John 17: Are You Experiencing God's Shalom?

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (John 14:27 ESV)

The seventeenth chapter of John has the longest recorded prayer from our Lord. He begins by showing us two key facts about why He came: To glorify God and bring salvation to God’s children. How does the peace or shalom of God fit into this prayer?

…“Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify You, since you have given Him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom You have given Him. (John 17:1-2 ESV)

Jesus came to glorify God. The word “glorify” comes from the Greek word doxazō (dox-ad'-zo), which means to cause the dignity and worth of some person or thing to become manifest and acknowledged. This should be the purpose of every child of God: to glorify God.

However, for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all long-suffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on Him to life everlasting. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Timothy 1:16-17 AKJV)

The greatest mercy we receive from God is salvation: escaping Hell and being part of His eternal kingdom. After we receive the wonderful gift of salvation, each child of God should be eager to display God’s glory so that more of His children will acknowledge Him. We see this connection between receiving from God and giving Him glory in so many scriptures:

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21 ESV)

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in Heaven. (Matthew 5:16 ESV)

Light is what reveals things. Jesus told us that our good works give glory to God. God deserves all the glory, for without Him we can do nothing! As the Lord continues the prayer, He shows us how to receive that eternal life, which is salvation.

And this is eternal life, that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. (John 17:3 ESV)

We must “know” God, who is revealed through the works of Jesus, displaying the glory, the magnificence, and the love of God. The word “know” is the Greek word ginōskō (gi-no-skow) is more than to believe that there is a God whose Son is Jesus. It is the same word that represents the ultimate intimacy in a relationship with a human being through which a child is produced.

We need to have an intimate relationship with God, which begins with the Holy Spirit being deposited in us and united with us. Once that happens, our “knowing” God brings fruit, or offspring, which are the gifts and fruits of the Spirit. Do you know God like this? Or do you merely know about God?

“I glorified You on earth, having accomplished the work that You gave Me to do. And now, Father, glorify Me in Your own presence with the glory that I had with You before the world existed. I have manifested Your name to the people whom You gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.” (John 17:4-6 ESV)

As Jesus continues to talk about glorifying God, He asks to be glorified through those who believe in Him. Just as Jesus’ purpose was to glorify God, so too, our purpose is to glorify Jesus.

How does Jesus know we truly belong to God? They have kept God’s word. “Keep” is the Greek word tēreō ( tay-reh'-o) meaning to attend to carefully, to take care of, and to observe. Is this how you look at the Bible? Is it the guidebook of your life? If you honor God’s word, you will be “kept” by God:

…“Holy Father, keep them in Your name, which you have given Me, that they may be one, even as we are one. While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.” (John 17:11-12 ESV)

We have been given the name of Jesus when we are Christians. As such, we should be “one” even as God is one. We should not be attacking one another, but operating in love with all other Christians.

Jesus asked God to “keep” us as Christians, and He also spoke of “guarding” those who are given to Him. The Lord gave Moses a prayer for all of His people that begins with all the topics mentioned in this prayer. It is known as the Aaronic Blessing because Aaron and his sons were instructed to pray it over God’s people.

The Lord bless you and keep you… (Numbers 6:24 ESV)

To fully grasp what God wants to give us in this prayer and the prayer Jesus prayed, we must research the passage of the Bible where the blessing is mentioned. Times have changed so dramatically since Moses and Aaron walked the earth that we need to go back to the original Hebrew language and adapt what we read to the era in which they lived. This will reveal the meaning behind the words.

“Bless” is the Hebrew word barak, which means to kneel and present gifts with respect to that person. Kneeling is humbling yourself before someone. That is what Jesus did, He humbled Himself and brought us the greatest gifts: salvation and the Holy Spirit.

And after He had appeared in human form, He abased and humbled Himself [still further] and carried His obedience to the extreme of death, even the death of the cross! (Philippians 2:8 AMPC)

Jesus has indeed blessed us and fulfilled the first part of the Aaronic Blessing. When we “keep” His word, then God will “keep” us. Looking at this original prayer will help us understand how God does that.

The Hebrew word shamar is translated as “keep” but is derived from the words typically translated as “to guard and protect.” To understand the full meaning of this passage, we need to understand its root. This word is derived from the Hebrew word shamiyr, which means “thorn.”

In ancient times, shepherds would place a corral of thorns around their sheep to protect them from wild beasts. This hedge also kept the sheep where they should be. This part of the prayer could be translated as:

God, thank you for my salvation and for placing a thorny hedge around me to keep me right where I should be and keep the enemy far from me.

This is the way God keeps us: He warns us with painful little pricks when we are going the wrong way outside of His protected area. At first, it will be a soft nudge, an uneasy feeling that we may need to walk away from something that is sin or move towards God in a certain area. If we don’t listen to that gentle nudge, it will become a sharper prick as things go wrong and difficulties arise because we are walking outside of God’s protection. This is pushing through the thorns as we are determined to do what we think is best or what we want. Outside that thorny area, the enemy is prowling around like a hungry lion, waiting to attack our lives.

After blessing us with salvation, Jesus both keeps and guards those who are His. Being “kept” by God has some great benefits stated later in both prayers, in John and in the Aaronic Blessing: Being “kept” by God has another great benefit:

“I do not ask that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one.” (John 17:15 ESV)

When we pay attention to the Word of God, when we study it that is attending to it carefully, when we observe it, that means to do it, then God will “keep” us from the evil one. If it feels like Satan is attacking you, ask yourself, are you “keeping” God’s word?

So many of us today say, “Well, that is just part of life…” it is only part of life if you are not keeping God’s word.

Others say, “I don’t know why bad things happen to good people.” Being “good” will not keep Satan from attacking you. Are you willing to learn about God through His word and obey it? The benefits are not only removing attacks, but there is so much more!

Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, may be with Me where I am, to see My glory that You have given Me because You loved Me before the foundation of the world. (John 17:24 ESV Strong’s)

Where is Jesus? He is in Heaven. The Lord is asking that those who really KNOW Him, who have a deep intimate relationship with Him, be allowed to visit Him in Heaven.

Jesus opened this prayer by revealing that salvation for eternity is obtained by having an intimate relationship with Him. Our eternity is in Heaven. That means this new request to God cannot pertain to us being with Jesus in Heaven after we die. It must be about visiting with Him while we are still on this Earth! The next verse of the Aaronic blessing is also about visiting with God:

…the Lord makes His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you… (Numbers 6:25 ESV)

“Makes His face” is the Hebrew word Pānîm (paw-neem') which means being in the presence of a person. When light shines upon something, it is fully revealed. The implied meaning is to be in the presence of God where He is fully revealed.

The Hebrew word hanan (khaw-nan') is translated as “gracious to you” but literally means to “provide protection.” It is derived from the word ḥānâ, which refers to a “camp” or “pitch a tent.” When the instructions were given to recite this blessing, it indicated that if you wanted to protect something, you would bring it to the security of your camp.

The Secret place of the Most High is referred to as the “camp of the Lord.” The meaning behind this verse is:

Lord, reveal yourself to me and bring me to your tent that is the Secret Place of the Most High where I am provided for and protected.

Can you see the progression with these two verses? First, He gives you gifts, the gift of salvation and the Holy Spirit, and then you become one of His sheep. He will protect you with the thorny hedge as your Shepherd. Next, He will reveal Himself to you as He brings you back to His camp – The Secret Place.

God’s greatest desire is for His children to visit with Him. Is there ever a time when you wouldn’t desire to see your kids? God is a good, kind, loving Father who wants to visit with us.

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” (Romans 8:15 ESV)

The Hebrew word Abba is a term of endearment. It means Daddy, Pappa, Pa, or whatever else you would call your Father when you were a small child. This is what God should be to us. Not all of us have had great examples of a kind, loving father in our lives, but God wants to be that for you.

Jesus was praying with His disciples, but there is one verse that should cause every Christian to celebrate:

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. (John 17:20-21 ESV Strong’s)

This prayer wasn’t only for those who knew Jesus when He was here, it is for everyone who will believe based on their words! Jesus wants us to visit with Him in real, powerful ways. He wants a relationship with you!

There is always a purpose in everything God does. The purpose of visiting with His is to do His work so that we will all be united in His purpose. Are you willing to embrace all those who profess Jesus as the Risen Son as a brother or sister? This is what it will take to visit with Him. We must be willing to glorify Him and do as our Lord said and love each other as He has loved us. He loved the disciples even when He knew they were getting it wrong, and when He knew they would desert Him. We must learn to love each other in the same way!

How do we know if we are in an intimate relationship with God and working towards visiting with Him? The answer can be found in the final verse of the Aaronic Blessing and what Jesus said to His disciples:

  … The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace. (Numbers 6:26 NKJV)

Nasa’ translates as “lift up,” but also means to “bear up” or “be lifted up.” The Hebrew word for “His countenance” is paniym, which also means “presence.” The word suwm translates as “upon you and give” and means “to put, set, lay, put or lay upon.” Many have come to know in recent years that shalowm (shalom) translated as “peace,” also means “to be complete and to make whole in every aspect.” Putting all these concepts together, this should read:

Lord, lift us up into Your presence, let it lay upon us, and bring Your peace to make us complete in every way.

This last verse of the Aaronic blessing is power-packed! We move from meeting with Him in the Secret Place to being lifted up into His very strong presence. The best part is that we don’t simply get to visit; we become carriers of His presence! Jesus told His disciples that He would give us His shalom:

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (John 14:27 ESV)

When we receive Him as our Lord, we receive His peace. It will free our hearts from feeling troubled. Anxiety is a mild form of fear. The Lord’s peace removes all types of fear, including those! This peace should lead us toward deeper healing and greater freedom from attacks. We know we are saved when we receive this shalom, this peace from God. It is the basic way that the Holy Spirit will guide and direct us.

And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ’s] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always].

Let the word [spoken by] Christ (the Messiah) have its home [in your hearts and minds] and dwell in you in [all its] richness, as you teach and admonish and train one another in all insight and intelligence and wisdom [in spiritual things, and as you sing] psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, making melody to God with [His] grace in your hearts. (Colossians 3:15-16 AMPC)

When we have the word of God in our hearts, then the peace from Jesus comes and directs us. Since it is the “umpire,” it has the final say in all matters. If the peace of God is present, we are going in the right direction. If we feel compelled to hurry, rush, or are anxious, this is the opposite of peace, it is turmoil in our hearts.

Let’s think about that for a minute. If we encounter a thorn bush blocking our path and realize we must go through it, it would cause us to feel anxious. We may want to rush through to get it over with. Those emotions are from the Holy Spirit, who is letting us know we need to take a moment to pray and reflect, reminding us that we may be heading into that thorny hedge and straying away from God!

This is how we know that we have an intimate relationship with Jesus: when we have God’s shalom guiding us, the peace promised by Jesus. Have you been led by that peace? Do you want to be? Do you want to visit with Jesus face-to-face?

The first step is to begin acknowledging the shalom of God and understanding when we are feeling the pricks and prods of the thorny hedge or facing an outright attack from the enemy, which is the opposite of peace. What you are going through isn’t “just part of life.” If Jesus is your Lord, He paid for your shalom!

Are you ready to have more of the Word of God in your life so that you can experience more and more of His shalom? Begin classes today at the Removing Attacks course.

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John 17: Are you Experiencing God's Shalom?Online Christian Church

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