Always Be Ready

Discipleship Questions for

Sunday April 27, 2008

 

Scripture Readings:

 

First Reading: Acts 1:12-14

Psalm Reading: Psalm 27

Second Reading: 1Peter 4:13-16

Gospel: John 17:1-11a

 

Acts 1:1

In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.  3 After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.  4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 6  So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7  He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. 10  They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them.  11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” 12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city.

Psa. 27:0

          Of David.

1        The LORD is my light and my salvation—

                   whom shall I fear?

          The LORD is the stronghold of my life—

                   of whom shall I be afraid?

2        When evil men advance against me

                   to devour my flesh,

          when my enemies and my foes attack me,

                   they will stumble and fall.

3        Though an army besiege me,

                   my heart will not fear;

          though war break out against me,

                   even then will I be confident.

4        One thing I ask of the LORD,

                   this is what I seek:

          that I may dwell in the house of the LORD

                   all the days of my life,

          to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD

                   and to seek him in his temple.

5        For in the day of trouble

                   he will keep me safe in his dwelling;

          he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle

                   and set me high upon a rock.

6        Then my head will be exalted

                   above the enemies who surround me;

          at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy;

                   I will sing and make music to the LORD.

7        Hear my voice when I call, O LORD;

                   be merciful to me and answer me.

8        My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”

                   Your face, LORD, I will seek.

9        Do not hide your face from me,

                   do not turn your servant away in anger;

                   you have been my helper.

          Do not reject me or forsake me,

                   O God my Savior.

10      Though my father and mother forsake me,

                   the LORD will receive me.

11      Teach me your way, O LORD;

                   lead me in a straight path

                   because of my oppressors.

12      Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,

                   for false witnesses rise up against me,

                   breathing out violence.

13      I am still confident of this:

                   I will see the goodness of the LORD

                   in the land of the living.

14      Wait for the LORD;

                   be strong and take heart

                   and wait for the LORD.

 

1Pet. 4:13

But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.  14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.  15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler.  16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.

John 17:1     After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. 6 “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we are one.

Discipleship Questions:

 

1.     Please read the following and discuss: John 17:1 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. Did you hear that? Jesus was recognizing that the time for His great trial and glorification had come and so now He was asking His Father to glorify Him.  Reading on: 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him.  God granted Jesus authority over all – all – all people so that He might gain eternal life for them!  Jesus is not just one among many – all authority was given to Him to what end?  To the end that He might gain life eternal for us!  But what is eternal life?  Look with me at verse 3:

3Now this is eternal life: that they may (come to) know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. If someone ever asks you why Jesus came to earth – just repeat this to them – that they may come to Know God and Jesus Christ whom He sent.  This is where it all leads! 

 

Now listen to Jesus give his credentials – they “why” the reason for His receiving glory from His Father:

 

4I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. Do you feel a bit strange listening in to this private conversation between Jesus and His Father?  No!  It’s not private – we’re family – members of His family – brothers and sisters of His.  Let’s keep reading:  5And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.  6“I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word.7Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you.8For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me.9I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours.10All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them.11I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we are one.

 

Did you hear Jesus’ parting request?  “Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name – the name you gave me – so that they may be one as we are one.

 

On the basis of the holiness of God’s character, Jesus requested the Father to preserve the disciples. The verb “protect” (tereo) is generally used in John to mean “obey” in the sense of keeping commandments.  Here it is applied to persons in the sense of “preserve,” with an implication of defense. Jesus is asking His Father to “preserve” us by His Name – that is all that is Him. 

 

And then Jesus concludes by asking that they – His disciples – the Church - may be one as He and the Father are one.

 

What unites us as Christians in our mutual love of Jesus!

2.     The real focus though of these verses is “Glory” or “Glorify.”

 

The Greek word is oxa¿zwdoxazo; and it means to render or esteem glorious.

So what does “to glorify” mean: praise, honor, or distinction extended by common consent: renown b: worshipful praise, honor, and thanksgiving <giving glory to God> 2 a: something that secures praise or renown <the glory of a brilliant career>b: a distinguished quality or asset

 

So try to imagine what He was asking for: John 17:1After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.

Glorify your Son!  What was Jesus asking for?

What was Jesus asking for?  What did His honor guard look like when He entered heaven?  Please discuss this and discuss what awaits you when you finally enter heaven.