This morning I felt led to read from John 17. There is so much to reflect on in this chapter, Jesus’ final prayer, that it is difficult to narrow down my focus. This morning a few verses stood out, so I wanted to spend some time looking at them. Here are some verses from the beginning and end of the chapter - John 17:1-5,20-23,25-26 NIV:
[1] “After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. [2] For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. [3] Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. [4] I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. [5] And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.
[20] “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, [21] that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. [22] I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— [23] I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
[25] “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. [26] I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”
Obviously I underlined a few sentences for focus. I feel that the focus for me today revolves around verse 22 - and that invitation to oneness, to relationship is part of God’s Glory. When I read verse 22 my next thought was, “and look at what we have done with God’s Glory! Rather than unity we are some of the most divided people!”
While I could focus on that thought, I don’t believe that is what the Lord would say to me today. There is an invitation to relationship (hidden in verse 3) that is absolutely essential to any of this: to following the Lord, to revealing the Father, to eternal life, to experiencing the indwelling of God!
The Greek word translated “know” is the word ginosko and it is defined as follows:
I. to learn to know, come to know, get a knowledge of perceive, feel
A. to become known
II. to know, understand, perceive, have knowledge of
A. to understand
B. to know
III. sexual intercourse between a man and a woman1
IV. to become acquainted with, to know
The word know is such a minimalistic expression of the true meaning that Jesus is speaking of. We are invited to and gifted with this “knowing” of God. This “knowing” is experiential, not purely head knowledge, there is an intimacy (see definition item III.), there is a understanding that goes beyond facts, but deals with character, with tendencies, with likes and dislikes. This Is an invitation that is a two-way street, to “know” and to be “known”.
The invitation is really a small glimpse into the mystery of the Trinity, for they are three and one, perfectly one, perfect unity, yet separate. We are invited into this experience here on earth! Jesus wasn’t praying for our post terrestrial selves, but rather for us while we live on this world. This experience, this “knowing” is our opportunity and invitation here and now.
This knowing = eternal life, a sharing in GOd’s life here and now.
This unity is part of God’s Glory!
This oneness, an expression of God’s love, is meant to be a sign to the world!
Oh Lord, that we might embrace fully this eternal life, that we might know You! Help us to know You more, that we might be able to understand Your thoughts, Your heart and perceive Your plans. Help us to bring You Glory!
Help us to walk in oneness with You, and with each other, that the world would know that You have loved us and are in us!
Amen and Amen!
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