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.”
As Jesus begins this prayer, we learn this important fact…
1. When we give credit to where it belongs, glory happens.
Jesus is praying that the will of the Father will be done.
You see…
The glory of God is seen in the revelation of who and what He is.
The more revelation there is, the greater the display of His glory.
Jesus understands that His very next steps, the ones that will take Him to the cross, are the supreme revelation of God’s nature and purpose.
There is nothing on this earth that can better explain the heart of God than the cross.
So…
2. When we understand the cross, God receives the glory.
Jesus looks for glory in the last place that humanity would seek it.
It is in an instrument of execution.
It is in His own death.
So let it be known today that the cross was no disaster.
It was the fulfillment of God’s plan.
The cross succeeded.
The cross was victorious.
The cross conferred to us eternal life.
It succeeded because God’s essential character of holiness was established.
God’s hatred of sin was satisfied.
God’s refusal to overlook sin was displayed.
God’s rejection of compromise was evident as justice was handed out – for sin received its just judgment of death.
But even more, the cross proves there is no limit to God’s love.
He will go all out to save His creation.
Nothing holds Him back.
He will provide a way because He has our best in mind.
So God receives glory, because His magnificent, gracious, just, and merciful plan is revealed and accomplished through the Son.
II. The second plan is FAITH (6-12).
(6) “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. (7) Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. (8) For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. (9) I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. (10) All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. (11) And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. (12) 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.”
The disciples have responded to the visible presence of Jesus.
They truly did believe Him and in Him.
They had responded to the Word.
They had faith.
But, though Jesus had repeatedly foretold the cross, they were not ready for the shock of its reality when it actually occurred.
Again, He knows that they are going to fall apart.
So Jesus submits them to the Father’s care.
In the same way…
1. We are to respond to the Word.
For when we do, Jesus submits us to the Father’s care.
We are to persevere in keeping the Word we have been given.
For in it we know Him.
We are His.
He is ours.
And this is where the growth begins.
It is here that the intimacy of relationship, the mutual experience and exchange happens.
The apostle Paul was determined to have this kind of relationship with Jesus when he says in Philippians 3.10…
…that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death…
When we become people of the Word as Jesus prays, we tap into the most accurate source of knowledge about God.
And we become then, the world’s best hope of seeing the glory of God.
As it says in II Corinthians 3.18…
And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.
We establish then…
2. When we believe, we belong to Him.
The world is going to oppose us, but that does not matter.
When we believe, we are His.
And the way we communicate that we belong to Him is that we are one.
We demonstrate a unity of heart, mind, and will.
We don’t give in to childish squabbles.
We refuse to break friendships and fellowship.
We work to demonstrate the unity of the Godhead in our relationships with each other.
At this point, Jesus alludes to Judas Iscariot.
He did not belong.
In fact, his believer status was about to be exposed as a fraud.
Nevertheless, God was going to use his evil act to bring about His purpose.
It was not that Jesus was dependent on Judas.
He would have gone to the cross with or without him.
But what was going to be intended for evil was going to be used for a good that was not foreseen in the mind of humanity.
III. The third plan is HOLINESS (13-19).
(13) “But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. (14) I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. (15) I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. (16) They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. (17) Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. (18) As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. (19) And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.”
Jesus now prays that we will understand our new relationship within the world we live.
For…
1. We no longer belong to the world.
As Jesus explained to Nicodemus, we have to be born again.
We are reborn.
It is a birth of the spirit.
It is therefore, not of the world.
This does not mean that we withdraw from the world.
No, we are still in it.
But, there is a new detachment, because our new values expose the world’s values for what they are – a sham.
You see…
2. We are set apart for a great mission.
Jesus prays that we would be kept from evil.
He prays this because our new task, as Christians, is so huge.
It is so important, because the souls of men, women and children are at risk.
We are to be set apart then – sanctified.
What we mean by this is that our lives are to be distinct from the world’s way of life.
We do not settle for their values and goals.
No, we do not live aimlessly.
We have a definite commission.
We are made holy so that we can make disciples of all the nations.
There is good news to be heard and received.
And all that we do, is to have that in mind, whether at home, or at work, or at school, or even at play.
IV. The fourth plan is UNITY (20-26).
(20) “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, (21) 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. (22) The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, (23) I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. (24) 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. (25) O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. (26) I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
During the month of January, you heard me repeat this next statement over and over…
1. We are to live the unity we have been given.
ILL Unity
In his first book, The Fellowship of the Ring, J. R. R. Tolkien describes the camaraderie of a diverse group, banded together by a common cause. Called "the fellowship of the ring," their quest is to destroy the power of the Dark Lord lodged in this ring. Though they differ in nearly every way – racially, physically, temperamentally – they are united in their opposition of the Dark Lord.
In a section omitted in the movie, a heated conflict breaks out among the crusaders. Axes are drawn. Bows are bent. Harsh words are spoken. Disaster nearly strikes the small band. When peace at last prevails, a wise counselor observes, "Indeed in nothing is the power of the Dark Lord more clearly shown than in the estrangement that divides all those who still oppose him."
Today, the Dark Lord - Satan - shows his power when there is discord among believers. . .
…among us.
Jesus prays for our oneness because we can be so selfish and competitive.
We can be so demanding about our desires.
We can be so forgetful that God tells us to submit to one another.
We are always to be looking for the opportunity to raise up the other.
We are to possess a commitment to oneness.
ILL Personal Church story
The Trustees and the deacons are going to share about a financial opportunity that is before us as a church family after the service today. But I can tell you, it was discouraging to them when a few (a miniscule minority) accused them of trying to sell the property or to slip a fast one by the congregation, when that was never their intention. In fact, the leadership was very responsible and did the work that was necessary to get enough facts together before putting out the information and the offer that is before us as a church family.
And I must tell you, that I find it very interesting that the opportunity to sell the unused property comes at a time when we are looking to make some overdue improvements.
Please understand the principle Jesus prays for (because it applies to us right now).
We are to desire unity.
So when we presume the worst, and criticize, we hasten death and disunity in the body.
When we encourage, when we praise and cheer, when we lift up, we breathe life and unity into the body.
ILL Unity (S)
“Like a mighty army moves the church of God” may be the blueprint in a familiar hymn, but it has not always been observed. In fact, someone wrote a parody of this particular verse of “Onward, Christian Soldiers,” and it runs like this:
Like a halting caravan
Moves the church of Christ;
We are feebly faltering
Toward our timid tryst.
We are all divided,
Many bodies we,
Kept apart by doctrine
And lack of charity.
Careful, Christian pilgrims!
Walk in doubt and fear,
With the cross of Jesus
Bringing up the rear.
source J. Vernon McGee
But listen to this…
2. When we act with oneness, we truly reflect God’s character.
The Father and Son are in perfect harmony.
God is not divided.
The Trinity works perfectly together.
In the same way, we are to be in perfect harmony, for the unity of believers is designed to impress the world.
In fact, it is an evangelistic necessity.
So, when we get this right, we will be ready for the welcome home.
As God the Father would welcome home the Son, so will we be welcomed by the Son, who has always had our best in mind.
APPLICATION:
ILL Confidence (H)
A man once couldn’t find his luggage at the airport baggage area. So he went to the lost luggage office and told the woman there that his bags never showed up.
She smiled told him not to worry because she was a trained professional and he was in good hands.
"Now," she asked him, "has your plane arrived yet?"
Well, that did not instill much confidence, did it?
ILL Confidence (S)
Jet Blue has a confidence issue as well after the snow and ice storm last week. The snow we had here was ice down there at JFK in New York City, and the bad weather overwhelmed them. Some people were stuck on the tarmac for up to nine hours, going neither up or down, in or out. Now Jet Blue has a confidence problem since they handled the weather crisis so poorly. And they are working hard to get that consumer confidence back.
But, I want to assure you today that…
1. We can have confidence in God’s plan.
As Jesus took His steps to the cross, what looked like a disaster in the eyes of humanity, was really for our benefit.
Jesus was deliberate.
There were no mistakes.
He was going to the cross on purpose to achieve the plan made in the perfect union and mind of the Trinity.
Jesus has your back, so to speak.
And this means that you can depend on Him in every part of your life.
When life is dark and difficult, there is no need to fear.
We can have confidence that Jesus has our best in mind.
This being so…
2. We are to partner with God in fulfilling His desires for us.
In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus ultimately prayed for our success.
He prayed that we would ultimately know Him as He knows us.
Interestingly, if we are going to know what He has for us, we are to be an active participant.
If we are to know His joy and His peace, then we must cooperate with His prayer for us, and live it out to the glory of God.
For Further Study: Romans 12.2; I Corinthians 12.4-6; II Corinthians 3.18, 4.6; Ephesians 4.3-6; Philippians 2.9-11, 3.10; Hebrews 1.3
BENEDICTION:
Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
RESOURCES:
SermonCentral:
Coget, A. Todd Uncommon Unity
Sutherland, Ted The Lord’s Prayer
Books:
Hughes, R. Kent. John: That You May Believe. Preaching the Word. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1999.
Keener, Craig S. The Ivp Bible Background Commentary: New Testament. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993.
Morris, Leon. The Gospel According to John. The New International Commentary on the New Testament, ed. F. F. Bruce. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1977.
Stern, David H. The Jewish New Testament Commentary. Clarksville, MD: Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc., 1992.
Wiersbe, Warren W. The Bible Exposition Commentary: New Testament. Colorado Springs: ChariotVictor Publishing, 1989.
