One With Him 11.07.08

Hello My Friend/Guest,

Today we are continuing our studies on the book of John, please read Chapters 17-18 in your Bible or you can Click Here to read them online.
If the link does not work you can copy and paste this link to your browser: biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2017-18&version=9

Today we will read about Jesus praying for intercession; His betrayal and arrest; Peter's denial; Jesus standing before the High Priests; His condemnation; and Barabbas released insread of Jesus. Today's message focuses on the importance of realizing that all who believe in Jesus are One with Him. All believers are apart of Jesus and no matter how many times we mess up, He loves us and forgives us.

After the Passover meal, Jesus began to pray, "Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word." (John 17:1b-6). All true believers should unite in glorifying the Father as Christ our Lord, and in keeping His Word.

Jesus continued praying for all who believed in Him, "As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me." (17:18-23). All who believe in Jesus become one with Him and are made perfect in the eyes of God.

Jesus and the eleven disciples then went to the Mount of Olives, He knew that Judas would soon arrive with the religious leaders who would lead to crucify Him. "When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples. And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples. Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons." (18:1-3).

Within hours, all of Jesus' followers forsook Him, but it is comforting to know that Jesus sees far more in His followers than we see in ourselves or in each other. He knew His disciples would leave Him, but He continued to love them and forgave them for being afraid and leaving like they did.

The difference between the weakest of Jesus' disciples and the worldly, unsaved person is revealed in these words that Jesus prayed toward us to His Father in heaven. "For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them." (John 17:8-10).
We are His believers and He knows that we love Him, but it is the flesh that is weak. Therefore, He is quick to forgive and loves us just the same. Coincidently, as we daily meditate upon the Word of God our faith and spiritual discernment are increased enabling us to stay closer and closer to Him as trouble comes our way.

Today's Prayer:
Dear Lord,
As we live by faith and not by sight we see much of what the world does not see because we see it through eyes of faith. By faith we see a risen Savior who died for us and who is now interceding on our behalf. By faith we believe that life’s trials will enable us to grow a closer relationship with You. By faith we come to Jesus and stay the course. For it is not the one who runs the swiftest nor the one who runs for a day, but the one who endures to the end that will survive. The struggles of this life diminish when we walk by faith and not by sight. In Jesus' name......Amen.

Have a wonderful and blessed day and weekend.
God Bless You,
Christina

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