‘The Words Which You Have Given Me’

’The Words Which You Have Given Me’

For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.

John 17:8

Christ never acted independently from His Father.  In all their plans and purposes they were completely unified.  The purpose for which God the Father sent Christ into the world was, ‘to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.’  In order for that redemption to be accomplished it was necessary for the word of God to go forth.  To that purpose God ordained that twelve men should hear the gospel from the mouth of Christ Himself.  Christ called those twelve unto Himself knowing that one would betray Him, and invested in them for three years.  It was to these twelve that Christ delivered the words which God, His Father had given Him.  Why does that become important to us?  It becomes important because these are the very words which we have received from them.  We were not there to hear the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth.  We did not see His miracles or learn at His feet; but they did.  They bore witness to all that they had seen and heard.  We believe their testimony.  We accept their witness.  What God, the Father gave to Christ, He gave to His disciples, and they have given it to us.  We have receive the words of God and we believe them.  Thus have we become His disciples.

Almighty God of Truth,
we rejoice that Your Word is forever settled in Heaven.
We praise You, that You have delivered Your Word unto us,
through the mouth of Christ Himself,
that we may take it up, and proclaim it far and wide.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning