Reading the Bible Everyday – John 17

Joy: You’re listening to the Lifting Her Voice podcast, Episode #85.  Today we’ll read John chapter 17 together:  Jesus prays for Himself; He prays for His disciples; and He prays for all believers.

Welcome to the Lifting Her Voice podcast.  I’m your host, Joy Miller, and I invite you to grab your Bible and join me as we simply read God’s word together.  Some things require discipline and sometimes that’s just not easy to muster by yourself, no matter how badly you want to do it or how much you know you should.  It’s just easier to do it with a friend.  So refill your coffee or tea, get comfortable in your favorite chair and follow along as I read aloud.  I’m so glad you’re here!

Well, we had a little scare Friday night.  I stayed up after Mitch went to bed, to load the dishwasher and watch an episode of How I Met Your Mother with my headphones on.  I must have dozed off because I thought I was dreaming when the booming voice of the deputy sheriff was bellowing from the front door that a fire was burning on the hill where we live.  Kids congregate over there, and it was only matter of time before a fire was started, so Mitch and I already had bug-out bags packed.  The deputy said that it was indeed started by kids with fireworks and if he had to come back, we should be ready to evacuate.  Mitch was already up and out on our deck where he could see the flames.  The neighbors just above us hardly ever visit their vacation home, so the firefighters thought their driveway would be a great place to set up shop.  By the time I got my stuff in the truck and fetched the cat carrier for Molly, they had it under control.  Our sheriffs and firefighters are so awesome.  They flat don’t fool around getting those fires put out now.  Praise God for their faithfulness.

John Chapter 17:  1 Jesus spoke these things, looked up to heaven, and said: Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son so that the Son may glorify You, 2 for You gave Him authority over all flesh; so He may give eternal life to all You have given Him. 3 This is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and the One You have sent-Jesus Christ. 4 I have glorified You on the earth by completing the work You gave Me to do. 5 Now, Father, glorify Me in Your presence with that glory I had with You before the world existed. 6 I have revealed Your name to the men You gave Me from the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. 7 Now they know that all things You have given to Me are from You, 8 because the words that You gave Me, I have given them. They have received them and have known for certain that I came from You. They have believed that You sent Me. 9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world but for those You have given Me, because they are Yours. 10 All My things are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I have been glorified in them. 11 I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, protect them by Your name that You have given Me, so that they may be one as We are one. 12 While I was with them, I was protecting them by Your name that You have given Me. I guarded them and not one of them is lost, except the son of destruction, so that the Scripture may be fulfilled. 13 Now I am coming to You, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have My joy completed in them. 14 I have given them Your word. The world hated them because they are not of the world, as I am not of the world. 15 I am not praying that You take them out of the world but that You protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 I sanctify Myself for them, so they also may be sanctified by the truth. 20 I pray not only for these, but also for those who believe in Me through their message. 21 May they all be one, as You, Father, are in Me and I am in You. May they also be one in Us, so the world may believe You sent Me. 22 I have given them the glory You have given Me. May they be one as We are one. 23 I am in them and You are in Me. May they be made completely one, so the world may know You have sent Me and have loved them as You have loved Me. 24 Father, I desire those You have given Me to be with Me where I am. Then they will see My glory, which You have given Me because You loved Me before the world’s foundation. 25 Righteous Father! The world has not known You. However, I have known You, and these have known that You sent Me. 26 I made Your name known to them and will make it known, so the love You have loved Me with may be in them and I may be in them.

This is my favorite chapter in the book of John.  I have to admit, until recent years, I never really noticed it before.  For some reason, I wasn’t tuned into the fact that Jesus was praying for Himself, for the disciples and for us.  It’s so intimate; so fervent.  I am moved when I envision Him praying for me by name, including me in those who are known by the Father.  I understand the mechanics of the Gospel: blood must be shed to cover sin. Jesus is the Spotless Lamb who shed His own blood one time for all.  And if you and I believe that He is God come in the flesh, and that He died for us and if we turn from our sin and chase after Jesus instead, when our physical bodies die, we will immediately be in the presence of Jesus forever.  I am eternally indebted to Him for His sacrifice; endlessly grateful.  But this prayer adds another component, another layer.  Or maybe it is simply one more thing that compels me to chase after Him more.  Let’s pray.  Oh, Jesus, thank You.  Thank You for choosing to glorify the Father by completing the work here on earth that He called You to do, even though it must have been horrifying to You.  Thank You for giving those disciples the words that I would hear; that everyone could hear.  Thank You for Your word which keeps us ever-engaged and challenged to love You more.  Amen.

Thank you for joining me here today.  I pray God will grow in you what has been planted and watered here.  In this time of unprecedented struggle worldwide, we can look to God for guidance and comfort.  Be sensitive to those in your circle of influence who need a word of encouragement and invite them to join us.  If you like this show, it would be great if you give it a five-star review.  Don’t forget to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.  See you right here tomorrow.  Be well!

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Christian Standard Bible(r), Copyright (c) 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible(r) and CSB(r) are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.