John Chapter 17: God Glorified dated 24.11.2013

This chapter forms the conclusion of the Upper Room Discourse which has as its key theme of the glory of God. God is glorified in relationship, in the apostolic word and in God’s people.

RELATIONSHIP (17:1-5)

Eternal Life (17:3)

God is glorified forever at the cross of Christ because through the death of Jesus, God makes himself known. God is glorified forever at the cross of Christ because all the resplendent magnificence of God shines out throughout all eternity through what is revealed at the cross: his love, his faithfulness in all his promises, his justice, his truth and his power as God triumphs over all his enemies.

Our God is a relational God and God is glorified when his people is brought to know the living God, into personal relationship with him, through the forgiveness of sins at the cross of Christ (v3).

The theme of God’s relationship with his people is seen throughout the Old Testament: “I will be their God, They will be my People”.

Completion (17:4)

Jesus’ concern in his prayer the night before his death is that the Father should be glorified through the completion of his eternal plan (v4).

APOSTOLIC WORD (17:6-19)

Identity & Commission (17:6-10)

Jesus is praying for the apostolic band – the group of chosen, commissioned eyewitnesses whom Christ has trained and taught - who will bring the apostolic Word of God to those who will in due course believe in Christ.

They have seen Jesus and are in possession of everything that Jesus has been given by God the Father, in terms of truth concerning God. 

So then, God is glorified in the apostles because his truth that has been revealed at the cross, in and through his work there, now resides in these apostolic men who are going to teach this truth.

Jesus prays concerning their identity (yours they were) and their commission (kept your word).

Protection (17:11-17)

This apostolic band has been entrusted with the authoritative truth of the Gospel as revealed at the cross of Christ, and Jesus prays that they be kept – that they are not lost, that they are kept in the truth and united in that truth (Ephesians 4:3; 4:13) because they have been called and commissioned by Christ.

Deployment (17:18-19)

Then in v18, he speaks about their deployment. 

To sanctify something is to set it apart and Jesus prays that they be set apart in and for the truth that he has revealed to them.

They are the authentic, historical court room witnesses to the truth that God has made known in and through the work of the Lord Jesus. He will keep them, enable them by the Holy Spirit, set them apart in the truth for the world and deploys them into the world to teach all the truth that God has got to say to humanity.

GOD’S PEOPLE (17:20-26)

Unique Union (17:22-23)

The works that Jesus has done to glorify God forever at the Cross is to bring about a unique union of closeness and intimacy between God and his people. 

With a vertical dimension we are united with God – we come to know him, we are one with the Father and the Son: an extraordinary union between you and me and God the Father, as close as the union between Jesus and the Father. 

And this unity with God produces a unity with one another. And this becomes a very powerful witness in the world. The Gospel works because of the way the Christians love each other.

Jesus is passionately concerned about our unity, that we exercise that unity.

The unity of God’s people is contingent on the apostolic word.

The reason there is no real union is because each will not submit to the apostolic word. Remove the apostolic word from the church, there is no longer a church and certainly there is no glory of God.

Incredible Inheritance (17:24-26)

Jesus prays that his disciples will make it through to the end – to be with him in Heaven, a place reserved for his people.

John Chapter 16 by Dr. Thomas Chung dated 11.11.13

Famous Last Words (John Chapter 16) by Dr. Thomas Chung dated 11.11.13

Before Jesus death and resurrection He prepared His disciples as He knew persecution will come.  Even now we can witness these persecutions in our world.  Jesus had made provisions in the Church through the Holy Spirit so that His work can be carried out until He returns in the Second coming.

The Holy Spirit work was written in John chapter 14, 15, 16.  Paul drew his teaching in 1 Corinthians, and 2 Corinthians.  The Holy Spirit also works through us as we became the mouthpiece for God as written in John chapter 15, 16, and 17.  Jesus pointed this out to the disciples in chapter 16.

The Upper Room discourse began in chapter 13. “Discourse” is like a conversational style of teaching.  Jesus taught in this way.  In chapter 13 featured Jesus washing the feet of His disciples.  The washing of feet symbolized the ministry of Outer-man with spiritual significant. Chapter 14, 15, 16 dealt with the Inner-man.

What was the significant of washing of feet?

1.        It symbolized the washing away of sins.

2.       It symbolized servant-hood.  Christians are to serve one another.

Chapter 13 stated the meaning of staying spiritually clean.  If we have done wrong we are to repent and ask for forgiveness. 

The Inner-man

This is in chapter 14, 15, 16.  By now Judas has let and sold Jesus for 30 pieces of silver, the value of a slave.  It appeared that Judas did not receive Holy Communion which was about the Inner-man.  Chapter 8  described the essence of Jesus’ relationship with His Father.  8:28 described the divine nature of Jesus.  8:42  His divinity in person.  8:28  His divine authority, speaking as authority of the Holy Spirit.

Ministry of the Holy Spirit

Jesus ministers to us through the Holy Spirit.

1.       The Holy Spirit deputizes for Jesus because is going away.  Chapter 14, 15.

2.       The Holy Spirit is himself God. Chapter 15:26

3.       The world rejects the Holy Spirit

4.       He is here to stay

We are the witness of the Holy Spirit as we share the Gospel.

The Holy Spirits work in the individual and through the individual.

1.       Jesus is the Spirit of conviction.  Many in this world needed to be convicted.  This is how revival will come to us.

2.       Chapter 16:8, 9 – the greatest sin of man is disbelieved in Jesus.  The Spirit of Revelation, that is reveal in spiritual things. 

3.       The Spirit of prophesy ch 16:13.  Spiritual truth, the fore telling of an aspect of prophesy.  Rev 19:10 each time Jesus is witnessed the prophetic Spirit of Jesus is revealed.

4.       Spirit of manifestation of God that is glorifying Jesus. Ch 16:14.

5.       Spirit of ultimate victory, making all coming to pass.  Ch 16:33.  Jesus overcame the world.

John Chapter 15 by Song Ting Kee dated 10 Nov.2013

John Chapter 15 The Vine and the Branches by Song Ting Kee dated 10^th Nov 2013

Bro.Song shared that since he retired as a teacher he has been a farmer.  He planted fruits trees such as papaya as well as durian trees.  One papaya tree bore only one fruit after several years, and he thought of chopping it down, but his wife said you must add top soil.  That was what he did and the tree bore many fruits.  Bro. Song said he learned from his farming.  God said we must bear much fruits.  We remain in Him and He remains in us.  He remain in our word, in our love.  We abide in Him and He abides in us.

Bro. Song shared a story of a Kayan pastor he met recently.  Prior to be a pastor he has been working for Petronas drawing a large salary.  Why did he leave?  This pastor said many years ago while in secular work he suffered from severe headache which came at night.  He seek all medical treatment without a solution.  One day a Christian friend brought him to church, while worshipping he was drawn to worship and read God’s words.  That night he went home to start reading the Bible, and for a whole year he read the Bible.  Amazingly after one year his headache was gone!  He asked God why He healed him only after one year ?  God said if He had healed him immediately he would have gone to his old ways again.

How to abide in His love?  Love one another and the world will know you are different and God is in you.  He related how he and his wife have been encouraging the trainees teachers to help at Salvation Amy.  Bro. Song advice these trainees to love the children first, hold their hands, pray for them before starting to teach them.  Some trainee teachers shared with him that after going back to their rooms they continued to pray for the children.

Are we attached to the true vine or false vine?  Bro. Song said if we are attached to the false vine it is like a tree parasite that killed a large part of his tree in his farm.  True vine bears good fruits, and false vine bears bad fruit.

Galatians 5:22  ^“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,…”

These are the fruit God wanted us to bear individually or corporately.

Genesis 2:8, 9 “⁸ Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. ⁹ The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.”

Two trees , tree of life and tree of knowledge.

Proverb 11:30 “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the one who is wise saves lives.”

God wants us to be like a tree of life which is righteous.

Bro. Song shared about Gospel singer and his wife Kelvin Soh and Suzanne who have been an inspiration to many.  He was humble and said he was one of the many who testified about goodness of God.  Bro. Song said he is like a tree of life giving hope to many who are lost.

1 John 1:9  “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

We are human, but when we sinned we ask God to forgive us.  He has a plan of each of us.

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

John Chapter 14 Do we truly love and trust Jesus in all circumstances all the time? 27.10.13 by Ho King Swee

A.      Jesus the way to the Father (Jn 14:1-14)

B.      Jesus promised the Holy Spirit and gave His peace (Jn.14:15-31)

1.      Introduction – background – disciples’ understanding, perception and expectations of the Messiah

The disciples, 11 of them (Judas Iscariot had left-see Jn 13) were truly troubled and actually very depressed.

Why?

-          They had all the time thinking their Lord is the Messiah who will deliver them from the rule of the Roman Empire and establish and restore the glory of the kingdom of Israel just as they had before during the time of King David. They had left their jobs, families and followed Jesus for more than 3 years.

-          They were hoping to get a position of authority in the new kingdom (John and James had asked for seats one at the left and one at the right of Jesus). Theey were disouting who is the greatest among them!

-          Now they heard Jesus telling them He is going to die! What a blow to their hope!

-          Then they were told one of them is going to betray Him – they could not think it is possible and reasonable

-          Then worst still Jesus said Peter is going to deny Him 3 times. What?

In fact the disciples were truly depressed and afraid because what they had been hoping for now collapse just before their very own eyes.

They dreamed of being great people reigning with their Master Jesus, James and John even asking to be seated one on the left and one on the right hand of Jesus when He comes in His glory.

If you have been hoping that God will do something but after a long wait, something happens that were not in accord with what you wish, what will you do?

Even after resurrection and before Jesus ascended to the Father, the disciples still thinking about the restoration of the kingdom of Israel and asked the Lord, the Messiah Acts 1: 6-11

2.      John 14:3 – 7 Jesus comforted them and assured them of His coming back to take them to be with Him where He is – He is the way to the Father

Jesus is the way to the Father

Nobody can and had said that he is the way to God.

Both Jesus’ words and His works were a perfect revelation of His Deity.

Acts 4: 12: Peter when confronted by the religious rulers after the healing of a cripple declared salvation only in Jesus.

Jesus is going to take us to Him so that where He is we are

I think if we can be personally present with Jesus, it wouldn't really matter where we were.

3.      John 14:10-11, 18-20 – Jesus is in the Father and the Father in Jesus

Answer to prayer is not to satisfy our fanciful or selfish desires but the primary purpose and goal is that the Father is glorified, that God the Father is honored and when that happens, actually that’s when we are truly blessed.

They would not die then, they would continue to live and be witnesses for Jesus. More than that they will truly live as Jesus is alive forever.

4.      John 14:15–17; 21-26 Jesus promised the Holy Spirit – who is another Counselor exactly like Him to be with them and in them all the time

The key is to know Jesus - if we truly know Him, we will Love Him and if we love Him we will obey or keep His commandements and His words – this is true faith and trust

5.      John 14:27 Jesus gave them His peace – not as the world gives

How to have true peace? Rom 5:1; Col 3:14-16; Isa 26:3; Rom 12:18; Heb 12:14; Mat 5:9

6.      Conclusion – we need to know and love Jesus – trust Him in all circumstances all the time John 14:15, 21, 23, 24, 28, 31

When we grow in knowing God and Jesus, we will love and experience and know more and more, and will have deeper relationship with the Father and Jesus and we will trust Jesus more and more.

The Lord here repeats that God has fellowship only with those whose hearts welcome Him, who love Him, and whose love is manifested by submission to His Word

We are asured that “Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ for us!” (Rom 8:35-39)

What & how to live

We live for Christ who lives in us

"Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:4).

Love and obedience

Jesus shows what an inseparable connection there is between love and obedience; love is the root, obedience is the fruit. Developing a loving and deep realtionship with Jesus is the key.

The Lord Jesus do not force people or us to love and obey His words. Jesus cannot manifest His love to those whose hearts are closed to Him. We have to open our hearts to believe and accept what have been freely given to us.

Walk a life of righteousness by loving Jesus.