One In Jesus

Chapters 13 – 17 of John make up a five-chapter discourse by Jesus immediately before his arrest. It’s a powerful collection of instructions, examples, and prayers summarizing much of what the preceding chapters of the book are all about.

Jesus frequently alludes back to earlier sayings of his, and yet he also looks forward to his crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension.

As we considered several posts ago, Jesus moves from theme to theme and back again, tying his various points together in different ways and viewing the same material from different angles. Continue reading →

(John 17:22-23 ESV)  ²² 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 John, “glory” means to see God or Jesus as they truly are. Thus, “glory” has a dual meaning here. In one sense, “glory” is the way God or Jesus appears in heaven — as a King whose radiance lights heaven itself. To see Jesus’ “glory” is to see him as divine, co-equal with God, enthroned in heaven, surrounded by thousands of angels in worship. The resurrection and ascension demonstrate glory in this sense. Continue reading →

(John 17:17 ESV)  ¹⁷ “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”

“Sanctify” means to make holy. But that’s not a particularly helpful translation. The NET Bible translators comment — Continue reading →

(John 17:1-2 ESV) When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, ² since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.”

Jesus concludes his discourse — beginning back in chapter 13 — with a prayer that extends the length of the chapter.

Jesus looks to heaven when he prays. This is not the Western custom, but it was not uncommon among the Jews, who often lifted hands toward heaven, looked up, and spoke toward the sky in prayer. Continue reading →

(John 16:12-13 ESV) ¹² “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.  ¹³ When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.”

Again, “all the truth” refers to the gospel, not all human knowledge. In fact, the apostles sometimes had to expend considerable effort to discern God’s will. Continue reading →

(John 15:26 ESV)  ²⁶ “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.”

Why is the Spirit the Spirit of truth? Because the Spirit testifies about Jesus — the truth. The Spirit’s purpose in God’s mission is to point toward Jesus. Continue reading →

(John 15:18 ESV)  ¹⁸ “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.”

Well, that doesn’t sound like any fun at all. Who wants to be hated?

But, of course, the more we’re like Jesus, the more we’re likely to be hated. Accepting that sad fact is part of the submission and sacrifice to which we’re called. Continue reading →

(John 15:8 ESV)  ⁸ By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

What brings glory to God? Jesus’ disciples’ bearing fruit. Why?

Well, because the fruit is from God, via the Spirit. Bearing fruit gives God the opportunity to show his goodness. And, of course, because true fruit — fruit given by the Spirit — only comes from God; true fruit proves discipleship, because only disciples have the Spirit. Continue reading →

(John 15:3 ESV)  ³ “Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.”

This seems foreign to the context. What does “clean” have to do with the Vine? Well, Jesus had just said that those who don’t bear fruit will be cut off. He immediately reassures his disciples that they are not in any danger of being cut off.

Just because they heard the word of Jesus? Well, because they heard and believed. Their hearts are tender and in the process of being shaped to be like the heart of Jesus. They are well fed by the Vine. Continue reading →