Hi there, welcome to my blog! Today I want to share with you some insights I gained from studying John 17, one of the most beautiful and profound chapters in the Bible. In this chapter, Jesus prays for himself, his disciples, and all believers, revealing his heart and his mission. Today's focus is on revelation, or what Jesus reveals to his disciples as He prays.
What is the biblical definition of revelation?
In simple terms, revelation means God revealing himself to us. It is how we get to know who God is, what he has done, and what he wants from us. Revelation can be divided into two types: general and special.
General revelation is how God reveals himself through nature, history, and human conscience. It is available to everyone, regardless of their faith or culture. General revelation shows us that God exists, that he is powerful, wise, and good. However, general revelation is not enough to tell us everything we need to know about God, especially his plan of salvation.
Special revelation is how God reveals himself through specific events, people, and words. It includes miracles, prophecies, visions, angels, and most importantly, Jesus Christ and the Bible.
Special revelation is not available to everyone, but only to those who God chooses to reveal himself to. Special revelation shows us God's character, his will, his love, and his grace. It is through special revelation that we can know God personally and have a relationship with him.
Revelation is important because it is the basis of our faith and knowledge of God. Without revelation, we would be in the dark about who God is and what he wants from us. Revelation helps us understand God's nature, his purposes, and his ways. Revelation also invites us to respond to God with trust, obedience, and worship.
One of the themes that stands out in this prayer is revelation. Revelation means to uncover or disclose something that was previously hidden or unknown. Jesus reveals to us the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and invites us to enter into a relationship with the triune God.
Let's look at some of the verses that show us how Jesus reveals God to us:
- Verse 3: "And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." Here Jesus defines eternal life as knowing God and himself. To know God is not just to have intellectual knowledge, but to have a personal and intimate relationship. Jesus reveals God as the only true God, who is distinct from the false gods of this world. He also reveals himself as the one sent by God, the Messiah and the Savior.
- Verse 6: "I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word." Here Jesus reveals God's name to his disciples. In the Bible, the name of God represents his character and his authority. Jesus manifests God's name by revealing his attributes, such as his love, his holiness, his faithfulness, his power, and his glory. He also reveals God's name by doing his works, such as healing, teaching, forgiving, and performing miracles.
- Verse 8: "For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me." Here Jesus reveals God's words to his disciples. He gives them the words that God gave him, which are the words of life and truth. He teaches them about God's will, God's kingdom, God's grace, and God's judgment. He also reveals God's words by fulfilling the prophecies of the Old Testament and by speaking with authority and wisdom.
- Verse 11: "And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one." Here Jesus reveals God's name as Holy Father. He addresses God as his Father, showing his unique relationship with him as the Son. He also reveals God as our Father, who adopts us as his children through faith in Christ. He prays for us to be kept in God's name, which means to be protected, preserved, and sanctified by his power and presence.
- Verse 22: "The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one." Here Jesus reveals God's glory to us. The glory of God is the manifestation of his excellence and beauty. Jesus reveals God's glory by displaying his divine nature and character. He also shares God's glory with us by giving us his Spirit, his image, his gifts, and his inheritance.
- Verse 26: "I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them." Here Jesus reveals God's love to us. The love of God is the essence of his being and the motivation of his actions. Jesus reveals God's love by dying for us on the cross and rising from the dead. He also continues to reveal God's love by interceding for us in heaven and abiding in us by his Spirit.
These are just some of the ways that Jesus reveals God to us in John 17. There is so much more to discover and enjoy in this chapter. I encourage you to read it for yourself and meditate on it. As you do so, ask God to reveal himself to you more and more through His Son and by His Spirit. And then share with others what he has revealed to you.
Thank you for reading my blog post. I hope it was helpful for you. If you have any comments or questions, please feel free to leave them below.
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