Study 6
Text: John 17
REFLECTIONS ON LIFE AND MINISTRY
As we study carefully the prayer of the Lord Jesus recorded in John 17, we will immediately realize that He spent time reflecting on His Life and Ministry. What a challenge to us. Let us take time to reflect on our life and our ministry.
The sad thing is that we do not set aside much time to reflect! We seldom take time to think about our life and how are living it. We do not take time to dwell on how we are ministering for the Lord. It is good to reflect on life and ministry in the context of prayer!
"AS YOU HAVE GIVEN HIM AUTHORITY OVER ALL FLESH…" John 17:2
As Jesus drew to the closing stages of His life and ministry, He reflected on how His Father had given Him authority... over all flesh! It was with the authority given to Him that...
It had been just three years of ministry! Yet, He packed into those three years, what people cannot do in a lifetime!
Jesus reflected on His ministry, and He acknowledged with joy and thanksgiving, how the authority of his Father proved sufficient in His earthly ministry. No demon could stand before Him. No disease was so dreadful that it did not yield to His touch!
He had a great life and ministry, and He owed it all to His beloved Father, who granted Him full authority. He did not abuse the authority given. He utilized the authority given with the utmost care and faithfulness.
The Lord Jesus also empowered His Disciples so that they could minister with Him. They too found that the authority and power given to them most sufficient. They came back after a successful ministry and reported happily on their successful mission (Cf. Luke 9-10).
It is good to set aside time to reflect on how we have discharged our ministry. It is good to reflect on how our life has been spent, with reference to the ministry that the Lord has given us to do. Have we done well in our life and ministry?
"THAT HE SHOULD GIVE ETERNAL LIFE TO AS MANY AS YOU HAVE GIVEN HIM…" John 17:2
As we study the text of John 17, we become acutely conscious of how the Lord Jesus understood His ministry. Yes, He ministered to the masses. He sought to heal all who came to Him out of love and compassion.
However, His focus was never just the healing of the body. He focused on giving eternal life to as many as His Father had given. He cared deeply for the soul, for that was the most important part of the human being. He cared about eternity.
It was hard for many to understand, let alone appreciate, the focus of the Lord Jesus. Thousands turned away from Him because His focus on eternal matters was so deep and complete (Cf. John 6, where Jesus sought to teach the multitudes about the value of the soul. His message resulted in thousands of people turning away from Him).
It must have been disheartening to see so many turn away from the eternal life that He offered. He even asked His closest Disciples if they too would go away from Him (John 6:67).
TAKING COMFORT IN A DEEP TRUTH
Jesus understood that there would be people who would reject His teaching. It was sad, but it was a reality of life that He had learned to accept.
He did not fail because people rejected His Message. He need not feel discouraged, because ultimately, those who came to Him were actually given to Him by His Father.
This must have been a deep source of comfort to the Lord Jesus Christ. It must also have been the focus of His thought in prayer.
His Father was involved in His life and ministry. It was His Father who would draw people to the Son. What wondrous thoughts these are. What challenging thoughts for meditation and prayer.
DEEPENING OUR PRAYER LIFE
How can we deepen our prayer life? Try doing what the Lord Jesus did...
~ Pastor Charlie Tan ~
First released 10 June 2001 © Bethany Independent-Presbyterian Church, Singapore