John presents us with a mystery here in terms of what Jesus said on the one hand, in contrast to what we could see in the way that his disciples conducted themselves on the other hand. THE BEGINNING OF THE ANSWER TO THIS MYSTERY LIES NOT IN THE RESULTS THAT JESUS PRODUCED IN HIS DISCIPLES, BUT IN THE QUALITY OF THE FERTILE GROUND THAT HE MADE THEM TO BE. JOHN 17:17 17Sanctify them in the truth; YOUR WORD IS TRUTH… Because the ground in the lives of his disciples was fertile, Jesus could ask his Father to sanctify them in the word of truth. Father’s For all their youthful disturbances and distractions, Jesus’ disciples were fertile ground their hearts were clean and ready – to receive so much more than they had already received. What those teenage boys lacked was experience and there – was no short cut to gaining experience, and there still isn’t. JOHN 17:20,21 20I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, 21that THEY MAY ALL BE ONE. Jesus and wonders here doesn’t mention miracles, signs, – desirable though these things are. No, Jesus prayed that all his future disciples would be one in the intimacy of union. That means that all of disciples throughout time and Jesus’ space need to be made into fertile ground through the power of the Holy Spirit. That certainly includes you and me. JOHN 17:21 21As you, Father, 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.
John presents us with a mystery here in terms of what Jesus said on the one hand, in contrast to what we could see in the way that his disciples conducted themselves on the other hand. THE BEGINNING OF THE ANSWER TO THIS MYSTERY LIES NOT IN THE RESULTS THAT JESUS PRODUCED IN HIS DISCIPLES, BUT IN THE QUALITY OF THE FERTILE GROUND THAT HE MADE THEM TO BE. JOHN 17:17 17Sanctify them in the truth; YOUR WORD IS TRUTH… Because the ground in the lives of his disciples was fertile, Jesus could ask his Father to sanctify them in the Father’s word of truth. For all their youthful disturbances and distractions, Jesus’ disciples were fertile ground – their hearts were clean and ready to receive so much more than they had already received. What those teenage boys lacked was experience – and there was no short cut to gaining experience, and there still isn’t. JOHN 17:20,21 20I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, 21that THEY MAY ALL BE ONE. Jesus doesn’t mention miracles, signs, and wonders here – desirable though these things are. No, Jesus prayed that all his future disciples would be one in the intimacy of union. That means that all of Jesus’ disciples throughout time and space need to be made into fertile ground through the power of the Holy Spirit. That certainly includes you and me. JOHN 17:21 21As you, Father, 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.
Prayer-Is-An-Open-Heart-11.02.2018.docx