Being the Substance of a Discourse on John 17
There is no chapter in the Bible which traces more as a whole the position of a Christian, and what Christ is for him.
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There is something very special in the chapter. It is the only one which admits us to these wondrous conversations. It relates to us, not only what the Lord says to men, but what He says to His Father, while we hearken to Him. It is not trust merely, but confidence. We are hearkening to Jesus, who is giving an account of all to the Father.
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“I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” (John 17:44I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. (John 17:4).) He gives the account of all. He pours forth His heart about His own into the heart of the Father. It is the most intimate relation in which one could be and wherein He has placed us.
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If through grace we can say, I know the Father and the Son, we may say, I have life eternal; and what a happiness that the thing is so simply said.
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A soul may say to itself, I have not eternal life, for I do not glorify God. Dear friends, lay yourself a little aside: it is the Son who speaks to the Father, and it does not become you to place yourself between Them with your wretched thoughts.
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God could not rest in man; but He could rest in Jesus.
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It is most interesting to observe how the Son, though God equal with the Father, and having right to the glory, asks it, because as man He is worthy of it.
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He will take the world for His inheritance: but the world now is neither His place nor ours.
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He appeals to righteousness against the world; the world has not known the Father, although He was fully manifested in the flesh.
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God could no longer love this world, where His Son had been dishonored and condemned.
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Thus He describes these persons, “Thine they were,” and “They have kept thy word.” (John 17:66I 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. (John 17:6).) There is much consolation in considering this word of Jesus. Their walk, the details of their connection with Jesus were most sorrowful; but they had (except Judas) persevered, in weakness perhaps, yet they had persevered.
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The eye of God sees the smallest spark of grace. He blows on it and makes it become resplendent.
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They might have said, we have not kept Thy word as we ought to have done; but what they had kept was precious in the sight of Jesus and of God. Jesus always speaks according to the principle that is there.
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All the words that Jesus received from the Father; all the plans and secret counsels of the Father, whereof Jesus as man has received the communication; all the testimonies of the favor and ways of God which comforted His soul—these all He has communicated to us.
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It is His will that we should have the same communion of thoughts with the Father, that we should have part intelligently in all His love and all His grace.
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Jesus was the depositary of the outpouring of the Father’s heart, and that is the place that He has willed that we should have.
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To whatever degree we enjoy the position of Jesus in heaven, we must also share His position here below, to be hated; it is the practical position of the Christian.
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