CHAYYEI YESHUA

A Devotional Commentary on the Weekly Besora Reading

J. Goodman

John 17: 1-26 - An Invitation to Holiness

This week's besora reading displays an incredible, dramatic intertwining between Yeshua the Son with his Father. Hours before he is taken into custody to face his death, he is adamantly praying to the Father to watch over those who had chosen to follow Yeshua. In lieu of his pending death, Yeshua clearly puts others first bringing forth an obvious lesson of selflessness throughout his entire prayer. However, more than this, there is an intimate conversation taking place.

A father and a son talking intimately with one another is a beautiful picture. Imagine a young boy running to keep up with his father in the park, hanging on every word his father says. Any advice Dad offers, the son eagerly absorbs and watches him closely for an example. They play ball together, throwing and catching toward one another. Before the son asks questions, Dad already knows how to answer. There is a distinct knowledge of one another, unique only to Dad and Son.

When Yeshua offers this prayer to his Father, we get the idea that they are deeply intertwined with one another. They know each other's thoughts and predict their questions and answers with one another. Yeshua knows that if he pleas with the Father to help those who had chosen to follow him, that the Father would do so without question. Yeshua asks his Father to, "keep them and care for them-all those you have given me-so that they will be united just as we are" (17:12). Is it really possible that such holiness would desire so much that people would be united in him as intimately as he is with his holy Father? It seems impossible and yet, Yeshua brings forth an invitation to come into this very special relationship, designed for holiness.

To be a disciple of Yeshua was not an easy task. It was revolutionary and uncertain, but his followers put their faith in him, trusting him for each and every step. Pleading with his Father, Yeshua again requests, "I'm not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They are not part of this world any more than I am," (17:15, 16). He says that we are not of the world any more than he is of the world. By this, Yeshua shows his view of his followers - as already holy and able to enter into such an elevated relationship. It is a humbling honor to be invited into this intimacy.

Finally, Yeshua says, "My prayer for all of them is that they will be one, just as you and I are one, Father-that just as you are in me and I am in you, so they will be in us, and the world will believe you sent me," (17:21). As we have been invited to share in holiness, to have full access to God the Father through his Son, we are able to have intimacy with one another as followers of Messiah. In our unity with each other, we are unified to the Father and Son. Because of the request of Yeshua to his Father, we are able to commune as if we too are "related," because we are his followers. It is this revolutionary relationship that is not of this world, but is questioned by it. As we engage in this intimate invitation, the world will know that the Father sent his Son and in this, they will be glorified.