I love the Book of John! It is so masterfull written to show Who Jesus really is-God Himself!
Phenomenally, almost 40% of the Book, chapters 13-18 are written about what Jesus did on the night before the crucifiction! This night, was obviously very significant to John!
In Chapter 13, Jesus models servant leadership. He washes the disciple’s feet, then in verse 14, tells them to follow this example. He further says, “I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message.” John 13:16
Chapter 14 are full of promises! Jesus promises to go to His Father and prepare a place for us, His Church (Bride)! He also promises the Holy Spirit, the Ever-abiding, Never-leaving (vs 18), Fused to our spirit (I Cor 6:17), Teaching (vs 26), Anointing (I John 2:27), Comforting Advocating Gift (vs 26 & 27), Who brings with Him boldness, peace, soundness of mind and the very power of God with all of it’s implications! Jesus-God with us-Immanuel (Matt 1:23) left God, via the Spirit of God, with us!
In chapter 15 Jesus tells us of the importance of staying connected to Him in the same way a fruut-bearing branch stays connected to a vine (tree). Our life, vitality and ability to bear lasting fruit comes thru Him (vs 5), Who loves us (vs 9) and Who would prove it by laying His life down for us (dying on the cross) the very next day (Vs 13)!
In chapter 16, Jesus prepared them for the troubled days ahead and He equips them with the ability to ask for anything in His Name and recieve it (vs 24)!
Finally, in chapter 17, Jesus prayes. He gives His Father the offering of having finished what God had sent Him to earth to do. The next day, He would literally become the sacrifice that would reunite us in a relationship to God. He prayes for all of His disciples, including us (vs 20). He selflessly asks God to protect them, preserve them and keep them until He returns for them. He asks God to recieve all the glory for His work (vs 1) and to be known by the world through His work and through the work His disciple would continue to do (vss 25-26).
Then the heart of the Gospel come through Jesus’ prayer-He prays for oneness for God the Father, Himself AND His disciples! He prays, “I have revealed You to them, and I will continue to do so. THEN YOUR LOVE FOR ME WILL BE IN THEM, AND I WILL BE IN THEM.”
John 17:26
God desire for mankind from the beginning was to bring us into a relationship with Himself. Sin had totally disrupted this, separating us from God. Jesus, the very next day would give Himself as a sacrifice for OUR SIN-MY SIN on the cross! That’s personal and that’s ALL God wants from us-ALL of us!
Think about it!
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