Monthly Archives: January 2026

Three Years That Changed the World – Understanding the Heart of God (Jesus in John 17)

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Three Years That Changed the World – Lesson 19

Understanding the Heart of God

(Jesus in John 17)

Jesus concludes his teaching time (John 13-16) with his disciples. During his time with them in the upper room – Jesus:

  1. Washed the disciples’ feet – showing he deeply loved them (John 13:1-12)
  2. Ate a final meal with them where he tells them he would be betrayed by one of them (John 13:18-30) and that he was about to die (John 13:31-38)
  3. Provided comfort that he would not leave them alone and would send the Holy Spirit to indwell them and teach them everything they needed to know. (John 14)
  4. Instructs them to remain in his love (abide in him) and warns them that the world will hate them just as they hated him, but to remain strong. (John 15)
  5. Instructs them to not lose hope, because even in anticipation of his death on the cross he boldly declares, “I have overcome the world!” (John 16)

Now Jesus moves to a time of prayer as recorded in John 17. Jesus begins his prayer by looking upwards to where God dwells. When Jesus asks the Father to “glorify your Son” he was asking that the eternal plan of redemption (salvation) be consummated exactly as it had been sovereignly ordained. This prayer by Jesus considers that his death on the cross (though future) was a certainty and would be perfectly accomplished because nothing could prevent the Father’s purposes from being realized. It is also important to understand that only Jesus (who lived a sinless life) could accomplish this work (presenting himself as a sacrifice for sin) that the Father requested him to do. Were it not for the cross, there would be no salvation from sin (for anyone), no hope, and no eternal destiny for anyone other than total separation from God.

This next portion of Jesus’ prayer (John 17:6-19) is primarily focused on the 11 remaining disciples. As Jesus continues his prayer, he will emphasize that it will be their belief, faith and trust that will sustain them, for it won’t be until after the resurrection of Jesus that they will fully grasp why he had to die. Jesus was concerned for his disciples because he knew that the world (those who reject Jesus and the entirety of evil) would be hostile toward them and he already warned them as such. John 16:1-11). Jesus will ask the Father for  their “spiritual protection”, and he also asks the Father to sanctify and purify them as they prepare to preach the truth to the world.

Jesus finishes his prayer by praying for all future believers (John 17:20-26), that they will be united together, in the same way that He is united to the Father.

Understanding the Heart of God – Jesus in John 17Download

Three Years That Changed the World – Words of Peace and Joy in the Midst of Persecution (Jesus in John 16)

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Three Years That Changed the World – Lesson 18

Words of Peace and Joy in the Midst of Persecution

(Jesus in John 16)

Jesus is preparing his closest disciples for the persecution (trouble) they are about to face. In just a few short hours Jesus will be handed over to the Jewish religious leaders by Judas Iscariot, and they will begin a “mock” trial with the purpose of proving Jesus was a blasphemer and this will ultimately end in the crucifixion of Christ. Although they will have no grounds for killing Jesus, they will proceed to do so anyway bringing on the most vile and painful death known to man by crucifying Jesus on a cross. Jesus knew this would happen and although he knew Peter would deny him and the others would briefly scatter, he shared these words so they would still trust him in the midst of that persecution.

“All this I have told you so that you will not fall away. They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God. They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me” (John 16:1-3)

Although these words were specifically spoken to the disciples, the reality is that all Christ Followers (Christians) will face persecution and tribulation until they are taken to be with Him in death or “rapture” or until Jesus returns and establishes his final kingdom on earth.

“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:9-14)

Jesus needed to proceed as God ordained it because it was necessary and beneficial to not just the 11 disciples he spoke to, but to all those who choose to believe in him. Had Jesus not voluntarily gone to the cross there would be no gospel (good news). Sin separates us from a Holy God and needs to be atoned for and that is exactly what is accomplished through Christ’s death on the cross. Christ “redeems” those who believe making them at-one (At-one-ment) with God. Jesus knew all this and although he prepared the disciples for what was about to take place, he knew they would briefly fall away which is why he made this declaration; “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world”. Next (John 17) Jesus will pray to his Father, knowing that only He could protect the disciples during the dark hours they were soon to face. Stay tuned – we will pick up there in our next lesson.

Peace and Joy in the Midst of PersecutionDownload