Show video of John 17 John 17 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:
"Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.
6 "I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name--the name you gave me--so that they may be one as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.
This is the calm before the storm
High Priestly prayer - but here's the kicker
The Priest is the Sacrifice!
The time has come often we read that Jesus' hour has not come, but now he says it is here. The clocks run out, no time left. By this worlds standards, Jesus was a flop by now. Things will soon get much worse. What did He have to show for three years hard work?
Glorify your Son How was Jesus glorified?
Not riding in on a limo but carrying a cross
Not in a ticker tape parade, but humiliatingly marched down Via Dolorosa
Eternal life is the goal, but not some time in the future, not a long time without end
Eternal life is Knowing God. Know - like Adam and Eve - intimacy with God - Peace with God
Jesus glorified God by obedience and one final act of obedience lay ahead - we all know...
Jesus is One with God, sent by God - obedient to God
What does it mean "They obeyed your word"
Obey = accepted with trust - not perfect
Why not pray for the world
Because salvation of the world now depends on the witness of those that the Father has given Him
Was Judas predetermined to be lost
Two ways to look at predestination
God planned - designed or wanted him to perish to accomplish God's purposes
God was ready for the response, He knows us so well, no surprises here.
Scripture claims that God is not willing that any should be lost
JN 17:13 "I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
20 "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
24 "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.
25 "Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26 I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them."
Vs. 13 Jesus turns from communion with His Father to communion with Disciples
Vs. 15 The world is hostile, yet Jesus leaves us in it. We are Kept from the Evil one - sent into hostile territory to reclaim it for its rightful owner. Spiritual protection is promised.
Vs. 17 Sanctify - set apart for holy purposes uses
OT sanctify things - priests clothes, dishes, temple items. Your body - don't touch filthy things, people or you would be defiled
Jesus showed a different idea of sanctify
He touched filthy things (dead bodies) and people (sinners, bleeding women, gentiles)
Your Word is Truth
Truth dependable, independent, trustworthy
Doesn't matter who says it - still truth
Based on God's unchanging purposes for us in this world. But while it seems that truth changes, it is usually just becoming more clear.
Truth and trust go hand in hand
Trust in God's character before comprehend God's truth. Another word for trust is Faith. Do you trust?
Set apart - consecrated or devoted in OT - destroy completely - not pillage for gain
Isaiah - unclean lips, tong of coal to lips - purify them
Vs. 20 Jesus prays for ME!
WOW - what does He pray for?
That we will remain as one, just like He and God are one.
Why? So that the world will be convinced!
No wonder Christianity has such difficulty
Complete unity - we can't even agree on a handful of simple things, like how to baptize, what version of the Bible to read, etc..
Unity is not the absence of diversity. 70 Billion have lived on this planet, all of us together couldn't express the fullness and greatness of God. We need the ideas, differences of one another
Show fuzzy picture that is made clearer - or small part of a picture that when zoomed out to big picture you can identify it
Telling the story FIXES it in your mind and heart
The Beatles said that "all you need is love" they were right, they were quoting Jesus
This prayer extends to us Forever and to all who follow us
Next Step On a cross - His Kingship was lifted up, His sacrifice proclaimed, His blessing of Eternal life Do you know God - would you like to experience Eternal Life?
