Essentials Of The Faith / Sunday Morning Sermon Series / John
John 17:1-5 Part 2 08/06/06
Message: ‘It’s all about you, Lord’ pt.2
Text: John 17:1-5 pt1
Introduction: When Christian Herter was governor of Massachusetts in the 1930s, he was running hard for a second term in office. One day, after a busy morning of campaigning (and no lunch), he arrived at a church cookout. It was late afternoon and Herter was famished. As he moved down the serving line, he held out his plate to the woman serving chicken. She put a piece on his plate and turned to the next person in line. "Excuse me," the Governor said, "do you mind if I have another piece of chicken?" "Sorry," the woman told him. "I’m supposed to give only one piece of chicken to each person." "But I’m famished," the governor said. "Sorry," the woman said again. "Only one to a customer." At that point, the governor decided to throw some weight around… "Do you know who I am?" he said. "I am the governor of Massachusetts." "Do you know who I am?" the woman said. "I’m the lady in charge of the chicken. Move along, mister." (Robert Leroe)
We don’t like authority much do we? We don’t like someone else telling us
what to do, whether it’s in our family, in our workplace or even in our
church. Like it or not, we live in a society where authority exists and we
must submit to it or deal with the consequences.
Review: We are in John 17:1-5, Jesus’ great high priestly prayer. As I said last week, through this prayer we get to enter the Holy of Holies of Scripture, we get to hear a conversation, a prayer, between God the Father and God the Son.
What an honor and privilege…but also what a responsibility. For once we hear, we are forever responsible.
· Last week we heard that prayer is a simple conversation with God
· We heard that the position of the body, although not essential to prayer, can help focus our conversation with God.
· We heard that addressing God as ‘Father’ in prayer is a privilege of intimacy.
· We heard that Jesus lived and died to bring glory to God. That glory means ‘to reveal that which is hidden.’ The glory of the cross, that which was revealed by Jesus’ death and resurrection was salvation to all who believe.
· We heard that we too are to live our lives to bring glory to God, even if it means not receiving any recognition for ourselves.
Transition: You are responsible before God for what you have heard. Will you be found faithful? Turn to John 17:2 (pg. 825 in the Bible under the chair in front of you). And may God be glorified in our hearing and response to his Word.
4. John 17:2 Ultimate Authority
Read: John 17:2
Police give tickets for running a stop sign. And the ‘chicken lady’ can deny anyone an extra piece of chicken. Why? Because they have the right, the authority to do so, whether you acknowledge it or not. The same is true about Jesus.
It seems odd that Jesus would speak of his authority over humanity just prior to his betrayal, arrest, beating and crucifixion. By outward appearances, Jesus’ enemies have won.
Notice, however, that Jesus doesn’t say God has given him authority over his disciples or all those who will believe in him. He says he has been given authority over all humanity…over everyone…whether they acknowledge it or not.
· The disciple who betrayed him
· The religious leaders who arrested him
· The mob who shouted ‘Crucify him!
· The Roman official who sentenced him
· The soldiers who crucified him
Not one acknowledged Jesus’ authority over them. But, even though they were doing horrible things to Jesus, they were also fulfilling the purposes and prophecies of God.
Jesus was in control, he exercised authyority, even on the cross. No one took his life from him, he willingly gave it up…so that you_____could have forgiveness of sin, so that you____could have eternal life.
In our text Jesus claimed to have authority over all humanity. What was his proof?
· In Matthew 7:29 the people acknowledged that Jesus “taught as One Who had authority.”
· In Matthew 9:6 Jesus claimed the authority to “forgive sins.”
· In Matthew 28 Jesus told His followers to “Go into all the world and make disciples of all nations.” They might have responded, “What gives you the right to tell us what to do and where to go?” But notice Jesus prefaced His charge by saying, “All authority in Heaven and on earth has been given to Me.”
· Jesus’ life and resurrection from the dead proved his authority.
Still, people then and now reject Jesus’ authority. But that doesn’t change the fact that they are still accountable to him.
· Reject the Law of gravity by jumping out of an airplane w/o a parachute and you will die
· Reject Jesus’ authority and you will die in your sins…no forgiveness, no heaven.
Transition: That’s the bad news, the Good News is that Jesus has the authority to give eternal life.
5. John 17:3 Eternal Life
Read: John 17:3
Question: What is eternal life? Not how do you get it, what is it?
Eternal life in it’s most basis sense is not heaven…because we know from Scripture that eternal life begins at the moment we ask Jesus into our hearts…hopefully heaven is still a ways off.
What is eternal life? It’s knowing God and his Son Jesus. That’s why eternal life begins now…because you can know God and his Son, Jesus, right now, by faith.
· The word ‘know’ here in the Greek is experiential knowledge gained through relationship as opposed to intellectual knowledge gained through books.
· It is the highest blessing any creature can experience…to intimately know his/her creator.
Transition: Yes, eternal life is spending forever in heaven when you die. But before that becomes a reality, you start your relationship with God through faith in Jesus and you begin your journey to get to know him. Along that journey, God will call you to service, as he did Jesus.
6. John 17:4 Completing the Work
Read: John 17:4
Here we add another definition to the word glory.
· To reveal that which is hidden
· To magnify or give weight, as adding worth to one’s reputation.
There are few things more satisfying than a job done well. Am I right?
Question: What was the work God the Father gave God the Son to do?
· Leave the splendor of heaven
· Live as a man of no stature on earth
· Live in complete obedience to the Father
· Die in complete obedience to the Father
On the cross when Jesus said ‘It is finished’ this is what he meant. He had faithfully completed the work God the Father sent him to do…which was bring salvation to all who will believe in him.
While our salvation is not based on our works but Jesus’ work, we will be held accountable for what God has called us to do.
· When we approach the Father in heaven, will we be able to stand before him and say as Jesus did ‘I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do?’
· Because of your obedience to God, people who see you serve will have a greater appreciation and respect for God. That’s bringing glory to God.
Transition: No matter what God has called us to do, no matter how God has called us to serve, may we all be found faithful.
7. John 17:5 Eternal Existence
Read: John 17:5
Read: Isa 42:8 ‘I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not share my glory with another.’
Jesus is saying that he existed with the Father before the world began. And that he shared glory with God the Father…To do that he is claiming equality with God.
When God the Son journeyed to earth he gave up the glory he had in heaven…people didn’t recognize him as God.
After his resurrection, God the Son returned to God the Father and together with God the Holy Spirit they reign in all glory and majesty. One day, Jesus will return in all his glory and no own will mistake his identity.
Conclusion
Let me leave you with just a few questions for you to think about this afternoon.
· Is prayer a normal activity in your life? Do you talk to God like the friend he is?
· Do you experience the intimacy God the Father wants to share with you?
· Is your life revealing things about God that are hidden to your family, friends, co-workers and neighbors?
· Are you submitting to Jesus’ authority over your life?
· Do you know God? Do you know Jesus? Not just with your head but with your heart? Do you have eternal life?
· Are you faithfully completing the work God gives you to do?
· Is your life of service causing others to think more highly of God?
Read: 1 Peter 4:11 ‘If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.’