“MAKE IT KNOWN”

26 "I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

John 17:26

Human relationships often fail because they are built on a partial or flawed understanding of who the other person truly is. We naturally hold back our deepest affections until we feel completely secure in knowing someone's true character. God, however, does not leave us guessing about His nature. He actively reveals His perfect character so that our hearts can be securely anchored in a divine affection that never fluctuates, disappoints, or fades.

John chapter 17 is a heartfelt prayer known as Jesus’ “High Priestly Prayer.” After delivering His Farewell Discourse, Jesus now prays for Himself, the disciples, and future believers. This moment is also the start of Jesus’ “time.” In this series, we will see several important truths relating to our calling, sanctification, and witnessing. 

In today's verse, Jesus continues to reveal the Father’s true character so believers may be filled with the same divine love the Father has for the Son.

Jesus speaks of making known the Father's "name," translating the original Greek word onoma; He is not talking about merely passing along a title. In biblical context, a name represents a person's complete character, authority, and nature. Jesus spent His entire earthly ministry perfectly demonstrating the Father's mercy, justice, and grace.

Yet, He promises that He "will continue to make it known." This ongoing revelation happens today through the Holy Spirit and the truth of Scripture. We can actively engage in this ongoing revelation by intentionally opening His Word when we rise, when we drive, when we take a break from work, and when we are ready to sleep. The more we continuously see the Father's true character, the more our hearts are transformed.

The ultimate goal of this continuous revelation is astonishing. Jesus desires that the very love the Father has for Him would reside permanently within us. Because Jesus Himself dwells within us, we become the direct recipients of God's perfect, unconditional affection. 

Life can be challenging; it can get complicated quickly, and because we have no control over the next moment of our lives, wisdom tells us to leave everything in the Lord’s hands. We can confidently surrender to His will because this indwelling love secures us eternally.

Are we willing to spend intentional time reading the Gospels today to discover more of the Father's character revealed in Christ? As we truly know Him, His perfect love will naturally overflow in our lives.

Pursue the Savior today!

Photo by Hoseung Han on Unsplash