Jesus' Prayer For You

JESUS’ PRAYER FOR YOU

John 17.1-26

S: Jesus and prayer

C: Unity

Pr: JESUS HAS OUR BEST IN MIND.

?: What? What does Jesus pray for?

KW: Plans

TS: In John 17, Jesus reveals His plans for believers of all ages and shows how He has our best in mind.

Type: Proposition

The ____ plan is…

I. GLORY (1-5)

II. FAITH (6-12)

III. HOLINESS (13-19)

IV. UNITY (20-26)

PA: How is the change to be observed?

• Be confident in God’s plan.

• Partner with God to fulfill His desires for us.

Version: ESV

RMBC 25 February 07 AM

INTRODUCTION:

ILL Bad News

There were two old guys, Abe and Ken, sitting on a bench in a park feeding pigeons and talking about baseball, just like they did every day. Abe turns to Ken and says, "Do you think there’s baseball in heaven?"

Ken thinks about it for a minute and replies, "I dunno, Abe. But let’s make a deal: If I die first, I will come back and tell you -- and if you die first, you come back and tell me -- if there is baseball in heaven."

They shake on it and, sadly, a few months later poor Abe passes on. One day soon afterward, Ken is sitting there feeding the pigeons by himself when he hears a voice whisper, "Ken... Ken...."

Ken responds, "Abe! Is that you?"

"Yes, it is Ken," whispers the spirit of Abe.

Ken, still amazed, asks, "So, is there baseball in heaven?"

"Well," says Abe says, "I got good news and I got bad news."

"Gimme the good news first," says Ken.

Abe says, "Well...there is baseball in heaven."

Ken says, "That’s great! What news could be bad enough to ruin that!?"

Abe whispers, "You’re pitching on Friday."

Well, I might consider that good news and good news.

But, I think it is fair to say that…

We all prefer good news over bad.

TRANSITION:

For the last couple of weeks, we have been studying John 16.

And these chapters, from 13 to 17, contain Jesus’ last words to His disciples before the cross.

You see…

1. Jesus had given the disciples the update that they did not want to hear.

The update was that He was leaving.

But it was more than just going away or changing locations.

He was going to His death.

He was going to be executed.

The cross was literally hours away.

And as we learned last week…

2. What was worse is that Jesus said that they were going to desert Him (16.31-32).

In last week’s study, when the disciples claimed to finally understand Jesus…

Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone.” (John 16.31-32)

The disciples are going to take off as soon as the going gets rough.

They are going to panic.

They are going to know what it is to fail to stand by a friend in times of trouble.

Jesus knows this.

He knows their failure before they do.

But listen again to Jesus, for…

3. In spite of certain failure, they have nothing to fear (16.33).

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

They were going to muck it up, but nevertheless, Jesus’ goal for them is peace.

They were going to be confronted with a betrayal.

They were going to be confronted by armed soldiers.

They were going to be confronted with an opposition so much stronger and much more evil than they expected.

But Jesus says that they are to take courage.

He is conquering the world.

You see, we can depend on this, that…

4. JESUS HAS OUR BEST IN MIND.

This is made plain to us in today’s passage.

For today’s study is Jesus’ prayer for each one of us.

Before we were born, He had us in mind.

Not only that, He had our best in mind.

So…

5. In John 17, Jesus reveals His plans for believers of all ages and shows how He has our best in mind.

OUR STUDY:

I. The first plan is GLORY (1-5).

(1) When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, (2) since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. (3) And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. (4) I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. (5) And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.”