Based on John 17:24-26 (King James Version)
“Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”
In this passage, we continue seeing the great importance of the Lord’s Apostles. They were key people for God because the Lord was going to manifest Himself through them, just as it happened. Without them, we wouldn’t have what we have today. In the end, why were they so important? What was the thing that defined the great power of faith these men had (because their faith was unique)?
The first aspect of the Apostles’ importance was that they simply experienced everything the Lord did; they were eyewitnesses to the three incredible years (day and night, because they lived with the Messiah) of the Lord’s ministry here on earth, and they also lived through the culmination of the great power of God through the death, resurrection, and ascension of the Lord, which is what established God’s grace for all mankind, for those that preceded the Lord (speaking in earthly terms), for the Apostles and disciples, and for those of us that follow after them, because of their testimony. This is what we read regarding the Apostles’ testimony: “This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses.” Acts 2:32. “And killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses.” Acts 3:15. “Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.” Acts 5:31-32. “The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all—that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: how 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. And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead.” Acts 10:36-42.
The Apostles were the most unique witnesses that God used to spread His Gospel of Peace to the whole world, everything started with them, and that’s why absolutely no one can take on the name Apostle after them, because even though they were men that were similar to us, their faith was unique, and the function they fulfilled in the kingdom of God was also truly unique. The Gospel was preached through them to the entire world through great signs, wonders, and power from the Highest. Through them and by their testimony was that the Holy Spirit inspired what we know today as the New Testament that we have in the Holy Bible, from Matthew’s gospel through the Revelation; the beginning of God’s grace to the end of everything that we know, and eternity.
And finally, what was it that made the work of these men so special and definitive? The very last part of the Lord’s prayer is what did this, as it was written: “…that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.” Their main motivation, the reason why they did everything they did was for love, and no other reason. And ladies and gentlemen, just as the Word of God explains, we cannot do absolutely anything of significance before the eyes of the Lord without love. Because the Lord taught us this very thing: “Jesus answered him, ‘The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:29-31. The Apostles acted only upon the love they had for the Lord. This was the great motivation God the Father, the Lord, and finally, the Holy Spirit used which made possible to work so mightily through their lives. Many centuries have passed, and for the glory of God, the work of these men still lives brilliantly through which we see that the Lord’s prayer was clearly answered.
What should all of this mean for us? That God can do great things through imperfect people, but when there is true love for Him and for our neighbor, when there is an immovable faith that is lived daily. Just as the Apostle Paul said: “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” 1 Corinthians 11:1. The Bible teaches us this regarding love (which is what many people define erroneously only as a special feeling or sentiment): “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-8. So then, the love that was in the Apostles’ hearts had nothing to do with what is taught today. But this same love can and should be cultivated in each one of our hearts, because this is God’s perfect will.
In the end, everything is about the Lord, even His prayer, for it is written: “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” 1 Timothy 2:5-6. So, have you been able to understand and fulfill the Lord’s prayer in your life, following the steps of these great men that preceded us, that they even surrendered their lives for God’s Truth, so that we could have what we have today? Lord bless! John