Gleans from Monday Bible Study with Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi.
DLBC Lekki, Lagos HQ
2nd July 2018
STUDY 56 – CHRIST’S HIGH PRIESTLY PRAYER FOR ALL HIS DISCIPLES
John 17:1-12; 1:18; 3:34; 5:19; 6:27; 8:28-29; 10:36; 14:13
Of all the chapters in the Gospel of John and in the New Testament, this chapter is very peculiar, special and unique because it recorded the prayer of Jesus Christ, which is so deep, rich, solemn and sacred, and it shows us how He prayed unto the Heavenly Father when He was here on earth. In this prayer, Jesus talked about Himself as the Son, about the Heavenly Father, the disciples, the need of the world, and He brought everything together in this prayer. “These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee” (John 17:1). He was about to go to Heaven because Heaven had been on His mind and heart every time. He got all these disciples converted and transformed, and taught them about Heaven as well. And He taught them to pray to ‘our Father Who art in Heaven’. He made God so near and precious as He prayed unto the Father in this prayer. He made us to see the relationship between the Father and the Son as well. This prayer of Jesus shows you too how you can approach the Heavenly Father in prayer now that you are a child of God, converted and born again. This is the solemn, sacred and supernatural prayer of Jesus Christ, the Son unto the Heavenly Father. In this prayer, Jesus spoke about the Father, the Son, the Church, the world and He gave the reason for this prayer.
Christ was praying as the High Priest of our profession, and as the One that was going to make the final sacrifice which He was going to present to the Heavenly father. He was praying for those who are already partakers and those who will partake of His salvation. He prayed for His own disciples who already had their sins forgiven, were saved, following Him, and been given the power to go and sin no more (John 17:9,20). He prayed in particular for the Church and the disciples, and not for the world. He was going to pray for the world on the Cross, ‘Father forgive them’. As you believe the words and the epistles of these disciples then you are part of this prayer of Jesus. He called God Father and Himself Son. This prayer emphasizes the deep relationship between Christ the Son and God the Father, “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him” (John 1:18). God is the Everlasting Father, and Jesus is the Eternal Son. The Son has total, final and complete authority while the Father has complete and total love and authority as well. Jesus chose to be subservient, united and under the control of the Father, that He would do nothing except what the Father approved and allowed Him to do. It is so important; you will see the emphasis on the revelation of the relationship between the Father and the Son; the love, unity, obedience of the Son to the Father and the authority of the Father over the Son (John 3:34; 5:19; 6:27; 8:28-29; 10:36; 14:13).
3 points:
POINT 1: THE PRAYER OF THE SON BEFORE HIS FATHER
John 17:1-5; 11:41-43; 12:23; 13:1,31,32; Psalms 2:6-8; Philippians 2:5-11; Hebrews 1:8-9; 1 John 5:4,5,13,18-20; Psalms 90:2; John 17:24
“These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.” (John 17:1-2). This is the prayer of Christ, the Son of God and Son of man who died for us on the Cross of Calvary; the prayer our Saviour prayed. He wanted glory, appreciation and exaltation of the Father according to the covenant that they had, that glory will come upon the Son from the Father, which covenant also promised eternal life to all the Father had given Him. “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:3). This is life, abundant, everlasting and eternal life that you know God as the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He had sent. Christ’s mind was always on that work that the Father gave Him to do (John 17:4). At the grave of Lazarus, He lifted up His eyes and prayed unto the Father, having the assurance that whenever He prayed, the Father always answered. {All the stones that hinder prayer, you will take away and God will answer your prayers in Jesus name.} (John 11:41-43). When we pray, we have same assurance that God will answer our prayers, because we know that the Father is faithful, loving and can do all things. The power of God is always activated when the Son prays and talks to the Heavenly Father. (John 12:23) The hour of finalising the redemptive work that the Father had given Him to do on earth had come. It is wonderful for you to know when your hour of answered prayers, of accomplishment, breakthroughs, the will of God, whatever God has ordained and decided to do has come. In the case of Jesus He knew His hour; and when his hour had not come He said so. But at this time, He knew that His hour had come, the hour of finalising the redemptive work, and finishing the work that the Father has sent Him to do.
Where was the promise to glorify Him given, and what kind of glory was the Father going to show unto the Son? The Lord God was going to give the world to be redeemed by the Son. “Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession (Psalms 2:6-8). Here God was talking about His Son. Being the Son of God was not an afterthought, it had already been agreed and decreed in Heaven. The Lord Jesus Christ has the ownership of the whole world because He sacrificed to redeem the whole world. That is why He gave the Great Commission to preach the gospel to the whole world, and anyone who believes in any part of the world, will be saved and prepared for heaven in Jesus Name. How did Jesus Christ eventually have this glory, inheritance and what the Father had promised Him? (Philippians 2:5-11) Jesus Christ was equal with the Father, and this was not something He snatched or took from God without His consent. He humbled Himself and voluntarily sacrificed His life through substitutionary death for us at Calvary, and for this God highly exalted and gave Him a name above every name. “And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:11) This was the hour of His final obedience on the Cross at Calvary, and shedding His blood that whosoever calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved. Everything is under the feet of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 2:8-9). But there are unbelievers who have not submitted themselves unto Christ, but they will come, and be submissive unto Him, for the Father has given all things unto Jesus Christ. “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:4). The one who doesn’t overcome is because he does not have faith. You can overcome every temptation, trials and sin, because of your faith in Jesus Christ.
Jesus in His prayer was talking about eternal life (1 John 5:13,18). Thank God, you know that you have eternal life as you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you have the revelation of the Spirit of God. “We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not” (1 John 5:18). There are some people who know God and they do not sin, they have left the sin business behind because the life of Christ and righteousness came into them. Thank God you are one of those people.
“And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was” (John 17:5). Jesus had glory with the Father before the world began. (Psalm 90:2) He is everlasting and eternal, not that He just came, but had been in Heaven from all eternity. (John 17:24) Jesus Christ was not created; He has been there before the foundation of the world, and going back He was asking the Father to glorify Him with the glory He had before the world began.
POINT 2: THE PROOF OF HIS SALVATION OF HIS FOLLOWERS
John 17:6-10; 10:27-29; 15:19,3; 17:14-16; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 John 4:14-16; Hebrews 7:25,26; 9:24
There are many people who do not understand that Jesus Christ actually gave salvation, forgiveness and redemption to those followers while He was still here on earth. “I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word” (John 17:6). Unbelievers cannot keep the word of God; the disciples were saved, kept the word and were different from the Pharisees and the people of the world. The Lord Jesus Christ gave the word to them, and they did not turn away but received it. They were believers, saved, born again and belonged to the God. These were people who left darkness, their sin and even their trades behind to follow Jesus unreservedly. They were saved and had eternal life. The Father gave them to Him. They were not of the world, “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you” (John 15:19). The Lord cleansed, washed, purged and transformed their lives through His word, so they were saved. They were new creatures, born again, belonged to Christ and different from the world (John 17:14-16). “Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20). They had salvation just as we have today and their names were written in heaven. The word of God that we receive and believe works effectively in the lives of those that believed (1 Thessalonians 2:13). There is no discrimination with Christ, as you believe on Him He will save you today. Jesus is able to save, no matter who you are, and how far you have gone into sin. He is able to save to the uttermost (1 John 4:14-16; Hebrews 7:25). For every one that believes in the Lord Jesus Christ, He is making that prayer and intercession for us, and as you key into that prayer and believe that Christ is praying for you, He will save you and keep you in that salvation. He is praying for you. (John 17:9).
The disciples were saved, and if you are a follower today, salvation comes to you. Then people will see that difference in your life that old things have passed away and all things are become new. This will happen in your life if it has not happened. If it has happened already, there will be a greater and deeper assurance in your heart that you belong to Christ: And the power that is for those who belong to Christ will be manifested in your life in Jesus Name.
POINT 3: OUR PROTECTION THROUGH THE SON BY THE FATHER
John 17:11-12
This is the protection of those believers, followers, children of God and the people that know the Lord. He protects and preserves us in the Kingdom as we come to believe on Him. He protects and preserves us so that we can remain in the Kingdom after we have come to know the Lord. “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” (John 17:11). The Father has given you to the Son and as you abide in Him, consecrate more to Him, and God gives you the grace to resist temptation, you will not be lost, and you will not be a son of perdition in Jesus Name (John 17:12).
See some lessons here:
(1) Preservation from Sin and Defilement – John 17:11; Psalms 19:13; 119:9-11; Romans 6:7,8,12,18,22
Jesus is the One that can keep us when trials, temptations and all the pollutions of the world that try to come into our lives. We come to the Lord, and become dead and totally separated from sin, and there is a change and transformation of our lives that makes us righteous. The Lord will keep you free and dead to sin, and you will have the testimony of freedom in Jesus Name.
(2) Protection by our Saviour and Deliverer – John 17:11-12; Psalms 91:1-16; 121:3-8
Jesus is our Saviour and Deliverer, and He will protect you from evil spirits; they are under your feet. You are under the Shadow of the Almighty God and no more the property of Satan, evil spirit and powers of darkness; you will not be lost. The Lord will keep, protect and preserve you in Jesus Name.
(3) Prevention of Eternal Suffering and Damnation – John 17:12; 5:28,29; 1 Peter 1:3-5; Jude 20-21,24,25; Ephesians 3:20,21; Acts 4:28-33
Negative prophecy will not be fulfilled in your life. Judas Iscariot suffered and was damned because he did not remain and abide, but for those who are willing to abide and obey the Lord, there is prevention from eternal suffering and damnation. There is damnation at the end of sinning, but those who abide, remain and continue, claim and enjoy their victory over sin; they will not be lost. They are kept by the power of God.
“And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. ……… And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.” (Acts 4:31,33)
It is time to pray. When you are indwelt with the Holy Ghost, you will not restrict nor stop the moving of the Spirit, but you will pray. All the weaknesses, falling and rising, and yielding to temptations will stop; the Lord will keep you. He wants you to pray so that the power of God will move in your life, and energize you so that all the spiritual weakness will be totally taken away. Let the Word abide in you and make you strong. All weakness will move away. If you are saved then move on and be righteous and let Christ deliver you from habitual sin; tradition of the world will no longer have dominion over you. Pray that Christ will be glorified in your life. You want victory, overcoming power, strength to stand and be able to overcome every challenge that the world and the devil is bringing your way; that power is available tonight. He gives us power, understanding and assurance that as we ask Him to be strong in the inner man, and be filled with the fullness of God, He will do it. It is all available tonight. And because you are relying on Him to keep you, He will keep you in Jesus Name. As you are going forth, you will live triumphantly, victoriously, and you will conquer every challenge in Jesus Name. Tonight there is sufficient grace, skill, ability, and enablement for everyone; and whosoever shall call on the Name of the Lord shall be saved, strengthened and answer is coming from heaven tonight in Jesus Name. Jesus prayed that the Son will be glorified and that the Father will keep all He has given Him. The Lord is going to answer your prayers tonight. Let weakness turn to strength, and defeat turn to victory tonight! Let God do it.
Ponder on this! The prayer and intercession of Jesus Christ is for every one that believes in Him, and as you key into that prayer and believe that Christ is praying for you, He will save you and keep you in that salvation. Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi.
Ponder on this! When we come to the Lord and are saved, we become dead and totally separated from sin: there are changes and transformation of our lives, and we are made righteous and kept from sinning. Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi.
Reflection – The Lord Jesus Christ has the ownership of the whole world because He sacrificed to redeem the whole world. Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi.
Words on the Marble – The power of God is always activated when the Son prays and talks to the Heavenly Father. Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi.
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