Untitled Sermon (48)

"Everything I have is yours, and everything you have is mine, and I am glorified in them.” ()

We note right away that he says not only, “Everything I have is yours” but also “everything You have is Mine.”

This last statement is astounding. It makes sense only if the Father and the Son are one in essence (cf. 10:30).

For a creature to say to the Creator—or even for a believer to say to God—“Everything I have is Yours” is not marvelous.

But for any one lower than God to add, “and everything You have is Mine,” would require explanation.

Jesus has in mind (not only) the fact that all things promote His glory, but also that

He is actually the owner of all and as such has authority over all (cf. 17:2).

The One who is here addressing the Father is the same One who was face to face with the Father from eternity (17:5).

All things in the entire universe belong both to the Father and to the Son.

So, what is of interest to the One is of interest to the Other.

This is the reason why Jesus is able to pray so fervently for his disciples.

They are His, His very own. So, He loves them.

But whatever is his, is also the Father’s.

This mutual ownership implies mutual interest, and this mutual interest assures mutual action.

Jesus then adds, “and I am glorified in them”, He is thinking primarily of the glory which he as Mediator

(who is here speaking as if he had already completely finished his task) derives from the salvation of His disciples.

The graces which adorn those who have been drawn out of the darkness and into the light reflect His redeeming love and power.

Surely, if Paul can call the church at Philippi “my joy and crown” (), and

can speak of the brethren at Thessalonica as “our glory and our joy” (), and

this because these congregations display the fruits of his work,

Jesus all the more has a right to say that in all things—particularly,

in those who from eternity are His own—He is glorified.

Here in lies the great comfort of the faithful.

God and Christ have an equal interest in them!

The Father loves them as Christ does: as His own!

Christ cares for them as the Father does: as His own! Remember what says? "...indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.” () "Anyone who does not remain in Christ’s teaching but goes beyond it does not have God. The one who remains in that teaching, this one has both the Father and the Son.” ()

Truly we are love in the gospel!

We have the Father’s electing love, giving us to Christ, we have the Son’s redeeming love to purchase our sin!

We have the Spirit’s work inside us to sanctify us and make us holy!

"For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.” ()

So, because Christ has satisfied God’s justice, God and us have now been reconciled!

This is what creates the boldness to run to God in prayer and why we don’t need to fear God’s justice.

v10 is our double claim.

1. We have God on our side, who is the supreme judge, the offended party, the first cause and fountain of blessing.

2. By Christ we have a near relation to God: we are Christ’s more than angels;

they are ministering spirits, not the spouse of Christ’s bosom, nor members of his body.

God has given us to Him, as he brought Eve to Adam;

we are near to God: (see ),

as a woman married to the king’s son by the king’s consent.

The whole blessings of Christ’s purchase are ours;

"By these he has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire.” ()

we have God in our nature working righteousness,

making atonement,

meriting blessedness,

sending the Spirit as purchased by Him.

He says in v10, “I am glorified in them.”

How is Christ glorified in those who follow Him?

1. Passively, as he glorifies Himself in them, by

comforting,

refreshing their hearts,

doing good to them that are so despicable and unworthy, and

manifesting the riches of His glory in them.

2. Actively, by their faith, by their ministry, by their way of living.

[1.] By their faith.

To glorify any one, is to have a good esteem of them.

Those that do not believe or trust a man’s word, obscure the dignity of that person, rejecting him as a contemptible man.

Now the apostles do everywhere express their faith in His godhead, and

their sense of the dignity of His person and office.

[2.] By their ministry.

Christ was made known by them.

And was yet to be further manifested.

After the resurrection they were

His heralds, to proclaim His triumphs for him over death and hell; and

His ambassadors, to go out into the world and gather subjects for His kingdom.

triumphs for him over death and hell; and his ambassadors, to go out into the world and gather subjects for his kingdom.

[3.] By their life,

and so by the steadfastness of their profession,

when others pull back

"From that moment many of his disciples turned back and no longer accompanied him. "So Jesus said to the Twelve, “You don’t want to go away too, do you?” "Simon Peter answered, “Lord, to whom will we go? You have the words of eternal life.” ()

By their self-denial: "...“See, we have left everything and followed you. ...”” () Peter says...

fathers, mothers, nets, jobs, &c.

So by their holiness and fruitfulness of their way of life,

they were such a company of which Christ was not ashamed.

So v10 presents a wonderful new argument that Christ urges upon us for to know our standing with our Father.

Teaching us that,

The more we desire to glorify Christ, the more confidence we may have of his intercession for us.

ONE. It’s the evidence of our deep concern in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Concern is the ground of our discussion.

None but those who belong to God fly to Him in prayer but those that are His own.

It’s those that are God’s and Christ’s.

[1.] Our concern is the Father.

The Father acknowledges you that glorify His Son, you and no other.

"For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.” ()

God’s love can have no cause but itself.

Our love to Christ is a certain sign of God’s love to us.

Do you glorify Christ by love and trust (faith)?

Christ is His beloved, and He loves all them that love Christ!

"The Father, in fact, judges no one but has given all judgment to the Son, "so that all people may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.” ()

5:22–23 God the Father displays the divine honor of God the Son in appointing Him to

execute the divine work of judging all men, so that people must reverence Christ.

Now God the Father commands we should yield a like reverence to the Son, who is His living and perfect image.

He that does not worship Christ and honor Christ does but worship and serve an idol.

[2.] Our concern is the Son.

By grace, we have a desire to see Christ glorified!

That group is whom He looks after in a saving way!

He is interceding for you in heaven when you are glorifying Him on earth;

He is doing your business in heaven when you are doing His business in the world;

He is your advocate, and you are His ambassador.

"“Therefore, everyone who will acknowledge me before others [on earth], I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.” ()

While we own Christ as our own in the world, and profess His Name and truth in the world, you shall lose nothing.

When you come to pray, Christ will own you!

‘Father hear him, this is one of Mine!’

You cannot honor Christ more than He will honor you!

When worldly people pray, He says, ‘I know them not!’

How dreadful to be disowned in the court of heaven!

[3.] Our concern is the Spirit.

See what Christ says concerning the Holy Spirit, "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak on his own, but he will speak whatever he hears. He will also declare to you what is to come. "He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.” ()

The “Spirit of truth” guides the apostles to the full revelation of God’s will for His church, which is the New Testament (14:26; ; , , ),

and the Spirit of truth continues to assist the church in understanding and applying the Holy Scriptures ().

Jesus straight up says that the Spirit will not speak on His own.

But He actually takes the things of Christ and reveals them to us!

The Holy Spirit does not work independently of the Father (like the Son, 12:49)

but continues the Son’s mission by revealing Him (shall glorify me),

which is also to reveal the Father’s glory in the Son (13:31–32; 17:1).

This too reveals the unity and order of the persons in the Trinity (v. 7).

The more we desire to glorify Christ, the more confidence we may have of his intercession for us.

ONE. It’s the evidence of our deep concern in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

TWO. Because the glorifying of Christ is the great condition of the plan of God.

God has made exceedingly great promises!

Christ being honored and glorified in us is part of the plan of God.

Christ says in our text, “I am glorified in them.”

"Call on me in a day of trouble; I will rescue you, and you will honor me.”” ()

In all our experiences of grace God will be honored!

God gives this crown of life, crown of heaven and the profit from that is He receives praise and honor from us eternally!

What God does to us by way of mercy, the church returns back to God again in the way of duty!

"My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be my disciples.” ()

The more we desire to glorify Christ, the more confidence we may have of his intercession for us.

ONE. It’s the evidence of our deep concern in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

TWO. Because the glorifying of Christ is the great condition of the plan of God.

THREE. Because we come in line with the aim of God.

God’s great aim is to glorify His Son!

God seeks out His own glory by glorifying Christ in our nature.

He does not give:

His Word

His gospel

His Son

nor grace

but for His glory!

It is said, "The Lord has prepared everything for his purpose— even the wicked for the day of disaster.” ()

"The Lord has prepared everything for his purpose— even the wicked for the day of disaster.” ()

He’s created the wicked to display His infinite justice forever!

As God is made known, He is glorified!

This is why He put us in union with Christ,

"so that we who had already put our hope in Christ might bring praise to his glory.” ()

All that we are inside the body of Christ, we are for this ultimate purpose!

We had better greatly value God’s glory because everything we have received we have it for that purpose! ()

So let’s apply this doctrine.

Application 1. Information.

We lose nothing by glorifying Christ but it becomes a sign of our deep concern for His intercession.

This is what our honor actually is, this is our comfort, that Christ is actually our Advocate.

In this world, we’re like David’s six hundred men (from ).

In the world, we are like those six hundred, that were David’s companions in the wilderness,

they had hard service and little wages;

but when David was crowned in Hebron, they were all advanced to offices and places of power and trust.

In the world, if we glorify Christ indeed, we shall meet with hard times,

but you will not regret any of it when Christ appears in the day of His royal glory.

If you lose worldly comforts, they are made up in spiritual comforts, so we lose nothing.

We actually gain! Observe Peter’s question and hear Christ’s answer.

"Then Peter responded to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you. So what will there be for us?”” ()

Unlike the rich young man, the disciples have left their jobs and resources behind to follow Jesus.

Peter understandably asks what is in it for them.

But Peter’s case is weak.

What did he leave?

A town, a net, a fishing boat.

From a fisherman he was made a disciple!

The loss is so little by comparison.

We tend to think we’re awesome when we part with our overflowed blessings!

We tithe a tenth of our children’s allowance for the cause of Christ and the advancement of His Kingdom!

If we receive a bit of slander or experience the slightest bit of inconvenience

or have to sacrifice the slightest way, we begin to ask with Peter, “So what will there be for us?”

Thoughts of merit are natural, and we put a high price upon our petty services; what shall we be the better?

But observe Christ’s answer:

Manton, T. (1872). The Complete Works of Thomas Manton (Vol. 10, p. 262). London: James Nisbet & Co.

"Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, in the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. "And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields because of my name will receive a hundred times more and will inherit eternal life. "But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” ()

Jesus promises that when he returns (“at the renewal of all things”), the 12 apostles will “sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

How believers help Christ in final judgment is never described, but suggests that

even the rather immature Corinthian Christians would be involved in judging angels.

v29 Even in this life, those who have left family and possessions for Christ’s sake “receive a hundred times as much”

when the members of the family of God share with each other.

A believer will never regret of any hard thing that he suffers for Christ and His truth.

May it be known tonight that everyone of your sufferings shall be

made into a sparkling jewel that will add beauty to your crown of glory!

The least thing done, truly and sincerely, will be highly esteemed and richly rewarded.

Christ will intercede for you and plead for you with His Father and if once He opens His mouth,

that request will not break down and faith to reach the mark!

"Therefore, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, since he always lives to intercede for them.” ()

Application 2. Exhortation.

Application 3. Comfort.