OUR FATHER WHO CREATED ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST JESUS

The Apostle Paul, in the letter to the Ephesians in chapter 3 verses 8 - 13, reveals how he, the least of all saints, was made a minister to the Gentiles to take to them the salvation fashioned among the Jews but made efficaciouse to all men on earth by a wisdom that was hidden in God from the beginning of the ages.

The unfolding of this plan made known to all creation the multifaceted wisdom that God deployed to the glory of Jesus Christ.

8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; 10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, 11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. 13 Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

Paul, having revealed the centrality of this plan to the eternal purposes of God, we can be confident in the part we are given to play in this great enterprise and we can remain undaunted in the face of difficulty.

Amen.

2

OUR FATHER WHO SENT MINISTERS TO TAKE THE MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL TO THE GENTILES

In the book of Ephesians chapter 3 verses 1 - 7, the apostle Paul describes how it came to be that he, a man from among the Jews, was tasked with taking the good news of the gospel to dispense among the gentiles.

1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles— 2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, 3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: 6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, 7 of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.

He explained that a great mystery was revealed to him by Godˋs Holy Spirit such that he could now understand that the Gentiles, in spite of their distance from any knowledge of God, were qualified to hear the gospel and could indeed believe it and could be saved in the same way that Jews were.

Paul speaks about how this mystery, which had not been made known to previous generations, made provision for gentiles to be able to inherit the promises of the God of Israel and Paul tells of how he was made a minister of this grace that was to be given as the very power of salvation among the gentiles.

Amen.

2

OUR FATHER WHO RECONCILED GENTILES TO HIMSELF THROUGH JESUS

The apostle Paul, in the book of  Ephesians chapter 2 verses 11 - 13, puts our status in perspective for us by describing how far we, as gentiles, were from God. Without any affiliation with the nation of Israel and the historic covenants that they had with the creator, we were aliens and strangers with no possible connection with the God of creation. From this otherwise intractable position, the Lord Jesus, by His blood,  brought us close 

11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands— 12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

From verses 14 - 18, Paul then expounds on the unification that happened in our dispensation where in Christ, the Jews and the Greeks became a single body.  The enmity that existed between Jews and Gentiles because of the law that contained ordinances to keep them apart, was disolved and in the new dispensation, one new man was created which resulted in the peace of unity.

Any people who remained Jewish and any who remained gentiles continued in their enmity but if any Jews believed in Jesus and if Gentiles believed in Jesus, these became one people in Christ.

14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.

The wonder of the body of Jesus broken on the cross brought about the restoration and healing of a body that was split between those who were near and those who were far away and this unity was achieved because both solitudes now have access by the one Holy Spirit to the Father through Jesus.

19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in wh om you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

The one new man, according to the template laid down over generations by God  through His prophets and apostles, takes shape as one holy temple under the Lord Jesus who is the chief cornerstone.

Amen. 

4

OUR FATHER WHO PREPARED GOOD WORKS FOR US TO DO IN OUR REDEMTION

The apostle Paul, having described manˋs hoplessly fallen condition, now reveals, in Ephesians chapter 2 verses 4 - 10, Godˋs impetus of love for us such that even while we were dead in our falleness, He reached down to save us by grace. Not only did He raise us up from death but then lifted us up to the heavenly places in Christ Jesus to where the true scale and scope of His gracious kindness will be shown toward us.

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

The nature of this redemptive transaction precludes any effort from our part to accomplish because in our corrupt state, we canˋt contribute anything towards our salvation and therefore cannot claim any credit for reaching our redeemed state in heavenly places.

We have nothing to boast about but rather, in gratitude, we can walk out the good works of the kingdom that were prepared for us from before the beginning of the world.

Amen.

4

OUR FATHER WHO MADE ALIVE THOSE WHO BELIEVED IN JESUS

The tapostle Paul, in Ephesians chapter 2 verses 1 - 3, outlined the condition of the human being prior to God's intervention thusly;

1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

The characteristics of our fallen nature can be summarized this way;

• We were dead in trespasses
• We were dead in sin
• We pursued fleshly gratification
• We followed fleshly desires
• We indulged in fleshly thoughts
• We were qualified for wrath

It is this corrupt nature of ours that God, in His love, had to save us from even though we were fit for destruction, He provided a way of redemption by which we were restored to Him for those who wished to be redeemed.

Amen.

2

OUR FATHER WHO PUT ALL THINGS UNDER JESUSˋ FEET

Continuing with his letter to the Ephesians chapter 1 verses 15 - 23,  Paul describes his prayer for the Ephesian believers that they would be given the spirit of wisdom and revelation and come to know the true hope that our Father in heaven in His riches and glory ( as well as His exceedingly great power ) brought to bear through the Lord Jesus for those who believed.

15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

Amen.

1

OUR FATHER WHO SEALS US IN THE HOLY SPIRIT 

The book of Ephesians chapter 1 verses 7 - 14 continues with the exposition by the apostle Paul of the condition and status of those who believe in Jesus. 

Having explained that these things were not put in place as an improvisation to solve the problem of the fall of man but rather as the foundational raison d'être for the design and unfurling of creation, Paul gives us a listing of the privileges that are accrued towards those who believe in Jesus.

7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. 11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.

13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

The believers in Jesus who trust in the word of truth are lifted above their original fallen estate and find themselves in Him with these entitlements;

• They are redeemed through the shed blood of Jesus
• Their sins are forgiven 
• They are given knowlege of the otherwise classified sovereign will of God
• They are gathered into the one family of God
• They obtain an inheritance related to the purpose pre-assigned to them
• They are sealed with the Holy Spirit who reserves them as a down-payment
• They are guaranteed to be finally acquired in a glorious redemption to God.

Amen.

2

OUR FATHER WHO ADOPTED US AS SONS

Ephesians 3 - 6.

The apostle Paul's letter to the Ephesians, after an introductory preamble, plunges into a heavy revelatory exposition of the pathway of mere fallen men into the family of God. This pathway was established from before the groundwork was laid for the creation of the world.

This pathway that was carved out by our heavenly Father bestowed spiritual blessings on those He had chosen so that they could be set apart and blameless having been adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

Those selected by the Father's sovereign choosing were made acceptable as sons in the company of the eternal Beloved by the glory of His grace.

Amen.

2

OUR FATHER WHOSE SON GIVES US PEACE BEYOND ALL UNDERSTANDING

Having reached the end of the book  of John, we begin an exploration of Paulˋs letter to the Ephesians which begins with an introduction of himself with his God-given name ( he was formerly known as Saul until God changed his name to Paul) and  his God--give calling as an apostle. Paul then adressed the church members living in the town of Ephesus as saints and as the faithful in Christ Jesus.

 1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God,

To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus:

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The apostleˋs letter also begins with a blessing over the congregation where Paul declares grace ( pertaining to the favour and absolution of God extended towards flawed human beings who trust in Him ) and peace ( which is the gift that comes from the Father and from the Lord Jesus to those who believe in Him ) over the people.

With this introduction, Paul clarifies His spiritual identity given by God and the spiritual identity of those he was addressing in Ephesus.

Amen.

2

OUR FATHER WHOSE SON RETURNED TO HIM

The book of John chapter 21 verses 20 - 25 concludes the book of John with this conversation between the Lord Jesus and Peter regarding John ( the writer of the book ).

20 Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” 21 Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?”

22 Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.”

23 Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?”

24 This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true.

25 And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.

After the Lord had risen, He spent many days doing things that would have taken many books to record.

Amen.

2

OUR FATHER WHO RESTORES HIS PEOPLE

The book of John chapter 21 verses 15 - 20 records a conversation the Lord Jesus had with Simon Peter. Peter, having denied Jesus three times, was now being formally restored and Jesus walked Peter three times through an affirmation of his love for Jesus as a prerequisite for his assumption of ministry duties.

15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?”

He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”

He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”

16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?”

He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”

He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”

17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?”

And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”

Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. 18 Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” 19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”

The Lord then gave Peter a road map of His transition from autonomy to a state where he would be completely surrendered to the will of God such that he would end up being in the hands of those who would kill him and he would accept that fate even though he did not wish it.

Amen.

2

OUR FATHER WHOSE SON INTERACTED MULTIPLE TIMES  WITH HIS FOLLOWERS AFTER HIS RESURRECTION

The book of John chapter 21 verses 1 - 14 records a subsequent appearance of Jesus to  His disciples as the fished on the Sea of Galilee (called the Sea of Tiberius in this passage.

When He called to them from the shore, they hurried over to Him but He did not physically look like the Jesus they knew but they knew it was Him.

1 After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.”

They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. 4 But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?”

They answered Him, “No.”

6 And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.

7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish. 9 Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.”

11 Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast.” Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, “Who are You?”—knowing that it was the Lord. 13 Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish.

14 This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.

This third appearance by Jesus the Sea of Galilee had some surprising components to it. The first surprise was that  Jesus served His disciples breakfast of fish and bread.

Another surprise was the demonstration of a miracle where their fishing efforts which were futile through the night, suddenly yielded a large number of fish.

Another surprise was that the peculiar number of 153 fish was given leaving generations of people to ponder over what that number signified.

Amen.

1

OUR FATHER WHO IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE WITHOUT FATH

The book of John chapter 20 verses 24 - 31 says this ;

24 Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”

So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”

26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” 27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”

28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”

29 Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

30 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

The axiomatic spiritual principle that confers additional blessings upon  those who had not seen Christ and yet believed, is established in this interaction between the Lord Jesus and Thomas.

Thomas, having been away when Jesus appeared to the other disciples,  had declared that he would not believe that Jesus was raised from from the dead unless he saw Him with his own eyes.

Jesus appeared again this time with the apostle Thomas present and Thomas then believed after seeing the risen Christ and called Him his Lord and his God.

In the spiritual realm, believing without seeing is called faith and faith is defined in the scriptures as the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.

Remembering that without faith it is impossible to please God, the special commodity that God is looking for in humanity is the humility to  believe in Him without seeing any direct evidence of His kingdom. 

If we believe in God's provision for our salvation and respond in repentance based only on the inner witness we receive, we meet the criteria of having believed without seeing.

There will be people in different dispensations who will believe in Jesus' ability to save them because they will see Him in His Glory  but they will not have the blessing of those who believed with no evidence except the conviction in their hearts when the good news of the kingdom is shared with them.

Amen.

4

OUR FATHER WHOSE SON ROSE FROM THE DEAD

The book of John chapter 20 verse 19 - 23 records the startling events that ocurred during the evening of the same day. The disciples were holed-up in a safe-house in Jerusalem with the doors and windows sealed when the Lord Jesus appeared physically in their midst and reassured them and identified Himself to them by showing them the injuries in His hands and His side.

19 Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.

21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”

22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

The Lord Jesus Jesus, having set the example of being sent into the world, He then sent out His disciples.

Jesus then breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit" and gave them a spiritual authority that would give them the power to forgive sins and the power to retain sins.

Amen.

1

OUR FATHER WHOSE SON ROSE FROM THE DEAD TO ASCEND BACK TO HIM

The book 0f John chapter 20 verses 11 - 18 was the first recorded encounter that a person had with the Lod Jesus after He had risen from the dead.

Mary Magdalene was emotionally distraut about the  Lordˋs crucifixion and now, she found that His body was missing from the tomb where it had been laid and wept over the whole situation.

She stooped to look into the tomb and saw two angel in white  sitting where Jesusˋ body had been.

11 But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13 Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”

She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.”

14 Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.”

16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher).

17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’ ”

18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her.

Mary was asked by the angels why she was weeping and she expressed her distress over the removal of the body of her Lord.

She turned and saw a man standing in the garden whom she did not recognize and when He asked her what she was look for, she asked the man if He had taken her Lordˋs body and if so, she would take responsibility for it and take the body.

The man she had supposed was the gardner called her by name and when she turned to Him, she recognised Jesus and called Him by His title, ˋteacherˋ.

Jesus told her not to cling to Him because He had not yet ascended to His Father but that she should go and tell the disciples that He was ascending to His Father and their Father and to His God and their God.

Mary relayed the message to the disciples that she had seen Jesus alive and what He had said to her.

Amen.

1

OUR FATHER WHOSE SON DIED AND ROSE AGAIN FROM THE DEAD

The book of John chapter 20 verses 1 -  10 records the early morning hours that changed human history forever.

1 Now the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”

The devoted Mary Magdalene visited the tomb that Jesusˋ body was placed in early but found that the large stone that blocked the entrance had been moved aside and the body of Jesus was not there. She raced to see the disciples to alert them that Jesusˋ tomb had been tampered with.

3 Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. 4 So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. 5 And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. 

8 Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. 9 For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went away again to their own homes.

The disciples scrambled back to the tomb and found that the tomb was open as Mary Magdalene had said. 

They looked in the tomb and saw the linens that had wrapped Jesusˋ body ( along with the separate one that was on His head ) were laying in the tomb.

They now believed that Jesus was not there as Mary had said but they did not put that fact together with the prophetic scripture that foretold that the Messiah would rise from the dead.

Amen.

2

OUR FATHER WHOSE SON WAS REJECTED

The book of John chapter 19 descibes the actions that were taken after Jesus had died on the cross. 

Because it was a high Sabbath approaching the next day, the customs of the Jews was to remove bodies from the cross so that there were no bodies left hanging during the sabbath.

This meant that anyone who was still alive that afternooon needed to have their death hastened so that they could be removed and as such, any who were alive would have their legs broken which would prevent them from being able to push themselves up to breath and they would die quickly.

They did this to other people around Jesus but when they came to Jesus, they found that He was already dead and to ascertain this, one of the soldiers pierced His ribcage with a spear and water and blood pour out of His chest cavity and thus they did  not break His legs. 

31 Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. 32 Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. 35 And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. 36 For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, “Not one of His bones shall be broken.” 37 And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.”

Two prophecies were directly fulfilled by this event. 

1) Zachariah 12 verse 10 which says; “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn.

2) Psalm 34 verse 20 which says;  The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all; he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.

38 After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took the body of Jesus. 39 And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. 40 Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury. 41 Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. 42 So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews’ Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby.

One of Jesusˋ followers named ,Joseph of Arimathea, asked Pilate for permission to remove Jesusˋ body from the cross for burial and when permission was granted, Joseph and Nicodemus (a pharisee who had believed that Jesus was from God) took  Jesusˋ body down  and treated it with myrrh and aloes and covered it with linen.

The men then took the body to a nearby tomb that had recently been hewn out of the stone and had no one buried in it yet. They placed Jesusˋ body in the tomb and completed this before the end of the day of preparation.

Amen.

2

 OUR FATHER WHO

The book of John chapter 19 verses 23 - 30 says this;

23 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments and made four parts, to each soldier a part, and also the tunic. Now the tunic was without seam, woven from the top in one piece. 24 They said therefore among themselves, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be,” that the Scripture might be fulfilled which says:

“They divided My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots.”

Therefore the soldiers did these things.

25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” 27 Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.

28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” 29 Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. 30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

The Lord Jesusˋ clothes were divided by the soldiers but there was a seamless tunic that He was wearing that the soldiers decidet and to keep intact rather than tear it into four sections. They played a game of chance for it and this detail was captured in the prophetic record in Psalm 22 verse 18 that foretold it this way;

They divide My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots.

There were four women recorded in this passage who had travelled to the crucifiction site. Mary the mother of Jesus, Jesusˋ aunt, Mary the wife of Clopas and Mary Magdalene.

John the writer of the book was also there. Jesus, getting close to the end of His strength, speaks to His mother and says to her that John was her now her son and then to John he said that Mary was now his mother.  Knowing that He had finished the mission that He had been sent to accomplish, He finalised His earthly business by handing His mother into the care of His trusted disciple.

He asked for a drink to slake His thirst and they gave Him a sip of vinegar and once He took it, He was able to declare, ˋIt is finishedˋ and He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.

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OUR FATHER WHOSE PERFECT SON WAS CRUCIFIED AMONG CRIMINALS

The book of John chapter 19 verses 17 - 22 says this;

17 And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, 18 where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center. 19 Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was:

JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

20 Then many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin.

21 Therefore the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘He said, “I am the King of the Jews.” ’ ”

22 Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”

The Lord Jesus, now in a weakened state, was now to carry a wooden cross to the location of His crucifixion. Mathew chapter 27 verse 32 records that a man called Simon the Cyrenian (Lybia) was shanghaied into carrying the cross for Jesus at least part of the way to the crucifixion site.

Jesus was nailed to a cross and lifted up between two men who were being crucified for their crimes.

Pilate ordered that a plaque with the words, "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews" be placed on the cross above Jesus' head.

This title was objected to by the chief priests and they tried to get Pontius Pilate to change it from a title plaque to a indictment plaque where it would reflect that Jesus made the claim that He was the king of the Jews.

Pilate, in a repudiation to the priests, refused to change the plaque saying, " What I have written, I have written".

Amen.

4

OUR FATHER WHOSE SON WAS WOUNDED IN OUR PLACE

The book of John chapter 19 verses 1 - 16 records the continuation of Pontius Pilateˋs interaction with Jesus who had been brought to him for trial.

Pilate could not find any fault in anything Jesus had said or done. In an unjust but prophesied manuever,  Pilate tried to avoid having Jesus put to death by having Him scourged and then presenting Him as having been punished to show Jesusˋaccusers that Jesus was harmless to them. Pilate was hoping to placate the religious leaders  by doing this and then he would release Him.

Jesus was brought out so the crowd could see Him and Pilate again declared that He found no fault in Jesus but seeing Jesus in a bloodied condition galvanized the religious leaders all the more to call for His crucifiction.

The route of scourging that Jesus endured was foretold in the book of Isaiah chapter 53 verse 5 as a costly provision of God that was made to exchange our injuries and physical afflictions for Jesusˋ health and thus the passage says;

But He was wounded for our transgressions,

He was bruised for our iniquities;

The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,

And by His stripes we are healed.

Jesus, after being flogged by the Roman scourges, was now going into deep shock in response to the physical trauma that had been inflicted on Him. In this state, a person goes in and out of lucidity and pain from injuries fades in and out as the body tries to make it possible to defend against or escape the circumstance.

Jesusˋ enemies pressured Pilate to crucify Him saying that Jesusˋ crime of equating Himself with God was a capital offence.

Pilate was agitated because the Jewish leaders were so commited to having Jesus killed that they were willingly abandoning their own national identity and strongly aligning with their foreign occupier and declaring they had no king but Ceasar.

Pilate went back to Jesus and asked Him where He was from (probably to refer the matter to that region's district magistrates) but Jesus refused to answer Pilate. Pilate, in effect, said to Jesus, ˋCanˋt you see I am trying to help you? Refusing to answer my questions is not helping your causeˋ.

1 So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. 2 And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe. 3 Then they said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they struck Him with their hands.

4 Pilate then went out again, and said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him.”

5 Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, “Behold the Man!”

6 Therefore, when the chief priests and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him.”

7 The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God.”

8 Therefore, when Pilate heard that saying, he was the more afraid, 9 and went again into the Praetorium, and said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer.

10 Then Pilate said to Him, “Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?”

11 Jesus answered, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.”

12 From then on Pilate sought to release Him, but the Jews cried out, saying, “If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar’s friend. Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar.”

13 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus out and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. 14 Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, and about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, “Behold your King!”

15 But they cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar!”

16 Then he delivered Him to them to be crucified. Then they took Jesus and led Him away.

Jesus, in response to Pilatesˋ claim to being  Jesusˋ only hope, told Him that the only power that Pilate had over Him was power given to him from above and those (the chief priests) who had handed Him over to Pilate was guilty of a graver sin than the sin of putting an innocent man to death. 

Pilate recognized that there was a great moral infraction being engineered under his watch and he desperately did not want to have any part of it but with the unrelenting political pressure being applied by the leaders of Judea, Pilate ultimately washed his hands of the matter ( recorded in Matthew chapter 27 verse 24 ) and at around noon, surrendered a badly injured and innocent man to be executed by Roman crucifiction.

Have mercy on us O God.

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 OUR FATHER WHOSE SINLESS SON WAS EXCHANGED FOR A ROBBER

The book of John chapter 18 verses 39 - 40 records the exchange that Pontius Pilate offered to the religious leaders who were calling for the death of Jesus. 

In view of the custom where the Roman rulers released one prisoner of their choice during the feast of Passover, he proposed an option where the people could have Jesus released to them. 

39 “But you have a custom that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Do you therefore want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”

40 Then they all cried again, saying, “Not this Man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.

The incensed crowd of the leaders of Israel loudly rejected Pilateˋs offer and demanded that the robber Barabbas be released to them rather than Jesus.

This encapsulated the concept of an innocent man being exchanged for a guilty man. A criminal worthy of death is set free while a sinless man is condemned to death.

That is what the Lord Jesus did for each of us. In our condemned state, we were on the way to death but Jesusˋ was condemned and put to death so that we could go free.

Have mercy on us O God.

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 OUR FATHER WHOSE SON WAS FAULTLESS AND DID NO WRONG

The book of John chapter 18 verses 28 - 38 records the transfer of Jesus from the religious leaders to the Roman authorities. The religious establishment wanted to put Jesus to death but Roman law did not permit the local governments to impose the death penalty and so the priests began pressuring the Roman procurator of the region ( Pontius Pilate) to sentence Jesus to death on a vague charge of  ˋbeing an evildoerˋ.

Pilate was not persuaded that their indictment against Jesus was legitimate under Roman law. He told the priests and religious leaders to judge Jesus under their own law but they objected to his proposition because they would not be able to execute Jesus as they had pre-determined was the fitting sentence upon Him.

28 Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium, and it was early morning. But they themselves did not go into the Praetorium, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover. 29 Pilate then went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this Man?”

30 They answered and said to him, “If He were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him up to you.”

31 Then Pilate said to them, “You take Him and judge Him according to your law.” Therefore the Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death,” 32 that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled which He spoke, signifying by what death He would die.

33 Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”

34 Jesus answered him, “Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?”

35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?”

36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”

37 Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?”

Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”

38 Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no fault in Him at all.

Pontius Pilate decided to ask Jesus directly about whether He was indeed claiming to be  the king of the Jews.

The Lord Jesus asked Pilate whether this question was out of his own belief or if it was just what he  had heard others say about Him.

Pilate responded rhetorically that he was not a Jew (implying that he had no stakes in the circumstance ) but that it was Jesusˋ own people who had handed Him over and so Pilate asked Jesus to explain to him what He had done to prompt His own people to try to get a foreign power to execute Him.

Jesus told Pilate that His kingdom was not an earthly kingdom and the proof that Jesus presented to verify this was that His servants did not fight to protect him from arrest.

Jesus was saying that if He was indeed attempting to create a rival kingdom to the displace the ruling establishment of Judea, He would have set up a military structure to protet himself and engage in trying to topple the existing Jewish regime. But there was was no such activity and therefore what was the religious leaders were claiming was baseless.

Pilate, understanding the absurdity of the charges against Jesus in view of the fact that that Jesus was of no military or political threat to the establishment, asked Jesus if He was a indeed king to which Jesus replied that He was a King who was born into the world to bear witness to the truth and any person who was inclined to the truth would reognized His voice. 

The procurator of Judea, himself a man from Rome, would have been familiar with the roiling debates about the nature of realiy and the pursuit of truth that would have been constantly debated in the streets and gathering places of Rome. The emergence of philosophers and preachers who claimed to have a new insight into the truth was common in Rome and their assertions were certainly not illegal.

Pilate was surprised to find that in this remote province of Rome was a man named Jesus who was taking a principled stand on what He believed to be true and he recognized that the religious leaders was probably resisting Jesus because His new philosophy was a threat to the established undertsanding of reality in the region. 

He went out to those who brought the accusations against jesus and declared that he found no fault in Him at all.

Amen.

1

OUR FATHER WHOSE SON FACED CONDEMNATION ALONE IN THE WORLD

The book of John chapter 8 verses 25 - 27 records the second and third moments that the disciple Peter denied being associated with Jesus when he was pressed by some of  the soldiers and then again by one of the servants who was present during Jesusˋ arrest in the garden of Gethsemene. 

Peter had bravely confronted the arresting party on the garden and was ready to fight but once Jesus was arrested, all the disciples fled the scene and once Jesus was in custody, a couple of disciples including Peter trailed behind to watvh what was happening to their leader.

It was at this point that the Peter, no longer charged with adrenalin, was not ready to be associated with Jesus now that Jesus was now a socially toxic brand.

25 Now Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. Therefore they said to him, “You are not also one of His disciples, are you?”

He denied it and said, “I am not!”

26 One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off, said, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” 27 Peter then denied again; and immediately a rooster crowed.

Jesus had warned Peter that this very thing would happen but Peter was sure that he would be unwavering in his loyalty to Jesus when the authorities were in control but Peter, upon seeing the cold-blooded violence being exerted on his Lord with impunity and with the charges of a crime that carried the death penalty being floated by the chief priests, Peter lost confidence and evaded the attempts by various people to identify him with Jesus.

At the third denial, a rooster crowed that Jesus had indicated would be the marker that Peter would have denied Him three times. 

Peter was aghast at his own almost involuntary self-preservation when people inquired about his identity and he was emotionally devastated to find out that his own courage that he had believed, in turned out to be flimsy in the face of a threat to his life.

Have mercy on us all.

Amen.

1

OUR FATHER WHOSE SON WAS UNJUSTLY STRUCK

The book of John chapter 18 verses 19 - 24 records the high priest named Annas questioning Jesus about His followers and His doctrine and it was at this time that  Jesus commented on the absurdity of the situation by saying that He has always taught at the temple alongside the religious leaders and that the open and public venue was the appropriate location to have the discussions on doctrine that the priest was now trying to have at five  in the morning. 

19 The high priest then asked Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine.

20 Jesus answered him, “I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing. 21 Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them. Indeed they know what I said.”

22 And when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, “Do You answer the high priest like that?”

23 Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?”

24 Then Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

The detail captured in this passage was that Jesus was struck by an officer for asking the chief priest why they were having a secret tribunal on His doctrine when all His teachings were always presented publically to the world. 

Jesus had not spoken anything false and yet the protocols enforced by the priest allowed for Him to be unjusty struck.

The high priest then sent Jesus to Caiaphas who was the chief priest who had articulated the principle that it was ˋexpedient for one man to die to save the whole nationˋ as the justification for capturing and killing Jesus.

2

 OUR FATHER WHOSE SINLESS SON WAS SUBJECTED TO AN UNJUST TRIAL

The book of John Chapter 18 verses 15 - 18 picks up the movements of two disciples who followed Jesus after His arrest and as the procedings at Annasˋ house unfolded, a disciple ( likey the  apostle John, the writer of this book ), was able to get into the courtyard of the high priest because John was known to the household and he was able to secure access for Peter to 

As Peter entered the complex, the lady who administered access through the compound gate, recognised him to be one of the followers of Jesus and when she mentioned it, Peter denied it.

15 And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. 16 But Peter stood at the door outside. Then the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to her who kept the door, and brought Peter in. 17 Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, “You are not also one of this Man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.”

18 Now the servants and officers who had made a fire of coals stood there, for it was cold, and they warmed themselves. And Peter stood with them and warmed himself.

In the cold morning, the soldiers who had been charged with arresting and holding Jesus, made a fire by which to keep warm as they stood waiting for the matters to conclude at Annasˋhouse so that they could take Jesus to Caiaphasˋ residence where the next tribunal would be held.

Peter stood among the men and warmed himself.

1

OUR FATHER WHO GAVE HIS SON TO DIE FOR A NATION AND INDEED THE WHOLE WORLD

The book of John chapter 18 verses 12 - 14 

12 Then the detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him. 13 And they led Him away to Annas first, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was high priest that year. 14 Now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.

The high priest at that time was Caiaphas and it was he who had pronounced the determination that it was necessary to sacrifice the life of one man to save the whole nation. This triggered the plot to capture Jesus and it culminated in Jesusˋ arrest in the garden of Gethsemene.

Jesus was handcuffed and likely roughed up by the soldiers ( if the reading from Psalm 17 verse 11; They have tracked me down, they now surround me, with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground. could be ascribed to this point in time)  and taken to Annasˋ house ( the father-in-law to Caiaphas ) where He was held in custody and questioned by Annas.

The mis-treatment of Jesus continued at Annasˋ house when He was struck by an officer during questioning which began the deterioration of Jesusˋ condition at the hands of the religious establishment and then the Romans.

As the early morning broke, Jesus was taken Ciaphasˋ house.

4

OUR FATHER WHOSE SON LOVED HIM TO THE POINT OF OBEDIENCE UNTO DEATH

The book of John chapter 18 verses 1 - 11 records Jesusˋ arrest at the garden of Gethsemene this way;

1 When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered. 2 And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with His disciples. 3 Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. 

4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, “Whom are you seeking?”

5 They answered Him, “Jesus of Nazareth.”Jesus said to them, “I am He.” And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. 6 Now when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.

7 Then He asked them again, “Whom are you seeking?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”

8 Jesus answered, “I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way,” 9 that the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke, “Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none.”

10 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.

11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?”

Judas, knowing that Jesus often met with His disciples at the garden of Gethsemene, led a contigent of officers and soldiers  to that location.

When the authorities arrived at the garden, Jesus identified Himself to them and they, surprised by His sudden proximity to them, fell to the ground.

He told them again that He was the one they were looking for and that they should let His companions go so that the scripture would be fulfilled that had prophesied that He would lose none of His men.

Peter, in a passionate move to protect His Lord, struck one of the members of the arresting party with a sword he was carrying and cut off an ear.

Jesus responded to Peter by telling him to stand-down because He ( Jesus ) was willingly going to drink the cup that His Father gave Him.

Amen.

4

OUR FATHER WHO IS KNOWN BY JESUS

The book of John chapter 17 verses 20 - 26 records Jesus' tender prayer to the Father on behalf of all the believers of that time and all those who would come subsequently.

Jesus told His Father that He wanted those who believed in Him to be with Him where He was so that they may see the Glory He Had before the creation of the world. 

Jesus also prayed that His people would stand out from the rest of the world because of the unity and love that they carried as they reflected Him.

20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 

22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

25 “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26 I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them."

The Lord Jesus prayed to His Father saying that He has let His followers know about Him and would continue to do so in order that the same love the Father had for Jesus would be upon those who followed Him and that Jesus Himself would be in them.

Amen.

4

OUR FATHER WHO KEEPS HIS PEOPLE THROUGH HIS NAME

The book John chapter 17 verses 6 -  19, the Lord Jesus prayed for His disciples starting with the revelation that the men were originally the Fathertˋs and that the Father gave the to Jesus and they responded the words that Jesus gave to them by receiving them and believing that Jesus came from the Father.

The Lord Jesus then said that the men were both His and of the Father and that Jesus was glorified in them (reflecting how the Father was glorified in Jesus  mentioned in verse 4; I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. ). 

Jesus then spoke of the hatred His followers would recieve from the world in the way that Jesus was hated by the world.

6 “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. 7 Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. 8 For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me.

9 “I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. 10 And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. 12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.

The Lord Jesus, before his Father, asked that His followers be kept from the evil one and that they be sancitfied by the Fatherˋs Word which is the Truth. Jesus then said that even as the Father send His into the world, He (Jesus) was sending His followers into the world in a symetric reflection of the first step of the redemption enterprise.

Jesus said that He santified ( or set Himself apart ) for the the sake of the people who would follow Him. This seems to be part of what the followers would need to do for the sake of the ones who would come after them.

Amen.

4