Those You have Given Me Part 2

Verse 12a - While I was with them in this world, I kept them in Your Name; Those you have given me I have kept - the definition of kept is to attend to carefully, to take care of, to guard. What a picture of what relationships should be all about. We are to watch and keep guard over those God has given to us. The word keep is used many times in Jn 14 and 15 in the context of keeping God's commandments. We are to watch to make sure the people God has given us are keeping His commandments.

Verse 18 - As You have sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. Jesus was making disciples that followed and kept all His commands. Just like God the Father sent Jesus into the world to make disciples of those God had given Him, Jesus was sending His disciples into the world to do the same for those God would give them. This pattern is too take place until Jesus comes back.

Verse 20-21 - I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they may be one, as You Father are in Me, and I in you; that they also may be one with Us, that the world may believe that You sent me. - The last portion of the chapter deals with oneness or unity. The greatest thing that's brings unity is sacrificial love. The greatest example of this type of love is found in Jesus life with His disciples and ultimately His death on the cross. Laying down ones life for his or her friends is the greatest act of love. Vs 24 - You loved me before the foundation of the world. The bible says in another place that the lamb was slain before the foundation of the world. The world was built on the sacrificial love of God and His Son. Just think about of God would have created the world without the foreknowledge that He would sacrifice His son for the sins of the world. What kind of world would we have today if Jesus wouldn't have died two thousand years ago. All Godly relationships must have as it's foundation sacrificial love. If it's anything else it will fall because the foundation is faulty.

May we all today follow the example of Jesus and give our lives sacrificially for those God has given us.