyou,andtheybelievethat

yousentme."
Jesusgivesusadefinitionoftheworkthathedid.HesaystoGod:"Ihaveshown
forthyourname."
Therearetwogreatideashere,bothofwhichwouldbequitecleartothosewho
heardthissayingforthefirsttime.
(i)ThereisanideawhichisanessentialandcharacteristicideaoftheOld
Testament.IntheOldTestamentnameisusedinaveryspecialway.Itdoesnot
meansimplythenamebywhichapersoniscalleditmeansthewholecharacterof
thepersoninsofarasitcanbeknown.ThePsalmistsays:"Thosewhoknowthy
nameputtheirtrustinthee"(Psalms9:10).Clearlythatdoesnotmeanthatthose
whoknowwhatGodiscalledwilltrusthimitmeansthatthosewhoknowwhatGod
islike,thosewhoknowhischaracterandnaturewillbegladtoputtheirtrustinhim.
Thepsalmistsays:"Someboastofchariots,andsomeofhorsesbutweboastof
thenameoftheLordourGod"(Psalms20:7).ThismeansthathecantrustGod
becauseheknowswhatheislike.ThePsalmistsays:"Iwilltenofthynametomy
brethren"(Psalms22:22).ThiswasapsalmwhichtheJewsbelievedtobea
prophecyoftheMessiahandoftheworkthathewoulddoanditmeansthatthe
Messiah'sworkwouldbetodeclaretohisfellowmenwhatGodislike.Itisthe
visionofIsaiahthatinthenewage,"Mypeopleshallknowmyname"(Isaiah52:6).
ThatistosaythatinthegoldendaysmenwillknowfullyandtrulywhatGodislike.
SowhenJesussays:"Ihaveshownforthyourname,"heissaying:"Ihaveenabled
mentoseewhattherealnatureofGodislike."Itisinfactanotherwayofsaying:
"HewhohasseenmehasseentheFather"(John14:9).ItisJesus'supremeclaim
thatinhimmenseethemind,thecharacter,theheartofGod.
(ii)Butthereisanotherideahere.InlatertimeswhentheJewsspokeofthenameof
Godtheymeantthesacredfourlettersymbol,thetetragrammatonasitiscalled,
IHWH.Thatnamewasheldtobesosacredthatitwasneverpronounced,exceptby
theHighPriestwhenhewentintotheHolyofHoliesontheDayofAtonement.
ThesefourlettersstandforthenameYahweh(Hebrew#3068andHebrew#3069).
WeusuallyspeakaboutJehovahandthechangeinthevowelsisduetothefactthat
thevowelsofJehovaharethoseofAdonai(Hebrew#136),whichmeans"Lord."In
theHebrewalphabettherewerenovowelsatall.Laterthevowelsoundswereshown
bylittlesignsputaboveandbelowtheconsonants.ThefourlettersYHWHwereso
sacredthatthevowelsof'Adonaiwereputbelowthem,sothatwhenthereader
cametoIHWHhewouldread,notYahweh,but'Adonai.Thatistosay,inthetimeof
JesusthenameofGodwassosacredthatordinarypeoplewerenotevensupposed
toknowit,farlesstospeakit.Godwastheremote,invisibleking,whosenamewas
notforordinarymentospeak.SoJesusissaying:"IhavetoldyouGod'snamethat
namewhichissosacredcanbespokennowbecauseofwhatIhavedone.Ihave
broughttheremote,invisibleGodsoclosethateventhesimplestpeoplecanspeak
tohimandtakehisnameupontheirlips."
ItisJesus'greatclaimthatheshowedtomenthetruenatureandthetruecharacter
ofGodandthathebroughthimsoclosethatthehumblestChristiancantakehis
unutterablenameuponhislips.
THEMEANINGOFDISCIPLESHIP(John17:68continued)
Thispassagealsoshedsanilluminatinglightonthemeaningofdiscipleship.
(i)DiscipleshipisbasedontherealizationthatJesuscameforthfromGod.The
discipleisessentiallyapersonwhohasrealizedthatJesusisGod'sambassador,
andthatinhiswordswehearGod'svoice,andinhisdeedsweseeGod'saction.
ThediscipleisonewhoseesGodinJesusandisawarethatnooneinallthe
universeisonewithGodasJesusis.
(ii)Discipleshipissuesinobedience.ThediscipleisonewhokeepsGod'swordas
hehearsitinJesus.HeisonewhohasacceptedthemasteryofJesus.Solongas
wewishtodowhatwelike,wecannotbedisciplesdiscipleshipinvolves

submission.
(iii)Discipleshipissomethingwhichisdestined.Jesus'menweregiventohimby
God.InGod'splantheyweredestinedfordiscipleship.ThatdoesnotmeanthatGod
destinedsomementobedisciplesandsometorefusediscipleship.Thinkofitthis
way.Aparentdreamsgreatdreamsforhissonheworksoutafutureforhimbut
thesoncanrefusethatfutureandgohisownway.Ateacherthinksoutagreat
futureforastudentheseesthathehasitinhimtodogreatworkforGodandman
butthestudentcanlazilyorselfishlyrefusetheofferedtask.Ifwelovesomeonewe
arealwaysdreamingofhisfutureandplanningforgreatnessbutthedreamandthe
plancanbefrustrated.ThePhariseesbelievedinfate,buttheyalsobelievedinfree
will.Oneoftheirgreatsayingswas:"EverythingisdecreedexceptthefearofGod."
Godhashisplan,hisdream,hisdestinyforeverymanandourtremendous
responsibilityisthatwecanacceptorrejectit.Assomeonehassaid:"Fateiswhat
wearecompelledtododestinyiswhatwearemeanttodo."
Thereisthroughoutthiswholepassage,andindeedthroughoutthiswholechapter,a
ringingconfidenceaboutthefutureinthevoiceofJesus.Hewaswithhismen,the
menGodhadgivenhimhethankedGodforthemandheneverdoubtedthatthey
wouldcarryontheworkhehadgiventhemtodo.Letusrememberwhoandwhat
theywere.Agreatcommentatorsaid:"ElevenGalilaeanpeasantsafterthreeyears'
labour!ButitisenoughforJesus,forintheseelevenhebeholdsthepledgeofthe
continuanceofGod'sworkuponearth."WhenJesusleftthisworldhedidnotseem
tohavegreatgroundsforhope.Heseemedtohaveachievedsolittleandtohave
wonsofew,anditwasthegreatandtheorthodoxandthereligiousofthedaywho
hadturnedagainsthim.ButJesushadthatconfidencewhichspringsfromGod.He
wasnotafraidofsmallbeginnings.Hewasnotpessimisticaboutthefuture.He
seemedtosay:"Ihavewononlyelevenveryordinarymenbutgivemethese
elevenordinarymenandIwillchangetheworld."
JesushadtwothingsbeliefinGodandbeliefinmen.Itisoneofthemostuplifting
thingsintheworldtothinkthatJesusputhistrustinmenlikeourselves.Wetoo
mustneverbedauntedbyhumanweaknessorbythesmallbeginning.Wetoomust
goforwardwithconfidentbeliefinGodandinmen.Thenwewillneverbepessimists,
becausewiththesetwobeliefsthepossibilitiesoflifeareinfinite.
JESUS'PRAYERFORHISDISCIPLES(John17:919)
17:919"ItisforthemthatIpray.ItisnotfortheworldthatI
pray,butforthosewhomyouhavegivenmebecausetheyare
yours.AllthatIhaveisyours,andallthatyouhaveismine.
Andthroughthemgloryhasbeengiventome.Iamnolongerin
theworldandtheyarenolongerintheworld,andIgotoyou.
HolyFather,keeptheminyourname,whichyougavetome,
thattheymaybeone,asweareone.WhenIwaswiththemI
kepttheminyourname,whichyougavetome.Iguardedthem
andnoneofthemwentlost,excepttheonewhowasdestinedto
belostandthishappenedthatthescripturesmightbefulfilled.
AndnowIcometoyou.IamsayingthesethingswhileIamstill
intheworldthattheymayhavemyjoycompletedin
themselves.Igavethemyourword,andtheworldhatedthen,
becausetheyarenotoftheworld.Idonotaskthatyoushould
takethemoutoftheworld,butthatyoushouldpreservethem
fromtheevilone.Theyarenotoftheworld,justasIamnotof
theworld.Consecratethembythetruthyourwordistruth.As
yousendmeintotheworld,Isendthemintotheworld.Andfor
theirsakesIconsecratemyself,thattheytoomaybe
consecratedbythetruth."
Hereisapassageclosepackedwithtruthssogreatthatwecangrasponly
fragmentsofthem.
Firstofall,ittellsussomethingaboutthediscipleofJesus.
(i)ThediscipleisgiventoJesusbyGod.Whatdoesthatmean?Itmeansthatthe
SpiritofGodmovesourheartstorespondtotheappealofJesus.

(ii)Throughthedisciple,gloryhascometoJesus.Thepatientwhomhehascured
bringshonourtoadoctorthescholarwhomhehastaughtbringshonourtothe
teachertheathletewhomhehastrainedbringshonourtohistrainer.Themenwhom
Jesushasredeemedbringhonourtohim.Thebadmanmadegoodisthehonourof
Jesus.
(iii)Thediscipleisthemanwhoiscommissionedtoatask.AsGodsentoutJesus,
soJesussendsouthisdisciples.Hereistheexplanationofapuzzlingthinginthis
passage.Jesusbeginsbysayingthathedoesnotprayfortheworldandyethe
camebecauseGodsolovedtheworld.But,aswehaveseen,inJohn'sgospelthe
worldstandsfor"humansocietyorganizingitselfwithoutGod."WhatJesusdoesfor
theworldistosendouthisdisciplesintoit,inordertoleaditbacktoGodandto
makeitawareofGod.Hepraysforhismeninorderthattheymaybesuchastowin
theworldforhim.
Further,thispassagetellsusthatJesusofferedhismentwothings.
(i)Heofferedthemhisjoy.Allhewassayingtothemwasdesignedtobringthem
joy.
(ii)Healsoofferedthemwarning.Hetoldthemthattheyweredifferentfromthe
world,andthattheycouldnotexpectanythingelsebuthatredfromit.Theirvalues
andstandardsweredifferentfromtheworld's.Butthereisajoyinbattlingagainst
thestormandstrugglingagainstthetideitisbyfacingthehostilityoftheworldthat
weenterintotheChristianjoy.
Stillfurther,inthispassageJesusmakesthegreatestclaimheevermade.Heprays
toGodandsays:"AllthatIhaveisyours,andallthatyouhaveismine."Thefirst
partofthatsentenceisnaturalandeasytounderstand,forallthingsbelongtoGod,
andagainandagainJesushadsaidso.Butthesecondpartofthissentenceisthe
astonishingclaim"Allthatyouhaveismine."Luthersaid:"Thisnocreaturecansay
withreferencetoGod."NeverdidJesussovividlylaydownhisonenesswithGod.
Heissoonewithhimthatheexerciseshisverypowerandprerogatives.
JESUS'PRAYERFORHISDISCIPLES(John17:919continued)
ThegreatinterestofthispassageisthatittellsusofthethingsforwhichJesus
prayedforhisdisciples.
(i)ThefirstessentialistonotethatJesusdidnotpraythathisdisciplesshouldbe
takenoutofthisworld.Heneverprayedthattheymightfindescapeheprayedthat
theymightfindvictory.ThekindofChristianitywhichburiesitselfinamonasteryor
aconventwouldnothaveseemedChristianitytoJesusatall.Thekindof
Christianitywhichfindsitsessenceinprayerandmeditationandinalifewithdrawn
fromtheworld,wouldhaveseemedtohimasadlytruncatedversionofthefaithhe
diedtobring.Heinsistedthatitwasintheroughandtumbleoflifethatamanmust
liveouthisChristianity.
Ofcoursethereisneedofprayerandmeditationandquiettimes,whenweshutthe
doorupontheworldtobealonewithGod,butallthesethingsarenottheendoflife,
butmeanstotheendandtheendistodemonstratetheChristianlifeintheordinary
workoftheworld.Christianitywasnevermeanttowithdrawamanfromlife,butto
equiphimbetterforit.Itdoesnotofferusreleasefromproblems,butawaytosolve
them.Itdoesnotofferusaneasypeace,butatriumphantwarfare.Itdoesnotoffer
usalifeinwhichtroublesareescapedandevaded,butalifeinwhichtroublesare
facedandconquered.HowevermuchitmaybetruethattheChristianisnotofthe
world,itremainstruethatitiswithintheworldthathisChristianitymustbelivedout.
Hemustneverdesiretoabandontheworld,butalwaysdesiretowinit.
(ii)Jesusprayedfortheunityofhisdisciples.Wheretherearedivisions,wherethere
isexclusiveness,wherethereiscompetitionbetweentheChurches,thecauseof
ChristianityisharmedandtheprayerofJesusfrustrated.Thegospelcannottrulybe
preachedinanycongregationwhichisnotoneunitedbandofbrothers.Theworld
cannotbeevangelizedbycompetingChurches.Jesusprayedthathisdisciples
mightbeasfullyoneasheandtheFatherareoneandthereisnoprayerofhis
whichhasbeensohinderedfrombeingansweredbyindividualChristiansandbythe

Churchesthanthis.
(iii)JesusprayedthatGodwouldprotecthisdisciplesfromtheattacksoftheEvil
One.TheBibleisnotaspeculativebookitdoesnotdiscusstheoriginofevilbutit
isquitecertainthatinthisworldthereisapowerofevilwhichisinoppositiontothe
powerofGod.ItisupliftingtofeelthatGodisthesentinelwhostandsoverourlives
toguardusfromtheassaultsofevil.Thefactthatwefallsooftenisduetothefact
thatwetrytomeetlifeinourownstrengthandforgettoseekthehelpandto
rememberthepresenceofourprotectingGod.
(iv)Jesusprayedthathisdisciplesmightbeconsecratedbythetruth.Thewordfor
toconsecrateishagiazein(Greek#37)whichcomesfromtheadjectivehagios
(Greek#40).IntheKingJamesVersionhagios(Greek#40)isusuallytranslated
"holy"butitsbasicmeaningis"different"or"separate."Sothenhagiazein(Greek
#37)hastwoideasinit.
(a)Itmeanstosetapartforaspecialtask.WhenGodcalledJeremiah,hesaidto
him:"BeforeIformedyouinthewombIknewyouandbeforeyouwerebornI
consecratedyouIappointedyouaprophettothenations"(Jeremiah1:5).Even
beforehisbirthGodhadsetJeremiahapartforaspecialtask.WhenGodwas
institutingthepriesthoodinIsraelhetoldMosestoordainthesonsofAaronandto
consecratethemthattheymightserveintheofficeofthepriests(Exodus28:41).
Aaron'ssonsweretobesetapartforaspecialofficeandaspecialduty.
(b)Buthagiazein(Greek#37)meansnotonlytosetapartforsomespecialoffice
andtask,italsomeanstoequipamanwiththequalitiesofmindandheartand
characterwhicharenecessaryforthattask.IfamanistoserveGod,hemusthave
somethingofGod'sgoodnessandGod'swisdominhim.Hewhowouldservethe
holyGodmusthimselfbeholytoo.AndsoGoddoesnotonlychooseamanforhis
specialservice,andsethimapartforit,healsoequipsamanwiththequalitieshe
needstocarryitout.
WemustalwaysrememberthatGodhaschosenusoutanddedicatedusforhis
specialservice.Thatspecialserviceisthatweshouldloveandobeyhimandshould
bringotherstodothesame.AndGodhasnotleftustocarryoutthatgreattaskin
ourownstrength,butoutofhisgracehefitsusforourtask,ifweplaceourlivesin
hishands.
AGLIMPSEOFTHEFUTURE(John17:2021)
17:2021"ItisnotonlyforthesethatIpray,butalsoforthose
whoaregoingtobelieveintheirwordoftestimonytome.And
myprayeristhattheymayallbeone,evenasyou,Father,are
inme,andIinyou,sothattheymaybeinus,sothattheworld
maybelievethatyousentme."
GraduallyinthissectionJesus'prayerhasbeengoingouttotheendsoftheearth.
First,heprayedforhimselfastheCrossfacedhim.Second,heprayedforhis
disciples,andforGod'skeepingpowerforthem.Nowhisprayerstakeasweepinto
thedistantfuture,andhepraysforthosewhoindistantlandsandfaroffageswill
alsoentertheChristianfaith.
HeretwogreatcharacteristicsofJesusarefulldisplayed.First,weseehiscomplete
faithandhisradiantcertainty.Atthatmomenthisfollowerswerefew,butevenwith
theCrossfacinghim,hisconfidencewasunshaken,andhewasprayingforthose
whowouldcometobelieveinhisname.Thispassageshouldbespeciallyprecious
tous,foritisJesus'prayerforus.Second,weseehisconfidenceinhismen.He
knewthattheydidnotfullyunderstandhimheknewthatinaveryshorttimethey
weregoingtoabandonhiminhishourofsorestneed.Yettotheseverysamemen
h&lookedwithcompleteconfidencetospreadhisnamethroughouttheworld.Jesus
neverlosthisfaithinGodorhisconfidenceinmen.
WhatwashisprayerfortheChurchwhichwastobe?Itwasthatallitsmembers
wouldbeoneasheandhisFatherareone.WhatwasthatunityforwhichJesus
prayed?Itwasnotaunityofadministrationororganizationitwasnotinanysense
anecclesiasticalunity.Itwasaunityofpersonalrelationship.Wehavealreadyseen

thattheunionbetweenJesusandGodwasoneofloveandobedience.Itwasaunity
ofloveforwhichJesusprayed,aunityinwhichmenlovedeachotherbecausethey
lovedhim,aunitybasedentirelyontherelationshipbetweenheartandheart.
ChristianswillneverorganizetheirChurchesallinthesameway.Theywillnever
worshipGodallinthesameway.Theywillneverevenallbelievepreciselythesame
things.ButChristianunitytranscendsallthesedifferencesandjoinsmentogetherin
love.ThecauseofChristianunityatthepresenttime,andindeedallthroughhistory,
hasbeeninjuredandhindered,becausemenlovedtheirownecclesiastical
organizations,theirowncreeds,theirownritual,morethantheylovedeachother.If
wereallylovedeachotherandreallylovedChrist,noChurchwouldexcludeanyman
whowasChrist'sdisciple.Onlyloveimplantedinmen'sheartsbyGodcanteardown
thebarrierswhichtheyhaveerectedbetweeneachotherandbetweentheir
Churches.
Further,asJesussawitandprayedforit,itwastobepreciselythatunitywhich
convincedtheworldofthetruthofChristianityandoftheplaceofChrist.Itismore
naturalformentobedividedthantobeunited.Itismorehumanformentoflyapart
thantocometogether.RealunitybetweenallChristianswouldbea"supernatural
factwhichwouldrequireasupernaturalexplanation."Itisthetragicfactthatitisjust
thatunitedfrontthattheChurchhasnevershowntomen.Facedbythedisunityof
Christians,theworldcannotseethesupremevalueoftheChristianfaith.Itisour
individualdutytodemonstratethatunityoflovewithourfellowmenwhichisthe
answertoChrist'sprayer.TherankandfileoftheChurchescandoandmustdo
whattheleadersoftheChurchrefuseofficiallytodo.
THEGIFTANDTHEPROMISEOFGLORY(John17:2226)
17:2226"AndIhavegiventhemtheglorywhichyougaveme,
thattheymaybeoneasweareone.Iaminthem,andyouare
inme,sothattheirunitywithusandwitheachothermaystand
consummatedandcomplete.Iprayforthisthattheworldmay
realizethatyousentme,andthatyoulovedthemasyouloved
me.Father,itismywillthatthosewhomyouhavegivenme
shouldbewithmewhereIamgoing,thattheymayseemy
glorywhichyougaveme,becauseyoulovedmebeforethe
foundationoftheworld.RighteousFather,theworlddidnot
knowyou,butIknewyou,andtheserealizedthatyousentme.
Ihavetoldthemwhatyouarelike,andIwillgoontellingthem,
thatthelovewithwhichyoulovedmemaybeinthem,andthat
Imaybeinthem."
Bengel,anoldcommentator,exclaimedashebegantocommentonthispassage:
"OhowgreatistheChristians'glory!"Andindeeditis.
First,JesussaidthathehadgivenhisdisciplestheglorywhichhisFatherhadgiven
him.Wemustfullyunderstandwhatthatmeans.WhatwasthegloryofJesus?
Therewerethreewaysinwhichhetalkedofit.
(a)TheCrosswashisglory.Jesusdidnotspeakofbeingcrucifiedhespokeof
beingglorified.Therefore,firstandforemost,aChristian'sgloryisthecrossthathe
mustbear.ItisanhonourtosufferforJesusChrist.Wemustneverthinkofour
crossasourpenaltywemustthinkofitasourglory.Theharderthetaskaknight
wasgiven,thegreaterheconsidereditsglory.Theharderthetaskwegivea
student,oracraftsman,orasurgeon,themorewehonourhim.Ineffect,wesaythat
webelievethatnobodybuthecouldattemptthattaskatall.Sowhenitishardtobe
aChristian,wemustregarditasourglorygiventousbyGod.
(b)Jesus'perfectobediencetothewillofGodwashisglory.Wefindourglory,notin
doingaswelike,butindoingasGodwills.Whenwetrytodoaswelikeasmanyof
ushavedonewefindnothingbutsorrowanddisasterbothforourselvesandfor
others.WefindtherealgloryoflifeindoingGodswillthegreatertheobedience,the
greatertheglory.
(c)Jesus'glorylayinthefactthat,fromhislife,menrecognizedhisspecial
relationshipwithGod.Theysawthatnoonecouldliveashedidunlesshewas

uniquelyneartoGod.AswithChrist,itisourglorywhenmenseeinusthereflection
ofGod.
Second,Jesussaidthatitwashiswillthathisdisciplesshouldseehisgloryinthe
heavenlyplaces.ItistheChristian'sconvictionthathewillsharealltheexperiences
ofChrist.IfhehastoshareChrist'sCross,hewillalsosharehisglory."Thesaying
issure:Ifwehavediedwithhim,weshallalsolivewithhimifweendure,weshall
alsoreignwithhim"(2Timothy2:1112).Hereinthisworldatbestweseedimlyina
mirror,butthenweshallseefacetoface(1Corinthians13:12).Thejoywehavenow
isonlyafaintforetasteofthejoywhichistocome.ItisChrist'spromisethatifwe
sharehisgloryandhissufferingsonearth,weshallsharehisgloryandhistriumph
whenlifeonthisearthisended.Whatgreaterpromisecouldtherebethanthat?
FromthisprayerJesuswastogostraightouttothebetrayal,thetrialandtheCross.
Hewasnottospeaktohisdisciplesagain.Itisawonderfulandapreciousthingto
rememberthatbeforetheseterriblehourshislastwordswerenotofdespairbutof
glory.
Barclay'sDailyStudyBible(NT)
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BibliographyInformation
Barclay,William."Commentaryonjohn17"."WilliamBarclay'sDailyStudyBible".
"http://www.studylight.org/commentaries/dsb/print.cgi?bk=42&ch=17&vs=1".1956
1959.
20012015,StudyLight.org
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