“I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.” John 17:9-11

Jesus spoke to His disciples of many things before going to the cross to suffer and die for the sins of the world and then rise again and ascend to the right hand of God the Father in heaven. He told them what would happen to Him, how He would be betrayed and crucified, rise again, and ascend to the Father. He spoke to them of heaven, of the Holy Spirit (the Comforter), and of the persecution and suffering they would face in this world. He urged them to continue in His Word and abide in Him so that they might produce much fruit and glorify God the Father.

After His words of comfort, counsel, and encouragement to His disciples, Jesus turned to His Father in prayer, first for Himself as He finished the work which the Father had given Him to do in this world, but then for His disciples. Notice that Jesus is not here praying for the whole world of men, but for those whom God the Father had given Him — those graciously chosen before of God and now brought to faith in Jesus through the hearing of God’s Word, which Jesus spoke to them.

What does Jesus pray? Not that God the Father would take them out of this sinful world, but that He would keep them in the true and saving faith and protect them from the assaults of the evil one upon their souls. Jesus prays: “Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.”

Jesus kept them in the true and saving faith while He was with them in the world, and none was lost but Judas, the son of perdition, that the Scriptures might be fulfilled (cf. Psalm 41:9; 69:25; 109:8). Now Jesus was coming to the Father and He prayed the Father to keep them from the evil one and sanctify them (set them apart as God’s own special people) through the truth, and Jesus says God’s Word is truth! As the Father sent Jesus into the world to redeem mankind, Jesus was sending His disciples into the world to bear witness to Him and the redemption He was providing by doing the Father’s will and going to the cross to bear the punishment for man’s sin.

What can we learn from this portion of Jesus’ high priestly prayer? First of all, we see the importance of praying for our fellow believers that God, who has graciously brought them to faith in His Son through His Word, would preserve them and keep them in the faith as they live out their lives in this world (cf. Phil. 1:6). Secondly, we see that God uses His Word to bring us to true faith and sanctify and set us apart for Him — this is all the more reason to read and study the Bible. Thirdly, we see that unity with the Father and the Son and our fellow believers comes to us from God through knowledge and belief of the truth (cf. 1 John 1:3ff.) — it is not an outward unity without regard for the doctrine of Holy Scripture. Finally, we see that, as Jesus was sent into the world and willingly went to the cross to redeem us, Jesus sends us into the world to bear witness to Him and the redemption He has accomplished for all by His innocent sufferings and death on the cross (cf. Luke 24:46-48; Acts 1:8).

Dear Father in heaven, graciously guard and protect us from the assaults of the devil, the world, and our sinful flesh upon our faith. Sanctify us through truth and preserve and keep us in saving faith until our lives in this world are through and we are received into Your glorious and everlasting kingdom of heaven. Enable us to bear witness to You and the salvation You have provided in Your Son, Jesus Christ, that others too might be brought to faith and be one with You, Your Son, and all others who believe the truth and trust in Your name. We ask this for the sake of Jesus and His blood shed for us upon the cross. Amen.

[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]

“These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.” John 17:1-5

The hour had come. Jesus was about to go to the cross to suffer and die for the sins of the world and then rise again. On the eve of His death, He prayed that God the Father would glorify Him (the Son) so that He also might glorify the Father by giving eternal life to all that the Father had given to Him. To this end, God the Father had given Jesus authority over all flesh.

Jesus is here praying to His heavenly Father that, after He died for sin and accomplished our redemption by shedding His blood on the cross, the Father would exalt and glorify Him to His right hand so that He might also pour out the Holy Spirit and give to all God’s elect the eternal salvation which He won for us. In this way, God the Father, too, would receive glory for saving us from sin and death and giving us everlasting life.

What is eternal life? Jesus said, “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” To have eternal life is to know God the Father, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom the Father sent into the world to redeem us.

Notice that it does not say: “To know about God and about Jesus Christ.” It says: “That they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” Jesus, on another occasion, said, “No man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him” (Matt. 11:27).

Can anyone then know God the Father, or God the Son, if it were not given to him of God? No, it is a gracious gift of God to know Him and to know Jesus as God the Son and our Savior (cf. John 1:11-13, 18; 6:37-40, 44-47, 63, 65; Matt. 16:15-17). And to know God the Father and Christ Jesus, His Son, is to know and receive by faith the eternal salvation Jesus won for us by His innocent sufferings and death on the cross.

Do you know God and His Son, Jesus Christ? Or do you merely know about God and His Son? It is one thing to know of God and of Jesus and what He did for us and then continue on in our old ways. It is quite another to take hold of God’s mercy and grace through faith in Jesus Christ and to walk in fellowship with God (cf. 1 John 1 and 2). To have eternal life is to know and embrace God the Son as our Savior and walk with Him (cf. 1 John 5:11-13; Eph. 2:8-10).

Jesus finished the work which God the Father had sent Him into the world to do. He was on the way to the cross to pay in full for our sins and the sins of the whole world. Thus, Jesus brought glory to the Father, who had sent Him, by finishing His redemptive work. Jesus prayed that the Father would now glorify Him with the glory that He had with the Father before the world was created. This God the Father did when Jesus was raised from the dead and ascended into heaven to rule over all things and bring men into His eternal kingdom! Cf. Col. 1:12-14.

Dear Lord Jesus, graciously grant that we may truly know You and the Father and partake of Your grace and mercy through faith. We ask this for the sake of your holy and precious blood shed for us upon the cross. Amen.

[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Life in this world is full of trouble and heartache. In addition to the sickness, pain, and death that all face, there is the persecution and suffering that those who follow Christ Jesus can expect in this world from those who continue in impenitence and rebellion against the LORD God, who created and redeemed them.

Before His betrayal, arrest, and crucifixion, Jesus attempted to prepare His disciples for what lay ahead. They were about to witness His passion and death on the cross, and all would look hopeless to them because of their unbelief and hardness of heart.

Though they would see Him again, alive from the dead, He would no longer be present with them in the same manner as He had been over the months and years before (cf. John 16:19-20). And they, too, would suffer much from the enemies of Christ as they proclaimed His Word and doctrine in the world (cf. John 16:1-5).

Jesus did not want His disciples’ faith to be shaken and destroyed by what was to come. He wanted them to continue to trust in Him and have peace in Him. Jesus warned His followers ahead of time so that, when all these things came to pass, they would hold fast to Him with the confidence that, in Him, they had forgiveness and, in Him, they had life everlasting in the mansions of His Father’s house (cf. John 14:1-6).

These words of comfort are for you and me, too, as we face tribulation and suffering in this world. We will face hardships and trouble. As Paul wrote, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:12). We should expect no less as we follow Christ and bear witness to the truth of His Word.

But though we must endure tribulation in this world, we can have peace in Christ Jesus. He has redeemed us from sin and death by His own innocent sufferings and death in our stead, and He has risen again in victory. Through faith in Him, we, too, have the victory. In Him, we have pardon and peace — forgiveness for all our sins. In Him, we have the assurance that we, too, shall be raised up unto life everlasting.

In the world, we shall have tribulation. Being a Christian and follower of Jesus will not bring us a life of ease and worldly peace, but we have peace in Jesus. We can be of good cheer whatever comes our way because Jesus, our Savior, has overcome the world. In Him, we have the final victory. In Him, we have the everlasting joys of heaven!

Jesus said: “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

Dearest Lord Jesus, thank You for the gift of life You won for me by Your innocent sufferings and death in my stead. Graciously keep me in Your peace. Grant that I hold fast to You and Your Word and trust in You for pardon and life everlasting. Amen.

[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Life in this world is full of trouble and heartache. In addition to the sickness, pain, and death that all face, there is the persecution and suffering that those who follow Christ Jesus can expect in this world from those who continue in impenitence and rebellion against the LORD God, who created and redeemed them.

Before His betrayal, arrest, and crucifixion, Jesus attempted to prepare His disciples for what lay ahead. They were about to witness His passion and death on the cross, and all would look hopeless to them because of their unbelief and hardness of heart.

Though they would see Him again, alive from the dead, He would no longer be present with them in the same manner as He had been over the months and years before (cf. John 16:19-20). And they, too, would suffer much from the enemies of Christ as they proclaimed His Word and Doctrine in the world (cf. John 16:1-5).

Jesus did not want His disciples’ faith to be shaken and destroyed by what was to come. He wanted them to continue to trust in Him and have peace in Him. Jesus warned His followers ahead of time so that, when all these things came to pass, they would hold fast to Him with the confidence that, in Him, they had forgiveness and, in Him, they had life everlasting in the mansions of His Father’s house (cf. John 14:1-6).

These words of comfort are for you and me, too, as we face tribulation and suffering in this world. We will face hardships and trouble. As Paul wrote, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:12). We should expect no less as we follow Christ and bear witness to the truth of His Word.

But though we must endure tribulation in this world, we can have peace in Christ Jesus. He has redeemed us from sin and death by His own innocent sufferings and death in our stead, and He has risen again in victory. Through faith in Him, we, too, have the victory. In Him, we have pardon and peace — forgiveness for all our sins. In Him, we have the assurance that we, too, shall be raised up unto life everlasting.

In the world, we shall have tribulation. Being a Christian and follower of Jesus will not bring us a life of ease and worldly peace, but we have peace in Jesus. We can be of good cheer whatever comes our way because Jesus, our Savior, has overcome the world. In Him, we have the final victory. In Him, we have the everlasting joys of heaven!

Jesus said: “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

Dearest Lord Jesus, thank You for the gift of life You won for me by Your innocent sufferings and death in my stead. Graciously keep me in Your peace. Grant that I hold fast to You and Your Word and trust in You for pardon and life everlasting. Amen.

[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]

Spirit’s Witness

Order of Matins

V. O LORD, open Thou my lips. R. And my mouth shall show forth Thy praise.
V. Make haste, O God, to deliver me. R. Make haste to help me, O Lord.
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost: R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Hallelujah.

V. O come, let us worship the Lord. R. For He is our Maker.

Venite
O COME, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving: and make a joyful noise unto Him with psalms. For the Lord is a great God: and a great King above all gods. In His hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is His also. The sea is His, and He made it: and His hands formed the dry land. O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For He is our God: and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost: As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

The Hymn: “O Lord, Look Down from Heaven, Behold” by Martin Luther

O Lord, look down from Heaven, behold
And let Thy pity waken:
How few are we within Thy fold,
Thy saints by men forsaken!
True faith seems quenched on every hand,
Men suffer not Thy Word to stand;
Dark times have us o’ertaken.

With fraud which they themselves invent
Thy truth they have confounded;
Their hearts are not with one consent
On Thy pure doctrine grounded.
While they parade with outward show,
They lead the people to and fro,
In error’s maze astounded.

May God root out all heresy
And of false teachers rid us
Who proudly say: “Now, where is he
That shall our speech forbid us?
By right or might we shall prevail;
What we determine cannot fail;
We own no lord and master.”

Therefore saith God, “I must arise,
The poor My help are needing;
To Me ascend My people’s cries,
And I have heard their pleading.
For them My saving Word shall fight
And fearlessly and sharply smite,
The poor with might defending.”

As silver tried by fire is pure
From all adulteration,
So through God’s Word shall men endure
Each trial and temptation.
Its light beams brighter through the cross,
And, purified from human dross,
It shines through every nation.

Thy truth defend, O God, and stay
This evil generation;
And from the error of their way
Keep Thine own congregation.
The wicked everywhere abound
And would Thy little flock confound;
But Thou art our Salvation. Amen.

Epistle: James 1:16-21
DO not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first-fruits of his creatures. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: for the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

V. But Thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us. R. Thanks be to God.

Gospel: John 16:5-15
BUT now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou? But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart. Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away. the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they believe not on me; of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you.

V. But Thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us. R. Thanks be to God.

Sermon: “The Witness of the Holy Spirit” — John 16:7-15

“Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.”

From Jesus’ words to His disciples before His death, resurrection and ascension, we learn much of the Holy Spirit’s ministry. When Jesus ascended into heaven and poured out His Spirit, the Holy Spirit was a witness against the world concerning sin, righteousness and judgment.

The Holy Spirit, through the preaching of the apostles and ministers of Jesus, testifies against the whole world of unbelievers, convicting them of sin because they have rejected and crucified Jesus Christ, God’s own Son and the only source of forgiveness and life (cf. Acts 2:1ff.; Heb. 10:26-31); convicting them of righteousness because Jesus Christ, the Righteous One, had ascended to the very throne of God with the only righteousness that is acceptable to God (cf. Acts 4:11-12; Rom. 3:10ff.; 1 John 2:1-2); and convicting them of judgment because the devil, who rules over the world of sinners, has already been overcome and judged by Jesus’ victory on the cross, meaning that all who continue under Satan’s rule will soon share in his judgment and condemnation (cf. Luke 10:18; Rev. 12:1-17; Matt. 25:41; Rev. 20:10-15).

But for those of us who believe, the Holy Spirit comes alongside us and dwells in us as a Helper and Encourager to keep us trusting in Jesus Christ alone for forgiveness and life eternal.

He guides us into all truth because He takes the things of Jesus Christ and tells them to us. Through the apostles and prophets, He has given to us the Holy Scriptures, “which are able to make [us] wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 3:15; cf. 3:14-17; James 1:18).

The Holy Spirit teaches us as we read and study His Word so that we know the truth and are made free from slavery to sin and alive to God through faith in Jesus and His blood shed for sin (cf. John 8:31-32; 1 John 2:27; Psalm 119:97-105).

The Spirit reminds us that, though we have sinned, through faith in Jesus’ shed blood, we have forgiveness and life everlasting (cf. 1 John 1:8-2:2; Rom. 3:21-26; Isa. 1:18).

And the Spirit comforts us with the knowledge that, though our lives in this world are full of pain and suffering, we have an eternal inheritance awaiting us in heaven for Jesus’ sake (cf. 1 Pet. 1:3-9; Rev. 7:9-17; John 14:1-3; 16:33).

Dear Lord Jesus, grant us the help and comfort of Your Holy Spirit that we may learn the truth from Your Word and trust in You for forgiveness and life and follow You unto life everlasting. Amen.

The Canticle — Te Deum Laudamus
We praise Thee, O God, we acknowledge Thee to be the Lord. All the earth doth worship Thee, the Father everlasting. To Thee all Angels cry aloud, the heavens, and all the powers therein. To Thee Cherubim and Seraphim continually do cry, Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Sabaoth; Heaven and earth are full of the Majesty of Thy Glory. The glorious company of the Apostles praise Thee. The goodly fellowship of the Prophets praise Thee. The noble army of Martyrs praise Thee. The holy Church throughout all the world doth acknowledge Thee; The Father of an infinite Majesty; Thine adorable, true and only Son; Also the Holy Ghost, the Comforter. Thou art the King of Glory, O Christ. Thou art the everlasting Son of the Father. When Thou tookest upon Thee to deliver man, Thou didst humble Thyself to be born of a Virgin. When Thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death, Thou didst open the kingdom of heaven to all believers. Thou sittest at the right hand of God in the glory of the Father. We believe that Thou shalt come to be our Judge. We therefore pray Thee, help Thy servants whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy precious blood. Make them to be numbered with Thy saints in glory everlasting. O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine heritage. Govern them and lift them up for ever. Day by day we magnify Thee; And we worship Thy Name ever, world without end. Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this day without sin. O Lord, have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us. O Lord, let Thy mercy be upon us as our trust is in Thee. O Lord, in Thee have I trusted, let me never be confounded.

Kyrie
Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us.

Lord’s Prayer
OUR Father, Who art in heaven; Hallowed by Thy Name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven; Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil; For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

V. The Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit.

Collect for Grace
O LORD, our Heavenly Father, Almighty and Everlasting God, Who hast safely brought us to the beginning of this day: Defend us in the same with Thy mighty power; and grant that this day we fall into no sin, neither run into any kind of danger; but that all our doings, being ordered by Thy governance, may be righteous in Thy sight; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.

V. Bless we the Lord. R. Thanks be to God.

Benediction
THE Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Love of God, and the Communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

[Scripture quoted from the King James Version of the Bible]