Friday, 16 February 2024

The Upper Room Discourse 73

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John 17:14 I have given them Your word; and the world hated them, because they are not of the world just as I am not of the world. 15 I am not asking that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one.

Yeshua packs five thoughts into these two verses. Let's deal with them one at a time over the next few postings.

First, Yeshua prays to God, speaking only the truth, He has given us God's word. The only "word" of God Yeshua could give is found in the Hebrew Scriptures. Matthew alone indicates 15 times how Yeshua fulfilled Hebrew Scripture prophesies. Isaiah is most quoted in the New Testament with Jeremiah as a close second. Both contain numerous Messianic prophesies.

Many Jewish apologists want to attribute this to a great conspiracy theory. They believe the New Testament is fiction that was predetermined by the authors to fulfill prophesy. To believe that lie takes more faith than the simple faith required to believe what is clearly written which frequently quotes the Hebrew Scriptures directly.

Why is God's word foremost in Yeshua's mind at this moment? He knows He is only hours from the cross. Without God's Word we stumble about in darkness. Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. How easy it is wax on about the enduring power of His Word.

Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.

Psalm 119:160 Truth is the essence of Your word, and all Your righteous rulings are eternal.

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword - piercing right through to a separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Yeshua (our example) used the Word of God to do battle with Satan. Matthew 4:4 But He replied, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" In giving us God's Word, Yeshua has planted within us seeds of righteousness that will surely reap a harvest according to His will.

Isaiah 55:10-11 For as the rain and snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without having watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to sow and bread to eat, so My word will be that goes out from My mouth. It will not return to Me in vain, but will accomplish what I intend, and will succeed in what I sent it for.

That's so good, I want to end right here for today. We will pick this up with

Yeshua's second thought next time, unless the Lord returns first.