Jesus Christ, Our Great High Priest

So far in John's gospel, we have encountered glorious portraits of the life, work, and teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ that give "many convincing proofs" (Acts 1:3) of HIs divinity and godly authority which no one else can ever claim. He healed the sick, raised the dead, fed the hungry, and saved sinners who came from all walks of life. Now in the final hours before He faced the agony of the cross and the mission of redemption on our behalf, He spent time in prayer with God the Father, pouring out His heart to Him, as well as interceding for HIs disciples and for all who would call upon HIs name for salvation (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 10:9-10). This prayer had power then and still has power throughout the remainder of time and on into eternity. When you stop and consider that He had every right at that moment to walk away from the agony He was fixing to undergo and leave us to meander in our sins and head to a hell we richly deserve for our wickedness and rebellion, all we can do is stop where we are and thank Him for such a demonstration of love and grace. This is why I keep reiterating the need to quit taking the gift of salvation so lightly and I dare say flippantly by many so -called "believers" who have used it for a type of "fire insurance" that cheapens and depredates the reason for His presence in this wicked world in the first place.

The Lord Jesus began HIs prayer with an expression of glorification to God the Father. Jesus' entire ministry on earth was to reveal God to people. Jesus was the perfect expression of God. When anyone saw Jesus, they were seeing the Father as well (John 14:9, 17:1-4; Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 1:3). Even today, Jesus is the ONLY way to see God (John 1:18). The Bible clearly says that no one can come to God except through Jesus (John 14:6). Many people try to sidestep Jesus and still confess a "belief" in God, but that is an exercise in futility.

Next, Jesus referred to those that God the Father had given to Him (17:6, 26). We need to remember that Jesus is the Author and Perfector of our salvation (Hebrews 12:1-2), and not ourselves (Ephesians 2:8-9). Our salvation originates from the Sovereign act of God Almighty. He has set the standards and means by which we are saved. As our Creator and the One who sustains and controls the entirety of HIs creation, He has the right to do with us as He pleases for HIs glory, and as such He has the right to give mercy to whomever He chooses (Exodus 4:11: Romans 9:14-22). Is this not the central point of what the Scriptures refer to as "election"? The broad meaning of "election" is God's Sovereign right to "choose", or "elect" to offer salvation to us, a gift and act of Divine mercy that we do not deserve as fallen sinful people. He offers redemption to us, whom Scripture refers to as His enemies (Romans 5:6-11) while we remain in our rebellious, unregenerate state. So, if it is the desire of God Almighty to offer mercy to us, He has the authority, right and means by which to offer it (Luke 14:25-35; Acts 4:12). We have absolutely no right, nor the gall to dictate to Him that another means of salvation apart from Jesus is sufficient for us (Isaiah 64:6).

No one just decides one day to be saved (Psalm 14:1-3; 53:1-3; Romans 1:18-22; 3:10-18). That in itself is an impossibility. In our natural state, we are spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1). Dead people do not think, nor have a will, and no movement towards God. We have to be given life before we are able to do anything. This is done by the Holy Spirit, who graciously gives life to our dead souls, makes us aware of our sins, their inevitable judgment, and of the need to get right with God (John 16:8-11). This is known as "conviction". No one can be saved until their wicked heart is stirred by God the Father and drawn to Jesus (John 6:44, 65). With all of this in mind, we have a lot of nerve to toy around and dismiss the need to be transformed into the new creation Jesus promises to make us when we come to Him for salvation (2 Corinthians 5:17). The Bible says that God's Spirit will not always strive with people (Genesis 6:2) and that the time to be saved is here and now (2 Corinthians 6:2). We who are in Christ are the Father's gift to Him, and what the Father gives, the Son never refuses (John 6:37).

As the Lord Jesus continues HIs "High Priestly" prayer, He thanks the Father for giving Him the men who would be known as HIs Apostles (17:6, 8-12, 22, 26). They would be given the power, authority, and commission (Mark 16:15) to proclaim the Gospel and be the early church's teachers and leaders. They would also write the Gospels and letters that would make up the New Testament (2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:19-21). They played a purpose and use for the kingdom of God, seeing themselves as "fellow servants" and "elders", modeling their lives after the example of the Lord Jesus Himself (Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:43-44; Luke 17:7-10; John 13:4-5, 14; Romans1:1; James 1:1; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Jude 1). No minister who is truly called of God should ever possess any kind of an ego or feel that he is worthy of any notoriety, honor or glory, lest all he brings to the LORD at the end of his life is the spiritual equivalent of wood, hay, and stubble or worse (Matthew 7:21-23; 1 Corinthians 3:11-15; 2 Corinthians 5:10). Keep in mind that not only is our LORD praying for HIs apostles, and for God to be glorified, but He also prays for you in this day and age as you come to Him for mercy, grace, and redemption, even as the hour was approaching for Him to drink the cup of God's wrath in our place, endure the kiss of a traitor disguised as a friend and follower, and journey to HIs rendezvous towards the cross and its burdens. Even now, do you still want to reject and walk away from this great love He freely offers?

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