Giving Thanks: Part One

Living for the Glory of God

John 17:1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. 4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. 5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

Introduction

Our text for today is considered by most as the “High Priestly” prayer of Jesus. This is the longest recorded prayer of Jesus Christ. Chronologically, this prayer was between the “Last Supper” and His betrayal by Judas in the Garden of Gethsemane. It is a prayer for Himself (v 5), His disciples (vv. 6-19), and future disciples (vv.20-26).

Recorded prayers of Jesus:

· Mt 6: (Jesus’ instruction for Prayer)

· Mt 11:25-26 (Jesus’ prayer of thanks)

· Jn 12:27-28 (Jesus’ prayer to glorify God’s name in his death)

· Jn 11:41-42 (Jesus’ prayer before raising Lazarus)

Throughout this prayer, believers are reminded of their position with Christ and the Father.

· We Have the Same Life as Christ Has (v. 2).

· We Have the Same Security as Christ Has (v. 11).

· We Have the Same Hostility from the World as Christ Has (vv. 14, 16).

· We Have the Same Mission as Christ Has (v. 18).

· We Have the Same Unity as Christ Has with the Father (vv. 21–22).

· We Have the Same Glory as Christ Has with the Father (v. 22).

· We Have the Same Love as Christ Has from the Father (v. 23).

We are privileged to have the reference of how our relationship with the Father should be by patterning our lives after Jesus’ relationship to the Father.

If we will be to Jesus what Jesus is to the Father, then Jesus will be to us what the Father is to Jesus.

The Hour Has Come

These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee

We are not told the “position” of Jesus during this prayer. Was Jesus sitting, bowing, kneeling, standing, walking, or prostrate? What we are told is a connection made between Jesus and the Father in His approach to the Father as He “lifted up his eyes to heaven.” Lifting ones eyes to heaven is a customary posture in prayer (Ps 123:1; Mk 7:34; Lk 18:13)

“Father, the hour is come…”

The hour has finally arrived of His betrayal and death. This is part of the plan of salvation. However, I do not think that this only refers to His betrayal and death, but also to other acts that would glorify the Father. Two such events would be His resurrection and ascension.

“…glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee.”

This statement is a powerful truth. It would be heresy for Jesus to desire that the Father “glorify” Him, unless He is deity. The LORD expressly denied that His name or glory would be given to anyone else.

Isaiah 42:8 I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

Isaiah 48:11 For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.

I am reminded of the Apostle John’s daring statement in the first chapter of his Gospel.

John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.

The Father has given the power of eternal life to His son. It is Jesus that wields the ultimate power of “life or death.” Jesus’ gift to the world was given on the day of His crucifixion. His sacrificial death is the only acceptable penalty of sin by the Father.

In His human flesh, Jesus acknowledges the truth. Only He can award eternal life.

3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

This is a curious statement by the Lord Jesus. He has acknowledged that the Father gave Him the power over the grave to grant eternal life and now Jesus defines what eternal life is. Eternal life is so that “we” might know the Father and His Son that He sent.

The Father gave Him the power over the grave to grant eternal life and now Jesus defines what eternal life is. Eternal life is so that “we” might know the Father and His Son that He sent.

4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

In being obedient unto the Father in carrying out “the Father’s business” (Lk 2:49), Jesus has glorified the Father in every act, deed, and miracle. Jesus has finished the work the Father assigned Him to do and there is only one box to be checked on Jesus’ “To Do” list.

5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

What a beautiful moment is captured by the Apostle John between the Father and the Son. Jesus desires to take off the cloak of humanity, Emmanuel, and return to the presence of the Father. Jesus longs to be reunited with the Father as it was before He came to the earth.

Conclusion

Jesus Lived by Divine Plan (v. 1).

When Jesus said, “Father, the hour is come,” He was tapping into a current of thought about His “hour” seen repeatedly in John’s Gospel.

Nothing Should Distract You (John 2:4).

In John 2:4, Jesus told His mother, “My hour has not yet come.” It wasn’t a rebuke or a refusal to deal with the problem at hand. But Jesus was saying, “The time for Me to be submissive to the authority of man is not here yet, though I will do what you asked right now.” Not even a marriage could distract Him. Most of us start out to accomplish something, then things come along; before we know it, the goal gets lost. When you have God’s purpose in your mind, nothing can distract you.

Nothing Should Disappoint You (John 16:32).

Jesus said, “The hour is coming … that you will be scattered.… Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.” Sometimes you feel you’re the only one who understands what God wants you to do. But you cannot be disappointed.

Jesus Lived by Divine Purpose (v. 2).

His purpose was to give eternal life for all given Him by the Father. John 17 speaks seven times of our having been given to Him by the Father. The love-gift of God to the world is Christ, and the love-gift of Christ to the Father are Christians. The pressure never got in His way because His mind was fixed on the goal. Don’t get caught up in side issues. Keep your mind fixed on what God has ordained for you.

Jesus Lived by Divine Power (v. 2).

The power to accomplish His purpose was delegated to Him from the Father. All authority was given to Him, even as He sends us out as His disciple-makers (see v. 28). Are you bold and courageous enough to find out what God wants you to do? Have you a purpose clearly in mind? Are you willing to submit that purpose to the empowering of the Holy Spirit and then stay on schedule to see that done? Some of you young people are in college. You may get discouraged and want to quit. God says, “Here is My plan and purpose for you. You’d better stay on schedule, My friends.” God has that purpose fixed for you out there. He wants you to accomplish it. Stay on schedule. [1]

[1] Robert J. Morgan, Nelson’s Annual Preacher’s Sourcebook, 2008 Edition. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2007), 328–330.