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Saints!

Friday
March 29th, 2024
L&T Opinions Page

gary damronMY PERSPECTIVE, Gary Damron

 

The night before the crucifixion, Jesus talked to his Father about the completion of his work on earth, interceding on behalf of the disciples (followers). Knowing he was facing the cross, with his final hour before him, he prayed, “‘I ask on their behalf’” (John 17:9). Jesus the Petitioner, Advocate and Mediator, made his supplication to God the Father, which for all of us is a win/win situation. 

The prayer continued in John chapter 17, “‘all things that are mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them’” (verse 10). A relationship, lost in the Garden of Eden, was to be re-established through the sacrifice he would make on the cross. 

Sunday, we announced to our congregation that we plan to retire and move to a home we’ve purchased nearer our four sons. Though not an entirely sad occasion for us, we will be leaving people we’ve cared for the past five years and an area we’ve lived in since 2005. In verse 11, Jesus indicated he would be going away and his followers – those he’d nurtured and loved - would be left behind. Earlier, he’d told them it was “expedient” that he go away, but the Holy Spirit is available for each of us, no matter our location. 

In this portion of the prayer, there were three requests made for the disciples and for all followers. First was to keep them in God’s name. Even then, the prayer didn’t mean they would be kept in church, or in a denomination, or even part of the same family. The Name of Jesus stands for righteousness, holiness and love. When we accept salvation through Jesus, it’s not in name only – it’s in the character of Jesus. Yes, we still live in the world, but we’re not “of the world”. The holiness of God separates his followers from the unbelief and wickedness of the culture around. Those “in his name” live in unity, as close as the Father lives to the Son. 

A second request was to keep them from the evil one. Jesus reminisced about Judas Iscariot, “‘While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me except…’” (verse 12). None had been lost except the one referenced in the Old Testament. “Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me. But may you have mercy on me, Lord” (Psalm 41:9-10). 

In Jesus’ intercessory prayer of John chapter 17, he explains his requests with “so” – so we may be one, so Scripture will be fulfilled, and so we will have joy. The lie that the evil one promotes is that we’ll find happiness if we follow his ways. As parents, there are unpleasant tasks we give our children, not to make them miserable, but so they will be better adults. Contrasted to Judas, the end result for followers of Jesus’ prayer is unending joy. 

The final request Jesus made for all his followers was, “‘Sanctify them by the truth’”. The Greek word for sanctify indicates to consecrate, dedicate, treat as holy, reverence or purify. Pilate asked, “‘What is truth?’” and Jesus here finished the verse with, “your word is truth’” (verse 17). One certainty is that we cannot sanctify ourselves. We may set aside a sound system, pledging to use it only for Christian music. But no matter how sincerely we resolve ourselves to be pure or holy, it won’t work. But Jesus can. “‘For them I sanctify myself’” (verse 19) and the writer of Hebrews explained, “Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people through his own blood, suffered outside the gate” (Hebrews 13:12). 

The prayer continued, “‘…that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you… that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me’” (verses 21-23). The prayer he prayed, the sacrifice he made on the cross, and the promise of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, all enable us to live under the name Christian - followers of his character and his will.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR, Reita Isaacs, Liberal

 

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