Jesus Prays for Himself

This week we will consider John 17. This is part one of five. Give careful consideration to Jesus' high priestly prayer.

“…that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.” (John 17:21; NKJV)

Jesus prays for Himself. In John 17, Jesus asks the Father to glorify Him (v. 1, 5). He desires to be glorified for the purpose of glorifying the Father (v. 1). He desires to be glorified for the purpose of giving eternal life to those the Father has given Him (v. 2). He desires to be glorified because He has glorified the Father on Earth by finishing the work the Father gave Him to do (v. 4). Jesus’ prayer for Himself was answered: “…who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory…” (1 Peter 1:21; NKJV).

Jason

Hidden in My Heart

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Galatians 2:20; NKJV)

Sunday Morning Starters

“...and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus…” (Ephesians 2:6; NKJV)

As we come before our God and Father through His beloved Son and the Holy Spirit in worship, let us remember that we are assembled in Heaven (Ephesians 2:6). Christ is in our midst (Matthew 18:20; Revelation 1:9-20). He is not ashamed to call us brethren (Hebrews 2:11). Christ declares the name of our Father to us, “in the midst of the assembly” He sings praises with us (Hebrews 2:12). Through the Holy Spirit we access our Father and our elder brother (Ephesians 2:18).

As we glorify our GOD in worship, let us edify one another. Let us seek not to be a distraction to one another as we seek to “worship in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). Give some thought to what you wear to worship (1 Timothy 2:8-10; 1 Peter 3:3-4). Come into the assembly with your heart filled with reverence (Hebrews 12:28-29). Turn off all modern day blessings (cell phones, beepers, etc.). Let us approach our GOD and one another in such a way that those who visit with us will “worship God and report that God is truly among” us (1 Corinthians 14:25; NKJV).

Jason

The Truth Shall Make You Free

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32-32; NKJV).

Jesus is “the truth” (John 14:6). “The truth” will set me free. Freedom from…

The sway of the wicked one! The “whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one” (1 John 5:19; NKJV). Jesus sets me free from Satan’s sway, from the Devil’s influence. I can choose to be free from the wicked one in Christ!

The lies the wicked one tells! The Devil is “a liar and the father of it” (John 8:44). Jesus sets me free from the Devil’s deceptions. I can choose to be free from the one who “does not stand in the truth” in Christ!

Hopelessness! Those without God are also without “hope” (Ephesians 2:12). Jesus sets me free from hopelessness. I can live confidently in Christ!

Doubt! Satan has sowed seeds of doubt in the hearts of men from the beginning (see Genesis 3:4). Jesus sets me free from the Devil’s seeds of doubt. I can know in Christ!

Uncertainty! Satan would have us believe that we just can’t be certain of anything (see John 18:38). Jesus sets me free from uncertainty. I can be sure of who I am, what I am doing here, and where I am going in Christ!

Despair! The enemy intends to tear us down (see 2 Corinthians 1:8). Jesus sets us free from despair. I can be lifted up in Christ!

The bondage of sin and death! Satan tempts us to sin which leads to bondage and death (see Hebrews 2:14-15). Jesus sets me free from the bondage of sin and death. I can serve freely and live in Christ!

Know Him today! Allow Him to set you free! Rejoice in your freedom!

Jason

Know Him, Follow Him, Share Him

Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23; NKJV).

I've written these three points on the last page of my Bible. They help me stay focused. I hope they will help you.
Know Him. Paul sacrificed everything "for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:8; NKJV). To "know Him and the power of His resurrection" was the emphasis of the Apostle's life (Philippians 3:10; NKJV). My Father will reward me if I "diligently seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6; NKJV). “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (John 17:3; NKJV).
Follow Him. Christ has called me to deny myself, to take up my cross, and to follow Him on a daily basis (Luke 9:23). I am to follow His thinking, His speech, His behavior. I am to follow Him in everything - "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him" (Colossians 3:17; NKJV).
Share Him. When I come to Him He calls me to "go" for Him - "God therefore and make disciples of all the nations" (Matthew 28:19, NKJV). Go tell everyone who will listen who I am, what I did, what I am doing, and what I am going to do. Sharing Christ with others is the primary purpose of the disciple of Christ.
Father, let us come to know you more fully. Help us to follow your Son more closely. Bless us with the courage to share Him more boldly. Strengthen us by Your Spirit. In Him, Amen.

Jason

But We See Jesus

“But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone” (Hebrews 2:9; NKJV).

We live in a world that has not bowed the knee to Jesus. That world is to come. But what of this world? We see acts of terrorism, child abuse, crime, drug abuse, the list goes on. What keeps us going? Hebrews 2:9 does. “But we see Jesus...”

We might be tempted to lose hope if we focus on the world about us. The Hebrew writer reminds us that Jesus is. And because Jesus is, we can rest assured as we look to Him that everything is going to be all right – “…looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2; NKJV). If we are in Christ we have nothing to worry about. “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus...” (Romans 8:1; NKJV). When we obey the gospel of Jesus Christ we are baptized into Christ (Galatians 3:27). As we walk in the Spirit we remain in Christ (Romans 8:1). The happenings of this world can get us down, but they cannot separate us from the love of Christ (Romans 8:35). When I focus on the things I can see I am out of focus. I must focus on “the King eternal, immortal, invisible” (1 Timothy 1:17; NKJV).

Let us pray for faith that we might see Jesus more clearly (Hebrews 2:9).

Jason

Christ Died For Me

“Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:4-6; NKJV)

When I come to see Christ on the cross because of my sins…

My pride will be broken. Pride has to do with having a high or over bearing opinion of one’s worth or importance. No one is worth more or more important than Him. How can I have a high opinion of my importance as I stand at the foot of His cross with the realization that He is dying for my sins?

My guilt will be expunged. The broken and contrite find forgiveness at the Cross. The sins of the poor in spirit are erased, removed, and remembered no more at the Cross. I am free from the bondage of sin and death. Jesus relieves my guilt at Golgotha.

Love will be kindled. Love is the response of the good and honest heart that gazes at the love expressed at Calvary. Love for Him because He is expressing love for me. Seeing Him bleed and suffer and die for my sins moves me to love Him, to worship Him, to serve Him.

Hope will be restored. Sin destroys. It robs me of hope. The Cross communicates the most profound truth of all – Jesus loves me. I have confident expectation now and forever because He died for my sins.

My character will be transformed. Jesus died for me so that I might live for Him. To gaze upon His glory is to become like Him. The more I go outside the camp and see Him suffer for me, the more conformed to His image I become.

“…and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to rightesouness; for by His wounds you were healed” (1 Peter 2:24; NASBU).

Jason