The Desire of Jesus

Jesus is literally hours away from laying down his life to be turned over to the Jewish religious leaders to be illegally tried, falsely accused, and unjustly sentenced to a death He did not deserve.

What is in the heart of Jesus hours before this horrific yet strangely beautiful history altering event takes place?

It’s in communion with the Father, by the strength of the Spirit, for the sake of His people.

I love this as a new year’s sermon because it is a window into the very heart of Jesus

Have you ever wondered if Jesus had a prayer list? What or who was on that list? Did Jesus ever want anything?

John, the author of this story of the life of Jesus, shares a glimpse into the prayer life of Jesus.

What Does Jesus Desire?

Jesus Desires to Bring Glory to the Father

How?

Making the invisible attributes of the Father, clearly visible (2)

Giving eternal life to all those the Father gave him (3)

Living Truly Human before God (4)

Teaching them the truth about who God really is (6-8)

John 17:1–8 ESV

1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. 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.

Jesus Desires that His People Would Survive and Thrive in a Broken World

How?

The Preserving work of the Holy Spirit (11-13)

The Protecting work of the Holy Spirit (14-16)

The Purifying work of the Holy Spirit (17)

John 17:9–17 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.

Jesus Desires that His Disciples Would Make Disciples

How?

Following Christ’s Model of Going to the Lost and Broken (18)

Following Christ’s Motive of Self-Sacrifice (19)

Following Christ’s Method of Proclaiming the Gospel through Language (20-21)

Following Christ’s Method of Displaying the Gospel through Love (22-23)

John 17:18–23 ESV

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. 20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.

Jesus Desires that You Would be with Him

Why?

So we would SEE the full extent of Christ’s Glory (24)

So we would SAVOR the full expression of God’s Love (25-26)

John 17:24–26 ESV

24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. 26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

Conclusion

How do the desires of Jesus strike you?

I’m all for setting goals, developing plans, and strategies to hit those goals, arranging accountability… i’m all for it.

But enough of what we desire for a moment, what does Jesus desire? How do His desires influence our goals, plans, and desires?

If we know that His desire is for us to survive and thrive with joy even in this broken world and the way he brings that survival is through the work of His Spirit, we need to prioritize being still and allowing the Spirit to do His work in us.

If we know that His desire is for us to make disciples, we must prioritize the making of disciples. We need to prioritize and set aside time to pray for the lost and broken, sacrificing our time and energy to proclaim and display the gospel to others BEYOND your favorite, tight knit little circle of family and friends.

If we know that His desire is for us to be with Him to SEE and SAVOR His glory and love, we should free ourselves from so much of the materialistic attitudes that we have living in the world.

As we step up to the table, LORD, would you please help us to align the desires of your heart, with ours.

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