Security and Joy Is Ours

Lesson #281

The prayer of Jesus is now focused on the disciples: “While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled” (John 17:12 ESV). During the time Jesus was on earth with the disciples he taught them many things and kept them in the truth he was teaching. He watched over them and protected them from being drawn away by the evil one, except for Judas.

Before the foundation of the world, the Father selected those who he would give to Jesus to receive eternal life. Included in this group were the disciples, except for Judas. He was chosen, not for eternal life, but to carry out the assignment of betraying Jesus. Everyone the Father chooses for salvation would be given to Jesus as a gift and everyone given will be accepted and will be kept forever. Some are chosen for everlasting life and others are appointed to eternal wrath; some are saved and some are lost; some as sons of God and others as sons of perdition. The betrayal of Jesus by Judas took place in fulfilment of Scripture; Psalm 41:9 (ESV) speaks of this: “Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.” Judas is called the son of destruction or in some translations, the son of perdition. Referring to Judas in this manner points ahead to the man of sin. “Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition” (2 Thessalonians 2:3 ESV).

Jesus continue with his prayer: “But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves” (John 17:13 ESV). The phrase “I am coming to you” is repeated from John 17:11, where one could sense his concern of the coming cross and his suffering, but here the focus shifts to the joy of his homecoming and being with his Father.

Jesus has been speaking of the nature of eternal life, and his power to give it to those the Father gives to him; He has been sharing about the work of redemption that will be finished by him with his death on the cross and the glory due to him as a result; He has spoken about the chosen ones, especially the disciples, and his sharing the gospel with them and keeping them by the powerful influence of his grace; He has spoken about his concern for the preservation of the disciples after he leaves them. These things he has prayed about before he leaves the world.

Jesus looks forward to the joy he will experience when he returns to his Father, but he also refers to the joy that will be experienced by the disciples and by all of us. There are two phases to this joy; first here on earth and then in heaven. John speaks of this joy (1 John 1:4) being complete through our understanding of the things he is writing about in the book of 1 John. To have this understanding we must abide in Jesus as the branch abides in the vine (John 15:1 – 11) and then his joy will be in us and will be full (John 15:11). But the verse that really excites me about this joy is found in 1 Peter 1:8 – 9 (ESV): “Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” The theme of 1 Peter is hope in the midst of suffering. Through their suffering they look to the cross and see the suffering of Jesus and then his resurrection, providing the promise of their resurrection to the living hope of obtaining their imperishable, undefiled and unfading inheritance reserved for them in heaven. For anyone walking with the Lord, this living hope should provide inexpressible joy.

Prayer

Father, there were two important topics touched on in this lesson: security and joy. We have the promise that everyone of us chosen by the Father will be received and eternally protected by Jesus and by our relationship with him, even during times of intense suffering, we can experience inexpressible joy. We have so much to enjoy and be thankful for from the kindness of your grace, but yet we so easily get so messed up with our friendship with the world. Father, forgive us and by your Spirit direct us back to a right relationship with Jesus.