1489. The Lord's Prayer

The Lord's Prayer

The Address–"Father" (Joh_17:1).

The Perspective–Facing the Cross (Joh_17:1).

The Retrospective–Facing an Accomplished Task (Joh_17:4, etc.).

The Father's Gifts to the Son (Joh_17:2, etc.).

The Believer and the World (Joh_17:15).

The Requests for His own (Joh_17:3).

The Difference between His Own and the World (Joh_17:9).

The supper is ended, the hymn is sung and the Lord and the eleven are ready to "go out."

The Lord Jesus is standing on the verge of His greatest sorrow. He tarries to speak words of tender comfort and cheer to those who have been with Him during three and one-half years of loving service. These words are recorded for us, in John, chapters 14, 15 and 16.

After the message of comfort to His disciples, Christ lifted up His eyes to Heaven and prayed.

It is all-important, as we study this prayer, to keep in mind the environment and the circumstances under which the prayer was spoken. The broken bread and the poured-forth wine of the "supper" assure us that the Lord Jesus fully realized His approach to the Cross.

Thus, upon the very threshold of the hour of His anguish, He prayed this prayer. May God help us to grasp the deep meaning of the words which bring to us the very throbbings of the heart of Christ.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR