ALPHA AND OMEGA

JOHN 17:16-18:6

LAST WEEK: JOHN 17:1-15

• Jesus began His high priestly prayer by asking the Father to glorify Him, so He can glorify the Father.
• Jesus will obediently go to the cross to prove His worth to the glory of God.
• So all who believe will have eternal life, that is, to know the Father and Jesus.
• Jesus then begins praying for His disciples.
• Although their knowledge of God and Jesus isn’t complete, they receive God’s word as it’s taught to them.
• And because they believe the Truth in their hearts, they are no longer of the world. And because they are not of the world, the world will hate them.
• So, Jesus prays for the protection of their faith; asking the Father to keep them from the evil one.

JOHN 17:16-19

They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.

• Satan is not our Father. God is our Father. We see the substance of this fallen world for what it is - fallen. And so we don’t think and behave as the world does, because God’s Spirit of truth and righteousness is in us. Eternity and eternal life is in us, because we know God through Jesus (v3).
• Sanctification is the process of being made holy - being set apart from the sinful ways of the world for God’s special pleasure and purpose. By what means?
• Knowledge and submission to the truth (through the Spirit of Truth). What truth? The truth of God’s word: the Christ of Scripture.
• “The more truth you believe, the more sanctified you will be. The operation of truth upon the mind is to separate a man from the world unto the service of God.” (Spurgeon)

JOHN 17:16-19 (CONTINUED)

They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.

• We are imitators of Christ (1 Cor 11:1). As His disciples we follow Him. That’s what disciple means - follower.
• Jesus was sent by the Father to communicate (shine) the truth (light) of God (Truth) to the world. Now Jesus sends us to do the same. We reflect His light. Making us God’s ambassadors of hope to a dark and decaying world (2 Cor 5:20).
• Jesus has determined (through His own free will) to dedicate/sanctify Himself in service to the Father; which means He’ll go to His death on the cross so it’s possible His followers receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to also be set apart (dedicated/sanctified) in truth.
• The importance of receiving true doctrine cannot be understated. (Galatians 1:6-10)

JOHN 17:20-21

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

• Jesus first made requests on His own behalf. Then He prayed for the disciples (though it applies to all believers). Now Jesus includes those who will come to faith throughout the centuries that follow. Thousands of years ago He was praying for you! And now here you are.
• Note “through their word”. Faith comes by hearing the word. (Rom 10:14-17; 1 Cor 1:21; Matt 24:14)
• Per the previous slides, being set apart as one with God/Jesus/other Christians is contingent upon truth. Essentially what that means is having correct doctrine by the work of the Spirit. We are not one with false believers who have the spirit of error (1 John 4:6; 2 Cor 6:14; Neh 2:20). We are unified with all other believers in Truth, no matter our locale.
• The intention of being set apart in unity is not to anger, although that will happen, but to show the world our love for the Truth and each other (v26) as to save those who may believe. (John 3:17-18)
• Becoming one without God is what man attempted to do at the Tower of Babel. It’s what the unbelieving world is still trying to do today. In both cases chaos and confusion follow. (Genesis 11:1-9; Rev 18:4)

JOHN 17:22-23

The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.

• In verse 10, Jesus said He is glorified in His followers…through their believe in Him. His presence manifested as a shining light.
• This belief allowed His disciples to experience the glory of Jesus’ presence, Word, Spirit, power, preservation, etc (John 15:8). And it’s unifying because it takes our “collective” focus off ourselves and places it on God’s glory.
• Keeping in mind that the glory the Father had given Jesus appeared as humility, servitude and suffering.
• A subtle hint at the triune nature of God.
• Achdut (from echad, see Deut 6:4), conveys the concept of unity, oneness, or solidarity among multiple entities. Complexity within unity (think back on our recent study of paroimia). It's used to express the idea of many coming together to form one cohesive unit, reflecting both plurality and unity simultaneously (think back on our study of Elohim in Genesis 1:1). (Achdut first visited in John 14:7)
• Jesus is in us through the Holy Spirit as the Father is in Jesus through the Holy Spirit.
• We are saved (justified) and being saved (sanctified). We will be perfected in Christ in eternity (glorification) and we are being perfected in Christ during our time-bound lives. (Romans 5:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Philippians 1:6)
• The world cannot perceive, experience or understand the Spirit of God (John 14:17). The intention behind the world seeing the byproducts or manifestations of our achdut is to save them from destruction as we were saved. Done in love through our changed behavior.
• Per our lessons in John 15-16, most of the time this will cause unbelievers to hate us, but it’s worth it for the sake of saving the few who will repent and accept the Truth. (Matthew 7:14)

JOHN 17:24-26

Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. 26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

• It is not Jesus’ or God’s desire that anyone perish, but to receive eternal life. Which is why the Father sent Jesus (2 Peter 3:9; John 3:16).
• Jesus prays for those who do believe in Him to one day have their eternal destiny with Him in heaven. Where they will see the glory of the Father by knowing Jesus as God (John 1:14, 14:1-3).
• This statement of love also applies to those in Christ. (Ephesians 1:4-5)
• The world is in darkness. Generally speaking, the world tends to focus on material realities while ignoring the deeper spiritual truths from which these realities derive (1 Cor 2:14). Leading them to contradict their own worldview (ex. principle of causation). Claiming to be wise, they become fools (Romans 1). And so in their willful blindness they don’t bother themselves with knowing God’s Word, Jesus.
• The revelation of the Truth is progressive (dispensational). Sanctification through the Helping Holy Spirit of Truth. Making the Kingdom of God further realized in us the more we come to know God.
• The closer we come to God…the more we come to know Him…the more love will influence our thoughts and actions and lives. Because God is love.
• New believers often find it difficult to love their enemies, because they are just beginning their journey of knowing God.

JOHN 18:1-11

When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. 2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. 4 Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” 5 They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. 6 When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” 8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.” 9 This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.” 10 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.) 11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”

JOHN 18:1

When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered.

• Jesus and friends have finally left the upper room!
• The brook of Kidron separates the city of Jerusalem and the Garden of Gethsemane. (Mark 14:32)
• This small stream was used as drainage for the temple, and as Jesus crossed over, it would’ve been flowing with blood from the Passover sacrifices. This could have been a reminder to Him.
• It is also the same walk David made as he fled Jerusalem and learned of the betrayal of his former ally, Ahithophel (2 Samuel 15:23-31). (Pesher)
• How poetic that the protoevangelium of Genesis 3:15 begins in a garden and ends in a garden. (Pesher)
• The sinlessness of man was taken in a garden. The sinlessness of Jesus was given in a garden.
• Death was created by Adam’s disobedience, but Jesus’ obedience will grant eternal life.

JOHN 18:2-3

Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons.

• Being the last of the gospels to be written, John does not include details already mentioned in the others, like Jesus’ sweaty prayer in the garden (Matthew 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42, Luke 22:39-53).
• Interesting that Jesus preferred meeting with His disciples in a garden. God placed Adam in a garden and he walked with Him there (Genesis 2:15).
• Before photography was invented, someone who knew the perp was needed in order to point him out for the arresting officers. Judas was that someone.
• Speira - a tenth of a legion (600 men). Not likely that many was used, but that many was made available by the Roman government. Probably due to Jesus’ popularity.
• Responding to the armed response, Jesus states in the synoptics, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me.”
• They have flashlights because it’s dark out. The night had come “when no man can work” (John 9:4).

JOHN 18:4-6

Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” 5 They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. 6 When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.

• Lest we forget, Satan has already entered Judas (John 13:27). So now the serpent is back in the garden as well. And He’s using apostate Jews and the government to do His bidding.
• So too will the Antichrist use the apostate church and the government to do his bidding (Rev 13, 17; 2 Thess 2). (Pesher)
• But Jesus is ready for them and meets them. He knows He’s the One they seek, but He still repeatedly asks them who they are looking for. One reason for it is made known in verse 9, but it’s related to the first...
• To provide a final opportunity to demonstrate His divine power. Making it clear to us that He is the One in control, but that He is allowing them to arrest Him. This would “encourage” them to let His disciple go (His second reason).
• Egō eimi - to be. Self-existent. The Septuagint Greek translation of the Hebrew, Ehyeh, in Exodus 3:14. God’s name in the first person (Yahweh in the third person).
• The “He” was not in the original text, but was added by translators.
• The force of His words knocked His arresters backward to the ground. This is the only time falling backwards is mentioned. And it’s done in judgment. Every other time people have an encounter with God they fall forward. (Isaiah 28:13; Revelation 1:17; Ezekiel 1:28)
• There is an underlying irony to the reproachful way the officers refer to Jesus as “of Nazareth”.