THE PRAYER OF OUR SAVIOR
John 17
Text- John 17:9
INTRODUCTION
Looking at our text, it is important that we understand what is occurring during this time in the life of Christ as well as what his disciples are about to encounter in their walk. It is important to understand that this is potentially hours or even moments before Christ would be taken by the officers and Pharisees beginning the process of His trial and ultimately, His crucifixion. We must understand that Christ, while entirely willing to be obedient to the will of God and His plan for the salvation of mankind, was 100% human while living on this earth as well as 100% God. Due to this, He was experiencing great grief, worry for His followers, no doubt dread for what was about to occur (Mt 26:39 - And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.)
So by taking a look into the life of Christ and digging into His mind just a little if you’ll allow, we can determine that He was distressed and His concern was for His disciples. In the previous chapter, we can observe as Christ is warning His disciples – who had become His friends (John 15:15 - Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.) of his very soon to come departure from them and His ultimate death.
With these thoughts in mind, let’s dig into the prayer Christ prayer for his disciples that continues to reverberate for us as well.
I. HIS RECOGNITION OF THE FATHER (vs 1-8)
Looking at the prelude of Christ’s prayer, we can quickly observe his honor to God the Father. He recognizes and vocalizes that fact that God has given Him (Christ) all power and the ability to provide eternal life to all who would receive it.
We can also see as Christ requests that God would glorify Him (Christ) as He completes the task He was sent to earth to accomplish. No doubt, during this time or sorrow and possibly even dread that Christ was feeling, He needed the strength of the Father in His life and mind.
We should certainly use this as a model for our prayers as well. Notice how that Christ opens his prayer with honor, recognition and praise to God. Looking at the “Lord’s Prayer”, we see the same model for prayer depicted by Christ – “Our Father, who art in Heaven, Hallowed be thy name”. We should always initiate our prayers with honor, praise and thanksgiving to God.
II. HIS REQUEST FOR SUSTAINMENT (vs 9-14)
Looking at these lines in the prayer of Christ, we see His genuine concern for His children.
As parents, during the times that we are going to be separated from our children, (while initially the break may be very welcomed), we becoming very concerned about their safety. We worry about their wellbeing, are they being taken care of, are they getting hurt, is anyone being mean to them, how is their day going. Same with our spouses. This past week, I came upon an accident that appeared to be fairly severe. Upon approaching the accident, I noticed one vehicle looked exactly like Stacy’s and fear gripped my heart. I got to the car as quickly as I possibly could to reassure myself that a) it’s not her and b) if it is her, that she was ok. The whole time, I was in prayer that it wasn’t her but also praying for whomever was involved. I do pray each morning for the safety of my family and each night as well, but the fact of the matter is, while I am not with them, I am genuinely concerned about their wellbeing.
We see this same mentality in Christ during this portion of His prayer for His followers. He realizes that His time on this earth is nearing its completion as His work is coming to an end and while He will be returning to the Father in Heaven, He expresses His concern about the fact that His believers will be left in this world that is full of sin, sorrow, trouble, worry, heartache…the list goes on and on. It is due to this genuine concern that He had for His disciples – and ultimately us as modern day followers – He ask the Father to sustain us during this time. Note vs 11 – Keep through thine own name those whom thou has given me…
III. HIS REQUEST FOR UNITY AMONG BELIEVERS (vs 11b, 21a)
…that they may be one, as we are. (21)That they may be one…
If there is anything that is of utmost importance in the church, it is UNITY. A body of believers lacking unity will be unable to stand against anything the enemy thrusts at them.
Tonto and the Lone Ranger were riding through a canyon together when all of a sudden both sides were filled with Indian warriors on horses, dressed for battle. The Lone Ranger turned to Tonto and asked, "What are we going to do?" Tonto replied, "What you mean ‘we' Whiteman?"
In a Peanuts cartoon Lucy demanded that Linus change TV channels, threatening him with her fist if he didn't. "What makes you think you can walk right in here and take over?" asks Linus. "These five fingers," says Lucy. "Individually they're nothing but when I curl them together like this into a single unit, they form a weapon that is terrible to behold." "Which channel do you want?" asks Linus. Turning away, he looks at his fingers and says, "Why can't you guys get organized like that?"
Without Unity existing among believers, the powers of Hell will certainly be capable of entering into our churches. Without unity in the family, Satan can wreak havoc in our homes. Without unity between ourselves and God, our life is most assuredly going to be a wreck. We must have a direction connection with one another at all times that is much more than the name above the door – it must be as Christ had a connection with His followers and His Father – we must truly become a family of people working together to make Heaven our home and win as many others to Christ as possible.
IV. HIS REQUEST FOR PROTECTION FROM EVIL (vs 15-17)
Notice that Christ did not ask for God to deliver his followers from the evils of this world – He did not ask for us to escape it altogether – His request was not that evil would never impact our lives; it was that God would simply keep protect us so we could continue the work of Christ.
Look at vs 14 – I have given them thy word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
Christ realizes that as a result of the message of Christ and the fact that we, as Children of God, should never approve sin but rather, be very much against it, that our message would at many times be highly unpopular. As a matter of fact, He realized that due to the hatred people would possess for the message, the life of His followers would indeed be in danger. What He is asking here is that God would simply protect us and sustain our lives as ones free from the corruption of sin so His work would continue.
V. HIS REQUEST FOR OUR SANCTIFICATION & EFFECTIVENESS (vs17-19)
Christ in this portion of His prayer simply asks that His followers be sanctified enabling each to become an effective tool for spreading the gospel.
Oswald Chambers defined Sanctification as this: Sanctification means intense concentration on God's point of view. It means every power of body, soul, and spirit is chained and kept for God's purpose only. It will cause an intense narrowing of all our interests on earth, and an immense broadening of all our interests in God. Are we prepared for God to do all in us that He separated us for? The reason some of us have not entered into the experience of sanctification is that we have not realized its meaning from God's standpoint. Sanctification means being made one with Jesus so that the disposition that ruled Him will rule us. Jesus has prayed that we might be one with Him as He is one with the Father. The one and only characteristic of the Holy Spirit in a person is a strong family likeness to Jesus Christ and freedom from everything that is unlike Him.
There was a story told of a young girl who accepted Christ as her Savior and applied for membership in a local church. "Were you a sinner before you received the Lord Jesus into your Life?" inquired an old deacon. "Yes, sir," she replied. "Well, are you still a sinner?" "To tell you the truth, I feel I'm a greater sinner than ever." "Then what real change have you experienced?" "I don't quite know how to explain it," she said, "except I used to be a sinner running after sin, but now that I am saved I'm a sinner running from sin!" she was received into the fellowship of the church, and she proved by her consistent life that she was truly converted.
Christ’s desire is that His followers would be free from sin, its bondage and capable of being used by God for His purpose.
2 Timothy 2:21: If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
Our hearts desire must be to continue in our growth daily continuing to live as Christ-like as possible.
VI. HIS REQUEST FOR ALL BELIEVERS (vs20)
This verse is a beautiful reminder that Christ was capable of observing us through the expanses of time. His prayer is not only one for the disciples of His day but for all who would accept Him into their lives until the end of time.
Jer 1:5a - Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee…
At the moment that Christ was speaking these words, he was perfectly capable of looking through time to see each of us here at Grace Baptist Church in Garrison, KY – a place most people in the state, let alone the world, have – and will – never heard of to see who would be sitting in here today. Because of that, His prayer sounds loudly before God even today for you and I.
VII. HIS REQUEST FOR US TO BE WITH HIM FOREVER (vs 24)
Christ starts his conclusion of this prayer with one of the most beautiful requests ever spoken – that one day we would all be with Him beholding His glory.
1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
Christ desired that one day, we could all together stand in unison around the throne room of Heaven beholding the Glory of the Son and standing in the presence of God Himself for all of eternity.
Charles L. Allen in Home Fires
A little girl was taking an evening walk with her father. Wonderingly, she looked up at the stars and exclaimed; "Oh, Daddy, if the wrong side of heaven is so beautiful, what must the right side be!"
CONCLUSION
The words of a beautiful hymn by Jim Hill is the best way I know to conclude this message:
There is coming a day, When no heart aches shall come, No more clouds in the sky, No more tears to dim the eye, All is peace forever more, On that happy golden shore, What a day, glorious day that will be.
What a day that will be, When my Jesus I shall see, And I look upon His face, The One who saved me by His grace; When He takes me by the hand, And leads me through the Promised Land, What a day, glorious day that will be.
There’ll be no sorrow there, No more burdens to bear, No more sickness, no pain, No more parting over there; And forever I will be, With the One who died for me, What a day, glorious day that will be.
It’s because of the prayer of our Savior we are able to sing these words today. Aren’t you thankful you have a savior who prayed for you?
