Friday, 19 April 2024

The Upper Room Discourse 87

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John 17:22 The glory that You have given to Me I have given to them, that they may be one just as We are one -

Yeshua is focused! It is just a few short hours before His crucifixion, and He knows it. If there ever was a "death bed confession," this is it. And what is it all about? ONENESS AND HOLINESS!!! All of John 17 is Yeshua's prayer to the Father. He first mentions the oneness of His body in verse 11, then again here in verses 21 and 22.

In between these two mentions of unity, Yeshua prays that we would be holy. John 17:17a Make them holy in the truth. How did these two thoughts rise to the top of Yeshua's awareness in this hour? Because He knows everything, (Please see the Rabbi Trail below.) and He knows the two greatest threats we will face are temptation to sin (absence of holiness) and division (lack of unity).

Rabbi Trail: What can we tell God that He doesn't already know? 1 John 3:20b For God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. While we can't tell God anything He doesn't already know, we can give Him something He doesn't already have. It is mentioned in the verse I just quoted, "our heart." God wants our hearts.

Especially in Messianic Judaism there is an emphasis on "doing" the commandments of God. We want answers to questions like, "Which ones? How do we do that? When should we do it? Is it for everyone or only for Jews?" The answers can come to us in two forms, legalistic or by the Holy Spirit.

If God has our hearts, then He can lead us into all righteousness by the Holy Spirit. 2 Timothy 2:22 Now flee from youthful desires; instead, pursue righteousness, faithfulness, love, and shalom, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. End RT.

Why is sin a threat to us? Sin separates us from God. Isaiah 59:2 Rather, your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God. Your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He does not hear. Yeshua prayed that we would be holy, separated unto God, being free from sin.

Why is disunity a threat to us? A version of these words appear in all the Synoptic Gospels. Matthew 12:25 Knowing their thoughts, Yeshua said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is destroyed, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand."

Yeshua has called us, His people, to holiness so that we can be with Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21 He made the One who knew no sin to become a sin offering on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. Which leads us to the promise of His return ... Hebrews 9:28 so also Messiah, was offered once to bear the sins of many. He will appear a second time, apart from sin, to those eagerly awaiting Him for salvation.

When God does something, it is set in motion for eternity. Yeshua prayed for you in the Garden 2,000 years ago. His prayer for our oneness and holiness is still being heard by the Father and still being answered. The blessing is available. Just receive it.