17:7
The key difference between those who do not really know Jesus and those who do is whether we see Jesus as the one sent by God or just a man. The world when it is speaking favourably about Jesus is just viewing Him as a man. They view Him, and judge Him, in the world’s terms. If we belong to God then we view Jesus as the One sent by God, we view Him as coming to fulfil God’s mission. We view Him as the One who has all authority, who has the right to give life, and the one through whom judgement will be executed.
17:8
How did the disciples come to know who Jesus is? Jesus gave them the words that the Father gave Him. Then they received them. Our preaching and teaching needs to be from God. It needs to be based on His word, deeply rooted in His word. That does not mean it needs to be boring and stilted, never making cultural references. Jesus spoke in an interesting way, the apostles, especially Paul, made cultural references but it was all firmly based upon the word of God. To be an apostolic church means to be one that is proclaiming and living the word of God.
Then there is again the emphasis on the disciples knowing that Jesus came from God and was sent by God. This is crucial.
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