Today’s selected reading continues in the New Testament gospel narrative of the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ written and recorded by the apostle John. More specifically today’s passage is found in the seventeenth chapter of this book. “These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was” (John 17:1-5). “I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me have I kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast love them, as thou hast love me. Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I hav known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and In them” (John 17:6-26). When you come to the seventeenth chapter of the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle John you will find the conclusion of a section of this gospel where there is nothing but the words of Jesus. If there is perhaps one thing that is completely and utterly astonishing when reading the gospel narrative written by the apostle John it’s how this apostle of Christ seemed to capture so much of what Jesus had taught and spoken during His public life and ministry. As you read the words which are found within this gospel you will find example after example of an incredible amount of the language of the Lord Jesus Christ as it was spoken unto the Jews of Galilee and Judaea. It is absolutely impossible to read the words presented in this gospel and not encounter the words of Jesus which He had spoken unto the Jews which were present during those days. Almost every chapter beginning with the third chapter is entirely filled and flooded with the words of Jesus as the apostle John was incredibly careful to capture the words which the Lord had spoken unto the Jews of Galilee as well as the Jews of Judaea. You cannot read this gospel without coming to the understanding of the incredibly powerful language which the Lord Jesus used to speak directly unto the Jews during those days. I have to admit the more I read the words found in this gospel the more I am brought face to face with the incredibly and powerful truth surrounding the words which our Lord used to speak directly unto the Jews. Upon coming to the thirteenth chapter you will find the beginning of those words our Lord would indeed teach and speak unto His disciples on the night in which He would be betrayed—and not only the night in which He was betrayed but also the night in which He would be delivered into the hands of the religious leaders of that generation. It would be on this particular night Judas Iscariot—the son of Simon—would indeed conspire together with the chief priests and scribes to betray the person of the Lord Jesus into their hands. Prior to ever entering into the upper room together with Jesus and the other eleven disciples Satan put it into the heart of Judas to betray the person of Jesus. It would be as a direct result of this which Satan had put in the heart of Judas he would come unto the chief priests and scribes of those days and ask what they would give Him to deliver Jesus into their hands. Scripture reveals that they covenanted to give him thirty pieces of silver if he would betray the person of the Lord Jesus into their hands. It would be from that time forward Judas would indeed look and search for an opportunity to betray the person of the Lord Jesus into the hands absent the multitude and crowd. After conspiring together with the chief priests and scribes to betray Jesus into their hands Judas would participate in the celebration of the Passover meal together with the other eleven disciples and Jesus Himself. What’s more is that the feet of Judas himself were washed of the Lord Jesus as Scripture indicates that it wasn’t until Jesus had washed the feet of the disciples that He took up the garments which He had laid aside and would speak unto them concerning one among them who would betray Him. What’s more is the apostle John writes and records that Jesus would reveal unto the disciples that the one with whom He had given the sop the same would be the one who would betray Him. Jesus would give the sop unto Judas and immediately after Satan entered into him and Jesus would declare unto him to do that which he did quickly. The more I read the words which are found within these chapters the more I am brought face to face with the incredibly awesome and powerful truth surrounding the words which the Lord Jesus spoke unto the disciples on this particular night. It would be on this particular night the Lord Jesus would indeed speak intimately and personally unto His disciples words which the eleven remaining disciples which abode with Him together in the upper room would hear and take to heart. On this particular night the Lord Jesus would prepare and make ready the disciples for that which would come in the days ahead—not only concerning Himself but also concerning the days ahead which they too would walk through and experience. If you take the time to read the words found in this passage of Scripture you will find the Lord Jesus speaking directly unto the disciples and preparing them first and foremost for His departure from this earth. We dare not and must not miss and lose sight of this and how absolutely incredible it is for in the opening verses of the thirteenth chapter of this gospel you will find the apostle John writing how Jesus knew that His hour had come when He would depart from this world and return unto the Father. The apostle John wrote and recorded how Jesus Himself knew that He had come from God and that He was returning unto God but would indeed walk through suffering in the flesh before ultimately being killed and crucified. Jesus knew that the Father had given all things into His hands but also knew that He would indeed walk through suffering in the flesh which was ordained and appointed from ancient times and prophesied and spoken of by the Law and the prophets. This is something we dare not and must not miss and lose sight of when reading the words found in this section of the gospel—particular and especially when you consider the words which the apostle John recorded in the seventeenth chapter. I am absolutely convinced that in order to truly understand the words presented in the seventeenth chapter of this New Testament gospel there is a great need to recognize and understand the words which are found in chapters thirteen, fourteen, fifteen and sixteen. We dare not and must not miss and lose sight of the words which are found in these chapters for they help set the stage for that which we find in the seventeenth chapter which aren’t words which the Lord Jesus would speak unto the disciples but words which He would speak before and unto the Father. Oh as you read the words which are found in the seventeenth chapter of this gospel you will find that after Jesus spent a considerable amount of time teaching and speaking unto the disciples on the night in which He was betrayed He would then turn His attention directly unto the Father with whom He would speak. ON this particular night before Jesus would ever enter into the garden of Gethsemane He would speak to the Father in a very personal and intimate way. It is impossible to read the words which are found in this passage of Scripture and not encounter and come face to face with the incredible truth that before Jesus ever entered into the garden of Gethsemane and poured out His soul in anguish before the Father He would take time to pray before and unto Him in the hearing of the disciples. There is not a doubt in my mind that when we read the words which Jesus prayed unto the Father as was recorded by the apostle John in the seventeenth chapter that the disciples heard such words which were spoken by Him. Undoubtedly the disciples had indeed heard Jesus pray before and unto the Father before, however, I would dare say this was perhaps something entirely and altogether different and unique. This prayer would essentially be the final prayer the disciples would hear prayed by the Lord Jesus prior to the suffering He would endure and experience in the flesh before ultimately being killed and crucified. On this particular night the person of the Lord Jesus would indeed lift up His eyes unto heaven and speak directly unto the Father. After speaking directly unto His disciples and teaching them concerning those things which the person of the Lord Jesus would speak directly unto the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. We dare not and must not miss and lose sight of how absolutely incredible this truly is when you take the time to consider it for it calls and draws our attention to the absolutely powerful reality of the words which the Lord Jesus had indeed spoken unto the disciples on the night in which He was betrayed—words which were intended to teach, instruct as well as prepare them for that which would come in the days ahead. I am absolutely convinced that when you consider the words which are found within these chapters you will find the person of the Lord Jesus speaking directly unto the disciples and teaching and instructing them before and in advance of that which they would experience and walk through during those days. It is absolutely imperative we recognize and understand the words which our Lord spoke unto His disciples on this particular night for Jesus deliberately and intentionally sought to prepare and make ready His disciples for His departure from this earth and subsequent return unto the right hand of the Father who was in heaven. This is something we must needs understand for I would dare say that at the very heart and center of the prayer which Jesus prayed unto the Father was the intimate knowledge that He would indeed return unto the Father and that he would return unto the One from whom He came and the one from from whom He had been sent. Having already spoken unto the disciples teaching and instructing them Jesus would now turn His attention and focus unto the Father and would speak directly unto Him in prayer. If you read the words which are found in these chapters you will find that first and foremost Jesus prepared and made ready His disciples for His departure from this earth and His return unto the Father. Jesus knew and understood that He had come from the Father and that He would return unto the Father having fulfilled and carried out everything ordained and appointed of Him. Jesus knew that He had come from God and that He went unto God and it was in the context of this truth He would begin teaching and speaking directly unto the disciples preparing them for that departure. OH there is truly something absolutely wonderful about the words which the Lord Jesus spoke unto the disciples on this particular night for Jesus would deliberately and intentionally speak unto them concerning that which would indeed come in the days ahead. Jesus would speak unto the disciples concerning His departure from this world and what it would mean for them in His absence. Oh the more you read the words found in this passage of Scripture the more you will encounter the tremendous truth surrounding Jesus’ departure from this world and that it would be His absence from the earth that would make room for the presence of the Holy Spirit. Jesus Himself made it very clear that unless and until he departed the person and presence of the Holy Spirit would and could not come to the earth. The Holy Spirit who would indeed be this abiding presence of the Father and the Son with and within the disciples and the body of Christ could not come until and unless Jesus had fulfilled that which was ordained and appointed of Him which would include suffering in the flesh, being crucified, being buried in the earth, rising on the third day and ultimately ascending and returning unto the right hand of the Father which was in heaven. The Holy Spirit was indeed the promise of the Father and the Holy Spirit would indeed come into the earth as the abiding and indwelling presence of the Father and Son, however, the Holy Spirit would indeed would and could not come while the person and presence of the Lord Jesus was still present in the flesh upon the earth. Pause for a moment and consider that before the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit could be manifested within the earth the Emmanuel of the living God would need to depart from it. The Lord Jesus was indeed the Word which was made flesh and dwelt among men for thirty-three and a half years and yet the time would come when He would depart from this world and would return unto the Father which was in heaven. The Lord Jesus knew and understood that the promise of the Father—the abiding person and presence of the Holy Spirit—would indeed come and be manifested in the earth but would and could not come without and part from His departure from the earth. Jesus knew that His departure from the earth would be the catalyst that would invite the person and presence of the Holy Spirit into the earth. Jesus knew that until and unless He departed from the earth the promise of the Father which was the abiding person and presence of the Holy Spirit would remain in heaven and would not be manifested in the earth. The Lord Jesus would indeed finish the work which was ordained and appointed for Him during those days and once that work was finished He would depart from this world and would ascend and return unto the Father which was in heaven. What makes this truly incredible when you take the time to consider it is when you understand that although Jesus would be physically a absent from the earth that in no way indicated or meant that the disciples and His followers in the coming generations would be left as orphans and without the presence of the Father and without the presence of the Son. In all reality It’s interesting how in the person and presence of the Holy Spirit we get something that was truly astonishing and captivating—something which wasn’t even manifested during the days in which the person of the Lord Jesus walked upon the earth. If you read the words which the prophet Isaiah prophesied unto the southern kingdom of Judah during the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah you will find him prophesying concerning the Messiah and how the Messiah would indeed be Immanuel which translated literally means “God with us.” What’s more is that in the first and opening chapter of the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle John you will read how this apostle wrote concerning the Lord Jesus and how the Lord Jesus was indeed the Word made flesh which dwelt among us. Oh we dare not and must not miss and lose sight of this and how absolutely incredible it truly is for it calls and draws our attention to the fact that in Jesus the fullness of God dwelt in bodily form. Although Jesus was indeed encased in flesh and blood and took upon Himself the seed of Abraham He was indeed the full embodiment, image and representation of the Father which was in heaven. In fact it would be Jesus who would declare that anyone who saw Him saw the Father—something which is actually quite unique for not everyone who saw Him recognized Him as the Son of the living God nor saw the Father as was manifested in Him. There were those during those days who could not recognize the Father in the person of the Lord Jesus and could not understand that He was indeed the image and representation of the Father. This is something we must needs understand for there is something truly powerful about the words which are found in this passage of Scripture and how the person and presence of the Lord Jesus was indeed the abiding presence of the Father in the earth as He was indeed Emmanuel which means God with us. When the Holy Spirit would be manifested in the earth it’s important to recognize that He would be an indwelling and abiding presence together with and within the disciples. In the absence of the physical person and presence of the Lord Jesus the Holy Spirit would indeed come as an indwelling and abiding presence that would be present with and within the disciples and those who would walk with and follow the person of the Lord Jesus. While Jesus walked upon the earth He would indeed be the image of the Father which was in heaven and those who saw and beheld the Son would indeed see and behold the Father. In addition to this the eternal and only begotten Son was the embodiment of the person and presence of the Father which is the entire premise and crux that lies behind the meaning of Emmanuel which means “God with us.” It would be through the person and presence of the Lord Jesus within the earth that the eternal Father would indeed dwell in the midst of and among men. Oh in the days of Moses and the children of Israel in the wilderness as well as during the days of Joshua, the judges and the kings of Israel and Judah there would be the symbol of the abiding presence of the eternal and living God which would be the Tabernacle and the Temple. The symbol of the presence of the eternal and living God during the days of the Old Covenant would indeed be the Tabernacle and Temple which would be present in the midst of the people of God. When, however the Lord Jesus was manifested in the earth there would be an entirely different experience with the person and presence of the living God. It would be through the person of the Lord Jesus Christ the eternal Father would be able to dwell with men in the bodily form of the person and presence of the Lord Jesus. Oh with this in mind I invite you to consider the following words which are found in the first chapter of this gospel written by the apostle John beginning with the first verse: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, he that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. NO man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared him” (John 1:1-18). Consider also the words which are found in the same chapter beginning with the twenty-ninth verse which describes those words which John the Baptist spoke unto those of that generation including the ones who walked with and followed Him concerning Jesus of Nazareth: “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God” (John 1:29-34). Consider also the following words which are found in the third chapter of this same gospel beginning to read with and from the twenty-second verse concerning additional words and language which was spoken by John the Baptist when others came to him speaking of Jesus and how all men went and came unto Him: “After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized. And John also was baptizing in Enon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came,a nd were baptized. For John was not yet cast into prison. Then there arose a question between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purifying. And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him. John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. He that hath the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease. He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all. And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony. He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true. For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:22-36). Oh there is a great need to recognize and understand the words which are found within the opening three chapters of this gospel for within them we encounter the tremendous truth that not only was Jesus the abiding presence of the person of the Father but those who looked upon and beheld Jesus also beheld the Father Himself. We dare not and must not miss and lose sight of this for when we come to the seventeenth chapter of this gospel we find Jesus speaking directly to the Father. Having spoken directly unto the disciples and both teaching and preparing them for His departure He would now speak directly unto the Father. It would be through these words found in the seventeenth chapter we find Jesus speaking directly unto the Father after teaching and speaking unto the disciples concerning His departure from this earth and return unto the Father. Jesus had indeed prepared and made ready His disciples for His departure from this earth and return unto the Father which was in heaven. What’s more is Jesus also prepared and made ready His disciples for the manifestation of the person and presence of the Holy Spirit who would indeed be present among them in His absence. Although Jesus was indeed Emmanuel which means “God with us” the Holy Spirit would be an entirely new revelation and manifestation of the person and presence of both the Father and the Son. Oh this is something we must needs understand when considering the words which are found in the seventeenth chapter of the New Testament gospel written by John for although Jesus would indeed depart from this world as Emmanuel which means “God with us” there would indeed be a new and abiding presence of the Father and the Son. Prior to Jesus’ departure from this earth He would be the image, the representation and revelation of the Father which was present within the earth and when He departed from the earth there would indeed need to be an entirely new revelation and manifestation—not only of the Father but also of the Son Himself. This is something we dare not and must not miss when considering the words which are found in the seventeenth chapter of this gospel for it’s important to note that in the absence of the physical person of Jesus would be the abiding and indwelling person and presence of the Holy Spirit. It would be the indwelling and abiding person and presence of the Holy Spirit that would not only bring the revelation of the Father but also the revelation of the Son. When Jesus knew that He would depart from this earth and would return unto His Father which was in heaven He would prepare and make ready His disciples for that reality. What’s more is that when Jesus knew that His hour had come for Him to depart from this earth He prepared and made ready His disciples for the reality and manifestation that He would indeed come again. Although Jesus was indeed preparing to depart from this earth and was returning unto the Father which was in heaven He would indeed and would in fact come again unto them. Oh this is something that warrants strong consideration for it brings us face to face with the tremendous implications of Jesus’ departure from this world and return unto the Father. It would be as a direct result of Jesus’ departure from this world and return unto the Father that there would essentially two comings and manifestations of the person of the Lord Jesus. There would on the one hand be the coming of the person of the Lord Jesus in the person and presence of the Holy Spirit while there would be another coming and manifestation of the person of the Lord Jesus when He would come again to gather together all his saints—those who had died in Him and those which were alive and remained. Oh consider if you will the following words which are found in the first chapter of the New Testament book of Acts as well as the words which are found in the fifteenth chapter of the first epistle written by the apostle Paul unto the Corinthians as well as those words which are found in the fourth chapter of the first epistle written unto the Thessalonians saints: “The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: to whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: and, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:1-11). “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: and that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: after that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed” (1 Corinthians 15:1-11). “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on. Immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall hav put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The starting for death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the world of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:50-58). “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the cloud, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). There is a great need for us to pay attention to the words which are found in the seventeenth chapter of the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle John. Jesus had just spent a considerable amount of time teaching and preaching His disciples for His departure from this world and His return unto the Father. Directly linked and connected to His departure from this world would be His coming again in the person and presence of the Holy Spirit. While Jesus was present here upon the earth in the form of human flesh and blood He was confined to the limitations and restrictions of that flesh—namely that He could only be in one place at one time. While Jesus was present in the flesh all those who desired to come unto Him would gather themselves together in one place and if anyone desired to see Him they would either have to come to Him or they would have to be present in those places whereunto He journeyed and came unto. While Jesus was present in the form of flesh and blood He would indeed be present among men and women and would indeed be confined to the limitations and the restrictions of flesh and blood. The Lord Jesus would indeed be relegated to being among people in one place at a single time while when the person and presence of the Holy Spirit came and was manifested in the midst of the earth He would be the abiding and indwelling person and presence of both the Father and the Son. If there is one thing we must needs recognize and understand it’s that when the Holy Spirit would indeed come and be manifested in the midst of the earth He would be the manifestation of both the Father and the eternal Son of the living God. I find it absolutely necessary to call and draw your attention to this particular truth and reality for there is something to be said about the words which the Lord Jesus had spoken unto the disciples on this particular night. Jesus deliberately and intentionally chose to be purposeful and meaningful when speaking unto His disciples and sought to present unto them the absolutely powerful truth concerning His departure from this world and return unto the Father. With that being said, however, we must needs understand and acknowledge that the Lord Jesus would indeed return and come again for them. If there is something we must needs understand and acknowledge it’s that not only would Jesus come again TO his disciples and followers but Jesus would also come again FOR His disciples. The more you read the words which are found in this passage of Scripture the more you can and will be brought face to face with the fact that Jesus promised His disciples on the night in which He was betrayed that He would indeed come to them in the person and presence of the Holy Spirit while also coming back for them. The sole purpose of the Holy Spirit was that the Father and Son might abide with the disciples and followers of the Lord Jesus where they were upon the earth while the purpose of Jesus coming back again for his disciples would be that they might abide together with Him where He was. Oh we must needs recognize and understand this for there is something truly captivating when you consider the words Jesus spoke unto His disciples on this particular night. The Lord Jesus would indeed depart from this world and would return unto the Father which was in heaven, however, that return unto the Father which was in heaven would carry with it incredible implications that would extend beyond just His departure and return unto the Father. It would indeed be expedient for Jesus to depart from this world and return unto the Father which was in heaven for it would be through His departure that the manifestation of the Holy Spirit would indeed come to the earth. What’s more is that the person and presence of the Holy Spirit would not only be the promise that Jesus and the Father would abide with the disciples and followers of the Lord Jesus Christ here upon the earth but it would also be a promise that He would abide with them until the time came when they would abide with Him where he was. I sit here today thinking about and considering the words which are found within this passage of Scripture and I am brought face to face with the incredible reality of the use of the word “world” in the seventeenth chapter of this gospel narrative written by the apostle John. Jesus knew that He Himself was departing from this world and that His disciples would remain present in the earth. Jesus knew that He Himself would depart from this world and would return unto the Father which was in heaven and by doing so He would leave His disciples behind in the earth. With this being said, however, it’s important to recognize and understand that Jesus would come unto them again through and by the person and presence of the Holy Spirit. It would be through the person and presence of the Holy Spirit Jesus would indeed abide with and dwell within them while they were still present in the midst of the world. Jesus would come unto His disciples through the person of the Holy Spirit and it would be through and by the person of the Holy Spirit the Father and the Son would abide together with them where they were in the world. What’s more is that the coming and manifestation of the Holy Spirit would indeed be a powerful promise and pledge that they would one day be with the Father and the Son where they were. Although Jesus was indeed departing from this world and returning unto the Father which was in heaven He would go and prepare a place for them that where He and the Father were there the disciples and followers of His might also be. This is something we dare not and must not miss and lose sight of this for Jesus’ prayer which He would pray for the disciples would be a prayer for them while they remained present in the midst of this world. Jesus knew that He had called and chosen the disciples out of the world and that they would indeed remain and abide with Him in the world. Jesus knew that He Himself would depart from this world but that His disciples would remain present in the world. With this being said, however, we must needs understand that when Jesus departed from this world He knew and understood that He would send the promise of the Father—the promise of the Father which was the person of the Holy Spirit. Oh with this being said I invite you to consider the following words which are found in the first and fourth chapters of the New Testament epistle written by the apostle Paul unto the Ephesian saints: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: that in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: IN whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: that we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:3-14). “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all loveliness and meekness, with long suffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the delight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: from whom the whole body firmly joined together and compacted but that which every joint suppliers, according to the effectual working in measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love” (Ephesians 4:1-16). With this in mind I invite you to consider the following words which are found in both the first and second epistles which the apostle Paul wrote unto the Corinthian saints. It is within the sixth chapter of each of these epistles we find the apostle Paul writing concerning the manifestation of the person and presence of the Father in the earth—and not only the manifestation of the person of the Holy Spirit in the earth but also the manifestation of the Father in the earth. It is within these two chapters we encounter the strong and incredible reality of the Father and the Son abiding together with the saints and disciples of Jesus in the midst of the earth. If there is one thing we must needs recognize when considering the words which are found in the New Testament gospel narrative written by John it’s that the person and presence of the Holy Spirit is indeed the pledge of the abiding and indwelling presence of the Father and the Son where we are as well as the promise that we who are the disciples and followers of the Lord Jesus might abide and dwell and be with them where they are. This is something we have a great need of recognizing and understanding for it calls and draws our attention to the promise and pledge of the Holy Spirit and how the Holy Spirit would indeed be the abiding presence of the Father and the Son while we are on the earth while also being the promise of the Father that we might abide and dwell with Him where He is. Oh I can’t help but wonder if this isn’t at the very heart and center of that which the Lord Jesus spoke unto His disciples and those who walked with Him and followed Him as He spoke of the promise of the Father. Is it possible that the promise of the Father was indeed the promise that not only would Jesus return again for those who have faithfully walked with and followed Him but also that they might abide and dwell together with Him where He and the Father were? It was the desire of the Lord Jesus—and not only of the Lord Jesus but also of the Father—that those who believed in Him and those who received Him would indeed abide and dwell together with them where they were. There is absolutely no denying and mistaking the truth that the person and presence of the Holy Spirit would indeed be the means whereby the Father and the Son might dwell with those who believed in Him and received Him as Christ and the Son of the living God. As if all of this weren’t enough we must needs understand that the person of the Lord Jesus promised unto His disciples and followers that if they tarried in Jerusalem and waited for the promise of the Father they would be endued with power from on high. Jesus—while He was still present within and upon the earth—promised His disciples that if He departed from this world He would send the promise of the Father which would be the means whereby the Father and the Son might indeed dwell with and within them. It would be through the person of the Holy Spirit the Father and the Son would dwell with and abide within those who believed in Jesus and those who had received Him. This is what is so incredibly unique and powerful about the words which the Lord Jesus spoke in these chapters for Jesus sought to teach and prepare His disciples for the coming of the person and presence of the Holy Spirit. Jesus desired to bring the disciples into a place of understanding where they recognized that He Himself was Emmanuel which is translated “God with us” but there would in fact be another who would come in His name who would be the abiding and indwelling presence of both the Father and the Son. The person of the Holy Spirit would be manifested in the earth for although Jesus would depart from this world and would return unto His Father His disciples and those who walked with and followed Him would abide and remain. This is what was at the very heart and center of the prayer which the Lord Jesus prayed unto the Father prior to His betrayal in the garden and His prayer of agony before and unto the Father. The sole and underlying purpose for this prayer was to pray for those whom he would leave behind in this world knowing that He had called and chosen them out of the world but that they were not of the world. Although they would indeed remain in the world they would not be of the world and they would need the person and presence of the Holy Spirit. The Lord Jesus would indeed return unto the Father and from the right hand of the Father would send the person and presence of the Holy Spirit as the presence of both the Father and the Son in the earth where we were but also a promise that we would also dwell with them where they were. It would be through the Holy Spirit the Father and the Son would dwell with us while it would be through the coming again of the Lord Jesus that He might gather us together that where He and the Father are there we might also be. Oh with this in mind I invite you to consider the following words which are found in the sixth chapters of both the first and second epistles written by the apostle Paul unto the Corinthian saints. I am absolutely convinced there is a great need to recognize the language that is contained within it for directly linked to the departure of the Lord Jesus from this world is the promise of the Father which was the person and presence of the Holy Spirit. The person and presence of the Holy Spirit would indeed be a symbol and seal of two distinct realities which the disciples and followers of the Lord Jesus Christ would experience within their lives—both their physical and natural life here upon the earth as well as the eternal and everlasting life they would have in heaven. We must needs recognize and understand this and how absolutely incredible it truly is for it calls and draws our attention to the tremendous truth surrounding the promise, the pledge and the seal of the Holy Spirit as a promise of the Father and the Son dwelling and abiding with us here upon the earth as well as our dwelling with them where they are in heaven. At the very heart and center of all this is fellowship between the Father and the Son and those who believed in the Son and received Him as both the Christ and the Son of the living God. First and foremost there would be fellowship with the Father and the Son through the abiding and indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit and this would indeed be followed by the dwelling together of all those who believed in Jesus and received Him as both the Christ and the Son of the living God in the Father’s house where the Father and the Son are. There is a powerful need within our hearts and souls to come to an understanding of this for when we think about and speak of the person and presence of the Holy Spirit we must recognize that within the manifestation of the person of the Holy Spirit there is a present manifestation which is enjoyed and experienced here in the earth as well as a future hope and expectation. With this being said I invite you to read and consider the following words written by the apostle Paul unto the Corinthian saints: “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body. And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power. Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them members of an harlot? God forbid. What? Know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? For two, saith he, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What’s? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:12-20). “O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged. Ye are not straitened in us, ye are straitened in your own bowels. Now for a recompense in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged. Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty” (2 Corinthians 6:11-18). I am absolutely convinced there is a great need for us to pay close attention to the words which are found in these two passages of Scripture for they call and draw our attention to the incredible truth surrounding the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit who was sent by the eternal and only begotten Son of the Father. If there is one thing we must needs understand and acknowledge within our hearts and lives it’s that the person and presence of the Holy Spirit is indeed a present manifestation as well as a future expectation that can and will be fulfilled when the Lord Jesus comes again. It was Jesus Himself who declared that He would not leave us orphans but would come again unto us and this coming again would indeed be through the person and presence of the Holy Spirit. What’s more is that this coming of the person and presence of the Holy Spirit would be the means whereby the Father and the Son might dwell with and abide within us. Through the person of the Holy Spirit we encounter and come face to face with the absolutely wonderful truth surrounding the person and presence of the Holy Spirit and how it is through the Holy Spirit we are able to continue to have fellowship with the Father—and not only with the Father but also with the Son. If there is one thing that surrounds the person and presence of the Holy Spirit is that it is through the abiding and indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit we are able to have fellowship and communion together with the Lord Jesus Christ—this despite the fact that He has ascended unto the right hand of the Father which is in heaven. Oh we dare not and must not miss and lose sight of this for while Jesus was present among us in the earth in the form of flesh and blood we could not only walk and fellowship with Him but also abide and dwell together with Him. It would be through the person of the Lord Jesus the Father would be manifested in the midst of the earth as he would be the image of the invisible God within the earth. As you come to the seventeenth chapter of the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle John you will encounter the prayer which the Lord would pray on the same night in which He would be betrayed into the hands of the chief priests, the scribes, the elders of the people and the religious leaders of that generation. When speaking unto the Father the Lord Jesus declared unto the Father that the hour had come and then petitioned the Father to glorify the Son that the Son might also glorify Him. This would indeed be followed by the Lord Jesus Christ declaring unto the Father that just as He had given power unto the Son over all flesh so also He gave eternal life to as many as He had given unto the Son. Jesus would then go on to declare that life eternal was that men might know Him the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom He had sent. This would be immediately followed by the Lord Jesus declaring unto the Father that He had glorified Him on the earth and had finished the work which He had given him to do. What’s more is Jesus would go on to ask the Father to glorify Him with Himself with the glory which He had with Him before the world was. These words are incredibly powerful for when you consider them you will find the main desire within the heart of the Lord Jesus was to glorify the Father and to finish the work for which He had been sent. GLORIFYING THE FATHER, FINISHING THE WORK! Oh if there is one thing we as the saints of God must needs understand within our own hearts and lives it’s that the same desire, the same passion and the same ambition which was present in the heart and mind of the Lord Jesus Christ ought to be our same ambition and desire. We as those who believe in Him and have received Him as the Christ and the Son of the living God must be those who do not seek our own glory nor seek the praise of men but seek the glory of the Father and desire to finish the work which He has called and sent us to do. At the very heart and center of the words which are found in this opening prayer unto the Father Jesus desired the glory of the Father and that the work which the Father had sent Him to do might be finished and completed. If you take the time to read the words which are found in this passage of Scripture you will find that which Jesus had indeed accomplished while present upon the earth. It would be in the fourth verse Jesus would declare that He had glorified the Father while on the earth—and not only glorified the Father on the earth but also finished the work which He had given Him to do. In the sixth verse of this chapter we find the Lord Jesus declaring unto the Father that He had manifested His name unto the men which He had given unto Him out of the world. Not only this but in the eighth verse verse Jesus would go on to declare how He gave unto them the words which were first given unto Him. What’s more is that in the twelfth verse of this passage we find Jesus going on to declare that while He was with them in the world He kept them in His name that those who were given unto Him he had kept and none of them were lost save the son of perdition of whom the Scripture spoke of. Oh I am absolutely gripped and captivated with the words and language that is found in this passage of Scripture for here we find Jesus speaking directly unto the Father—and not only speaking directly unto the Father but also speaking unto the Father in the hearing of the disciples who were present with Him. The Lord Jesus was entirely and altogether focused on glorifying the Father and finishing the work which He had sent Him to do—words which are in direct alignment with what He had spoken earlier in Samaria when He said His meat was to do the will of the Father who had sent Him. The Son came into the world—not to speak of Himself nor to glorify Himself but rather to glorify and honor the Father who had sent Him and whose name He had come to manifest in the midst of the earth. Oh that we would recognize and understand this and how absolutely incredible it truly is for it highlights and underscores the tremendous need within our hearts and lives to be those who make it our sole ambition and desire to glorify the Father in the earth through our own lives and finish the work which He had called us to. As I bring this writing to a close I find it absolutely necessary to call your attention to the words presented in this passage of Scripture for within it we find the Lord Jesus Christ earnestly and eagerly desiring to accomplish and fulfill the work which the Father had sent Him to do. Jesus knew that He would indeed depart from this world and knew that He would return unto the Father who was in fact in heaven. With this being said Jesus knew that He would leave the disciples in the world—in a world of which they weren’t a part of and in the midst of a world which He knew would hate them. Jesus knew that the world would hate them for the sake of His name and for His word and therefore He prayed for them before the Father. Jesus would indeed pray for the disciples knowing that they would be in the world without and apart from Him. For three and a half years He would walk with them in the world and they would enjoy and experience His person and presence. With His departure from the earth they would need a new and abiding person and presence which would be fulfilled by and through the person of the Holy Spirit. If we wish to understand the words Jesus prayed for the disciples on this particular occasion we must needs understand the words which He spoke concerning the Holy Spirit. For three and a half years they were in the world walking with the person of the Lord Jesus and that would all change now because He would depart from the world and would return unto the Father who was in heaven. Despite the fact the disciples would still be in the world absent the physical person of the Lord Jesus Christ they would not be without an abiding presence together with them. It would be the person of the Holy Spirit who would indeed abide with and indwell them as the manifestation of the person and presence of both the Father and the Son. Despite the fact they were in the world and not of the world they would experience the person and presence of the Holy Spirit who would be the express manifestation of the person and presence of the eternal Father as well as the only begotten Son. If there is one thing we must needs understand when reading these words it’s that Jesus never prayed that His disciples might be taken from the world but rather that they might be kept while still living and being present within it. Jesus Himself declared that He did not pray unto the Father that He should take them out of the world but that He would instead keep from the evil. This is something we must needs understand for the disciples would indeed remain within and upon the earth and Jesus would not immediately take them with Him when He ascended unto the Father. Jesus would leave them behind within and upon the earth and His prayer for them was that they might be kept from the evil. What’s more is that not only did He pray that they might kept from the evil but also that they would be one even as He and the Father were one. The Lord Jesus Christ would indeed pray unto the Father that the disciples might experience the same unity and fellowship which He and the Father themselves experienced and enjoyed with each other. In His absence from the earth they would experience this abiding fellowship together with the Spirit who would manifest the person and presence of the Father and the Son. What’s more is they would also experience fellowship and unity with each other for it was the ultimate prayer of the Lord Jesus Christ that they would abide and dwell with each other. In the absence of Jesus in the flesh it was His prayer that they would not only abide with the Spirit but would also abide together with each other—and not only abide with the Spirit but also abide with each other. There is a great need within our hearts to recognize and understand that we have indeed been called to abide and fellowship together with the person of the Holy Spirit and it is through abiding and fellowshipping with the Holy Spirit we are able to abide and fellowship with the eternal Father and the only begotten Son. What’s more is that with this being said we have indeed been called to be those who abide and fellowship with each other in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ as well as in the unity of the Holy Spirit. Oh that we would indeed be those who recognize and understand that we have indeed been called and invited into fellowship together with the person of the Holy Spirit as well as fellowship together with the spiritual body of the Lord Jesus Christ whom we are to walk in unity with.