Week Seven: John 17-18

Pain.  Betrayal.  Arrest.  Torture.  Death.  As we turn the page to John 17, all of this awaits Jesus in the moments to follow.  Stepping into the most painful night of His life, Jesus is found deep in prayer and powerful emotions, pouring out His heart before His Father.

John 17, often referred to as the “High Priestly Prayer”, is Jesus’ longest recorded prayer.  It is an extremely intimate conversation between Jesus and His Father.  

Months ago when I began to pray about this study, and how I would divide up the chapters among our pastors’ wives, the Lord very strongly impressed my heart that Chapter 17 was to be given to Kyrie Adams.  I now see why.  You will be challenged and encouraged by her very real and revealing look at Jesus’ final moments prior to his crucifixion.  Join me…

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This Week’s Reading:  John, Chapters 17-18

What a privilege to have these two chapters.  John 17 is a terribly powerful chapter for which whole books have been written.  I won’t be writing any books, but I believe in these chapters we see the character of Jesus and the message of the gospel very clearly.

WHAT DID JESUS SAY?

1.  “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word, that they may all be one, just as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You have sent Me.”  John 17:20-21

To pull out a verse from this chapter does not do it justice, but I feel that this verse does a good job at telling us what is happening.  Here, Jesus is praying for His disciples.  He then prays for those who will be believers…Do you hear what is going on here?

Jesus is praying for us.  Jesus is praying for YOU!

The Savior of all the world, facing torture and death, has taken time to lift you up to the Father.  His prayer is one of protection, unity in Christ, and courage.  Jesus knows we are fallen people, flawed, and imperfect.  Yet, “All Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them” (John 17:10).  No reason to ever doubt if Jesus is in your corner.  This unselfish prayer is perhaps the most powerful example of love.

It’s still hard to imagine that Jesus prayed for me when I let Him down on a daily basis. Let’s look at the example of Peter to understand His deep love for His people.  Jesus knows that in a matter of hours, Peter will deny & reject Him three times.  I would venture to say rejection by one of your closest friends and followers when you need them the most, sounds like the worst pain.  Maybe if I were Jesus, my prayer would have echoed my disappointment and hurt and sounded something like this: “I am praying for those I love, except for Peter, who in the face of adversity, won’t handle the pressure and will denied me.”  Good thing Jesus has the character of forgiveness and passionate love! 

When we ask what it means to be Christ-like, look to this chapter. Undeserved forgiveness and love unfailing – the gospel message!  “I made known to them Your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which You have loved Me may be in them, and I in them.” (John 17:26).

2. Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to Him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?”  They answered Him, “Jesus of Nazareth.”  Jesus said to them, “I am He.”  John 18:4-5

I used to be a Law & Order fan.  Picture the typical police scene when attempting to arrest the criminal: the police knock at the door and ask for the perpetrator.  The camera skips to the man running out the back door and jumping the fence as officers are now in hot pursuit.  I’m pretty sure that Jesus could have hidden behind His disciples in this garden scene or perhaps backed away slowly, jumped a few rocks, and run from immediate captivity.  Instead, knowing all that is to come, He stands up and declares who He is.  “So, Jesus said to Peter, ‘Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given Me?’“(John 18:11)  Jesus is not interested in cowering from His purpose for being on earth.  He stands firm and faithful, knowing who He is, unashamed.

In contrast, we see Peter’s faith in Jesus tested in John 18:17, 25-27.  One of Jesus’ closest followers, we hope that Peter will stand up and proclaim his allegiance, when no one else seems to. But, Peter is overcome by fear and shame.  The world wins a small victory in that moment when Peter is insecure in his identity and oneness with Christ. Declaring he was a follower of Christ could have reaped consequences for Peter, perhaps even death.  Easy to criticize, but what would we do?

The comparison between Jesus and Peter in this chapter is incredibly challenging to us as believers.  Facing tribulation, Jesus stands firm and boldly claims His identity. Peter reminds us how difficult that can be and how easy it is to deny our identity in Christ or to not fully understand the power our union with Christ has.

WHAT IS JESUS SAYING TO US?

1. You are forgiven.  You are loved deeply.  You are prayed for.  Now go do the same in my name.

Jesus loves you passionately.  You are forgiven and worthy.  When uncertain of these things, know that Jesus prayed for you in His darkest hour.  He knew you would face hardships and that being a believer would not be easy.  He knew you would falter, you would doubt, you would wrestle with insecurity and guilt.  But, He has showered you with strength and love to rest in your oneness with Him and to be Christ to the world.

2. I am He.  Who are you?

I struggled with this question for years after college.  I’ve always been an athlete and was even given the opportunity to play professionally in Costa Rica (although I chose to get married instead).  When volleyball was over, I didn’t know who I was without it.  

A few years back while at Denver Seminary, my mentor challenged me to find my identity in Christ and be secure and confident in it.  This is not an easy world to live in – even Jesus recognizes that in His prayer for us.  But, when we are able to stand up for what we believe and Who we believe in, our confidence will not be shaken.  

We may not be facing death like Jesus was, but we face mockers and potential consequences every day.  Is it someone in your family?  A coworker?  A friend?  When we are faced with the same question Peter was asked, “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” (John 18:25), do we cower or do we stand firm?  For me, I have a coworker who seems bent on trying to get under my skin about my faith.  She knows a lot about Christianity and even has several friends that are Christians.  Because of this, she knows how to say things to try to get a reaction out of me.  Ultimately, what she is doing is asking me a variation of Peter’s question.  The way I choose to respond will show that I can stand firm or will show that I am shaken and ashamed.  No matter what the world says to you or me, there is nothing mightier than being one with Christ.  Jesus prayed that we will be one with Him.  “The glory that You have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as We are one, I in them and You in Me, that they may become perfectly one” (John 17:22-23).  

You are a believer, a follower of Christ, a forgiven and loved child of God.  This is who you are above anything else.

CHALLENGE

1.  Follow Jesus’ Example of Forgiveness.  This week we see Jesus pray for those whom He loved deeply, as well as those who would betray him.  When we seek to be like Christ, we must seek to forgive.  

Perhaps there is someone in your life that you have not forgiven.  You are holding on to the hurts that they inflicted.  

Begin today to offer forgiveness, to follow Christ’s example.  Take 10 minutes and ask God to reveal those people you are holding resentment towards, and write down their names.  Begin praying over those names, asking God to help you offer forgiveness.  By the world’s standards or even by yours, these people may not deserve forgiveness.  But remember that we don’t deserve it from God either.  Jesus prays for us with compassion and deep love.  Try praying with that same compassion towards those who need forgiveness.  And if you can’t, then ask God to help you.

2.  Spend Time In Worship.  While on my journey to gain confidence in my identity with Christ, I learned I felt closest to God when I worshipped Him.  Many times I have found myself in a public place, headphones in and worship music playing, resisting the urge to lift my hands (perhaps that is the next step in my challenge to stand firm!).  This was true while reflecting on these chapters, and so I wanted to share a few of those songs that spoke to me.  Each one can be found on iTunes.  

All Sons & Daughters – Brokenness Aside:  Listen to the words closely in this song.  It talks about how we are sinners, but God’s grace does not run out.  The truth is that we will all be Peters on a daily basis, but God makes our brokenness beautiful.

Delirious – We Give You Praise:  The line “together we are stronger, so put your hand in mine” spoke to me about the power that our oneness in Christ has.  There is nothing that we will face that can sever that bond.  We can praise Him with all we are!

Delirious – My Soul Sings: “Open the page and see the wonderful history of love.” Jesus’ prayer for us in John 17 shows that He loves us with His whole being. Here I can close my eyes, shut out the world, and allow my soul to genuinely sing back to Him.

Hillsong United – Arms Open Wide:  These lyrics begin as if being sung by Jesus to God in those last hours.  I can picture Jesus singing His prayer in John 17 in the same way.  Just as Jesus was ready to “drink the cup that the Father hath given me” (John 18:11), so we too can surrender with arms open wide and allow the Lord to use us. “All Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them” (John 17:10).

The Brilliance – Christ Be With Me:  I believe this could be our prayer to wrap up these chapters.  We have seen in John 17-18 the character of Jesus.  Facing His pending death, He forgives His disciples and all believers, and lifts us up in prayer to His Father.  It is a prayer that recognizes the hardness of the world and asks that Christ will always be seen in us.  Let our prayer be to honor that which Jesus prayed for:  to be Christ in the world, showing undeserving forgiveness and passionate love for others.

Whether it’s these songs, or ones from your own playlist, I encourage you to close your eyes and worship freely, knowing we are forgiven, loved, and prayed for.

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How have you been encouraged and challenged by our Red Letter Summer Study?  Last week so many of you told such incredible stories, and I was completely amazed at how God has moved in the lives of so many women.  Remember, we only have two more days left in our Summer Giveaway Contest!  Leave a comment on any of our Red Letter Summer weeks, and you will be entered to win a FREE copy of Becky Harling’s book, Finding Calm in Life’s Chaos.  Click here for all the details.  

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Written by Kyrie Adams, Foothills Community Church.

I have been blessed to be part of the Foothills family for almost 5 years now.  My husband, Chris, serves as the Executive Pastor and I serve in Kids Church by leading worship in Elementary and helping coordinate in the Early Childhood.  This August we will celebrate our 10^th anniversary and are proud parents of Mckenna and Mason.  I have a M.A. in Counseling from Denver Seminary and am the Junior High Counselor at Jefferson Academy.