Jesus' Prayer for His Church

John 17:9–19 ESV

9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 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. 12 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. 13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 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. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.

When it was built for an international exposition in the last century, the structure was called monstrous by the citizens of the city, who demanded it be torn down as soon as the exposition was over. Yet from the moment its architect first conceived it, he took pride in it and loyally defended it from those who wished to destroy it.

He knew it was destined for greatness. Today it is one of the architectural wonders of the modern world and stands as the primary landmark of Paris, France. The architect, of course, was Alexandre Gustave Eiffel. His famous tower was built in in 1889.

In the same way we are struck by Jesus' loyalty to another structure--the church--which he entrusted to an unlikely band of disciples, whom he defended, prayed for, and prepared to spread the gospel. To outsiders they (and we) must seem like incapable blunderers.

But Jesus, the architect of the church, knows this structure is destined for greatness when he returns.  

John Berstecher.

As we have studied the life of Jesus from the Gospel of John, we have come to the final moments of Jesus’ life on earth. The night before His crucifixion, Jesus and his disciples enjoyed a special Passover Supper. During the supper, Jesus dismissed the traiter, Judas Iscariot. Jesus then instituted the Lord’s Supper, after which he began an intensive time of teaching, preparing them for life after his death and resurrection.

Jesus concluded those thoughts by Jesus praying specifically for the Eleven in our text, as the "First Church". In verses 20-26, Jesus then prayed for all believers and emphasized one of the prayer requests he made in the text we are studying today. We will plan to look at that portion of Jesus’ prayer at another time.

But in our text, as we see Jesus specifically prayed for the Eleven as “the first church” if you will, we also see a prayer in general for the Church of God - from that time till now. And, I believe that as Jesus continually intercedes for us in Heaven, he is continuing to pray this prayer.

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What is Jesus’ most concerned about for us, His Church?

Big Idea: Jesus’ prayer reveals the Church’s key priorities.

Jesus prayed that His Church would be:

1. Unified for protection (vv. 9–11)

John 17:9–11 ESV

9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 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.

As we consider Jesus’ prayer, let us note in passing that when Jesus said, “I am not praying for the world”, that this does NOT mean Jesus is unconcerned for the world. Jesus gave his very life for the world, that whoever believes in him might receive eternal life.

But at this moment, Jesus’ primary concern was not the world, for whom he would die on the cross the next day. Rather, Jesus’ prayer was for this little band of dedicated but wishy-washy, trusting but doubtful, loving but self-focused band of followers.

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Jesus had sent his disciples out before. First, Jesus sent the Twelve two by two to prepare the villages for his coming. Then, Jesus sent the 72 on a similar short-term mission. Both times, the disciples had done well, even though their spiritual understanding and faith had much room to grow.

We remember how shortly after the disciples returned from their trip. Jesus took Peter, James and John into the mountain where he was transfigured before them. Meanwhile, at the base of the mountain, the nine other disciples could not cast a demon out of a boy, despite repeated efforts. Jesus’ frustration with his disciples boiled over as he noted their lack of faith.

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Furthermore, while the disciples loved Jesus and believed in him, their focus was often on less important things. One time, James and John wanted to call down fire from heaven on a village that did not welcome Jesus! Oftentimes, the disciples argued about who was greatest in the kingdom of God. Jesus repeatedly corrected their wrong ideas and desires.

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Now, Jesus would be leaving the disciples “for good”, even though, of course, the Holy Spirit would come to abide in them. But the point is … Jesus wouldn’t be “right there” among them when they struggled with faith due to a lack of prayer and fasting. Jesus wouldn’t be there to interrupt their silly games of comparison and one-upmanship.

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Jesus and the Father … and the Holy Spirit are one. Even though God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are distinct Persons within the Godhead, they are one. They are perfect in community and unity.

There is no disagreement in God. There is no seeking of glory by one of Persons of the Trinity above the other. Jesus, when he prayed for the Father to glorify him, asked this so that he might glorify the Father.

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As Jesus prepared to leave his disciples, and the Church, in this world he knew that such unity is the means of God’s protection. In a world that hates God and rejects His only Son as their Savior and Lord, it is essential that the Church be unified - one, even as the Father and Son are one.

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Picture a sports team. The various players that make up this team have different skills and strengths. There are one or two stars, but the supporting cast of players is essential for the team to function well.

Then, watch as different team players decide to put themselves first, instead of their teammates. The star player on the team gets sidetracked with taking interviews from the media, staring in commercials, and more.

But other team members also begin to focus more on themselves than their team. One may skip some practices in order to spend time with family. Another decides it is not worth taking the hard hits to the body to protect his teammates. He’s got to take care of himself first.

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You can imagine what will happen to such a team. Soon, they will find their chemistry “off”. They won’t communicate as well. Instead of working together, they will gripe and complain, finding fault with others. Even a great team can be decimated by disunity.

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Now, let’s bring this concept into the spiritual arena. The Church is made up of many members who differ in ability, skill, passion, and much more. Yet we are all essential for the proper functioning of the Body.

But if we do not work together in unity, the effect is like some unwiedly, uncoordinated person, arms and hands flailing, legs and feet flopping. More than just a laughingstock to the world, such immaturity and disunity can result in real harm, spiritual harm, to Christ’s Church!

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Throughout history, of course, the Church has failed many times to experience and preserve its unity. Indeed, some might think the concept of unity in the wider Church is a pipe dream, a joke. Worse, some consider any serious attempt to experience unity within the wider Church of the world as suspicious, even an attempt to create some evil one world church!

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The truth is that Jesus prayed for our unity. Indeed, in the final section of his prayer, he prayed specifically for all those who came after the original “First Church” that we might be one.

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Furthermore, the problem of disunity is not a matter of disagreements among major theological divisions in churches. Divisions have often torn apart local churches, not just denominations. Indeed, most church splits have nothing to do with theology. Instead, they typically center around personalities, preferences, and opinions.

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But there is a more subtle problem of disunity than a big church split that often affects churches today. The factors behind this disunity are many. Often, it is again personalities, preferences, and opinions. Sometimes, the factor is busyness.

Sometimes, the factor is boredom or the sense of a lack of vision … or something else. But this disunity is displayed by a lack of commitment, a lack of energy, a disinterest.

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As Jesus prayed for the Eleven, I would like to think he looked ahead to various issues and circumstances that he knew would threaten the First Church. And Jesus prayed that they might be one just as he and the Father were one, that indeed they all might be one.

And Jesus’ prayer was not just for that First Church nearly 2,000 years ago, but for the Church throughout history and every local church, including ours - that we might be one with the Father and with the Son.

As we continue studying Jesus’ prayer, however, we also find that Jesus prayed that His Church would be…

2. Preserved in the world (vv. 12–16)

John 17:12–16 ESV

12 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. 13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 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. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

Jesus prayed this prayer to accomplish several things. He asked for the Father to glorify him so that he might glorify the Father. Jesus prayed for His followers as he would leave them. Jesus also gave a progress report to his Father in this prayer.

We see this especially in verse 12. Jesus reported to the Father that of those the Father had given to him, he had kept them - guarded them, preserved them.

None were lost… except the one that scripture prophesied would be lost according to God’s plan. Scripture prophesied that one would betray the Son of the Man. So, it was necessary that one be lost, even though it was not God’s will that any be lost.

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Jesus had faithfully worked for the Father. He had taught his disciples all that the Father had given him. He had prepared these men to accomplish the mission of sharing the Good News with the world. He had guarded them. And they had trusted in Jesus as their Messiah.

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So Jesus prayed, noting that the world hated his followers just as it hated him. These men did not belong to the world any more than Jesus did. But Jesus’ prayer was not for the Father to take these men out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one while they lived in the world.

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Like that first little band of disciples, Jesus guards us and keeps us, prepares us and prays for us today. Romans 8 assures us…

Romans 8:33–35 ESV

33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

Yes, we understand that the promise of this scripture does not negate the fact that a believer can turn from Christ, deny the faith, go back to sin and the world, and perish - just like Judas Iscariot.

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At the same time, this scripture assures us that our salvation is not fragile. We cannot easily “lose” our salvation, or forget it somewhere along the Narrow Way. Jesus guards us and keeps us - jealously - for himself.

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But let us also notice carefully what Jesus prayed for … and didn’t pray for his followers. Jesus prayed that his disciples might be kept from the evil one in the world; he did not pray for them to be taken out of the world!

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Throughout history, there has been the temptation for Christians to remove themselves from the world in order to be kept from the world. Hundreds of years ago, monks would cloister themselves away from the world.

Today, Christians may live almost entirely in a Christian subculture - Christian radio, Christian TV, Christian books, church, Christian friends, with only a few quick forays into the world for groceries and other supplies!

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We are blessed, especially here in America, to have so many Christian influences and alternatives to the world. We should also be careful that we do not allow ourselves to be so influenced by the world that we compromise our values and lose our identity in Christ.

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At the same time, it is not God’s intention that we live aloof from the world until he takes us out of the world. Jesus has prayed that the Father would keep us in the world. We can trust that the Father will answer Jesus’ prayer.

We are the salt of the earth, but we will do no good if we remain in the saltshaker. We are the light of the world, but the world will not see our light if we hide it under a basket.

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So Jesus’ prayer must become ours.

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Father, help us to live in the world while not become assimilated by the world. Help our church to be a present, powerful influence in our community while never compromising with the values of our community. Help us to live faithfully. Preserve us by your power. Amen.

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As we continue studying Jesus’ prayer, we, thirdly, find that Jesus prayed that His Church would be…

3. Purified for mission (vv. 17–19)

John 17:17–19 ESV

17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.

The word “sanctify” has two major meanings. Sanctify means to make pure and holy - without any blemish of sin. Sanctify also means to set apart for a consecrated, special, holy purpose.

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Jesus had just prayed that his followers be kept, guarded, while in the world and that they might not become part of the world. So, it only makes sense that he ask that they be sanctifed - cleansed of any and all sin and set apart from the world.

On the Day of Pentecost, fifty days after Jesus’ resurrection, the promised Holy Spirit came upon the believers. There was the sound of a mighty rushing wind and a flame of fire that divided into many flames which rested upon each of the believers. This fire represented the Holy Spirit cleansing the believers’ hearts of carnality and filling them fully.

Jesus prayed that they would be sanctified in the truth. He then clarified that the Word of God is Truth. After Jesus’ ascension ten days before Pentecost, the believers devoted themselves to prayer.

During that time, Peter spoke up, sharing a scripture that indicated that Judas Iscariot’s place among the Twelve needed to be filled. In other words, this time of prayer included searching the scriptures. They were sanctified in the Truth of God’s Word.

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We recognize that the problem of sin is two-fold. We were born with a nature corrupted by carnality - a nature in rebellion against God. Then, we have all followed the inclinations of that carnal nature and have committed willful acts of transgression against the Law of God.

Jesus’ substitionary death on the Cross provides cleansing for sin and unrighteousness. When we come to Jesus, asking him to be our Lord and Savior, we are praying for him to forgive us and cleanse us of the guilt of those willful acts of sin we have committed against him.

But there is a deeper cleansing and filling available for us. Like the first believers experienced Pentecost as the Holy Spirit cleansed their hearts of inbred sin, we too can have our own Pentecost. He will cleanse us of inbred sin. He will fill us fully with His power.

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For what purpose?

(pause)

Notice again what Jesus said in John 17:17-18

John 17:17–18 ESV

Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.

Remember - to be sanctified not only means to be cleansed of any impurities but also to be set apart for a consecrated, holy purpose.

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The reason God sanctifies us is NOT so that we can be some special vessel, some special vase or platter, on display in a spiritual museum, doing nothing!

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God sanctifies us because as the Father sent Jesus into the world, Jesus has sent US into the world!

Matthew 28:18–20 ESV

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

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Jesus sanctifies us so that we might be clearly marked and identified as different, separate from the world - so that the world might hear our message about Him. Every follower of Jesus is called to participate in the mission of God, sharing the Good News with a world lost and dying in sin.

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We meet together regularly for services like this to worship God, to learn more about God, and to encourage each other in our faith. This is good, necessary, and wonderful. But our purpose is not confined to the four walls of this building. Our purpose is our community, our state, our nation, our world!

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Our purpose is to live sanctified, holy, set-apart-from-the-world lives of love, hope, peace, joy, sacrifice and more as a testimony to a world of hatred, fear, selfishness, pride, and prejudice!

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Consider this story told by a man named John:

I put my son to bed, and went through the routine. "I love you, I love mommy, I love your brothers, etc." Then he stopped, looked up at me, and asked, "What about my Teddy, don't you love my Teddy?" I looked over at a tattered, dingy, stuffed animal that was on it's last leg quite literally. I paused as I looked at the lifeless bear so limp and beat, and then to my son's wide eye anticipation as he held his breath, waiting for my response.

Finally, after an awkward silence, I replied, "Yes, I love your Teddy too." He smiled and happily settled onto his pillow clutching his teddy to his chest. He snuggled into his warm blanket comfortably as I tucked him in.

As he fell asleep, I looked at him and his Teddy. What If I had replied "No, I don't love your Teddy. It's just an old stuffed animal that is about to fall apart. Besides, I love you, not your bear." My son would have been crushed. It would have been the same as if I had said those things about him. I told him I loved his Teddy because my son loves his Teddy.

This made me reflect on Jesus and his relationship to his church. No Biblical writer ever writes anything ugly about the church. The church is always spoken of in endearing terms. Yes, the church had problems to deal with, but the Biblical writers did not degrade the church because of it.

Jesus loves his "Teddy", an old ragged animal. There may be an eye missing. It may be tattered. It may even have been broken open from time to time only to be re-stuffed and repaired. But the church is most wonderful to our Lord Jesus. The Bible refers to the church of Christ in this way:

"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church-- for we are members of his body. "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This is a profound mystery--but I am talking about Christ and the church (Ephesians 5:25-32)."

We may look at the church and see all kinds of stains, wrinkles, blemishes, tears, etc. But according to this, Jesus sees only a holy and blameless church, one that he has "repaired" by the washing of water through the word. Let's remember this the next time we down ourselves for our blemishes. Let's see the church as Christ sees it the next time we trash the church, and remember that even though we are not perfect, we are forgiven.

Big Idea: Jesus’ prayer reveals the Church’s key priorities.

Jesus prayed that His Church would be:

1. Unified for protection, vv. 9–11

2. Preserved in the world, vv. 12–16

3. Purified for mission, vv. 17–19

(pause)

Our challenge, as the Church, is obvious. It is not simple. It is not easy. But it is compelling.

As Jesus, our Lord and Savior, intercedes with the Father for His Church, let us join him in praying that we might be

Unified for protection, preserved in the world, and purified for mission.

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Would you join me and adopt this three-part prayer request as our prayer request for our church?

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Would you pray for unity - that we might always work together in harmony, unified in purpose even though we might be diverse in opinions and so much more?

Would you pray for preservation - that we might not be assimilated by the world - by the world’s values, concerns, pursuits, politics and more, but that we might always maintain our identity as the people of God who are working to establish God’s kingdom in this world?

Would you pray that we might be purified for mission - that we might be holy and live holy - but not for ourselves, but in order to be a testimony to a lost and sinful world?

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Would you pray these prayers, not just not at the conclusion of a worship service but daily, regularly, for our church and the Church of Jesus Christ throughout our world?

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Let us pray…