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Now let’s begin right in Acts 1:1, because this then fits right in with what we’re talking about. “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 [Spirit] 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...” Now that’s why their joy remained because Christ showed Himself for 40 days, did many things; gave them extra instructions, didn’t He? Because it said: “...and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God…” So He gave them a lot of instruction during that 40 days. “…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 [Spirit] 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 that’s what everyone has wanted to know from that time until this. “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 [or that is, authority].” That’s not the important thing. Prophecy is always interesting. Prophecy is always titillating; and especially when you can see some of it fulfilled before your very eyes, which they did with Christ. Here’s the important thing: “But ye shall receive power [now that is, dounamis; that is energetic power] after that the Holy [Spirit] Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth.” Now obviously the apostles didn’t get there, did they? No. That’s why we have the written word. The written word has gotten there.

Now then, here was their last great experience before Pentecost: “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 [who were angels, of course] 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, KJV). And the message was, “Go, get busy and do what He said.” In other words, this was a graduation speech: “Now is the time.” And so on Pentecost after they received the Holy Spirit, that was the time; and they did the preaching, and that’s why they had the joy. That’s why they had the conviction. That’s why they had the hope. That’s why they had the faith and the love of God. So they went through unique experience because they were apostles.

Now let’s come back to John 16 and let’s continue on here. Now here’s another promise concerning prayer. Now notice all the way through, we’ve seen the promises that God has given concerning prayer. That’s why prayer is so profound and important. Prayer is, with the leading of the Holy Spirit, that direct link between you and God the Father and Jesus Christ. Now granted, it’s easy to get discouraged; granted, it’s easy to let human nature come along and drag you down, and so forth. But I want to emphasize how important that it is. And when you pray you need to understand the significance of it.

Now let’s come back to John 16:23: “ ‘And in that day [that is, the day that He ascended to heaven that we just read of] you shall ask Me nothing. Truly, truly I tell you, whatever you shall ask the Father in My name, He will give you.’ ” Now all you have to do is go through and read the first part of Acts and see what they did. Absolutely fantastic. But here is also a promise given to us. Whatever we ask, of course it has to be according to the will of God, and it has to be upon our repentance, and forgiveness of God to us, and us to others. All of those things play into it. So this is an over-all blanket statement where the other factors come into it. “ ‘...Truly, truly I tell you, whatever you shall ask the Father in My name, He will give you.’ ” Who answers prayer? The Father does. Isn’t that amazing? That’s something. That’s why prayer is so significant.

“ ‘Until this day, you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.’ ” That’s the way God wants it to be. And overcoming human nature really, then, is a joyful thing, though the struggle is difficult. That’s why He brought out here about the woman having a child. There’s pain and there’s grief. But once you get through the trial, and once you get through the difficulty, and once you see the love of God, and everyone’s going to go through that. I guarantee that one thing that all Christians are going to do, they are going to come to the very bottom of the valley of the pit of despair. And God will let you go there so that you can look up to Him and realize there’s no way out but His. That’s what God wants you to understand. So remember, the Father is directly involved in your life. And you are a brother and a friend of Christ. That’s all a part of the words of the covenant.

Now let’s continue on, verse 25: “ ‘These things I have spoken to you in allegories; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in allegories, but I will plainly disclose to you the things of the Father. In that day, you shall ask in My name…’ ” So He says it twice – you ask in His name, verse 23 and verse 26. “ ‘...And I do not tell you that I will beseech the Father for you, for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God.’ ” Now that’s quite contrary to the Catholic doctrine, isn’t it? That supposedly the saints intercede, which they don’t, because they are dead and buried. Christ does intercede for us as our High Priest, but supposedly Mary makes intercession for us because she supposedly knows Jesus better than we do; so therefore she can have more influence with her son than your prayers. All of that is a bunch of gobbledygook nonsense and contrary to the Word of God. Jesus said you pray to the Father in His name, and the Father Himself loves you, and He’s going to answer that prayer. Now however He does it, He will do it. “ ‘For the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God’ ” (John 16:23-27, FV).

Now let’s come to I John 3 and let’s see another glimpse of that relationship and how we need to really keep that in the forefront of our minds always. Living in the world the way that it is, you have got to have something so firm in your mind with it there by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God that nothing is going to move you from God. And this is it, I John 3:1: “Behold, what manner of love [or that could mean glorious love] the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God...” When we were, as it were, led of the devil and out in the world if we could put it that way right? Yes, now we’re called the sons of God. And it’s very profound here. The Greek word for “sons” is teknon, meaning “own children.” Now granted, Jesus Christ was the only begotten, unique Son of God, born of the flesh and resurrected from the dead. But we are also the children of God by begettal for the family of God. That’s what God wants us to really grasp and understand. Never let that leave your mind and thought, ever. And especially when you get to the bottom of the valley of the shadow of death, remember that.

“...[That He] hath bestowed [His love] upon us, that we should be called the sons [children] of God: therefore the world knoweth us not…” That means it can understand us:

“You’re a Christian?”

“Yes.”

“You go to church on Sabbath?”

“Yes.”

“Are you a Jew?”

“No.”

“Why don’t you keep Christmas?”

“Because it’s pagan.”

“You’re kidding. How could that be? You mean you don’t keep Christmas or Easter?”

“No. I keep Passover and the holy days.”

“You’ve got to be a Jew.”

“No, I’m not a Jew.”

They don’t know us. They don’t know what motivates us. They don’t understand these things, and that’s why eventually the world is going to hate us. And you can be guaranteed that the laws are already on the books under the Patriot Act I and II, to where all they have to do is just redefine who the enemy and terrorist is. And you wait and see, lo and behold, sooner or later we’ll be entered in on the list. You can be guaranteed that. So that’s why you’ve got to keep this in mind.

Verse 2: “Beloved, now we are the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be...” Just like when a woman is carrying a child, you don’t know who it’s going to look like. Even though you can do one of those ultrasounds and tell whether it’s a boy or girl, you still don’t know what it’s going to look like. Same way with us today. Having the Spirit of God and growing and overcoming and having the physical body that we have, we still don’t know what we’re going to look like until the resurrection. What is it going to be like to be a spirit being? What is it going to be like to get rid of all the weaknesses of the physical body and the physical flesh? What is it going to be like to be resurrected as a spirit being, though you died in the ignominy of physical death? It’s going to be something.

“...It doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know [we can count on this] that, when He shall appear [and we’re resurrected], we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is” (I John 3:1-2, KJV). And that’s the whole purpose that God wants us to really keep right there in the forefront of our brain, and let the Holy Spirit lead us in that continuously. That’s why He is our Father, and He gives us direct access to Him. That’s why Paul said we cry, “Abba, Father,” correct? Yes.

Now let’s come back to John 16:28: “ ‘I came forth from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and I am going to the Father.’ Then His disciples said to Him, ‘Behold, now You are speaking plainly and are not speaking in an allegory.’ ” They said, “Now we can understand this. That’s different from, ‘a little while, a little while, a little while.’ ” “ ‘Now we know that You understand all things, and do not need to have someone ask You. By this we believe that You came forth from God.’ Jesus answered them, ‘Do you now believe?’ ” That’s a good question, isn’t it? And He knew that. Because even Thomas – remember Thomas said, “Well, I’ll believe it when I see His hands and His feet and His side.” So eight days later when Jesus appeared He said, “Thomas, come here.” He says, “Oh, my Lord, my God!”

“ ‘…Do you now believe?’ ” The truth is, until Christ was resurrected their belief was not complete. And He explains that: “ ‘Listen, the time is coming, and has already come that you shall be scattered each to his own, and you shall leave Me alone [and even Peter denied Him three times]; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace…’ ” You are not going to have peace any other way. You are never going to have peace without Christ. You are never going to have peace until you make peace with God through repentance, and prayer, and study, and yieldedness to God. But in Christ you may have peace. “ ‘...In the world you shall have tribulation [that is true; and they did]. But be courageous! [It says in the King James, ‘be of good cheer’] I have overcome the world’ ” (John 16:28-33, FV).

Now we do have tribulations in the world. And I’ll tell you what, the difficulties and problems we’re going through now I am sure are not to be compared to what they’re going to be in the future. I mean, as we’re going through this on this Sabbath right now the American forces are in Iraq along with some other contingencies of other nations with them, and look at what they are going through. And you look at how the world is hating us more and more. And you know the time is coming when they are going to be itching to carry out their plans to do to us the very same thing. And we will be the “cause” of it because we will not accept the Beast and the false prophet. And we will not accept the false religions of this world. And we will not take the mark of the beast. And we will not submit to these things. So if you think you have difficulties now, stick around. These may be only kind of strengthening us and building us up for the things to come.

Now on the other hand, don’t go out and ask for it. I walked into a local supermarket here, and as I walked in, here is all this display of all the Easter things, little Easter bunnies, and little baskets, and all this sort of thing. And my human nature said, “Boy, that would be so good to just get up there and just throw them all off, and break them to pieces and tell the world what an absolute deception this is.” Well needless to say, I didn’t do it because I’m here and not in jail. But when it comes time for that it will happen. And how far down the road it will be, we don’t know. But one thing for sure, they will have the ability to know where everybody is at all times, period. You can see that coming. It’s going to be one of those things. There is no escaping the future when it comes to you. It will happen. Now just look at the trials and tribulations you’re going through now as very minuscule. He has overcome the world, and through Christ we can overcome the world.

Now let’s come to John 17. John 17 reflects not only faith and hope, but love; very profound love, because this is Jesus’ personal prayer for us. Did you realize that? It’s Jesus’ personal prayer for us. This truly is the Lord’s prayer, because this is the prayer that He prayed. The Lord’s Prayer, so called in Matthew 6, is a sample given by Jesus on how we need to structure our prayers. That was not His prayer. This is His prayer. Now verse 1, He was out in the Garden of Gethsemane when He prayed this prayer. And these are the things – here, let’s come to Luke 22, I believe it is. Let’s turn there – Luke 22:39, “And He came out, and went, as He was wont [and ‘wont’ means ‘as known’] to the mount of Olives; and His disciples also followed Him. And when He was at the place [a particular place in the Garden of Gethsemane], He said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, saying, Father, if Thou be willing, remove this cup from Me: nevertheless not My will, but Thine, be done.” And this is a perfect example of how we need to pray. It was God’s will that He go through that. And He’s just reaffirming it. Verse 43: “And there appeared an angel unto Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in an agony He prayed more earnestly: and His sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground” (Luke 22:39-44, KJV). And so when we read this prayer in John 17, this is part of what He went through.

Now let’s come to John 17 and see the true Lord’s prayer. This is what the Lord prayed. And it’s interesting that John was inspired to write this. No one else wrote this prayer, not even part of this prayer; only John, the disciple whom Jesus loved. “Jesus spoke these words, and lifted up His eyes to heaven and said, ‘Father, the hour has come [it’s here]; glorify Your own Son, so that Your Son may also glorify You; since You have given Him authority over all flesh, in order that He may give eternal life to all whom You have given Him. For this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, Whom You did send.’ ” That’s the whole purpose of it, to know God and at the resurrection to see Him face to face. That’s profound.

Verse 4: “ ‘I have glorified You on the earth.’ ” through the whole ministry, through His life, through never sinning, through overcoming the world, calling the apostles, everything that He did. “ ‘I have finished the work that You gave Me to do’ ” (John 17:1-4, FV). Yet He still had one part of the work that He still needed to finish, right? And we’re going to see that there are two finishes. Let’s look at them – John 19:30 (KJV). Because the very last thing that Jesus said, the next to last thing that He said: “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said, It is finished: and He bowed His head, and gave up the [spirit] ghost.” When it says in John 17 that He finish the work that He gave Him to do, He was also including the coming crucifixion, beginning with the trial that He was soon to have when He was arrested.

Now let’s look at the other “finished.” Let’s come to Revelation 21. So there are two phases to finishing the work: 1) the work to provide a Redeemer, and the way of salvation; and the other one to finish the whole plan of God. Now let’s pick it up here in Revelation 21:5, “And He that sat upon the throne said [now that’s the Father, isn’t it?], Behold, I make all things new. And He said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And He said unto me, It is done [Or that is, it’s finished. In the Greek it’s the same]. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son” (Revelation 21:5-7, KJV).

So we’re looking for that second finishing line, aren’t we? Now let’s come back to John 17. So there are two “finishes.” Through the crucifixion redemption and salvation was opened, and the second “finish” is when it’s all done. It’s finished. And when that is finished, then the whole plan of God going out to all eternity goes forward from there. And that’s going to be very exciting, isn’t it? Have you ever thought about traveling out in the universe?

Now John 17:5: “ ‘And now, Father, glorify Me with Your own self, with the glory that I had with You before the world existed…’ ” And that is precisely and exactly what the Greek means. “ ‘I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours [we all belong to the Father], and You have given them to Me, and they have kept Your Word.’ ” Because all the words of Jesus were the words of the Father, right? We’ve already covered that, haven’t we? Yes. “ ‘Now they have known that all things that You have given Me are from You. For I have given them the words that You gave to Me; and they have received them and truly have known that I came from You; and they have believed that You did send Me.’ ” That’s the whole process of faith that we are to come to also.

“ ‘I am praying for them; I am not praying for the world, but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. All Mine are Yours, and all Yours are Mine; and I have been glorified in them. And I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, those whom You have given Me, so that they may be one, even as We are one.’ ” Now this is the whole purpose of God. And notice what Jesus kept His mind on when He was facing the crucifixion. He is keeping His mind on the whole purpose. He was keeping His mind on finishing the work that the Father had given Him to do. And the ultimate purpose, that they may be one as He and the Father were one. That’s the whole prayer. That’s the whole purpose of why we are here; the whole purpose and reason why we take the Passover and renew the covenant, and go through the things that we do.

Verse 12: “ ‘When I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. I protected those whom You have given Me, and not one of them has perished except the son of perdition, in order that the Scriptures might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to You; and these things I am speaking while yet in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in them [internal joy]. I have given them Your words, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You would take them out of the world [so that’s not going to happen], but that You would keep them from the evil one.’ ” And as we have already seen the promise given there, though Satan accuses us day and night, he can’t take us away from God. “ ‘They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in Your truth; Your Word is the truth.’ ” And that’s what we are to have written in our hearts and in our minds, so we have Christ in us, Who was the truth; we have the Holy Spirit in us, which is the Spirit of truth; we have the Word of God in us, which is the truth. And that sanctifies us. That sets us apart. That makes us holy before God.

Verse 18: “ ‘Even as You did send Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, so that they also may be sanctified in Your truth.’ ” There it is again – “sanctified in Your truth.” Have you ever thought about the fact that you are holy brethren? What makes you holy brethren? Having God’s Spirit means you’ve been sanctified, and sanctified by the Word of God and in the truth of the Father.

Now here is a prayer directly for us: “ ‘I do not pray for these only, but also for those who shall believe in Me through their word…’ ” – preaching of the gospel going out. This is always continuously being fulfilled in our lives. So never think that God is against you. God is for you. God wants you. God loves you. God has called you to eternal life. He wants you to overcome. He wants you to put away the deeds of the flesh. He wants you to grow in grace and knowledge. He wants you to be in the resurrection. That’s what this prayer is all about. And again, the final goal, verses 21 through 24 tie directly in with the fulfillment of Revelation 21 and 22. So you have verses 21 through 24, you can just put in the margin there Revelation 21 and 22.

Now here’s the prayer for us, all that are Christ’s: “ ‘…that they all [not excluding anyone] may be one, even as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, in order that the world may believe that You did send Me. And I have given them the glory that You gave to Me, in order that they may be one, in the same way that We are one…’ ” That’s the ultimate goal. Now this is why – if you don’t have the series on why God hates religion, you send for it. Because God truly does hate religion. Because religion places men in a position of God over people and cuts them off from this knowledge in relationship with God. Now verse 23: “ ‘…I in them, and You in Me, that they may be perfected into one...’ ” (John 17:5-23, FV).

Now let’s come to the epistle of I John 2:5 (KJV). That’s why we are a work in progress. We are to be perfected. “But whoso keepeth [is keeping] His word, in Him verily [or that is, truly] is the love of God perfected...” That’s how we are to be perfected. And it is the love of God that does that, and it’s through the Spirit of God that this is accomplished. “...Hereby we know that we are in Him.” That goes back as a direct part of what we have just read in John 17.

Now let’s come to 1 John 4:10, and here is how we are perfected: “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us [and the Father says directly He loves you], we ought also to love one another.” There again, repeating the very words of Christ, right? “No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and His love is perfected in us [a process]. Hereby we know that we dwell in Him, and He in us, because He hath given us of His Spirit.” And that’s a tremendous thing, brethren.

Now let’s come down here to verse 16: “And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love…” And that’s what the whole thing concerning the Passover and renewing of the New Covenant is all about. “...And he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” As we just read. “Herein is our love made perfect [so there are a lot of rough edges to knock off, aren’t there?], that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love Him, because He first loved us” (I John 4:10-13, 16-19, KJV).

Now back to John 17, and we’ll finish there. That’s all part of Christ prayer. Verse 23: “ ‘I in them, and You in Me, that they may be perfected into one; and that the world may know that You did send Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. Father, I desire that those whom You have given Me may also be with Me where I am, so that they may behold My glory, which You have given Me; because You did love Me before the foundation of the world. Righteous Father, the world has not known You; but I have known You, and these have known that You did send Me. And I have made known Your name to them, and will make it known; so that the love which You have loved Me may be in them, and I in them’ ” (John 17:23-26, FV).

So those are the words of the New Covenant. It is a covenant, and actually when you go back and you review each of the chapters here you will see that in these chapters – John 14, 15, 16, in 17, these four chapters – it’s also an encapsulation of our life and relationship with Christ, the things that we will face and be confronted with, the difficulties and problems that we will have in the world, and how the ultimate goal is to be in the family of God as a son of God. And that’s what the Passover is all about.

Passover Preparation #5

Scriptural References

1. John 15:9

2. Galatians 5:19-25

3. Matthew 7:1-2

4. John 15:17

5. I John 5:16-18

6. Luke 18:11-14

7. John 15:18-27

8. John 16:1-2

9. Isaiah 66:5

10. John 16:3-11

11. Revelation 12:9-11

12. John 16:12-13

13. John 17:17

14. Romans 8:14-15

15. John 16:13-22

16. Luke 24:36-48

17. I Corinthians 15:3-8

18. Acts 1:1-11

19. John 16:23-27

20. I John 3:1-2

21. John 16:28-33

22. Luke 22:39-44

23. John 17:1-4

24. John 9:30

25. Revelation 21:5-7

26. John 17:5-23

27. I John 2:5

28. I John 4:10-13, 16-19

29. John 17:23-26

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