The Gospel of John - part 39

As Jesus Prays

preached September 15, 2019

Jesus Prays to the Glory of God

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, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

John 17:1-5

Several commentators suggest that Jesus is praying for Himself in the first few verses. Now, of course He does ask for the Father to glorify Him, but why does He ask such a thing? Is this a ‘Prayer of Jabez’ type attitude, or a precursor to the modern televangelist? Of course not. He asks for the Father to glorify Him, so that He may glorify the Father.

Jesus has spent His whole life glorifying the Father. Now that Jesus’ hour has come, He asks for the Father to glorify Him in his death just as He has been glorified in life. It is recognition that the Father has fulfilled His promises so far, so Jesus asks the Father to continue to do so. Now, of course God is going to continue to fulfill His promises, but it is a form of worship to recognize God’s provision and request that He continue to do what He promises to do. Consider before when Jesus thanked the Father for listening to His prayer before raising Lazarus. Of course Jesus knew the Father was listening, He says the Father always listens, but he makes note of if for his listeners. Consider the context here. Jesus is praying in front of his disciples. He knows the Father will glorify him, just consider the second verse. All authority has been given to Jesus, so He already has been glorified for the purpose of His mission. Jesus is both worshiping the Father for and teaching the disciples what is happening. So how has Jesus glorified the Father?

Jesus has spent His life revealing the One true God in order to give eternal life.

In the Old Testament, ‘knowing God’ meant an experiential knowledge of God. Just knowing the stories or the commandments did not mean a person ‘knew God’. One only knew God when they were transformed to His likeness. Consider Jeremiah 9:23-24:

Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”

Jeremiah says the only boast one can really have is that they know the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth—and by implication if we know the Lord, we would do those as well.

How did Jesus live?

He practiced steadfast love. He loved the tax collecting Zaccheus and Matthew despite their disloyalty to their Jewish neighbors. He loved Mary Magdalene despite her immoral career choices. For every follower of Jesus, there is a story of a person who did not deserve to be loved or known by God, and yet God, who entered into the world as Christ, loved each and every one.

He practiced justice. Consider the woman caught in adultery. Was it justice to let her go? Yes, if you’ll recall, we discussed the various factors in the story that lead to the conclusion the whole process was a travesty of justice. She was the scapegoat for who knows how many guilty parties. Consider the money changers who robbed worshippers through a trade system designed to take advantage of travelers. Jesus tossed the tables and drove out the money-changers with a whip with an Old Testament style of justice.

He practiced righteousness. Not once in His 33 years of life did He sin. Despite the various trials, tests and temptations, Jesus walked with a pure heart, pure motives, and pure actions. He was obedient even unto death.

Now, in verse 5, we see that Jesus is about to return to the Father, and so He asks to be glorified as He was before the world existed. If you remember John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” The Son is eternally begotten by the Father, meaning there never was a time when the Son was ‘not’. He has shared in the glory of the Father because they are both God. But, as Philippians 2:7 states

He emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born into the likeness of man

Though equally Divine, Jesus did not remain in Heaven, He entered the timeline of humanity in order to take on the form of human so that He could do what no other human ever could—He lived a sinless life so that He could be the spotless lamb, the atoning sacrifice needed to pay the penalty of sin.

Eternal life is true knowledge of God by experiencing God’s love, justice, and righteousness.

Jesus prays for His disciples

“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. Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. 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. I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 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. 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. But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 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. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.

John 17:6-19

Verse 6 acts as a transition. Jesus has glorified the Father in His life, and specifically he has manifested the Father’s Name to the disciples. In our modern day we tend to forget the importance of names. Names in the ancient world, especially in Judaism, summed up the character of someone—whether a superficial characteristic, such as Esau, which means ‘hairy’ or ‘rough’ (though it also points to being a huntsman and outdoorsman), or a moral character, such as Jacob meaning 'follower or supplanter’. These names can summarize their story to a degree. For some people, names continue to define the person. My number 2 is a great example. His first name is Hebrew for ‘strong-willed’ or ‘long-lived’, and his second is Germanic for ‘ruler of the house’. We did not intend to curse the child, but we did pick proper names to match his personality.

Now, to return to our passage, we can see what it means that Jesus has manifested the Father’s Name. He has embodied the very being of the Father. If we want to know what God is like, what our Heavenly Father is like, we only have to look to the Son. As Paul writes in Colossians, “He is the image of the invisible God.”

As we come to verse 10, we see the relationship between Father, Son and the disciples. Jesus has passed on everything from the Father to the disciples. This culminates with Jesus saying in verse 10, “All mine are yours, and yours are mine” (Father and Son share in everything) and then “I am glorified in them.” Just as the Son glorifies the Father, the disciples bring glory to the Son.

We bring glory to Christ as His disciples.

The following verses illustrate how we bring Jesus glory. He is praying that these things may happen, so we should not just treat this as a list of to-do’s. These things are the desires of Christ as we follow Him. They are not rules or laws to follow, they are what happens when Christians live to the glory of God and not to themselves.

That they may be one.

I am greatly discouraged at times that the first thing Jesus asks of His people is the one thing that it does not seem like we will ever do. He prays that we will be one. Unfortunately, on this side of heaven, I don’t think that will happen. Between all the denominations with their own traditions, and with all the in-fighting that happens at even the local level, it can be disheartening to say the least. Now, there is not much we can do about the global situation, but there is much we can do here. As a local body of believers, we can encourage one another, build up one another, admonish one another, love one another, and all the other ‘one anothers’ that we find in the New Testament. Fellowship is not just a fun time with dinner and games. It is an active participation in one another’s lives. It is the joining together for the single purpose and mission of Christ. As we draw closer to each other, allowing each other to fulfill Proverb 27:17, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another”, then we will become one. And, hopefully, other congregations will follow suit.

That Christ’s joy is fulfilled in us.

Verse 13 is a reminder of the lesson from the Vine. For those in Christ who are bearing fruit, we share in the joy of the Lord. As we are one, as we abide in the love of Christ, we will have His joy filling us. And, I will say, it is easier to remain in one fellowship when we are all sharing in the joy of the Lord. When someone has strayed from the Vine or has fallen into some temptation, that is when joy is taken and fellowship is broken. Which leads to the next point:

That we are kept from the evil one.

Most people do not like to talk about Satan these days, unless it’s in a scary movie. But the fact remains that he continues to prowl and devour those he can. We have discussed a few times now how Satan is a defeated foe. He only has the power we grant him when we follow into temptation. But, because we are in the world, and he continues to operate in the world for a time, we must be wary to not fall into temptation. We should not be taken out of the world directly, because then who would be left to make disciples? But Jesus does pray that we do not fall into the hands of the evil one. It reminds of how James defines pure religion, “to care for orphans and widows and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

We may not be able to control what others do around us, but we can walk closer to Christ and keep ourselves from being polluted by the evil one. Within these verses is an example. Judas is the ‘Son of destruction’. Though he walked with the disciples, he was not protected because he went the way of destruction. Scripture declared that one would betray Jesus, and Judas fulfilled that declaration. We are told in Scripture that some who look like they belong to Christ will be found out and fall away. We are told false teachers will creep into our midsts in order to lead many astray. We must be diligent in our faith and our study to not be the fulfillment of these passages.

That we are sanctified in the truth.

Verse 16 is a repetition which means we need to pay attention. “They are not of this world, just as I am not of this world.” Christian, remember when you are born again, you are no longer of this world. This world is not your home. This world is passing away. You are not. Before in verse 14, this phrase explains why the world hates us. That is why Christians are persecuted, as we looked at a couple of weeks ago. Here, in 16-17, it is why Jesus prays that we are sanctified in the truth.

Now, what is ‘sanctified’?

It is moving further and further away from sin and closer and closer to Jesus. The same Greek root is used for words translated as ‘sacred’, ‘made holy’, and the like. As we grow in Christ, as we learn and are transformed by His grace, then we become more holy. This is not ‘self-righteousness’, that is sinful and opposite. True holiness is always humble and rarely admits to being as holy as they actually are. Because when we are truly becoming more like Christ and more holy and sanctified, we also become more aware of just how sinful we are. A kind of humorous example is the life of Andrew Fuller. Fuller was a Baptist who spent his life devoted to building the Baptist Missionary Society and writing theological works on the necessity of missions in a time when many held to false views of missions. He was an astounding mind who sought to glorify Christ. But, he admitted his one big flaw—he ate too much. Interestingly, he was actually a wrestler, so he was a fit guy, but he felt like he over-indulged in food at times.

Theologians have traditionally divided salvation into three parts: justification, sanctification, and glorification. We are justified the moment we receive Christ and are regenerated. We are sanctified as we walk with Jesus on this earth. We are sanctified just as Jesus prays here—by the word of truth. When we learn about what God is doing and has done, when we learn what it means to follow Jesus, that knowledge transforms us. We put our feet to action, taking what we learned and putting it into our hearts, and act in faith. That process that is much like physical training transforms us into new creatures that are more like Christ and less like the world. Ultimately, this process ends in our glorification which is when Jesus returns or we die. At the moment we enter our final home, sin’s influence is completely removed, and we are transformed into something no eye has seen nor ear has heard.

In order for us to be sanctified, Jesus says he consecrates Himself. Again, he is referring to the crucifixion event. It is only because Christ went to the cross, paid the price for our sin, that we are able to be sanctified. Without forgiveness of sin, there is no holiness. Thus, for those who have yet to repent and surrender to Christ, there is no hope of becoming like Christ and living with Christ in eternity.

Jesus prays for Future Believers

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 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. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 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. 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. O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. 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.”

John 17:20-26

In this last section Jesus repeats his prayer that we may be one, but adding all those who will believe. When we look at the history of the Church, we can see the disciples did fairly well with acting as one. However, we also see that factions developed very quickly. Paul had to admonish the Corinthian church because they had at least 4 different groups fighting each other. The people who witnessed Jesus and Pentecost spread throughout the Roman world, and some of these began teaching falsehood about who Jesus is. Some may see this as failure for Christians to remain one, however, Jesus told us false teachers would come.

It is better to remember that for every generation and time period where Christians were led astray, there has been an act of the Holy Spirit to draw people back to the Truth of Christ. What discourages me is that not everyone who claims to follow Christ has paid attention to when these course corrections occurred.

Today, we are seeing another course correction. It is an interesting time, because the doctrinal errors that are popping up are either reruns of heretical yesteryear, or they are new ones brought about by liberalism fueled with modernity and post-modernity. Many have already gone astray and the fruits of their error are easy to spot. Anywhere where Scripture is devalued, or even maligned, you will find a group of heretics. However, as I said, course corrections are already underway. The Holy Spirit is raising a new crop of Christians who not only value Scripture as the Word of God, but they are zealous to study theology and ask the deep questions. I may be discouraged by the inability of denominations to cooperate and learn from each other, but I am greatly encouraged by teenagers and young adults who ask the hard questions and want to know more.

But this passage also leaves us with a truth you should highlight. In verse 21 we read:

We must be one in Christ so that the world may know the Truth of Christ.

John has recorded a few ‘so that the world may know’ sayings from Jesus. Here, we must be one so that the world may know. Earlier, we read that we must love one another so that the world may know. John will finish his gospel writing that he wrote all this down so that we may know we have eternal life. If you want to see your loved ones and neighbors come to Christ, they need two things. They need to know the story of Christ, whether they read it from the Bible or you tell them, and they need to see God’s people live out the truth of Christ.

When we are transformed by Christ, then we can point others to Christ and see them transformed as well. But, we cannot expect others to do what we have not done ourselves. What good is it to talk about eternal life when you have not experienced it? What good is it to talk about Christian love and fellowship when we avoid it?

Verse 26 leaves us with a version of the Great Commission. Jesus says he has made the Father’s name known, and He will continue to make it known. As we go about making disciples, Jesus works in us to make the Father known. Why? Because just as the Father loved the Son, and the Son loved the Father, so too does the Son love us, and wants us to abide in that love.

Principles of Prayer

As we conclude, I want to leave you with a few principles that will inform our own prayer life.

First, the goal of our prayers should always be for the glory of the Father.

Notice, even Jesus who is equal to the Father does not posture Himself as equal but as servant. How much more so should we, who are assuredly NOT God, posture ourselves as His servant? Jesus told us to ask for whatever we need, and yes, feel free to ask for a want, but whatever we ask for should be for the glory of the Father. This posture helps with humility and Kingdom thinking. Am I asking for myself, for others, or for God’s glory?

Second, our prayers should move us toward holiness and away from sinfulness.

When we pray, we are reminded who our Father is and where our Home is. Again, it is about posture. If the posture of my heart is to be faithful to my God, then the things of this world will disappear. That is why the hymn says, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus.” Paul tells us to set our minds on heavenly things. If I remember the goal is holiness and heaven, then the temptations and trappings of this world will ease away. They may not disappear, but they will lose power.

Third, our prayers should include the lost.

If it is Jesus’ desire for people to be saved and brought into the heavenly fold, then as His people, we must do our part to make that happen. This includes praying for the lost. When was the last time you prayed for your lost neighbor or family member? Jesus prays for His disciples there, and then proceeds to pray for those future believers. Pray for your children, pray for your neighbor, pray for your co-worker and all those who may just be future believers. No one knows how long it may take someone to surrender their life to Christ, but as we live transformed lives and pray continually for them, one day they just may turn from their sin and follow Christ.