As I begin this and see the word “align” in the Central Truth I am reminded of Henry Blackaby and his work “Experiencing God.” One of Blackaby’s main points is that rather than working to persuade God, earnest prayer will actually result in aligning our agenda with God’s sovereign agenda. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather be following God’s agenda than my own. When we learn to let go of our personal agenda’s life becomes simpler and we can free ourselves from unnecessary worry and anxiety.
John 13-17 is a record of the words of Jesus to the disciples at the Last Supper until the time of his arrest. His words are spoken to prepare the disciples for the pivotal events to come. Chapter 17 concludes this portion of John as Jesus prays for Himself, His disciples and for all believers. In other Gospels (Luke 22:42) we see that Jesus modeled our lesson truth as He prayed on the Mount of Olives knowing what was to come. Jesus asked if there was another way then let it be so, but He prayed also “not my will, but thy will be done.” Jesus was aligned with the Father’s agenda.
Verses 1-5 have quite a large amount of content. For context, John is more of a theological work than the (synoptic) gospels. John presents persuasive evidence relating to the divine nature and personhood of Christ. As a result, there are fewer biographical details in this gospel account. John includes no teaching parables, and the seven sign-miracles in John are included for the purpose stated in John 20:30-31- that the reader would believe in Jesus as the Son of God and have life in His name.
Jesus looked up as He prayed. He spoke of the mutual relationship of the Father and Son. God glorified the Son as He carried out the work given to Him. In turn, God Himself was glorified by the Son’s obedience. In the same way God is glorified in us as we honor and obey Him with our lives. The term “authority” in verse 2 speaks of rule, dominion, or jurisdiction. This is the same word used in The Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20). Here Jesus also says all authority had been given to Him. The authority given in both cases is a means to provide a means to “eternal life” to all who will receive it. In verse 3 He proceeds to define eternal life as knowing the only true God and the one He sent from heaven to do God’s redemptive work. Jesus’ prayer concludes stating that He had been faithful to the task He had been given to bring God glory. He then asks for the glory He knew beforehand to be restored to Him. After his death, resurrection, and ascension He would return to His place of authority seated at the right hand of God.
The lesson picks back up in verse 21. The overwhelming theme of these verses is unity. Several times Jesus requests that the believers would be “one.” Isn’t it amazing that the Son of God included you and me in His prayer? Verse 21 is a prayer for unity in fellowship. May we be united with the Father and Son as they are united. Like the essence of the Father and Son, we are also to be considered as one. We abide in Christ as a branch on a vine. Then we can bear fruit and once again bring glory to God. Jesus said in John 13:35 that a mark of our discipleship is our love (unity) for one another. When our words, behavior, and relationships are shaped by our unity under God and with one another we give believable evidence a lost world may believe in. Beyond unity in fellowship, we are also to have unity of purpose. Then and now we are unified by the mission to make Jesus known to the world. The church is portrayed as a body and a body cannot function if it is not in one accord under Christ its head.
The final part of the lesson’s passage is a request that we would know the love of God as Jesus does. The whole of scripture brings us to this point. We see it in God’s covenant relationship with the Hebrew people throughout the Old Testament. We see the ultimate fulfillment through Christ in the New Testament. Christ spoke of God’s love which was present even before the world’s foundation was made. In Ephesians 1:4 we are included, even before creation “he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.”
Jesus’ request for us is fourfold. First, He prays that His followers might be with Him (v. 24). Heaven will eventually be our eternal home. Then, He prays we might see His glory (v. 24). Third, He prays that the world would know the Father (v. 25). Christ always points back to the Father as the one who sent Him. Finally, He prays that we would also experience the divine love shared by the Father and Son (v. 26). The ESV puts it this way: “I have made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
We cannot know God or His will for us without a continual conversation of prayer with Him. The BSFL commentary writer closes our lesson with a good reminder of the lesson truth. “Prayer draws us closer to Jesus as our hearts align with His. We must pray for God’s glory to be seen. We must also pray for unity with God and with other believers. Finally, we must pray for God’s love to be known and experienced by those around us through Jesus” (126).
BONUS READING – The link below is an article from Ken Braddy, Lifeway’s Director of Sunday School. He lists ten basic and achievable goals for every small group. Implementing any or all these will help contribute to the long-term health of your group and Myrtle Grove Baptist Church as a whole. Groups will not simply pick up where they left off pre-Covid. I believe small groups are still essential in reaching and discipling our community. Please take a few moments to read this. I would love to discuss these further with anyone.
Thanks again and God Bless You All,
Chris Larsen
