Giving Thanks: Part 2

I Have Declared Your Name

John 17:6-10 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. 7 Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. 8 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. 9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. 10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.

Introduction

I want to remind you to look at this chapter as it captures an intimate conversation between Jesus and the Father. If you want to know the heart of God, read on. Jesus, on this earth, was Emmanuel, “God With Us.” The Lord Jesus’ prayer does not only capture Jesus in His full humanity, but also as the Eternal One.

This is not a prayer of Jesus succumbing to the events about to take place, instead it is a prayer of victory and confidence!

In many bibles, this next section of John 17 has been titled, “Jesus Prays for His Disciples.” And of course, that is very appropriate. Another view of verses five through eight would be “Prayer for Restoration of Former Glory.”

This is one of several prayers made on behalf of the disciples. For example, before choosing the disciples, Jesus spent the night in prayer (Lk 6:12)

John 17:6 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.

I love the King James use of the word, “manifested.” It means, “render apparent, make known or famous.”

“I have made famous your name among the men that the Holy Spirit moved upon their hearts, and they accepted the truth and became disciples of mine. They have kept your laws and commandments.

For believers in the Old Testament (OT), they knew the name of God as “Jehovah or Yahweh and the “I AM.” Jesus put upon Himself and updated it to His disciples as:

· “I AM not come to destroy the law or the prophets, but to fulfill” (Mt 5:17)

· “I AM not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Mt 9:13)

· “I AM not come to send peace on the earth, but a sword” (Mt 10:34)

· “I AM the Bread of Life” (Jn 6:35, 41, 48, 51)

· “I AM the Light of the World” (Jn 8:12; 9:5)

· “I AM on that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me” (Jn 8:18)

· “I AM from above: ye are of this world; I AM not of this world” (Jn 8:23)

· “Before Abraham was, I AM” (Jn 8:58)

· “I AM the door of the sheep” (Jn 10:7, 9)

· “I AM come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (Jn 10:10)

· “I AM the Good Shepherd” (Jn 10:11, 14)

· “I AM the Son of God” (Jn 10:36)

· “I AM the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live” (Jn 11:25)

· “I AM the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (Jn 14:6)

· “I AM in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake” (Jn 14:11)

· “I AM in the Father, and ye in me, and I in you” (Jn 14:20)

· “I AM the true vine, and my Father is the Husbandman” (Jn 15:1, 5)

Fifty-three times the word “Father” is used in John 13-17. The Father sent Jesus; this was a fact that the disciples understood. Jesus made it clear that:

· His Father sent Him

· Jesus was equal to the Father

· Jesus spoke the Words and did the Works of the Father

7 Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee.

They know that My works, miracles, and Word comes from you the Father.

Oh, that believers today could grasp that truth. In our life, it is the Father that gives and we are the recipients of His Great Mercy.

8 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.

Jesus was committed to completing the task set before Him by the Father. He spoke the Words of the Father to His disciples and the disciples received them as truth. The Words spoken by Jesus state that Jesus came on an errand of the Father and Jesus’ disciples know that. The disciples that the LORD gave Jesus believe that the Father sent Jesus the Messiah.

9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.

In the “High Priestly Prayer, Jesus is specifically praying for His disciples. Because, if they are disciples of Jesus, then they are disciples of the Father.

10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.

There is unity between the Father, Son, and the Disciples. And, because of that, glory is given to Jesus.

Conclusion

May we bring Glory to the Father and Son because they are worthy of Glory.

Amen and Amen.