p. 12 | The Sabbath School

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 22, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 16.

The Sabbath School

International Series.

LESSON VI.—SABBATH, MAY 8, 1897.

THE PRAYER OF CHRIST—CONTINUED.

Lesson Scripture, John 17:14–26, R. V.

14 “I HAVE given them thy Word; and the world hateth them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them from the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; thy word is truth. 18 As thou didst send me into the world, even so sent I them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. 20 Neither for these only do I pray, but for them also that believe on me through their word; 21 that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in me; that the world may believe that thou didst send me. 22 And the glory which thou hast given me I have given unto them; that they may be one, even as we are one; 23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be perfected into one; that the world may know that thou didst send me, and lovedst them, even as thou lovedst me. 24 Father, that which thou hast given me, I will that, where I am, they also may be with me; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me; for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father, the world knew thee not, but I knew thee; and these knew that thou didst send me; 26 and I made known unto them thy name, and will make it known; that the love wherewith thou lovedst me may be in them, and I in them.”

QUESTIONS.

What did Christ say that he had given to his disciples?
What feeling had the world displayed toward them? Why?
What experience did Christ not ask for his disciples?
What did he desire for them?
What did he say of them?
What petition did he offer in their behalf?
How did he identify their experience with his own?
Through what experience had he passed? For what purpose?
How many are included in Christ’s prayer?
What was his desire for all? What kind of unity did he have in mind? What effect would this have upon the world?
What had he given to his disciples? For what purpose?
How is such unity secured? What would the world thus be led to acknowledge?
What was Christ’s wish? What privilege would thus be conferred? Since when did God love his Son?
Who did not know God? Who did know him? What did the disciples know?
What had Christ done? What would he continue to do? With what purpose in view?

NOTES.

1. “It is the will of God that union and brotherly love should exist among his people. The prayer of Christ just before his crucifixion was that his disciples might be one as he is one with the Father, that the world might believe that God had sent him. This most touching and wonderful prayer reaches down the ages, even to our day; for his words were, ‘Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word.’ While we are not to sacrifice one principle of truth, it should be our constant aim to reach this state of unity. This is the evidence of our discipleship. Said Jesus, ‘By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.’”—Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 520.

2. “THE children of God are those who are partakers of his nature. It is not earthly rank, nor birth, nor nationality, nor religious privilege, which proves that we are members of the family of God; it is love,—a love that embraces all humanity. Even sinners, whose hearts are not utterly closed to God’s Spirit, will respond to kindness; while they may give hate for hate, they will also give love for love. But it is only the Spirit of God that gives love for hatred. To be kind to the unthankful and to the evil, to do good, hoping for nothing again, is the insignia of the royalty of heaven, the sure token by which the children of the Highest reveal their high estate.”—Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, p. 105.

3. It is a most encouraging and comforting thought that the Father loves us the same as he loves his only-begotten Son. This is clearly stated in the Saviour’s prayer. See verse 23. But this is not all; the same love which God has for his Son and for us—the love of God—is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 5:5) if we are true believers,

and Jesus reveals the Father to us that this experience may be ours (Rom. 5:1). He says, “And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it; that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.” Verse 26.

Suggestions for Further Study.

Study Christ’s manner of living in this world (see Matt. 8:20; and 10:25), and read again verse 18 of our lesson. Are we content to be as our Master?
By what means can the union for which Jesus prayed be secured among God’s people?
Since God loves me as he loved Christ, and since he loved him because he “lay down his life for the sheep,” what ought to be my attitude toward the sheep? See 1 John 3:16.