He Prayed for us
Notes
Transcript
He prayed for us
Good morning Church,
Introduce myself
Our brother Justin kicked us off in this amazing chapter last week. We saw the relationship between the Father and the Son, and the divine nature of Jesus, who was with the Father even before all of creation.
So we can actually break this chapter down into 3 very profound sections.
1-5 Jesus prays concerning His own glory
6-19 Jesus prays for His disciples that He has walked with and taught in His earthly ministry
20-26 Jesus prays for us….the future believers.
I have to tell you, I read this a few months after I got saved and I was absolutely floored. I was in complete awe. Jesus prayed for me. He prayed for us.
Why is this so incredible? The setting here matters. We’ve been in the scene now for several weeks. This is after the last supper, the washing of the feet and some preparation for the disciples. Judas has gone out to betray Him.
This started in the upper room, and now what I imagine is they’ve had this walk through Jerusalem, and Jesus has been laying down some very prolific and important teachings on the way. It makes sense, because back in John 14:31, Jesus says, rise and let’s go.
So this is somewhere between the upper room and the Kindron valley that they cross to get to the garden of Gasthemethe in chapter 18.
Now why does that matter so much? It is extremely important because we see the love of our Savior in one of the most unsettling times in the entire gospel.
Jesus is merely hours away from the cross.
I was sitting in the back row last week listening to Justin preach…magnificient sermon by the way. And when he started talking about the crucifixion, it made me wale up in tears.
See what Jesus went through is beyond anything we know or have seen today. Period. This kind of execution, torture etc, is not something we see today. It was literally one of the most cruel and violent acts in all of history.
I am not going to go into details again because it’s difficult to talk about. But perspective. Jesus is hours away from this event, and where is His mind? Where is His heart?
We’re gonna see today.
So let’s just jump into the text, we’re gonna be hitting a lot of scripture today, so hang with me.
Today we are running through John 17: 6-10
Before we start, please join me in prayer.
So again, Jesus has opened up in prayer. 1-5 He was praying to the Father regarding glorification.
These next passages He is going to be praying to the Father regarding the who.
Let’s read
“I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them.
6 “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. 8 For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. 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.
Wow Folks…There’s so much here. Let’s look closely at each verse and unpack them.
We are actually going to break down verse 6 into a few sections just by itself.
So Jesus says, I have manifested your name. I want to spend a moment just on these words and really look at what Jesus is saying here.
Manifest. The original Greek work is (ephanerōsa)
It means to make known or to reveal.
So Jesus has manifested the Fathers name. He has made it known or revealed it. Does this just simply mean Jesus told them the Father’s name? Maybe how to pronounce it?
Nope. We are talking about the character of God Himself. His nature, His authority, His divine identity.
Jesus is that very manifestation.
No one has ever seen God; God the only Son, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.
No one has ever seen God; God the only Son, who[f] is at the Father's side he has made him known.
He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
Jesus is the manifestation of God.
This one is pretty powerful….
Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
How can you say show us the Father?
John 10: 30 sums it up pretty well
I and the Father are one.”
30 I and the Father are one.
Now continuing, who does it say that Jesus manifests God’s name to?
The people that God gave Him out of the world.
Jesus identifies the disciples as these.
There’s an important order of events here I want you to notice.
The Father gives people to the Son
The Son reveals the Father to them
They receive His Word and keep it.
The reason this order is significant is because we see this same teaching from Jesus throughout the gospel of John.
All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.
37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.
No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.
44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
From a reformed theological standpoint, these verses strongly support not only God’s sovereignty, but His initiative in saving His people.
Predestination and free will are often looked at as opposites or contradictory. I will tell you this church, I don’t know how all this works exactly.
God’s ways and thoughts are far beyond ours. However, I sincerely believe that these two go hand in hand and work in perfect harmony.
How…ask God when you get to Heaven. Because I don’t know. I just know He knows, and that’s enough for me.
Yours they were, and you gave them to me.
The disciples belonged to the Father, and they have now been entrusted to the Son.
Look at Ephesians 1: 4-6
even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.
4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us[b] for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.
There was never a plan B. This was God’s will, and His purpose for us from before the beginning of time.
So what does this all mean? Is God unjust in picking His own? Are some sinners better than others? As Paul would say…by no means!
Everything, is designed to show us the glory and majesty of the living God. It also shows us that mercy belongs to Him.
What does that mean? It means that salvation stems from God’s mercy, not man’s merit.
He chose us. Left to our free will…none of us would be here today in sincerity. We might show up to show our piety, or our self righteousness. But not with a genuine heart that seeks God and His will.
Only until He provides the regeneration of the heart does repentance occur.
It is His saving work and His saving grace that changes the sinner.
If we could change on our own, we wouldn’t have needed a Savior to begin with.
And they have kept my Word.
So they’re perfect right??? By no means!!!!
This is talking about their commitment to the revelation provided by Jesus. They have believed and understood at this point. We’re not talking sinless obedience, we are talking about receiving a revelation God has provided in Christ.
They have kept it, held fast to it.
We know this because of the flow and context. In a few hours…Peter will deny Jesus, the rest will scatter according to prophecy.
So it’s not a sinless life they have now, but a life in Christ that will not be perfected yet, but will show change, fruit, holiness, and love for others that was not there before.
Jesus knew every sin, every mistake they made, but still acknowledges their faith as real.
Verse 7
Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you.
7 Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you.
Now they know. NOW. That means there was a time that they surely didn’t know, or that they didn’t believe right?
So what do they know? There is a divine source. There is a giver, there is a God in Heaven that loves us.
This ties back to many verses…we’re not going to cover them all, but here’s few I think line up with this. Jesus was sent by God the Father. It was the Father’s will. Jesus assures us of that.
Let’s go back in time here.
So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel.
19 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father[e] does, that the Son does likewise. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing.
This shows us an amazing unity in the Father and Son. Showing that joint cause.
Jesus again credits the Father
So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me.
16 So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me.
Look again here in 12
For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak.
49 For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak.
Now…watch this…
All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
These verses we just went over show this relationship that doesn’t even make sense in an earthly setting. This is divine, heavenly love. So beautiful you guys.
Seeing this love is what gives me great hope. A future hope that one day I will get to experience this very type of love and relationship with Jesus. Absolutely amazing folks. Encouraging.
Verse John 17: 8
For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.
8 For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.
The progression here…
The Father gives the words to the Son
Jesus establishes the divine source of His teaching.
He did not come to preach His own independent religious philosophy.
He came to reveal the Father.
And now…the disciples believe.
So as preachers, is it our job to reinvent the message if Jesus didn’t even do that? By no means!!!
Our job is to faithfully teach the message that God has already given us.
Notice the part that says they received the words He gave them.
Anyone ever been in shipping and receiving?
I have been in both. Both require work, but it’s certainly different and certainly have different purposes. If I ship something. I have it. I pack it, I am going to arrange the pick up, and even pay for all fees.
Receiving it is much different. It just shows up. Now what you do with it is up to you. But it’s yours.
We were talking a couple of weeks ago at my house. About how the Holy Spirit is the fire starter and sustainer. Right…He comes, lights us up and seals our salvation.
But, that fire can dim out a bit. The bible says is matters what we watch, what we listen to, what we take in.
So I like to think of that as throwing logs on the fire.
Watch good entertainment. Not trash. Listen to godly music. Not secular music that glorifies sin. We sing those lyrics too, don't we?
I’ve talked about this before, but I will stand by it. Your intake matters church.
There are so many scriptures about this guys. But here’s a shortened summary. Don’t glorify sin for the sake of entertainment.
So back to the text. Jesus still in prayer here, says they have come to know in truth that I came from You.
This says so much. We can understand the sanctification process here a little bit. They have come to believe. But not yet complete.
Remember, Peter’s denial is still coming, Thomas’s doubt is still coming, the rest of His followers scattering is still coming.
But later in Acts, we see a turning point, faith strengthened, faith matured, faith courageous and grown up. We see development in the apostles and disciples of Christ.
As we should see in ourselves. Are we growing in our faith? Are we growing in Christ and becoming more like Him? Do we see changes in our own behavior, how we love, how we exercise patients with others.
If you are not seeing that kind of progression in your life, you may want to step back and examine that.
Many people fall victim to false assurance. Meaning, Jesus loves us just the way we are mentality.
You don’t get the crown without the cross beloved.
You need to crucify your flesh, you need to put your faith in Christ and Christ alone. Deny yourself.
Allister Begg gave a famous sermon. He talks about the thief on the cross. It’s an absolutely amazing section of preaching.
But he starts off with saying, if we don’t preach the gospel to ourselves everyday, all day. We will quickly fall into a works based mindset.
It’s the sinful nature in us. That sinful nature passed all the way down from Adam that is so incredibly hungry for power, self reliance, pride and ego.
I did this, I did that. God gave you your VERY BREATH! How can you say anything is from you??????
But we do. So often we do. So preach the gospel to yourself every day. Jesus died for me, that I may be alive. The glory belongs to Him, not to us.
Verse John 17: 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.
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.
Interesting here. I am not praying for everyone…the world, but those whom you have given me.
Notice who Jesus is praying for here. Not the world in general, but specifically those the Father has given Him. This is a particular prayer of intercession for His people. It does not mean Jesus has no concern for the world, but that His focus here is the preservation and spiritual welfare of those who belong to Him.
The ones the Father gave to the Son out of the world.
And we’re going to tie in 10 because they run right together.
Verse John 17: 10
All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them.
10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them.
Prayer, Jesus is in direct communication with the Father. He says He is praying for the chosen, and we have this amazing description of how this all ties together a little later in the chapter but we see this perfect communion in the Father Son relationship.
Shoot, we say that in marriage don’t we. what’s mine is yours.
But guess what, my wife isn’t allowed to touch my laptop.
I mean if she needs to use it of course she can, right? But that’s my stuff.
I don’t even share that. Yet the very creation the Father made, gave to the Son and full authority and possession of it.
That’s an incredible love.
But I don’t want this to come down to a possession thing, this reflects the relationship between the Father and the Son..
Now look at these last words in verse 10.
**"And I am glorified in them."**
Church, think about what Jesus is saying here.
These men were far from perfect. Peter is going to deny Him. The rest are going to scatter. They are going to stumble, struggle, and make mistakes.
And yet Jesus says, "I am glorified in them."
Why?
Because they belong to Him! They have received His Word. They believe that He came from the Father.
And through their faith, through their obedience, through the lives that He is transforming, the glory of Christ is being revealed.
It's not that Jesus needs us to make Him glorious. He is already glorious! He was glorious before the foundation of the world!
But now His glory is being displayed in the very people He came to save.
And beloved, the same principle applies to us today.
When a sinner repents, Christ is glorified. When we love one another, Christ is glorified. When we bear the fruit of the Spirit, when we proclaim His gospel, when we turn away from sin and walk in obedience, we display the power of the Savior who redeemed us.
And church, I want to bring us back to where we started this morning.
Remember the setting.
Jesus is just hours away from the cross.
He knows what's coming. He knows the suffering, the humiliation, the betrayal. He knows that He is about to give His life.
And yet here He is, praying for His people.
Think about that love for just a moment.
Because there's something we all need to understand.
We are sinners. Every single one of us. Scripture says in Romans 3:23 that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
And sin separates us from a holy and righteous God.
We cannot overcome that separation through good works, religious ceremonies, or simply trying to become better people.
We need a Savior.
And that's exactly why Jesus came.
The eternal Son of God took on flesh, lived the perfect and sinless life that none of us could live, and willingly went to the cross.
And on that cross, He bore the penalty for sin. The righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring us to God. That's 1 Peter 3:18.
He died. He was buried. And on the third day, He rose again, defeating death!
That's the gospel, church!
And remember what we learned today.
Salvation isn't something we earn. It's a gift of God's grace.
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
tells us that we are saved by grace through faith, not by our own doing, and not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
And the call of the gospel is to repent and believe in Jesus Christ.
Turn from your sin. Put your faith in Christ and Christ alone.
Not your goodness. Not your religious accomplishments. Not anything you have done.
Trust in what HE has done!
And here's something else I want you to remember.
Jesus was praying for His people before He went to the cross.
But His intercession didn't end there.
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.
tells us that Christ died, was raised, is seated at the right hand of God, and is interceding for us.
Our Savior is ALIVE!
And He continues to intercede for those who belong to Him!
What an incredible assurance we have in Jesus Christ.
And beloved, when Christ saves a sinner, He doesn't leave that person unchanged.
He transforms us. He sanctifies us. He teaches us to love, to forgive, to obey, and to walk in His truth.
Not so we can earn His love.
But because He has already shown us His love.
And that brings us right back to the words of Jesus in verse 10.
**"And I am glorified in them."**
Church, we don't produce His glory. We reflect it.
The disciples weren't perfect when Jesus said these words.
And neither are we.
But our Savior is still working in us, transforming us, sanctifying us, and making us more like Him.
Not for our glory.
**FOR HIS!**
Let's pray.
