#394  The Keeping Power of The Father and the Son Part 1

“And I am no more in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I come to Thee.  Holy Father, keep them which Thou hast given me in Thy name, that they may be one are we are.”  John 17:11 NASB  “While I was with the, I kept them true to Thy name—the name which Thou hast given me to bear—and I kept watch over them….”  John 17:12 Weymouth

Jesus prayed that we would be guarded and protected in order that we may be one as he and the Father were one.  His beloved followers were kept, protected, and guarded throughout his ministry on earth, and after that they were kept and protected from heaven, with the same intent to make us one.  We see this keeping power of Jesus ministry especially in his last hours.  We and all our Brethren who read and experience these Gospel records are also blessed by the power of his guarding protection through his teachings and example.  Here are some examples of this keeping power exercised with the intention of creating intimate unity between us as Brethren.

He guards us from competition with one another, from the drive to prove ‘I am better than you,’ from any air of judgment and superiority.  “And there arose also a dispute among them as to which one of the was regarded to be greatest.”  Luke 22:24-27

John 13:1-5  He guards and protects us by demonstrating the beautiful humility that delights to give and serve according to the need.  “He loved them to the end.”  John 13:1b  He guarded and protected us by demonstrating a faithful love to the uttermost, a love that would do anything to fulfill the will of the Father for our blessing.

A deep and urgent longing swept over Jesus, a desire to assure them of his love and commitment to them, an unfailing love that had proved itself during their three and one half years together, a love that would continue faithful in the darkness and chaos of the hours and years to come, a desire to equip them for the difficult times ahead.  He saw clearly the authority that would be his, for the Father had put all things in his hands.  He was sure of his origin as the only begotten Son of God, the Word (Logos) or expression of His Fathers word and will, and he was sure of the unspeakable joy and glory that would be his upon his return to his Father’s house.  John 13:1-3  And so he rose, slowly and deliberately.  He removed his cloak and his tunic, as a slave would have done, and wrapped a towel around his waist.  The splash of water being poured into a large copper basin was the only sound heard in the suddenly silent room, as every eye fastened on the Master.  They watched, sensing he was about to do something quite different than the traditional washing of hands.  He knelt by each disciple’s feet, washed them, and then dried them with the towel that was wrapped around him.  John 13:4-5

“If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. I have you an example that you also should do as I did to you.  Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master…”  John 13:14-16a

He knew who he was; He knew his cause to bless first his followers and then the whole human family, the purpose of  the Father giving all things into his hands. John 13:4  John 12:32  Out of that conviction, and out of the love in his heart he gave according to the need.

I know who I am in Christ; his cause is my own.  I will give according to the will of my Father.

O LORD, make us willing to go to any lengths, in awe and in honor of the heights and lengths and depths and breadths of Your love as reflected in the extremity of love in the sacrifice of our Precious Savior.