5. A SUPPLICATED LOVE

Notice the Lord's supplication for His disciples and for all those who would believe.

John 17:26 "...that the love with which You loved me may be in them, and I in them."

There is a progression in the love expected of God's usable people. First, to love as Jesus loved. Second, to submit in love, to His Word. Third, to abide in His love that reveals the Father. Fourth, to have the love of the Father in them. To make possible the love of the Father in His followers, Jesus said,

John 17:26 "And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it ..."

A usable person is one to whom Christ has made known the Father, and is still making Him known.

In one church's "Leadership Training School", special emphasis is put on knowing God the Father. This is foundational teaching that brings about a joyous and effective balanced lifestyle that produces God's usable people. Christ made the Father fully known, and gradually that revelation is being comprehended by the individual heart. Every believer should be making progress, because the more they get to know Jesus, the more they get to know the Father. (John 14:7 ). If the Son is really known, the Father is also really known. The one who knows the Father will know His love, and out of that love, will serve Him.

5.1. JESUS DECLARED THE FATHER AS RIGHTEOUS

In ordinary, everyday language, the word "righteous" is not in common usage. The word means "equitable in character or act"; it designates one who is characterized by fairness, known for impartiality of justice. It helps me to think of righteousness as rightness. Certainly the Father can be depended on to do that which is right in His dealings with His own, and with the world. A sublime revelation is given to us by Jesus. He addresses the Father as,

John 17:25 "O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me."

The Lord blends the idea of righteousness and Fatherhood together in wondrous, inseparable unity. Within hours of the cross He could say, "O righteous Father". He never doubted the Father's righteous love or will, regarding His personal Calvary.

The title, "righteous Father" is connected with the request of the previous verses (John 17:22-24 ), that His own be glorified. In the purposed will of the Father, they are spoken of as already glorified.

Romans 8:30 "...and whom He justified, these He also glorified."

The tense of this word "glorified", shows that the future glorification of the justified is so certain that it can be said to have been accomplished. It further indicates the certainty of the action with which the Father does what is right.

Knowing the Father as righteous prevents us from misinterpreting His dealings with us. Instead of constantly bombarding the throne with "What have I done?", every time a set of circumstances comes up that cannot be fully explained, rather, it is turned to "What are You doing in me?", knowing He will do what is right and best for me. A righteous Father is a terrifying concept to the rebellious heart, but exceedingly comforting to those children living in submission, developing in them confident trust and making them usable.

5.2. JESUS DECLARED THE FATHER AS HOLY

In committing His own to the keeping power of God, Jesus prays,

John 17:11 "Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are."

He declares the Father as "Holy", the one separate from all that is evil and unclean. He hates evil and will not and cannot give any approval to it. Living in the knowledge and fear of His name, produces lives that proclaim and serve that name. The preservation and unification of the Lord's own is brought about by living in sweet accordance with the Father's holy nature. This life-style brings ever increasing, ever deepening abhorrence of sin. Those who love the Holy Father enjoy His protection.

Psalm 97:10 "You who love the LORD, hate evil! He preserves the souls of His saints; He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked."

It is from such a position of strength and safety that the service of those who are usable, follows.

5.3. JESUS DECLARED THE FATHER AS GOOD

Reacting to being addressed as good by someone who had no awareness of His divine nature, Jesus declared "No one is good but One, that is, God." (Mark 10:18 ). By implication Jesus was claiming absolute goodness, which is deity. God is not only originally, essentially, eternally, infinitely and inherently good in Himself, but bountiful goodness issues forth from Him as well. The first chapter of the Bible emphasizes His practical goodness.

Genesis 1:4,10,12,18, 21, 25, 31 "And God saw ... that it was good."

It would appear that one of the divine motives in creation was to display His goodness. God the Father demonstrates His goodness in deliverance. Psalm 107 opens with the statement,

Psalm 107:1 "Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!"

Then we are presented with four figures of speech, each depicting human need in some form. In peril on land, in prison, in sickness and on the sea. In each situation the goodness of God in deliverance is seen. Jesus went about demonstrating the goodness of God.

Acts 10:38 "... God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him."

Those living in the knowledge and experience of the goodness of God in Christ, are filled with praise and worship. They are full of appreciation of their heavenly Father, and are moved to be usable channels of His goodness.