The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in John 17:11-12,
"Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me."
God the Father commissioned Jesus Christ, his Son, to effect the redemption of mankind with all the power and authority of the Father. This is what Jesus meant when he acknowledged to the Father in his prayer in John 17, that he kept his disciples safe by his name. Jesus Christ had within him all the authority and power of God the Father.
So close is this identification of Jesus with the Father he told his disciples, "'If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.' Philip said, 'Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.' Jesus answered: 'Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, "Show us the Father"? Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves.'" John 14:7-11.
In John 1:12 we read, "Yet to all who did receive him [the Word, Jesus Christ], to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God..." This means we believe in his power as the Son of God, his status as the Son of God, his authority as the Son of God, his credentials as the Son of God. After all, Jesus Christ is vested with all these things from the Father. This is what it means to believe in his name.
Here is something Jesus promised his followers in John 14:13-14, "I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it." Here Jesus is offering access to his authority and power to his followers.
"Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me."
God the Father commissioned Jesus Christ, his Son, to effect the redemption of mankind with all the power and authority of the Father. This is what Jesus meant when he acknowledged to the Father in his prayer in John 17, that he kept his disciples safe by his name. Jesus Christ had within him all the authority and power of God the Father.
So close is this identification of Jesus with the Father he told his disciples, "'If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.' Philip said, 'Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.' Jesus answered: 'Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, "Show us the Father"? Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves.'" John 14:7-11.
In John 1:12 we read, "Yet to all who did receive him [the Word, Jesus Christ], to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God..." This means we believe in his power as the Son of God, his status as the Son of God, his authority as the Son of God, his credentials as the Son of God. After all, Jesus Christ is vested with all these things from the Father. This is what it means to believe in his name.
Here is something Jesus promised his followers in John 14:13-14, "I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it." Here Jesus is offering access to his authority and power to his followers.
How amazing is that?!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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