John 17:1-26
A Prayer of Jesus
Last week:
John 16:33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.
Glory & Eternal Life
John 17:1 After saying all these things, Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you. 2 For you have given him authority over everyone. He gives eternal life to each one you have given him. 3 And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth. 4 I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 5 Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began.
The whole of John is encapsulated in these verses. The heart of the whole Gospel is found in the introduction of this prayer.
The Disciples
John 17:6 “I have revealed you to the ones you gave me from this world. They were always yours. You gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything I have is a gift from you, 8 for I have passed on to them the message you gave me. They accepted it and know that I came from you, and they believe you sent me.
9 “My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you. 10 All who are mine belong to you, and you have given them to me, so they bring me glory. 11 Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, you have given me your name; now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are. 12 During my time here, I protected them by the power of the name you gave me. I guarded them so that not one was lost, except the one headed for destruction, as the Scriptures foretold.
13 “Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy. 14 I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 15 I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. 16 They do not belong to this world any more than I do. 17 Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. 18 Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. 19 And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.
How can the unholy become separated and be considered Holy?
John 17:17 Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth….19 And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.
Ephesians 2:8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
Part of being in the family is having a purpose and a responsibility…
John 17:18 Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world.
Who’s the “them”? It’s each and every believer. We’re all called to make a difference.
2 Thessalonians 1:5 So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do.
This includes every believer.
Future Believers
John 17:20 “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. 21 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.
22 “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. 23 I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. 24 Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!
That means on the night before the cross, Jesus already had you and me in mind. Everything He promised and prayed for the original disciples He prays for us He goes on to pray for the generations who would come to believe through the disciples’ witness.
For the church to advance in the way Jesus plans, unity and being solely centered on Him is of the uttermost importance.
Jesus is Committed to Keep on Welcoming People Home.
John 17:25 “O righteous Father, the world doesn’t know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me. 26 I have revealed you to them, and I will continue to do so. Then your love for me will be in them, and I will be in them.”
We should be warned by Judas story.
Each and every believer has a God-given mission. Don’t let distractions or social pressure or temptation or empty promises pull you away from your God-given purpose and calling.
Property of Jesus
Go ahead and talk about him because he makes you doubt
Because he has denied himself the things that you can’t live without
Laugh at him behind his back just like the others do
Remind him of what he used to be when he comes walkin’ through
Stop your conversation when he passes on the street
Hope he falls upon himself, oh, won’t that be sweet
Because he can’t be exploited by superstition anymore
Because he can’t be bribed or bought by the things that you adore
He’s the property of Jesus
Resent him to the bone
You got something better?
You’ve got a heart of stone
Property of Jesus (Bob Dylan, 1981)
Eternal Life Starts Now
John 17:3 And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.
Eternal life is not only about infinite time, but relationship. It begins now, the moment you believe in Jesus.
Eternal life is abundant.
John 10:10 I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (NIV)
Eternal life doesn’t begin the day you die—it begins the moment you trust Jesus, and it stretches unbroken into forever.
Determined to Make a Difference
Ephesians 2: 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
It’s essential to keep listening to the truth of His Word, letting the Spirit redefine us and transform our hearts and minds, and walk into every room determined to make a difference. This is how we continue what Jesus started.