But Jesus Yet Answered Nothing So That Pilate Marvelled, Saying, "Will I Release Unto You the King of the Jews?" - Part 2051

"To wit, God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself ..." (II Corinthians 5:19)

Jesus said, "I have manifested THY Name unto the men which Thou gave Me out of the world -- Thine they were and Thou gavest them Me; and they have kept Thy Word. Now they have known that all things whatsoever Thou hast given Me are of Thee. 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. 

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. 

While I was with them in the world, I kept them in THY Name: those that Thou gave Me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled." (John 17:6-12)

These words spake Jesus as He lifted up His eyes to heaven. He knew the hour had finally come, when the Father would glorify the Son and that Thy Son also may glorify Thee. (John 17:1) 

This was the moment in time when the same God who was in Christ (soon to become our Saviour) would bring forth His plan of salvation for all those whose hearts yearn for His purposes to be fulfilled in their life too. However, sometimes, when we read John 17, we forget that Jesus had made similar references to His earthly future prior to praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. We fall short of studying the scriptures, as doth a workman approved unto God, and so that we can rightly divide the Word. (II Timothy 2:15) In so doing, we will come to the understanding that God is never the Author of confusion.

An example of this is when the Pharisees were upset because "the world is gone after Him," referring to Jesus. And now certain Greeks among them, who had come up to worship at the feast had gone to Philip (which was of Bethsaida of Galilee) desiring to see Jesus as well. When Philip relays the Greek's desire to Andrew who later tells Jesus, He said, "The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified! Verily, verily, I say unto you -- except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abides alone: but if it die, it brings forth much fruit." (John 12:19-24) 

Note that Jesus did not stop there. He went on to say that he who loves his life shall lose it, and he that hates his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. "If any man serve Me, let him follow Me, and where I am, there shall also My servant be; if any man serve Me, him will My Father honour. Now is My soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save Me from this hour; but for this cause came I unto this hour.  Father, glorify Thy Name!" (John 12:25-28)

At this particular moment, a voice did come from heaven, saying, "I have both glorified [it] and will glorify [it] again." Indeed, as these scriptures point out, the voice thundered. Some who were there thought an angel had spoken to Jesus. What did Jesus say? Jesus answered and said, "This voice came not because of Me, but for "your" sakes. Now is the judgment of this world; now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all [men] unto Me." (John 12:28-32) This, Jesus said, signifying what death He should die, but also so that we who believe in our hearts would know that nothing was going to happen that had not already been foreordained from the very beginning.

How did the people respond? The people answered Jesus, "We have heard out of the law that Christ abides forever; and how sayest Thou: "The Son of man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of man?" Jesus said unto them, "Yet a little while is the Light with you. Walk while ye have the Light; lest darkness come upon you; for He that walks in darkness knows not whither He goes. While ye have the Light, believe in the Light; that ye may be the children of Light!" (John 12:33-36)

You see, even though Jesus had performed many miracles before the people, there were those who believed not on Him. Pharisees and chief priests (a council) who gathered and said, "What do we? for this man doth many miracles. If we let Him thus alone, and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation." 

And they did not believe, so that the prophecy spoken by Isaiah the prophet would be fulfilled -- "Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? He hath blinded their eyes and hardened their heart,, that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them." (John 12:38-40; Isaiah 53:1; Isaiah 6:9-10; Matthew 13:14; John 11:47)

Who is the arm of the Lord? JESUS! Who did Pilate say was the King of the Jews? JESUS. And what Name did the angel of the Lord declare when the angel said, "And ye shall call His Name JESUS, for He shall save His people from their sins ... Emmanuel, being interpreted, God with us!" (Matthew 1:21-23) Indeed, we are supposed to be water baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, so that He can clothe us fully in His righteousness. (Acts 2:36-41) 

Why? Because as Peter pointed out on the day of Pentecost, this same Jesus whom ye have crucified is both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36) He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. If ye have seen Jesus, ye have seen the Father which is why we are instructed to hear ye Him. 

Jesus said, "I have manifested Thy Name ..." 

The I AM of the old is the JESUS in the New Testament. No other name. The only Name whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12; Philippians 2:9; John 14:6)

Jesus knew that in order for the fruit to come forth -- those who believe in the Light of life that can only be found in the Lord Jesus, that He had to endure the cross first, There had to be a perfect sacrifice -- a purchase made, including the shedding of His precious holy blood if we were to find abundant and everlasting life in Him. 

This is why Jesus said you will see Him no more, but that we had to believe in His Name .. because the arm of the Lord has been revealed for those with eyes to see, and ears to hear. As for John 17, Jesus is asking, "Do ye now believe?" (John 16:31)

Jesus was not alone because the Father was with Him and in Him. God manifest in the flesh. The Lord coming forth as a mighty man. And as Jesus so clearly said, "I and My Father are One!" (John 10:30; John 14:6-12; I Timothy 3:16; Titus 2:13; Revelation 1:8)

"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 the only true God and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent." (John 17:1-3) 

His Name is JESUS! Stand in the offering plate.