BIBLE STUDY LESSON 07
SERIES T --- THE ADONAI OF LIFE
PRAYER FOR US
UNITED IN HIM
From John 17
By the time Yeshua had finished saying these things, He and the apostles were approaching the Kidron Valley. There He paused and looked up to heaven to pray. [The time has come, Father, to bring glory to You by revealing the glory of Your Son, for as You have given Me authority over all people, so I have offered eternal life to each whom You have given to Me. This is the way each may have eternal life -- to know You, the only true YHVH, and Yeshua HaMoshiach Whom You sent to the earth. I have glorified You on earth, completing the work You sent Me to do. Now, Father, let My glory be seen in Your presence, for this is the glory We have shared since before the world began. I have revealed You to these men whom You took from the world and gave to Me. They were always Yours, but You gave them to Me and they have obeyed Your Word. Now they recognize that all that I have has come from You, for I have told them the commands You gave Me. They have accepted these and know for sure now that I came from You, and realize now that You sent Me. I am praying, not for the world, but for these whom You have given Me, for they are Yours, just as everything I have is Yours and what You have is Mine. Yes, these men are honouring Me. As I leave the world to come to You, I leave them behind. Take care of them, Holy Father, and keep them united, just as We are united. I have kept them together as a family while I have been here on earth, and also by Your power kept them so that not one slipped, except the son of destruction, as the Scriptures prophesied. Now as I prepare to come to You, I am telling them things that will fill them with joy. I have given Your Word to them, and the world hates them because they are not part of it, just as I am not part of it. I do not pray that You will take them from this world, but that You will protect them from Satan. Since they are no more part of this world than I am, make them holy by the truth of Your Word. I send them into the world, just as You sent Me into the world, and I consecrate Myself so that they also may be consecrated by the truth. I pray not only for these men with Me today, but also for all those who come to You because of faithful witnesses, and My prayer is that they will be one in heart and mind, just as We are one in heart and mind, and also that they will be in Us, as You are in Me, and I in You. By this the world will know that You sent Me. I have passed on to them the glory of being united as We are, I in them, You in Me; which will cause them to unite in one glorious unity. Yes, this is the way the world will know that You have sent Me and that You love them as You love Me. I want so much, Father, for these men to be with Me so that they can see the glory which You have given Me, which You gave in love before the world began. O righteous Father, I know You, even though the world does not, and these men know that You sent Me. I have shown You to them, and will keep on doing this so that they may share in the wonderful love You have for Me, and that I may be with them.]
COMMENTARY
FROM THE UPPER ROOM TO THE MOUNT OF OLIVES
After Yeshua and His disciples sang the last verse of the Passover hymn, they left the Upper Room and went out into the streets of the city. As they passed by the window openings of houses along the way, they could see Jewish families still gathered around the table, eating the Passover meal. In the streets, they met other groups of people making their way to the temple. But Yeshua and His disciples did not join the worshipers headed for the temple mount. Instead, they left the upper city, probably taking the Roman stairway that led to the lower portion of Jerusalem. Passing through the Dung Gate, Jerusalem’s {back door,} Yeshua led His disciples out of the crowded city and into the Kidron Valley, even though it was late evening, there was much activity along the Jericho Road. Tents were pitched on the hills that surrounded the city. Many families camped outside Jerusalem because they could not find a place to stay inside the city walls. Yeshua and His disciples turned off the road and into the Garden of Gethsemane. They knew the way well because they had often come here during their visits to Jerusalem. This quiet garden was an inviting place to talk and pray.