Wednesday, 24 January 2024

The Upper Room Discourse 66

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John 17:7-8 Now they have come to know that everything You have given Me is from You. The words, which You gave Me, I have given to them. They received them and truly understood that I came from You, and they believed that You sent Me.

This needs to be addressed on several levels. First, what do we have that did not come from God? He alone is the creator. He gives us life. He gives us the world and everything in it. 2 Peter 1:3a His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness.

The second part of this verse is actually my second point to our subject verses. 2 Peter 1:3b through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and virtue. This confirms Yeshua's prayer. It's all about what the disciples knew, and by extension, what we know.

What do we know? Let's break it down from these verses. First, we know everything Yeshua has been given is from God the Father (remember to Whom Yeshua is praying). John 12:49 For I did not speak on My own, but the Father Himself who sent Me has commanded Me what to say and speak. 50 And I know that His commandment is life everlasting. Therefore what I say, I say just as the Father has told Me.

And from this verse above, we know that God's commandments are life-giving. It is confirmed by what Yeshua spoke previously ... John 6:63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is of no benefit. The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and are life!

This leaves the last point. What is it about these words of Yeshua's that the disciples (and we, ourselves) have "received ... and truly understood?" To both receive and truly understand is a double portion of blessing that goes beyond what we know. It is the seed of the word that is planted in our hearts for the purpose of bringing forth much fruit unto righteousness.

John 5:5,8,16 I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for apart from Me, you can do nothing ... In this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be My disciples ... You did not choose Me, but I chose you. I selected you so that you would go and produce fruit, and your fruit would remain. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in My name.

And all of these blessings start with faith ... John 17:8c and they believed that You sent Me. This is like the top button of a shirt. All the other buttons match up perfectly when the top button is fastened correctly. Yeshua is sent by God to show us the way. John 14:6-7 Yeshua said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life! No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you have come to know Me, you will know My Father also. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him."

I love it when Scripture confirms Scripture, and it happens all the time. Know it in your heart today. Shalom.