A Risen Savior the Living God

Jesus Was Buried and Rose Again

Book of John Chapter 19:38-20:10

We left off last week at the death of our Savior. The truth is the Lord Jesus Christ, Almighty God came down from Heaven to die in payment for the sin of this entire world from the time He was born of a "virgin" to the end of time.

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Lord Jesus came to this earth to fulfill every Scripture that was written about Him in the Old Testament.

Luk_24:44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

This was the theme behind the preaching of all the Apostles!

1Co 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

1Co 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Let us pick up where we left off last week at Chapter 19 verse 38.

*****Joh 19:38 And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.

We already know that the disciples of Jesus had scattered and not one of them would take the chance of of going to Pilate to take care of the body of Jesus.

So we see a secret Christian by the name of Joseph from Arimathaea. We can see what type of man he was by looking to what is written of him.

We must understand that we are not to be ashamed of claiming the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior.

Joseph was a good person.

Joseph was a believer.

Joseph feared what his friends and the other members of the Sanhedrin would think of Him if He claimed to believe Jesus and to believe the Word of God.

He feared the loss of position.

He feared the loss of prestige.

Others fear their chance at promotion.

Some fear their acceptance.

Some fear popularity.

Some fear losing their friends.

Some fear losing their job, their income or their livelihood.

I fear that many in our world today are going through these things.

I myself was a victim of many of these things, but I am far better because I took a stand.

From Matthew

Mat 27:57 When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple:

Mat 27:58 He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.

Mat 27:59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,

Mat 27:60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.

From Mark

Mar 15:43 Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.

Mar 15:44 And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead.

Mar 15:45 And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.

From Luke

Luk 23:51 (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.

Luk 23:52 This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.

Luk 23:53 And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.

Luk 23:54 And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.

From Luke we also see that this was the preparation day. In other words it was the day that the sacrificial lambs were slain in celebration of the Passover.

Joseph was a rich man, who was a secret disciple of the Lord, who himself knew he did not have many days left and had prepared his own tomb which he placed the body of Jesus before 6 PM that day, in honor of the Laws of Moses.

He went boldly to Pilate and demanded the body of Jesus be released unto him. Pilate would not do this until he had verified the death of our Lord with the Centurion in charge of the crucifixion.

It was the cross that finally awoke Joseph to the reality of the Lord Jesus Christ just as it has so many others.

As Joseph desired to finally take care of the body of Christ, we should understand that the Church is the Body of Christ today and it is the disciples of Jesus that is to care for the Church!

Joseph was not alone!

It is only John who tells us of Nicodemus who was no longer ashamed to acknowledge his love for the Savior.

*****Joh 19:39 And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.

Joh 19:40 Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.

No one could have guessed that these two men were believers they had kept it so much a secret.

They had waited until Jesus had died to show their worship of Him.

But we must also remember all those who had been with Jesus every day for nearly three years had abandoned Him in His time of need.

Then there were the women of Galilee who followed Jesus all the way to the borrowed tomb, who had watch Joseph and Nicodemus do these things and felt they had not done it right because they were rushed by time and planned to return to the tomb after the Passover.

We know that there were others that may have come just to see Jesus buried:

Luk 23:48 And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned.

Luk 23:49 And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.

Jesus Christ never owned His own house and now He would also be placed into another man's tomb.

If no one had claimed the body of the Lord, he would have been cast into an open pit with others who had been crucified by the government of Rome.

The prophets would have been wrong making the Word of God to have errors, but it is our Heavenly Father who is in control of this world and He makes things work according to His masterful plan!

That tomb may have received the body of Christ, but that grave could not destroy the Body of Christ. There is nothing in this world or any other world that stop the believing Church!

As we know our hope lies in the promises of God!

Psa 16:9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.

Psa 16:10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

Psa 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Mat 22:31 But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,

Mat 22:32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.

Rom 14:7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.

Rom 14:8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.

Rom 14:9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.

There are some things we need to keep in mind as we get closer to our day in the grave. Not our soul for it will be with the Lord.

1) Our grave will not be dug until it is time:

Job 5:26 Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season.

2) When our body reaches the grave, we should know that even the grave was defeated by Jesus Christ.

1Co 3:21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;

1Co 3:22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;

1Co 3:23 And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.

3) We should know that only Jesus Christ now holds the keys to death.

Rev 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

We also know that the Lord Jesus loved the garden, so He made His bed amongst the lilies.

*****Joh 19:41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid.

Joh 19:42 There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.

Preparation day was the day all the lambs were slaughtered, and the Passover Meals were being prepared and Joseph and Nicodemus were required to be at the Temple, but they had chosen the slaughtered Lamb of God, the true Passover to show their worship for Him.

Since these two men had handled the dead body of Christ, they were now considered unclean and it would 7 days before they could be cleansed and return to their duties in the Temple.

A Garden would first see the death of Christ but in three days this garden would be the place of God's glory.

The tomb of the Lord was hewn out of rock and we can be sure there was no other way to enter into this tomb nor could anyone enter into by digging under the ground.

We should feel sorrow for having so much sin it required the death of our Savior!

But we should feel joy because His sufferings are over, and His happiness had begun for providing our means to escape death.

We should have an earnest desire to be where ever the Lord is right now.

All these things will cause us to be better prepared for our own death bed.

The prophet had said:

Psa 22:15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.

Again the Prophet said:

Isa 53:9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

In three days things had changed.

*****Joh 20:1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.

The first day of the week on the Jewish calendar is Sunday. Some may ask why does the Church meet on Sundays? It is because Sunday is the Lord's Day. The day our Savior walk out of that tomb.

The sepulchers of the rich of that day were hand carved caves into solid rock. In most all cases the sepulchre would be on land that belong to the owner of the sepulchre. In other words the tomb of Jesus belonged to Joseph of Arimathea and was on land that belonged to him.

We can tell something about a sepulchre by listening to this phrase. “He that selleth his neighbour a place of burial, and he that takes of his neighbour a place of burial, let him make the inner parts of the cave four cubits, and six cubits: and let him open within it eight sepulchers.”

In other words a sepulchre would be about 6 feet deep,

into the rock by 8 or 9 feet high and 9 feet broad and the actual burial place would be carved into the walls on both sides enough for an entire family could be buried in the same sepulchre.

One thing we should know about the Holy Spirit, when He gives us details in the Scriptures, He is not trying to convince us of the truth or to prove anything, He is just stating the facts!

John's Gospel was written many years later than those of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. We can still get the full picture when we take into account, all 4 of the Gospels.

A lot of things may be said about Mary Magdalene, but it would be hard not to mention that she was a devoted Christian!

This Mary openly showed her devotion in front of Roman soldiers, the High Priest, and the Pharisees.

She was not afraid to claim her "faith"!

Mat 28:1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

Mar 16:1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.

Mar 16:2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.

Luk 24:1 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.

Luk 24:2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.

Luk 24:3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.

This Mary did not know what to think about the empty tomb, but she did know where the disciples were hiding.

*****Joh 20:2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.

Joh 20:3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.

Without a doubt even though Peter had failed by denying the Lord, he was still considered to be the chief among the disciples.

We can understand that Peter and John may not have been in the same place by the way this Scripture is worded. Remember John had taken Mary the mother of Jesus to his own home.

The phrase "whom Jesus loved" can be said of John but also of Peter, again by the way it is written. Jesus loved all His disciples just as He does us here today!

At this time Mary Magdeline believes someone has stolen the body of Christ, which was impossible.

That word "we" suggest that Mary was not alone when she had gone to the tomb of Jesus.

Mar 16:1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.

Mar 16:2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.

Peter and John ran to the tomb of Jesus as fast as they could.

*****Joh 20:4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.

Joh 20:5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.

Joh 20:6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,

Joh 20:7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.

Joh 20:8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.

The fact that they both saw the linen clothes is very important.

The body of Jesus could not have been stolen and those linen wrappings still be in the tomb.

Neither of these two disciples understood what they were seeing at this time and they did not discuss it between them.

We already know that the roof of the sepulchre was 8 or 9 feet tall so Peter stooped down to get a closer look at those linen wrappings, and we could say that the body of Jesus would have had to pass through those wrappings because they were not disturbed.

Peter could not believe what he was looking at!

The last time Peter had seen the Lord was during the false trial when he had denied Him.

Peter craved to look upon his Master one more time, but all he saw was the wrappings.

One other thing in particular was noticed. The napkin that covered His face was neatly folded and laid in another place.

Say what we will, we would have been just as puzzled as these two disciples had we seen such things.

We must realize that the body of Jesus could not have been taken away in a hurry, and could not have been taken by thieves since everything lay in such order.

The only answer was, that Jesus had done these things Himself or the Angels had done these things.

Some say that the folded napkin had its own message that Jesus was not yet through with the work He had to do!

The important things are these.

1) It would be impossible to still steal a body out of the wrappings and leave them undisturbed.

2) The wrappings would have been taken with the body had the body been removed.

3) Those wrappings would have been scattered if thieves had stolen the body of Jesus.

4) It would be impossible to place the wrappings as if they had never moved after the body was removed.

John realized that there was only one answer and it was that Jesus Christ was alive just as He had said, but John did not know how!

John did not relay his thoughts to Peter!

Luk 24:12 Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.

Neither Peter nor John knew of a Scripture that said, He must rise again from the dead.

*****Joh 20:9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.

Joh 20:10 Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.

Above all things these disciples had believed that the Messiah could not die. There is not one particular Scripture that has these words in it.

There are many places in the Psalms that refer to the resurrection of Christ such as:

Psa 16:10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

Psa 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

The Prophet Isaiah:

Isa 25:8 He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.

The Prophet Hosea:

Hos 13:14 I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.

There are others:

King David said: I foresaw the Lord always before my face.

Act 2:31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.

For those doubters the resurrected Christ was seen by many witnesses:

Act 13:31 And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people.

The Apostle Paul had these words:

1Co 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

1Co 15:5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:

1Co 15:6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

1Co 15:7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.

1Co 15:8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

We serve a risen Savior!

Our God is alive!

These disciples full of doubt and many questions went away unto their own homes with some gathering together to talk about what was said by these eyewitnesses!

Amen

Let's Pray!

The Prayer Life of the Messiah

Jesus Prayed for His Disciples

Book of John Chapter 17:1-26

The Apostle Paul was writing to the Corinthian Church and he gave us this piece of Scripture by the Holy Spirit.

1Co_2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

It is a fact that we cannot know everything of the mind of the Lord but today in Chapter 17 of the Book of the Apostle John, we get to take a look into the deep thoughts of our Savior.

*****Joh 17:1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:

Joh 17:2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.

At this time these 11 disciples of Christ Jesus are with Him in transit to the Garden of Gethsemane. It would only be a few hours before Jesus would be taken into custody and this same day He would be murdered by Crucifixion, the Capitol death of the Roman Government.

Jesus clearly understood all these things, yet His thoughts were still upon the souls His Father had given to Him!

Jesus was praying directly unto God the Father, but He was within hearing range of His disciples.

Jesus knew that His time had come.

The time of the birth of Jesus had been set by His Father:

Gal 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

Gal 4:5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

Now the time of His death was set by His Father, and Jesus had known these things all along.

Most of us when we pray, we bow in humility, but Jesus lifted up His eyes. We must always remember when we approach the Throne of God, we must remember who is sitting upon that throne.

It is the Almighty Living God!

Psa 89:7 God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.

Psa 89:8 O LORD God of hosts, who is a strong LORD like unto thee? or to thy faithfulness round about thee?

We must have a reverend fear of God but not a fear of "bondage" but the fear of "adoption". Romans 8:15

We must be clear in our minds that true prayer must be based upon "faith in" the promises of God.

We live and die by the promises of God.

Our hope lies in the promises of God and even God the Son respected the promises that God the Father had given to Him. Again our example!

We know that Jesus, the Messiah is the same one who walked with Adam and was Captain of the host that help Joshua, but until Jesus came as the Messiah, no one really knew Him.

It was nearly time for Jesus to return to Heaven as High Priest of the Church.

It is our High Priest that represents all believers to God the Father.

Jesus Christ is forever our Intercessor.

Heb 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

Heb 7:26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

Heb 7:27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.

It is Jesus Christ who now holds the power over all flesh.

Since Jesus did come, we now know more about the Triune God. God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

*****Joh 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Joh 17:4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

How is eternal life obtained? By knowing the only true God and that by Jesus Christ!

Jesus had done His part. He had laid down the foundation of the Church. Jesus had made us all aware of God the Father. When Jesus got back to Heaven, He would dispatch the Holy Spirit to keep the Church moving in the right direction.

It would soon be time for God to do His part. God would have to glorify God the Son by raising Him from that death He had sent Him to do!

We will notice as we go through this prayer that Jesus uses the term Father 6 times. Not "My Father", not "Our Father" but "Father".

Everything Jesus did upon this earth was the most important thing that could have happened for us but the one thing that was the most important was the death of our Savior. Let that sink in for a moment!

Jesus was truly the Messiah, the immortal God but He was also man and His man side need to be encouraged and strengthened and He had to realize that only in His death would there be victory.

The whole purpose of God coming to this earth was to provide to mankind the only means of eternal life.

Jesus Christ was glorified by God giving Him the power and authority over all flesh.

Joh 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Joh 5:25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.

True life can come from only one direction, it is the life of God instilled into each believer.

It is in God's energy.

It is in God's life force.

It is in God's being.

It is in God's essence.

It is in God's principle.

It is in God's power over all life!

It is impossible to live in eternal life upon this place called earth.

Eternal life comes by perfection and perfection comes only by the Lord Jesus Christ!

1Jn 5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

1Jn 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

1Jn 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

Jesus Christ had glorified His Father by completing the work God the Father had given Him to do!

It is the same for each of us. We will have glorified God when we have finished the work the Lord has given us to do!

Glorified also means, we honor God, we exalt God, we give God the glory for the things we accomplish in His name.

1Pe_4:14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

Verse 5

*****Joh 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

Joh 17:6 I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.

Joh 17:7 Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee.

Notice Jesus did not say, "Our Father" that would have put Him on the same level as we are.

Jesus did not say "My Father" because this could have led to a belief of separation, not One God but three.

Jesus simply says "Father" as Jesus had confirmed the Holy Trinity.

What do we already know?

2Co 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

Php 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

Php 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

We know that Jesus had emptied Himself of His glory to take on flesh to do the work that God the Father had given Him to do.

Now Jesus is saying to restore that Glory to Him that He had had before the first day of creation.

God the Son was sent to restore the eternal life that Adam once had before sin entered into his life and Jesus would complete that work when He was nailed to that cross until He gave His life for us!

God the Son is distinct from God the Father, yet they are still One God, including God the Holy Spirit.

In His short time on this earth Jesus had shown the world the character and the nature of God.

Jesus also showed the world He was not about to beg people to believe, but only He had the truth and the world is full of lies.

Jesus taught us not to waste our time on those who were not receptive to His truth!

Mar 6:11 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city.

It is God that calls those who are to be used.

It is the call of God that enables us to believe!

Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

But not everyone called of God will believe.

Mat_22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

We should understand this calling as the work of the Holy Spirit!

Joh 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Joh 6:45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

Joh 6:46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.

Joh 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

Then the truth comes by the Lord Jesus Christ.

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Verse 8

*****Joh 17:8 For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.

Joh 17:9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.

We may sometimes question the faith of these 11 men but in this text, Jesus says they received His words by "Faith". Surely like us they did not understand many things but if Jesus says it then, it has to be the truth.

These 11 men had come out of the world to accept the Lord Jesus Christ.

These 11 men had truly become disciples, even though they were not perfect.

Let's consider that even when we were out in the world, we belonged to God because He is our Creator.

We are called and then chosen if we accept the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior and are therefore given to Jesus by our Creator.

One day in the near future, the Lord Jesus will present us back to our Creator our Father, as been made perfect and we can then spend eternity with our Heavenly Father.

Heb 3:14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;

The key to these things taking place is the fact that we have place our "faith" in the promises of God's Dear Son!

At this point Jesus prays for these 11 men.

Jesus did not pray for the world at this minute because the world needed these men to be the chosen Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ.

We already know that God had a great love for the world. (Hence John 3:16).

Jesus prayed for these 11 men because he was responsible for their welfare.

It is these 11 men plus the Apostle Paul who would turn this world upside down to form the Church!

*****Joh 17:10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.

Joh 17:11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.

Joh 17:12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

Again Jesus places Himself on the same level as our Heavenly Father. Every character trait that is in our Heavenly Father is also in God the Son and the same can be said of the Holy Spirit.

Another important fact we see here is that God the Father and God the Son have the same concern over all believers beginning with these men.

Joh 10:29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

Joh 10:30 I and my Father are one.

We must understand that the mission of the Church, preaching the "Gospel" was given to these 11 men.

These were the first Ambassadors of Christ on this world!

Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

If we have not seen by now, we live in a very divisive world. It was very important that these 11 men to not get caught up in this divisiveness.

They were to be the start of the Church and they dearly needed one another!

The Lord Jesus Christ had provided the foundation of the Church.

When Jesus returned to Heaven the responsibility of the Church would be handed over to the Holy Spirit.

Jesus prayed to His Heavenly Father that the believers would be as close to God, as God and His Son!

The Church is to be "One" in the same nature as God by being "Born Again" in the family of God.

The Church is to become a partaker of the "Divine Nature" of God.

The Church is to become the family of God.

The Church is to become the rebuilt Temple of God that cannot be destroyed.

The Church is to become the preferred race of people.

Eph 4:17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,

Eph 4:18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

Eph 4:19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

Eph 4:20 But ye have not so learned Christ;

Eph 4:21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:

The Church is to have a single purpose, to spread the "Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ".

The Church is to have the "Joy of the Lord" in following in the ways of the Lord Jesus Christ!

*****Joh 17:13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.

Joh 17:14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

That "Joy" comes because Jesus was going home to be with His Father and we are to have this same "Joy" as we will one day be going home to be with the Father!

Many believe that once saved God will deliver us through the trials of this world but that is not true.

The promise of God says He will deliver us through our trials and tribulations.

It means we will live a victorious life! We might ask, why not?

God will always answer the prayers of His Son!

God has given all believers to Jesus Christ.

No doubt the closer the relationship we have with the Lord and our Father in Heaven, the better off we are!

The truth is God will not allow anything to come between us and His Son.

Joh 6:39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

Joh 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

God does not forget the promises He makes!

Why is the Christian hated? We are those aliens that the world has been spending so much money trying find.

We are those peculiar people in a world of people who reject the truth.

Why does the Lord not take us out of this world when we are saved?

The Lord specifically asked Him not to, we have a work that needs to be accomplished.

*****Joh 17:15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.

Joh 17:16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

Joh 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

You see Satan, the evil one, can only tempt the Christian, God will certainly keep us from his evil clutches.

These 11 men needed a protection that could come from no other source, just as we do today.

Just because of the message that the disciples of the Lord would bring, they would be hated, and this has not changed today.

1) God has given all His disciples the Word of God. Satan's disciples do not want to hear what God has to say.

2) God is Holy, the followers of Satan are immoral and depraved.

3) God the Son demands total allegiance and a commitment to God the Father, through God the Holy Spirit.

Jesus came out of Heaven to lay claim to all those that God will call and who God has chosen if they would have "faith".

All those who would be "Born Again" and would seek to be in the nature of God and not the sin nature of Adam.

The disciples were needed to begin the Church, the body of Christ, the Church, the home of God's messengers.

To sanctify is to be set apart for God's use!

Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Jesus Christ did go to the Cross to pay our sin debt but that was only part of it.

Jesus knew that this must take place, so mankind could recover the purity and truth that God intended when Adam and Eve were made in innocence.

To be sanctified then could only take place by knowing the complete truth of God. The Written Word of God that we have today!

Psa 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

Psa 19:8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

Psa 19:9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

Psa 19:10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

Jesus then says all disciples of Jesus Christ are to be missionaries and ambassadors for Christ.

*****Joh 17:18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

Joh 17:19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

It is a great privilege to be a part of God' plan for salvation for all those who will believe!

All disciples have the same ministry of Jesus the ministry of reconciliation.

2Co_5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

2Co_5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

Heb_2:17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

How did Jesus say He sanctified Himself?

Psa 40:7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,

Psa 40:8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.

Psa 40:9 I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest.

Psa 40:10 I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.

Now then Jesus brings the Church into the picture.

*****Joh 17:20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

Joh 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

Saving "Faith" can come only by the Word of God.

From the Word of God we learn of the "pardon".

We learn of "justification".

We learn of "adoption".

We learn of "sanctification".

All these through the Lord Jesus Christ!

Joh 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

Notice it is very clear, the benefits of Jesus Christ come only to those who believe in the work He has done for our salvation!

Jesus has prayed for each and every one who has "Faith" in the Lord Jesus Christ!

Notice we must not only believe upon the words written about Him, but we must believe on Him, the Living Son of God!

Here we also see the mistake of the modern Church. There is no new message. God has not changed anything to suit this modern world. To be a "Born Again" child of God we must believe the message of these 11 men plus the Apostle Paul and this message will never change because their message was the message that the Lord Jesus Christ gave to them!

We can never be "ONE" with Christ if we do not accept His Message!

*****Joh 17:22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

Joh 17:23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

A divided message is not a true message!

As believers we must be unified around the Word of God.

Just as a divided house cannot stand and a divided kingdom cannot stand then a divided Church cannot stand, and this is what we see today.

The church is more divided than it has ever been. A division that goes far beyond foolish denominations.

We must understand that it is not what we believe, it is what God has said!

The Word of God has been so twisted up deliberately by so many, that today many do not know the truth of the Word of God.

We can only give God the glory when we teach His truth!

God gave Jesus His message and sent Him to this earth with that message.

Jesus gave that same message to the Apostles.

The Apostle gave that same message to this world.

It’s time we listened to what God has to say without voicing our own opinion!

Col 1:25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;

Col 1:26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:

Col 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

We can never have the glory of God if we reject the glory of His Word!

*****Joh 17:24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

Joh 17:25 O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.

Joh 17:26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

We find this Scripture in the Book of Hebrews:

Heb 1:8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit all share the same throne in Heaven because they are "One God".

With this thought in mind, it is the last will of a dyeing man, Jesus in the Flesh, and Jesus the Son of God, that all His disciples be with Him in Heaven.

Now everyone who goes home to be with the Lord, including those 12 Apostles are already with the Lord in Heaven and we will join them all at our death or at the "Rapture" of the Church which is the tool that will make the Jews jealous enough to realize that they have been wrong all these years.

1Jn_3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

Jesus now prays to His righteous Father who always does things the right way and Jesus says it is only right that the family comes back home.

It is just as obvious today as in these last days of Jesus on this earth, that the world still does not know the One True God and it does not look like the world cares.

We know that we have a loving Father in Heaven who not only loved this world enough to have a plan of salvation that cannot fail, but in the end, will accept every believer into His family in a totally new home.

The world says we are crazy, but it is actually in reverse. It is the world that is foolish.

The world we live in now will one day reach a point when all mankind are deliberately evil and the Lord will return to do as he did at the time off Noah, yet this time by fire but this will never take place until he has brought His children home.

It is all our job to declare to this world the name of God which is "LOVE" if we just look at His actions toward us!

It is impossible to love a God that we cannot know!

It is Jesus Christ who expresses the Love of God and shares that love with us!

There is no god like unto Jehovah, the "I AM" of the Bible.

Amen

Let's Pray!