Dear Vonn,
You had certain thoughts about John 17 v 9:
Here we read:
" I pray for them, I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me ; for they are yours".
And now you ask, what are our thoughts about these words
Question 1: Based on this prayer, how would you sum up Jesus' "goals" for the Church?
Question 2 : How well do you see Christians today fulfilling those goals?
Now you don't give an own meaning; you say some ideas but you leaf room to us.
'you are only throwing these questions into the group',
as we in Holland say. i think this to be a very good way of opening discussion.
Well, I shall give my impression.
1 Jesus wants to have his glory through the disciples, given to him by the Father. ( v 10)
Jesus' disciples are 'his stadtholders', his representants in the world. The disciples ought to be one as the Father and the Son are one, (11).
He asks for the Father's protection for them, now that he is going to his Father himself(12) .
He wants his children, his believers to have the same joy in their hearts as he (Jesus) has, (13)
He prophecies over them that the hatred of the world shall certainly come to them, for they are not of the world, like Jesus was not of the world, (14).
Jesus points out the devil as the real enemy, against whom the Lord shall protect them , if ( of course) they remanin with the Lord, ( 15)
Jesus wants the Christians to spread his message wider, (20)
Jesus wants the Christians to show his glory by being one witrh wih one another, (22)
Now I think , those are Jesus' goals for his church. And I think your first question to be answered with this, (one of the many possible opinions).
But how are the Christians of nowadays fulfilling this goal of their dear Jesus, so loved by them.
In many cases it could be better. Jesus gave one mighty help: the baptizm with the Holy Spirit with all his gifts and fruit.
These are powerful means to spread Jesus' glory. They are known worldwide, but are not used bij every Christian.
Christians are not so ' one' as would be wishable. When you find another person and he is saying:
"Oh...I love Jesus",
and you see from his beliefworks, that it is o.k. with him, then you should feel 'one' with him. That should be better in the future than it is by now.
The world is hating the Christians, the devil is pursuing them, just as Christ has said. But Christians coming into difficulties, often are complaining, while the Lord has said, that they should be full of joy even then. Again a point of reflection.
The Christians always should be joyful, because they have such a splendid eternal future. They should not have to await so much of this -hating- world, but more of the coming eternal happy times. But there is not so much happiness as could be. Room for improvement.
Christians should see the devil as their main enemy, to be conquered with the armor of the Lord. But they often forget the evil one and fight a less efficient battle. Again:
"boys and girls ...give the devil hell".
Christians should spread the evangely. But there are many of them, neglecting this task.
Now the answer to your second question is: Christians could do better. Much is reached...but far more is still to be reached. Come on...boys and girls.
Greetings
Ger |
