The Meaning of Life

A Bible Study on Jesus Praying for Us in John 17

 “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” – John 17:3

“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.” -Matthew 22:37-38.

The meaning of life is relationship with Jesus Christ. We have rendered such a statement trite by insincere overuse, but it is, nevertheless, true. For every lifeless, lonely soul, the message of joy and hope can be found in one word: Jesus.

“This is life eternal,” Jesus said, and His words were unambiguous. He defined knowledge of God always in terms of relationship and relationship always in terms of love.

Loving God is our highest calling for through loving him we come to know him more and life takes on a deeper meaning. As we love Him with every dimension of our being, we find significance and structure for framing our lives. We come to the center of all things and find balance and direction.

Don’t waste your time searching hither and yon for meaning. Look unto Jesus. You can travel the world and invest in hundreds of teachers and come no closer to truth than you will at the foot of your bed in prayer, meeting Him face to face. He is not hiding from you but is ready to enter into the realm of your struggles.

Many have found him and then searched for more. You can go deeper in love, but you can never go deeper than love. Return to the place where you began. He is the meaning of life for time and for eternity.

Lord Jesus, You are the very meaning of my life. Lead me into a deeper, more intimate relationship with You in spite of my resistance and wandering attention. Amen.

For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us …  (I John 1:12)

Jesus Christ is life manifested.

Manifestation is a central theme in the gospel of John:

…  that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.(John 1:31 )

 …  miracles did Jesus … , and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him. (John 2:11)

 …  that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. (John 3:21 )

…  that the works of God should be made manifest in him.(John 9:3 )

 …  I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. (John 14:21 )

 …  Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? (John 14:22 )

 … I have manifested thy name …  (John 17:6 )

The unknowable, unfathomable, almighty God of the universe desires that we might know Him.

He takes all the initiative to be known and comes personally to this planet to introduce Himself to His rebellious creatures.

All the seekers who have ever sought

And all the thinkers who have ever thought

Gather around this quest of youth:

What is life and what is truth?

What only God can answer, God indeed does address in the person of Jesus Christ. He is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End according the book of Revelation.  He is the Word of God.  He is the foundation of all truth. He is Truth itself. He is God's answer to every human dilemma. There is none like Him and He is Life.

Come to Jesus, all who wonder.

Come to Him, you torn asunder.

Come to Him and end your quest.

Here is life now manifest.

The Prayer Jesus Prayed

Jesus prayed for Himself and for us. He prayed for GLORY and UNITY.

After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:

Background – the essence of the GLORY

“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.”

1. There is the prior glory that Jesus enjoyed with the Father in Heaven
2. There is the glory that Jesus has brought to the Father on earth.
3. There is the glory of the present hour – His death, resurrection, and accession.
4. There is the glory of eternity in the Father’s presence.

Background – the essence of His REVELATION

“I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. “

1. He has revealed the Father to us.
2. He has revealed the Father’s Word to us.
3. He has revealed Himself and His purpose to us.

Background – the essence of the His INTERCESSION

I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one.

1. Jesus prays for Himself and for His disciples: Glory and Unity.
2. Jesus prays, later, for those who would believe through their witness (US!).
3. He prays for protection for us.
4. He prays for unity among us.

IMPLICATION of His INTERCESSION – How do we receive and live out this prayer?

1. This means we can move through life knowing we have the PRAYERS of the SON and a PATTERN for Prayer – Glory and Unity.
2. This means we can move through life knowing we have the PROTECTION of the Father in the Name of the Son. What sort of boldness would you have in living to the glory of God, if you truly believed you were ultimately protected?
3. This means we can move through life knowing we have the PRESENCE of the Spirit who calls and equips us to be as ONE as His people as the Father and Son are one. In this, He continues to be glorified,

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