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 17:2-3,
"You [God the Father] granted him ]Jesus Christ] authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent."
This is how Jesus' own prayer to our heavenly Father begins. Jesus acknowledges the authority the Father gave him to grant eternal life. This authority is over all mankind. Jesus also points out that eternal life is a matter of knowing the Father, and his Son, Jesus Christ, that it was the Father who had sent the Son to provide the redemption price [his own physical body] for all mankind.
I note that only those the Father gave the Son are given eternal life by the Son. So, just who are these ones the Father has given the Son? Who are they and what sets them apart for eternal life?
We get a clue very early in John's gospel. "to all who did receive him [Jesus Christ], to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God", John 1:12. These are the ones given the Son from the Father: all who embrace Jesus Christ in faith are those the Father has given the Son and it is the Son who bestows eternal life upon them.
Jesus Christ both made the way for anyone to enter into eternal life by offering his life as a ransom, paying the redemption price for all of mankind, and he also bestows, or grants that eternal life upon those who choose to place their faith and trust in him.
Only those who chose Jesus Christ enter into eternal life! How wonderful he has made of himself the way to eternal life - a life in the next age available to any who reach for him.
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.
"You [God the Father] granted him ]Jesus Christ] authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent."
This is how Jesus' own prayer to our heavenly Father begins. Jesus acknowledges the authority the Father gave him to grant eternal life. This authority is over all mankind. Jesus also points out that eternal life is a matter of knowing the Father, and his Son, Jesus Christ, that it was the Father who had sent the Son to provide the redemption price [his own physical body] for all mankind.
I note that only those the Father gave the Son are given eternal life by the Son. So, just who are these ones the Father has given the Son? Who are they and what sets them apart for eternal life?
We get a clue very early in John's gospel. "to all who did receive him [Jesus Christ], to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God", John 1:12. These are the ones given the Son from the Father: all who embrace Jesus Christ in faith are those the Father has given the Son and it is the Son who bestows eternal life upon them.
Jesus Christ both made the way for anyone to enter into eternal life by offering his life as a ransom, paying the redemption price for all of mankind, and he also bestows, or grants that eternal life upon those who choose to place their faith and trust in him.
Only those who chose Jesus Christ enter into eternal life! How wonderful he has made of himself the way to eternal life - a life in the next age available to any who reach for him.
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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