RUSSELL SANDERS
7-13-2020
OUR LORD’S PRAYER – JOHN 17
LESSON 5 – VS. 3(A)
For those who may have just joined us, or who missed lesson #1 in this series, let me reiterate the difference in two prayers. Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4 show us Jesus teaching His disciples how to pray. It was not his prayer; it was a model prayer He was teaching them. Centuries ago, the Roman church named it “the Lord’s Prayer” and it is sometimes referred to as the “Our Father” prayer. “The Lord’s Prayer” is an erroneous label. It is more truly “The Believer’s Prayer” or “The Disciple’s Prayer.” It taught us how to pray.
The true “Lord’s Prayer” is found in Chapter 17 of John’s gospel. This was HIS prayer to the Father. It was the earnest of His heart. It seems that nobody preaches or teaches on Our Lord’s Prayer (John 17), but many teach on The Believer’s Prayer (Matt. 6:9-13), although they erroneously call it by its’ traditional “church given” name of the Lord’s Prayer.
Today we continue our study of Chapter 17 at verse 3. (KJV)
“and this is eternal life, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”
We looked
at “eternal life”
in verse 2b two days ago, so let us consider the next part of the verse
“that they might know thee…”.
People of many religions, and perhaps some “non-religious” individuals” would desire to “know” God or to “know” of the higher spiritual matters. Jesus is the only path to truth or the true knowledge of God.
Muslims have no way to know their “god” because they see Allah as very impersonable and unknowable. They only hope to gain paradise by doing more good than bad, so that at the time of reckoning, the balance scale will tip on the “good” side. Their only way to know “for sure” is to die fighting for Allah.
Buddhists seek enlightenment to achieve a higher consciousness so that the boatman may ferry them over the river of life into Paradise.
Hindus offer sacrifices to their gods so as to re-incarnate to a higher life in hopes of eventually blending them as one into Brahma, the universal consciousness.
Only through Jesus may we honor that omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent Spirit, our Heavenly Father (Jehovah, Yahweh, YHWH). It is through Jesus’ shed blood from Calvary placed upon the altar of heaven unto His Father, and His resurrection and ascension to Heaven’s throne that we can know the Father through Jesus. We will learn more about our relationship to the Father through Jesus later on when we study verses 21-23. It is a most precious relationship, yet one that most Christians do not truly understand. Continue to follow this teaching series as we continue toward that.
Be blessed.
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