The Real Lord’s Prayer
John 17:11-19
March 17, 2013
At the end of an interview, the person from human resources asked an engineering graduate, “What starting salary were you looking for?”
The engineer excitedly said, “In the neighborhood of $125,000 a year, plus a benefit package.”
The interviewer added, “Well, what would you say to a package of 5 weeks vacation, 14 paid holidays, full medical and dental, a company matching retirement fund to 25% of salary, and a new company car every year?”
The Engineers eyes were wide open as he shouted, “Wow! Are you kidding?”
And the interviewer matter of factly said, “Yeah, but you started it.”
Have you ever heard someone make a statement that just seemed absolutely ridiculous? Maybe it was a prediction or a guarantee about something. Kind of like the world was going to end on December 12, 2012. Or the threat of Y2K, remember that scare? Maybe it’s saying the Cubs will win in 2013!
What about the statement from Jesus in His prayer in John 17, when Jesus had the audacity to make the prayer request, “that the disciples may have the full measure of my joy within them.”
How can He make that statement? Think about what Jesus went through. The pain, the suffering, the rejection, the abandonment, the beating, the frustration, the hatred. I don’t get it? Do you? How can Jesus make the statement that He wanted the full measure of His joy to be within the disciples?
That’s a pretty amazing and profound statement
For the past 2 weeks, we’ve been looking at the prayer Jesus prayed the night He was betrayed and arrested. He prayed for Himself, the disciples and us. Last week we started looking at the prayer for the disciples and today we’ll finish it. Let’s look at John 17:11-19 ~
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.
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, 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.
There’s a common theme running through this passage. Jesus knows the disciples believe in Him, they trust Him, even though they still don’t get it. They’re going to prove their faithfulness after the resurrection by their commitment and allegiance to Jesus. They won’t back down to the Roman and Jewish authorities. They stand firm and convinced in their faith. Jesus knows what’s coming for Him and what’s coming for them.
It’s not going to be an easy trip. There are going to be roadblocks, detours, sinkholes, danger, assassins, lying, deceit, and more. It sounds like I’m talking about Black Ops 3, or some other video game. But that was the reality for the disciples. Their leader had protected them, but now it was time to journey out on their own. He wouldn’t be with them, and yet, He would, but they still didn’t get that either! Which in all honesty is part of the beauty and power of the Gospel story and the story of the disciples.
So, Jesus prays, 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.
Jesus knows the reality of what will happen, He will remain in the world no longer. He will be going to the cross, He will die, but He will ultimately join the Father in heaven.
While alive, Jesus was able to help the disciples through the difficult moments. He knew how to get out of situations which looked hopeless. He had some of those James Bond or Jason Bourne abilities to always get away, until it was time not to get away. Now the disciples won’t have Jesus with them. So, He prays, not just to the Father, but this is the only time He prays to the HOLY Father. This captures God’s power and tenderness. It balances the idea of ultimate purity with intimate paternity. He is mighty and majestic and He is also my daddy.
Holy Father, protect them, keep them safe. Not by their power, but through your power, through the mightiest name . . . YOUR NAME. Use your name, it will not only scare, but will defeat the enemy.
Not only that, Jesus wants the disciples protected so that they may be one, as we are one. Jesus has kept his followers safe and secure and now that He’s returning to His glory in heaven Jesus is handing them back to the Father for safekeeping. Jesus knew that with His departure satan would attack the disciples. They always seemed vulnerable. Now they would especially be open to attack. So, now would be the time to strike. God’s name represents His nature, and so Jesus knows with confidence the Father will protect them. The word to “Protect” literally means “to guard,” and more specifically means by guarding to cause one to escape in safety out of the power and assaults of satan. That’s cool!
Notice that the heart of Jesus is for harmony and unity among the disciples. When Jesus says, just as we are One. He’s referring to the unity of the Trinity. You see, the Trinity, the picture of Father, Son and Holy Spirit, is the model for unity between brothers and sisters in Christ. We’re designed to function as a community of unity, not in isolation or bitterness with one another. Jesus knew when the pressure mounted and the disciples were meeting, the goal was unity. Be one body, one group, because of who Christ was and is in their lives.
Remember the words from Peter in 1 Peter 5, when he wrote ~ 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.
Persecution and suffering were constants in the early church. Peter knew that and experienced it, ultimately dying a martyrs death. James would add, 7 Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and He will come near to you. So, the command from Peter and James remains the same today, resist the devil, run from the devil, draw nearer to God and be firm in your faith! That’s great wisdom to hold onto.
Now, Jesus makes this amazing request ~ 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.
He wants you to be satisfied. Because we are secure in our salvation, we can and should experience satisfaction. Jesus isn’t talking about us having happiness or experiencing just a little bit of joy once-in-awhile but instead He wants us to experience the FULL MEASURE of HIS JOY. Wow!
Can you imagine that? Can you imagine in spite of all the bad around us, in spite of all the things that don’t go our way, in spite of others, and in spite of ourselves, Jesus tells us He wants us to have the FULL MEASURE OF HIS JOY within us.
That’s difficult to comprehend, isn’t it? The expression in Greek gives a literal definition of ~ to make complete in every particular situation; to render perfect.
It’s the idea of our being completely full, filled to overflowing. Filled like we just got up from Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas dinner and Easter dinner combined. It’s the image that we are 100% full, complete and satisfied.
It’s not about walking around with a fake smile on our faces. It’s about a real experience of joy in our lives. It’s because of our relationship with Christ. It’s the John 10:10 life Jesus offers us ~ to give us the super abundant life. Eugene Peterson calls it “living a more and better life than we ever dreamed of. That’s the offer from Jesus.
So, we don’t have to manufacture joy on our own. Our job is to abide in Christ and to allow the full measure of His joy to flow through us.
Pastor John Piper said ~ God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him. If your aim is to glorify God, you will do it most by being satisfied in Him.
There are so many more outlandish statements from Jesus. Maybe it would make a good sermon series some time. Experiencing the full measure of His joy, even in the midst of persecution and problems is not always easy. But Jesus reminds us ~ not only did He pray to the Holy Father, but now He’s with the Holy Father.
He seeks to help us, guide us and lead us. It’s not always easy, but God promises us He will always, always be with us, wherever we go, whatever we do. He won’t abandon us. He’ll be our God, and we are His children.
