John 17:20-21 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;… Observe — I. HIS REALIZATION OF THEIR ACTUAL EXISTENCE. The only disciples then living were the eleven, but He prays for them who should hereafter believe, &c. And how many have believed through their word, and will yet — a great multitude which no man can number. And yet all these seem present to Christ. His great soul realized each in His distinctive personality, and for them He prays. To a soul in vital fellowship with God, and inspired with the spirit of omniscience, time and space are of little account. The prophets threw their glance into the distant centuries, but none of them saw the future as the Incarnate Word. A Being who thus knows the future can never be disappointed. II. HIS METHOD OF CALLING THEM INTO HIS SCHOOL. 1. They must believe on Him, not on what men say about Him and not on priesthoods, but on Him. This is the only way of becoming a disciple. 2. They must believe on Him "through their word," i.e., their testimony of Him. It is a witnessing word. "How can they believe on Him of whom they have not heard, &c. That is the method. Do not expect, any other. III. HIS SUPREME DESIRE FOR THEM. 1. That they should be united on earth. Observe — (1) The nature of this unity. (a) It is very vital. One living in another. "I in them," &c. There is nothing uncommon in this idea. The object we love most lives in us as a living force. Friend lives in friend; the parent in the loving child. Love brings the distant object near, and enshrines it in the heart. Thus those who love Christ have Christ in them; and those whom Christ loves are in Him; and as Christ and His disciples both love the infinite Father, He is in them, and He loves them that are in Him. (b) It is a unity of the Infinite with the finite, of the Creator and the creature. An attraction links the smallest atom to the highest orb of immensity, love links the humblest disciples to the great heart of the Infinite, and He to them. (2) A reason for this unity — "That the world," &c. No argument could be formulated so mighty as the thorough soul union of Christ's disciples. 2. That they should dwell with Him in heaven (ver. 24). (1) With Him in person as well as in sympathy. (2) We behold His glory. (D. Thomas, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;WEB: Not for these only do I pray, but for those also who believe in me through their word, |
    |