March 20, 2023 – Monday
John 17:8 NIV
8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me.
John 17:8 NET
8 because I have given them the words you have given me. They accepted them and reallyunderstand that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me.
Comments
This chapter is a chapter of prayer from Jesus to His Father divided into three sections. The first, verses 1-5, is His prayer about how the time has come for Him to glorify the Father and how He looks forward to returning to be with the Father. However, in the middle of it, Jesus reveals a truth about salvation when He says, 3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. The next section is His prayer for His disciples, verses 6-19, from which we draw our verse for today. The last section, verses 20-26, is for all believers.
Looking at our verse for today, let us look at what preceded it as well, 6 “I have revealed you (your name) to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. Looking at verse 6, we find Jesus did not just teach about the Father and His name but revealed the Father’s character when He did so. Further, remember Jesus only chose His disciples after praying (Luke 6:12-16) and Judas had departed from the group earlier this same evening (John 13:26-20). They had all come out of the world and were no longer of the world as they have demonstrated by obeying Your word. Then verse 7, 7 Now they know (understand) that everything you have given me comes from you.
In their own words they have said they now understand. How did this occur? It happened because I have given them the words you have given me and they accepted them. And it was then that, They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. In other words, everything they had learned from Jesus, they knew and believed it all came from the Father who had sent Jesus. They had finally, as in the prior chapter, begun to truly grasp that Jesus and the Father were really One. We know they will have doubts after His crucifixion, but that will all change once they know of His resurrection.
Then Jesus continued with His prayer for them, 9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of[your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. Then when He concluded His prayer for them, He said, 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. When Jesus speaks of sanctifying Himself for His disciples, it may only be taken as His crucifixion will be a sacrifice for them, for their consecration.
Bottom Line: Jesus plans on sending out His disciples, His apostles, to continue His work throughout the world. And indeed, this does happen.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, So grateful You and Jesus chose men to continue His work here after He ascended. Their words in their letters and in the book of Acts continue to share Your truth with us. – In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
RileyD, nwJ
Riley D. Driver – Pastor
Calvary Chapel of Dayton
in Beavercreek