John 17:1–26

Review…

• John 13:1- 14:31 – The three commands – the three promises…
• John 15:1-27 – Connected to Jesus / Friendship with God…
  • Having left the upper room – Jesus continued to teach the disciples…
  • Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own – so we can do nothing apart from Jesus!
  • As we abide is Jesus – He no longer calls us servants – He calls us friends…
  • John 16:1-15 – Time to grow up…
  • Jesus had much more He wanted to teach the disciples – but they could not handle it…
  • And the Spirit would help them to grow so they could take the meat of the Word!
  • John 16:16-33– Ask questions…
  • Jesus told the disciples He was going away – but He would be back soon…
    • The disciples did not understand what Jesus was talking about – but were afraid to ask
    • Jesus explained it to them – He was going to be crucified – but would be resurrected!
  • When they asked God for anything – they were to ask in Jesus name…
    • Since they were asking in the authority of the name of Jesus – God would answer!
    • The disciples were about to be scattered – at the Garden of Gethsemane…
    • In this world they would have troubles – but Jesus had overcome the world!

The Lord’s Prayer… (4 things)

• 1^st – The concluding prayer… vs. 1-5
  • 1^st – Jesus – having finished His teaching – closes in prayer… vs. 1
    • We often refer to Matthew 6:9 as the Lord’s Prayer – ‘Our Father who art in heaven…’
    • But that was not Jesus praying – it was Jesus teaching us how to pray…
    • Jesus now closes His teaching in what can better be described as the ‘Lord’s Prayer’…
    • In fact this is the only recorded prayer between Jesus and the Father in the Bible…
    • It is kind of like God is talking to Himself – and we get to listen in!
    • Jesus made a habit of prayer – He was always talking to the Father…
    • In all 4 Gospels – Matthew 14:23 / Mark 6:46 / Luke 6:12 / and John 17…
      • To Jesus prayer was not a ritual – it was fellowship between Him and the Father!
      • Often people ‘pray’ – reciting some words to God once or twice a day…
      • Rarely do they take the time in prayer to listen – it is a one-way conversation…
      • It makes you wonder – if no one is answering – is anyone listening – Luke 18:11
    • Prayer is not a ritual – it should be a conversation…
      • God desires to hear from us – build a relationship with His kids…
      • Prayer should be a conversation with our Father in heaven…
      • How can we have a relationship with God – if we never talk to Him…
      • When we have a good day / when we have a hard day / when things go right…
      • When we do not know what to do next – find a quiet place and pray…
      • Get to know the Lord – and take the time to listening to His answer!
      • Because God does not just call us to pray – God calls us to be a people of prayer…
      • I Thessalonians 5:17 – “Pray without ceasing…”
  • 2^nd – Jesus opened by asking the Father to Glorify the Son… vs. 2-3…
    • Jesus’ hour had come – it was time for Him to complete the work He came to do…
    • It was time for Jesus to go to the cross and give His life for the sins of the world…
    • And He had the authority to give eternal life to all the Father gave to Him…
    • This is eternal life – to know the Father – and Jesus whom He sent!
    • When we talk about eternal life – we tend to only think about being saved from hell…
    • But eternal life – true life – begin the moment we believe in Jesus Christ!
    • God created us with a desire to have a loving relationship with Him…
    • There is a hole in every man’s heart – left there by God – which only He can fill…
    • Many spend their whole lives in vain trying to fill that hole with worldly things…
    • Money – relationships – family – alcohol – drugs – only to be satisfied for a moment…
    • But only Jesus can satisfy the desire of our heart – we will only be content in Him!
    • God has opened up the way for anyone to have this relationship with Him…
    • But God will not force us to accept Him – we have to choose Eternal life!
  • 3^rd – Jesus had finished the work… vs. 4-5
    • Jesus had lived a perfect life – and would be the perfect sacrifice for sin…
    • But Jesus longed to be back with the Father in heaven…
    • Return to His rightful place in Glory – where He had been before the world existed!
    • God knows all things – He sees the end from the beginning…
    • Jesus knew from the beginning He had to die for the sins of men…
    • The Lamb of God was slain before the foundations of the World – Revelation 13:8
    • Jesus was willing to step out of eternity – to become a man and die…
    • So that we could be forgiven – we could spend eternity with Him in heaven!
• 2^nd – Prayer for the disciples… vs. 6-10
  • 1^st – Jesus prayed for the disciples because they believed… vs. 6-8
    • The disciples were in the world – but they belonged to the Father in heaven…
    • The Father gave them to Jesus – and Jesus taught them about the Father…
    • And the disciples had kept the Word that Jesus had given to them…
    • Not that they were perfect – or never had any doubts – but they did not walk away!
    • There are going to be people who come to church for a while – then leave…
    • Maybe because of a ‘hardship’ / upset because of something the Bible says…
    • Or because they were looking for something other than a relationship with God…
    • But by walking away it only proves they were never serious about following Jesus!
    • I John 2:19 – “These people left our churches, but they never really belonged with us; otherwise they would have stayed with us. When they left, it proved that…”
    • The disciples believed Jesus was the Messiah – and that He came from the Father!
    • And they understood God never promised of an easy life – He promised eternal life…
    • There are going to be days when we struggle – when life is just plain hard…
    • We might even have doubts – question our faith /or even question God…
    • But if we want to go to heaven – where else can we go – but to Jesus!
  • 2^nd – Jesus sent the disciples into the world… vs. 9-10
    • Jesus died for the whole world – John 3:16 – but He did not pray for the world.…
    • He prayed for the disciples God had given to Him out of the world…
    • He prayed for them – because He was going to send them back into the world…
    • That just as the Father sent Jesus to reveal the Father to the Disciples…
    • The Disciples would go out to reveal Jesus to the whole world!
• 3^rd – Prayer for safety… vs. 11-19
  • 1^st – Jesus was no longer going to be in the world… vs. 11-13
    • Jesus was going to be with the Father – but the disciples would be left behind…
    • Up till then Jesus had kept them safe – and had only lost the one…
    • Judas – who had betrayed and turned against Jesus – in fulfillment of Scripture…
    • Jesus prayed that the Father would continue to keep the safe…
    • Until the day when they would also come to heaven and be with the Father and Son!
    • Then the disciples would be filled with Joy – in the presence of the Lord!
    • Too often I see Christians – who ‘stroll’ into the places they should not be…
    • Like Eve in Eden – God said not to eat the fruit of the tree – so why was she near it
    • If Eve had stayed close to the Lord and far from temptation – no problems!
    • When we get too close to the world – we tend to be too far from Jesus…
    • We get in trouble – fall into sin – and cannot figure out what went wrong…
    • The safest place we can possibly be – is as close to Jesus as we can possibly get!
  • 2^nd – The disciples were not to be of this world… vs. 14-16
    • Jesus is not of this world – and choose the disciples – so they were not of this world…
    • He gave His word to them – so that they could become the children of God…
    • But because the disciples were no longer of this world – the world hated them!
    • Many years ago I attended a football game in a large stadium – in the winter…
    • There were thousands of people all cheering for the home team…
    • But there were two men who were loudly cheering for the visiting team…
    • First one / then two / then fifty snowballs came flying at them from all directions…
    • I am sure these were nice men – their only ‘sin’ was cheering for the ‘wrong team’!
    • If we did the things the world does – they would embrace us / love us…
    • But because belong to Jesus – we are hated – we are not on the ‘world’s team’!
    • Jesus was not praying for God to take the disciples out of the world…
    • He was praying for God to keep them safe in the world from the evil one!
      • I Peter 5:8 – “Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour.”
      • Satan is smart – he knows he cannot directly come against God’s people…
      • Instead he tries to get us to compromise our walk with the Lord…
      • So he tries to trip us up with sin – get us to walk away from the protection of God…
      • But when we cling to Jesus there is nothing that can come against us – Romans 8:31
      • Satan can make a lot of noise – but he becomes like a lion without teeth!
    • With all the dangers sin / satan – why does God leave us in the world…
      • Had Jesus taken the disciples directly to heaven – no one to spread the Gospel…
      • But in order to be a light to the world – the disciples had to be apart from the world!
      • II Corinthians 6:17 – “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord.”
      • We are called to live in this world – but we are not to be apart of this world…
      • We are called to be a light – example – to those who are around us!
      • Matthew 5:14 – “You are the light of the world….”
      • If we look and act just like the world around us – if we conform to the world…
      • Then how can we be a light or example to the world of Jesus Christ…
      • Therefore live in the world – but do not be a part of the world – live for Jesus!
  • 3^rd – Pure and Holy through the Word… vs. 17-19
    • The Word of God is Truth defined…
    • God has given us His Word / Truth so that we can be safe in a world filled with lies…
    • Satan has put a lot of lies in the world to keep people from seeing Jesus…
    • Countless false religions – Islam / Hinduism / Buddhism…
    • People burdened down by superstitions – things they imagine in their mind…
    • Everyone of them with only one purpose – meant to keep men from heaven!
    • And people are bound to these lies – so long as satan can keep them from the Word!
    • It is through the power of the Word – we can change the mind of the misled…
    • We can open their eyes – show them they have been deceived by lies!
    • Jesus sends us out into the world – to share the Truth…
    • That is why it is so important for us to study our Bibles – II Timothy 2:15 …
    • Jesus Word is the only Truth – it is how we know a lie from the Truth!
    • If we are unsure ourselves about the Truth of Word of God…
    • We are not going to be very effective in sharing that Truth with others…
    • But as we grow in our faith – are strengthened by reading God’s Word…
    • We will have the answer when others question us – tell them the Truth of Jesus!
    • I Peter 3:15 – “If you are asked about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it.”
• 4^th – Prayer for unity… vs. 20-26
  • 1^st – Jesus prayer was not just for the disciples… vs. 20
    • The disciples would go out and tell others about Jesus – and they would believe…
    • Meaning Jesus is also praying for you and me!
  • 2^nd – Jesus prayed we would have unity… vs. 21-23
    • We are to be one – just as the Father and Son are one!
    • Now that does not mean we do not have differences of opinion…
    • We do not all have to like the same color / or wear the same clothes (Mormons)…
    • But we are to agree on the essential doctrines of the Bible – salvation in Jesus!
    • On non-essential issues – all believers are to agree – to disagree / not cause division…
    • The triune nature of God / salvation only through the cross of Jesus – absolute!
    • Church on Sundays / praise songs or hymns / shoes or slippers – agree to disagree…
    • So that the world will know…
    • When there is unity in the church – the world sees Jesus / God’s love in us…
    • If you walked into a church – and the ‘members’ were all complaining…
    • If everyone was arguing / fighting – full of angry words / angry looks…
    • It is a not a place where you would want to stay – or learn about Jesus!
    • When there is dissention in the church / the church is always fighting…
    • It can break up the unity of the church – ruin the witness of the church…
    • We need love each other – overlooking the little differences we may have…
    • So we can be an example to a world that does not know the Love of Jesus!
  • 3^rd – Jesus prayed we would be with Him… vs. 24-26
    • Jesus closed His prayer with His greatest desire – for us to be with Him in Heaven…
    • We have work to do in the meanwhile – sharing Jesus with the lost…
    • But if we endure to the end – we will find He is there waiting for us with open arms…
    • Matthew 25:23 – “Well done, good and faithful servant; Enter into the joy of your Lord.”