"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT THE BLESSINGS OF OBEDIENCE"
John 13:17 “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
Some explanatory thoughts/application, and a prayer:
1. This verse came from our Lord, as He was eating the passover dinner, just before His arrest and mock trial, leading to his death on the cross. May I encourage you to take a look at all the verses leading up to the one posted here. Just start in John 13:1, and then you will see what Jesus was talking about when He said, "If you know these things" etc. But, let's zero in on this one verse, and see what Jesus said. Because what He said is truly one of God's great keys to happiness.
(1) John 13:17a “If you know these things" Know here means, to perceive, to see, to perceive by the senses, it really is simply speaking of our understanding what He was saying. The things Jesus was talking about cover a wide range of subjects. For example, His love, His authority, His coming from God, and about to go back to God.
His being a servant, His being the teacher of God's Word, His call for His disciples to follow His example as a servant. And, there were many other things mentioned after 3:17. But, the above is a short list of what He meant when He said, "These things"
(2) John 13:17 “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. The word blessed, means happy, or happiness. In fact, it means, supremely blessed, to be fortunate, to be well off, to be happier. Now, if you look at the verse again, you will see that Jesus connects knowing, doing and blessed, or happy together. Look again please at what He said. John 13:17 “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
(3) Here's the same verse in the NLT Version. John 13:17 You know these things--now do them! That is the path of blessing. In fact, the disciples did know these things. Just as you and I know many things the Lord has taught us. So, in one sense, it's not a question of needing to know something, for we already do know many things, but rather, we are encouraged to take what we know, and to do them.
(4) Jesus was making the connection between what we know, and blessing. And, the pathway to blessing is simply doing what we know to do. Or being obedient to the Word of God. Obedience to God brings blessings into our lives.
(5) Here are a number of verses that say the same thing. Please remember, that blessed, means happy.
Jer 7:23 “But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people. And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you.’
Ps 34:8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
Ps 106:3* Blessed are those who keep justice, And he who does righteousness at all times!
Ps 112:1* Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, Who delights greatly in His commandments.
Ps 119:1* ALEPH. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, Who walk in the law of the LORD!
Ps 119:2 Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, Who seek Him with the whole heart!
Pr 8:34 Blessed is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors.
Jer 17:7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, And whose hope is the LORD.
Mt 24:46 “Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.
1Sa 15:22 Then Samuel said: “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.
1Pe 1:22* Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,
(6) So, just in summary, who does not want to be happy in their lives? I've never met anyone who does not want the blessings of being happy. What Jesus told us, is that being obedient to Him, and to His Word, is indeed the pathway to happiness. So, knowing what the Lord has said, and doing it, lead to our personal happiness.
A prayer:
Father, indeed, Your ways are above our ways, and Your thoughts are not ours. Your ways are right and true altogether. You have shown us Lord, that the desire for happiness is actually fulfilled not by direct pursuit of it, but rather by being obedient to You, and to the things You have taught us, and the things we know from Your Word. Thank You Father for bringing blessings into our lives. Thank You for Your wonderful Word that teaches us all about You. Lord, help us to not only know Your Word, but to understand it, and give each of us the personal resolve to be obedient to You Lord. In Jesus name, amen.
Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia
