“Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were GLAD AND GLORIFIED THE WORD OF THE LORD. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was BEING SPREAD throughout all the region.” (Acts 13:50-52) The Jews were stirring up trouble so, “…Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and declared, “It was necessary that we first preach the word of God to you Jews. But since you have REJECTED IT and judged yourselves UNWORTHY OF ETERNAL LIFE, we will offer it to the Gentiles.” (Acts 13:46) This is the time of the gentiles, Paul says, “For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant…blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness OF THE GENTILES has come in.” (Rom. 11:25)
The church that Jesus established while He was here, was appointed a specific mission and Jesus prays for that purpose in John 17,
- First, Jesus: “…lifted up His eyes to heaven.” Indicating that Jesus looked up in a HOPEFUL SENSE and was not gloomy or downcast in this prayer. Jesus made no mention of His problems (He was about to be horribly crucified.)
- Jesus asks to be glorified: “Glorify YOUR SON, that YOUR SON also may glorify You…”Jesus prayed with a full and deep sense of the family relationship.
- You have given Him authority over all flesh: Jesus claimed to have authority over all flesh with the ability to give eternal life to mankind. This is a CLEAR AND ASTONISHING CLAIM TO HIS DEITY.
- This is eternal life, that they may know You: Eternal life is found in an experiential knowledge (ginosko) of both God the Father and Jesus Christ, God the Son.
- I have finished the work which You have given Me to do: “Jesus said to His chosen, “…who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock (of our mutual understanding) I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” (Matt. 16:15-18)
-Bill Stockham