That They May Behold My Glory

John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. 18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. 26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

Introduction

I have longed to share with you this last section of the prayer. In these ten verses I find peace, hope, and assurance. Jesus winds up His prayer to the Father and He includes you and me today if you have a personal relationship with the Father and Jesus Christ.

Sanctify Them

John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

The sanctification of Christians is both instantaneous and a lifelong process. Sanctification means to “make clean.” When I accepted Jesus as my Savior, I was instantly made clean, not through anything that I had done but by accepting the work of Jesus on the cross for me. I was instantly “set apart for use” by the LORD. In this instance, sanctify has nothing to do with salvation. Instead it refers to being under the spiritual influence of the LORD. Sanctification involves both a relational component of being “set apart” and our continual growth as we are under the spiritual influence of the Holy Spirit in our holiness, thoughts, actions, and deeds.

Sanctification of the believer is through the Word of God. If you are not reading, studying, and applying the Bible on a daily basis, your sanctification process will grind to a halt.

18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

Jesus confirms the task that He was given by the Father: He was sent into the world for a purpose. Jesus confirms that the same task that the Father had given Him, He has given it to his disciples. He has sent them into the world to teach others as He taught them.

This is the mission of the church…to send!

19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

While this statement from the Savior may seem strange, “And for their sakes I sanctify myself,” I want to clear up this point. Jesus, in the definition of the word sanctify, is simply implying that He is committed to seeing the mission to the world that the Father assigned to Him to the finish. He “consecrated” himself to be fully immersed in the task given, even unto death.

I Pray for Future Believers

20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

What is the mission of the sanctified disciples? That they would consecrate themselves in the furtherance of spreading the Gospel of Jesus the Christ so those that “believe” will be sanctified and consecrated in the mission from the Father.

Today, we are “them also which shall believe on me through their word.” Christianity today marches forward by those that carry on the mission of Christ.

21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

In the world today there are many voices concerning the future. The message of Jesus is so simple. The Gospel message is so simple. The action required of every believer is so simple. However, the message needs to be unified. The unity of the mission that the Father sent the Son is the same unity that needs to be in the world today. The relationship of the believer to Jesus should be the same as the unity between the Father and the Son.

Wherever you send, I will go.

22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

How does Jesus give His glory to the Apostles? Simply stated, the acts of the Apostles should glorify the Father, as Jesus glorified the Father. Glory is a theological premise that holds true the salvation, judgment, and the blessings of the Father on Jesus and by extension, His disciples.

23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

“Perfect,” does not only mean without flaw in the Bible. Perfect describes something that is complete, whole, or without blemish. Paul consistently wrote to believers to be “perfect.” His idea was to be complete in the Lord. He knew that believers were far from being without blemish as he wrote in the book of Romans.

Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Paul to the church in Colossi:

Colossians 1:28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

They Will Be With Me

24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

“Father, I will…”

is not a command from Jesus to His Father. Instead Jesus is expressing a strong desire.

“…where I am…”

Jesus is on the earth and will soon be leaving. It is Jesus’ desire that those “whom thou has given me” will share in the Glory that God had given him.

25 O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.

What has Jesus known of the Father that He passed on to those “that thou hast sent me.” Knowing the LORD in all His glory would include recognizing:

· The LORD as Lawgiver

· The LORD as Love

· Jesus’ Reverence of the LORD.

· Jesus’ Obedience of the LORD

· Jesus’ Honor of the LORD

· Jesus’ Knowledge of the Sovereign LORD

· The LORD as a Parent, as a Friend

26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

The last words recorded of this prayer identify His greatest concern. Jesus has given the Apostle’s “Thy Name.” The Jews treated God’s name with the highest respect. They would not write His name on anything that could possibly be destroyed. Therefore, this statement by Jesus is profound. Jesus has given the Apostles a divine revelation of the Father, not some inexplicable, aloof, and removed deity.

But Jesus made known to the disciples that the nature of God toward man is a caring God of love. Showing them that the God of the Old Testament who demanded obedience, was once of love and care of His creation.

In the next few hours, Jesus would face the requirement from a Loving Father. Jesus would forfeit this life so that multitudes upon multitudes would have a future with a Holy God.

His closing thoughts are of those that He has loved and shared the love of the Father with them.

“…the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

Conclusion

This High Priestly Prayer of the Lord Jesus comes as the “frosting on the cake.” The Apostle John patiently wrote Jesus’ teaching during the Last Supper. John 13-16 contains the teaching concerning:

· His, their, and those that will follow them persecution

· His betrayal by one of their own

· The arrival of the Holy Spirit as the Comforter

Prayer for Himself as His life is now forfeit

Prayer for those that God had entrusted to Jesus

Prayer for those that will come to faith, becoming believers by their commitment to the Mission of Jesus and ultimately the LORD’s.