John - Week 49

Keep Them Safe 

READ 

John 17:13-15 

13 “Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy. 14 I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 15 I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one.” 

The reason that Jesus told the disciples many things is that they might be filled with His joy. He gave them the heavenly Father’s word and the world hated them. Jesus did not want the Father to take them out of the world but to keep them from the evil one. In the original language of the New Testament it is literally “from the evil.” Whenever the definite article (the) is used in the masculine with “evil,” a person is understood. Here the person understood is the devil. The same is true in Matthew 6:13 when the model prayer asks to be delivered from “the evil (one).” 

REFLECT 

Think about Jesus leaving you in this world to be a testimony for Him. Even if you are physically incapacitated, you can be a prayer warrior for others and a model of how a believer in Christ can be content and at peace. 

RESPOND 

Read 1 Corinthians 5:9-11 that tells about the impossibility of believers avoiding all evil. It also tells how to keep your testimony clear of misunderstanding. Are these instructions from God’s Word helpful to you? Read Philippians 4:10-14 about how the apostle Paul learned to be content. 

Make Them Holy 

READ 

John 17:16-19 

16 “They do not belong to this world any more than I do. 17 Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. 18 Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. 19 And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.” 

Christ-followers do not belong to this world even though they are in it. Jesus prayed that His heavenly Father would make them holy by His truth, which is now available in the Bible. As Jesus was sent into the world, now He sends His followers into it. Jesus would give Himself as a “holy sacrifice” and believers are to be a “living sacrifice” (see Romans 12:1-2). How is one made “holy”? By reading and obeying the Bible? The word “holy” means “set apart.” Research has shown that if you read the Bible at least four times a week, your life will be more set apart to God and will be significantly different. 

REFLECT  

How many times a week are you usually reading the Bible? The question is not, “How many times do you attend church,” it is how many times a week do you read the Bible? 

RESPOND 

Determine that you will read the Bible at least four times a week. Encourage your disciple and others to do the same. You will have fewer problems with temptations and your relationship with others will improve. 

For Future Believers 

READ 

John 17:20-21 

20 “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. 21 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.” 

Previously Jesus said He was not praying for the world. But here He prays for unbelievers who will eventually trust in Him as Savior. Even though salvation is of the Lord, notice that God uses people. Jesus prayed for those who would eventually trust Him as Savior through the witness of His Christ-followers. Every believer should realize that Jesus lives within him or her. As each believer reflects Jesus in and through daily living, others will believe the Father sent the Son. 

REFLECT 

Jesus is praying for those who will believe through your witness. Are you praying for some yourself, and are you witnessing to others? 

RESPOND 

A magnifying glass enlarges images so they can be better seen. Ask the Lord to cause you to be that kind image-enlarger that will magnify Him in your life. Ask fellow believers to pray with you about this and to ask the same for themselves. Read Psalm 34:2-3 and make the psalmist’s plea your plea. 

Perfect Unity 

READ 

John 17:22-23 

22 “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. 23 I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.” 

Highly significant comments are made by Jesus as recorded in these verses. He wants believers to have the glory that the heavenly Father gave to Him. He also wants Christ-followers to experience perfect unity. The word “perfect” in the original language of the New Testament referred to something that was complete, as in a finished product, or mature. If believers have this kind of unity, it will cause the world to know that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior or the world. This would also show the world that the Father loves believers as much as He loved His own unique Son.  

REFLECT 

For believers to be “perfect” in the New Testament sense does not mean they are sinlessly perfect or agree on every detail with each other. The main thing is to agree on the same goal—to please Jesus in all they do.  

RESPOND 

Read Ephesians 4:1-3 and ask yourself if these kinds of actions and attitudes are common in the group with whom you fellowship. If not, what can you do to change the situation? Are you modeling these verses yourself? 

Be With Me 

READ 

John 17:24-26 

24 “Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!” 

25 “O righteous Father, the world doesn’t know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me. 26 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.” 

This is a precious promise that Jesus wants His followers to be with Him where He is. This will allow believers to see the glory Jesus had even before the world began. This upper room discourse ends as Jesus tells His heavenly Father that He will continue to reveal the Father to the disciples. By doing this, the love of the Father will be in the believers—and Jesus Himself will be in them. 

REFLECT 

Think how special it is that Jesus wants you to be with Him, if you have trusted in Him as Savior. This should give you peace as you think of meeting Him face to face. Share with others the peace you have about meeting Jesus after you pass from this life, then say you hope they will have the same kind of peace when they pass from this life. This may open a conversation to say more about your love for Jesus. 

RESPOND 

Pray for opportunities to share your faith and peace about meeting God when you pass from this life. They may dispute a defense you make for Christianity, but no one can deny the personal confidence you have in meeting Jesus. Who would you like to share this with this week?