Essentials Of The Faith / Sunday Morning Sermon Series / John

John 17:1-5 Part 1 07/30/06

Message: ‘It’s all about you, Lord’                    Text: John 17:1-5

Introduction: When you’re worried about how a test your doctor did will come out, when you’re anxious over whether you will be on this round of lay-offs at work, when you teenage child is experimenting with life outside the church, isn’t it comforting to know that you’re being prayer for by someone in the church?

And wouldn’t you agree that special happen in your heart when someone prays for you… in your presence? There’s a heightened sense of warmth, of comfort, of intimacy between you and the one praying for you. Am I right? It’s like you’re knocking on heavens door…together.

Praying together and for one another is one of the best ways to develop and nurture relationships and a sure way to promote unity in the church.

Speaking of praying for one another, do you realize that Jesus is here, right now, praying for you?

Read: Rom. 8:34 Christ Jesus, who died, more than that, who was raised to life, is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

ILL: Robert McCheyne once said ‘If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million enemies. Yet, distance makes no difference. He is praying for me.’ (Derek Menalson)

Close your eyes. I want you to imagine Jesus is sitting next to you, praying for you. Listen to what he brings to God the Father on your behalf.

Read: John 17

Open your eyes. Anyone…How does that make you feel? Pretty special? Loved? Safe? Hopeful? ...all of the above?

Transition: Turn in your Bibles to John 17:1 (pg. 825 in the Bible under the chair in front of you)

We’ll examine this great high priestly prayer of our Lord, over the next few weeks. We’ll walk slowly and with an open heart to experience all that God has for us. Through Jesus’ prayer we enter the Holy of Holies of Scripture.

1. John 17:1a              Prayer’s Direction

Read: John 17:1a  ‘After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed’

Short, and rather unspectacular. Not much here…or is there?

Let me remind you of the sequence of events leading up to Jesus’ prayer.

·       Jesus and his disciples were in the Upper Room and Jesus taught them about serving one another.

·       As they left the Upper Room and were making their way to the Mount of Olives Jesus taught them about remaining in him when the world pressures them to run away from him.

·       As they continued on their way Jesus taught them about the coming Holy Spirit who will be with them in times of persecution, who will convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment and who will teach them all they need to know about the will of God.

·       As they approached the Mount of Olives, Jesus taught them that Christian joy often comes through the valley of sorrow and grief.

·       Finally, Jesus taught them about prayer, bringing all their requests to the Father and he will faithfully hear and answer their requests made in Jesus’ name and in accordance with his will.

It’s here. At this point in time, that we read the first words of John 17. ‘After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed.’

I can just imagine what happened as the disciples were walking. Eventually, Andrew notices that Jesus isn’t teaching anymore, he’s praying. He hits Peter and says be quite, the Master is praying.

We too must quiet our hearts so we can discover the truths embedded in the text and find hope and comfort in Jesus’ prayer.

First, Jesus prayed conversationally. Foster calls it ‘simple prayer’.

·       This kind of prayer is very casual.

·       It sounds like you’re talking to a friend that you know well.

·       It doesn’t use flowery language or ‘spiritual words’.

·       It’s normal conversation.

That’s why no one should feel self-conscious about praying out loud. Just talk to Jesus like you would talk to a friend, because he is. It’s that simple.

Second, Jesus is praying out loud. He wants his disciples to hear what he’s praying. Why?

Because it would be of great comfort and encouragement to them.

·       That’s one of the reasons why we pray out loud here at CBC. My prayer might bring comfort and encouragement to you, your prayer might do the same for me and others present.

Third, Jesus prays with his eyes open and raised to the heavens. That was the normal position for prayer in Jesus’ day. Heads bowed and eyes closed didn’t come till very much later in the history of the church and I believe it was intended to keep fidgeting children quiet during prayer.

·       While it’s true that God is more concerned with the attitude of the heart than the position of the body in prayer, countless great men and women of the faith throughout history have learned the significance of the body in prayer and how it strengthens the focus of the heart.

·       Raising hands,  looking to the heavens with eyes open, kneeling or even laying stretched out on the ground during prayer is not excessive or over emotional, they can be very biblically sound postures for prayer.

Transition: Wow! So much and only 1/3 into the first verse. But stay with me, it gets even better.

2. John 17:1b              Experience Intimacy

Read: John 17:1b ‘Father’

One word, come on pastor, lets get going. Yes, one word, but oh what a wonderful word.

Father…Father. Say it with me…Father. Jesus practiced in prayer what he taught his disciples. Anyone know what I am referring to? Yes, the Disciples Prayer, often called the Lord’s Prayer. It begins with ‘Our Father’.

We have become so used to starting our prayers this way but that wasn’t so in Jesus’ time. The Jews were very formal with God in prayer, and rarely called God, Father…but it was normal practice for Jesus. The word ‘father’ is one of endearment, showing intimacy.

ILL: Pastor and Scholar Matthew Henry said that in prayer we come closer to God than at any other time. And it’s what God wants. He wants us close to him.

This is a wonderful part of the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. No longer do we need to approach God formally as strangers with fear and trembling. We can now approach him as loving father, as his beloved children. Faith in Jesus makes it possible for us to enjoy the same kind of intimacy Jesus shared with God the Father. How can I say that? Because God’s Word says it.

Read: Gal 4:4-6  But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.”

Full rights as sons/daughters of God, just like Jesus, with the right, the privilege to cry out ‘Abba Father’, or  ‘daddy’. Intimacy with God the Father through faith in Jesus his son. All that in one word… truly wonderful!

Transition: With such an intimate relationship with the Father, that’s why Jesus told his disciples they could ask anything of the Father, in his name, and he will hear and answer. And Jesus will do just that, ask what no one has ever asked before.

3. John 17:1c              Give Glory

Read: John 17:1c  ‘the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.’

Jesus death was approaching quickly, the one who will betray him was probably on the way to the Garden with the guards. What was Jesus’ primary concern? To glorify God in his death. How do I know that? Because scholars tell us the phrase ‘the time has come’ refers to his impending death on the cross.’

Jesus lived out what the apostle Paul wrote in 1 Cor. 10:31.

Read: 1 Cor. 10:31 ‘So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.’

…even die a horrible death on the cross.

As Jesus approached the cross, he had no doubt about his relationship with the Father. The intimacy between Father and Son brought great comfort and encouragement to Jesus as he faced death.

The experience of intimacy with the Father can also help us in our times of need. Let there be no doubt about your relationship of intimacy, love and grace with God the Father. Talk to him, just as Jesus prayed to the Father, we have the same privilege.

What does Jesus pray for? To be glorified. To glorify means ‘to reveal that which is hidden’.

Read: John 1:14 ‘The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father full of grace and truth’

What glory did God reveal in Jesus? ‘grace and truth’

God’s hidden inner qualities of grace and truth were glorified, were revealed, in Jesus.

Jesus asks the Father to glorify him in his death. He is asking that God the Father would reveal something through his death on the cross. What is the glory of the cross? What does he want revealed? Salvation!

Read: John 12:32 Jesus said ‘But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.’

God will be glorified through the Son’s death because salvation will come to all who believe.

Conclusion

·       Does your life give glory to God?

·       Does how you live reveal something hidden to others about who God is?

·       Can you honestly say ‘Lord, no matter what happens to me, whether I live or die, whether I am treated fairly or unfairly, whether I endure hardship or comfort, whether I have sufficient wealth or live day to day, Lord, be glorified in my life?’

If we were honest with ourselves and with God we would have to admit that the thing that most often motivates us is a desire to glorify ourselves...to let people know more about how great we are.

We want praise from others, we want recognition for our efforts…but Jesus’ example is to glorify God, for God to get the praise and recognition for his efforts in and through us.

To faithfully and successfully navigate the Christian life, make glorifying God the primary motivational factor in your life. By making Jesus the most important person in your life.