Untitled Sermon

Introduction

Today I wanted to highlight a passage of Scripture that I could target this senior class that has been through so much as we all have in the past few months and will continue to persevere through in the coming months as well. But I also want this passage to speak to all of you that are in the audience today whether you are here to support your senior student whom we are celebrating and lifting up today as a testament to God’s grace, His steady hand, and His awesome power to allow all of these students to graduate this year during one of the most drastic year that we have seen in a long time. God directed me to a passage in John 17. A passage where Jesus is praying for himself, His disciples, and future believers. I saw this as an encouragement because when I see all of these students and you hear of all that they have accomplished in high school I always see this time as a springboard moment into a new chapter of life and a sending out of these disciples that sit among us and a continuing to equip and invest in the next generation as they head off to college, into the work force, and so many different areas where they can make a difference for the Lord Jesus Christ. This High Priestly Prayer is a prayer that shows clearly Jesus’ heart for His disciples as He prays for the men that He equipped and invested in and would soon send out into the world by His Holy Spirit as He would leave to go and be with the Father after his arrest, death, and resurrection. So, let’s dive into this passage of Scripture.

To Reach the world, the Father uses people who He gave to the Son for His glory (v. 6 &9,10)

Notice within this prayer how God-centered this prayer is for the disciples. God’s church first belongs to him. He planned out the church, He sent His son to redeem His people, and He will keep His church by His power. Which is a great reminder for all of us today as we are going through such a time as this. God’s church is of His own possession and He is not going to allow it to fail regardless of the circumstances. He has a plan and we are part of it. And don’t be discouraged by your fear of resistance during this time because even Paul was afraid that if he continued to preach in Corinth that he would be persecuted by the Jews in Acts 18 but the Holy Spirit encouraged him in verses 9-10 “Do not be afraid any longer, but go on speaking and do not be silent; for I am with you, and no man will attack you in order to harm you, for I have many people in this city.” Paul didn’t know who already belonged to God, but God knew and it was Paul’s job to continue preaching the good news in order that they would come to faith. Or even in 2 Timothy 2:10 “For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory.”

As students being sent out and really all of us this week being sent out from this place after hearing the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, it is our responsibility to share the gospel, preach the gospel, live out the gospel, to see others come to saving faith in Jesus who we serve!!!! So DO NOT be discouraged because...

Jesus uses the word “gives” 17 times in this prayer and 13 of those are of the Father giving to the Son. He mentions it three times specifically in verses 6, 9, and 10. So God is sustaining His church and calling you seniors and all of you that and trusted in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, He is holding us up, He has given us to Jesus for the purpose of being sent out into a lost and dying world to bring life and life more abundantly to those who are spiritually dead. That’s a Christians PRIMARY calling.

Remember that Jesus is praying this prayer before He is betrayed and arrested and eventually crucified. Jesus prayed this prayer with peace knowing that His mission would not fail. That God had a plan in it. I love what one commentary I read had said in way of application. It said “When you face difficult times---and there has never been a more difficult situation than that of Jesus facing the cross---it’s important to focus on the fact that the Father is in control of all things. Through prayer, Jesus gained peace and courage to face the cross because He knew that before the foundation of the world, the Father had given a chosen people to the Son, and that His mission to save them would not fail. (Check John 6:37-39)

APPLICATION: Because we now believe in Christ we have no grounds for boasting in ourselves, but only in God’s grace (Check 1 Cor. 1:26-31). Second, he fact that the Father GAVE us who believe to His Son means that you are VALUED and TREASURED by the Lord Jesus Christ. And third, because you belong to the Father and He gave you to His Son Jesus means that WE ARE NOT OUR OWN (Check 1 Cor. 6:19-20).

To reach the world, the Father uses people who know and obey Him through His Son (v. 6-8)

Jesus is praying this right after predicting that the disciples would desert Him soon and would be scattered…how could he pray this prayer knowing what he just said RIGHT BEFORE this prayer?

First, Jesus knew their commitment. They didn’t leave when he taught hard truths in John 6:68-69. They told him they would die with him if needed (John 11:16). And now Jesus is praying for the Father to keep them and uphold them…so Jesus obviously knows of their weaknesses.

Second, Jesus’ prayer gives us a glimpse at His intercession for us as the High Priest in heaven. Read (Romans 8:33-34 “Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.”

Quote from Marcus Rainford “Let us evermore remember this most precious fact, that however in His wondrous grace our blessed Teacher may show us our deficiencies; however may correct and rebuke us, showing us in our daily experience how needy, how feeble we are, and how little faith-yet our standing before God is in the fullness of our Head and Representative; and He will never allow us to appear before His Father otherwise than as covered with all the completeness of His own righteousness.”

That is our position in Christ!!!! and because we are in Christ we are to walk in a manner worthy of Him.

To reach the world God uses people whom He keeps in holiness and unity while they are in this world (v. 11-12)

The only time Jesus uses the title “Holy” is in reference to God’s uniqueness from His creation and his separation from all sin. And “Father” points to His nearness and approachability.

As you go off to college or into the work force and as you continue to stay involved in a church body and witness to those around you in your dorm rooms, work spaces, classrooms, etc. keep in step with the Holy Spirit. Stay engaged in Scripture. Walk in a manner worthy of Him who has chosen you to be one of His disciples, one of His ambassadors of truth and compassion, one of His lights in the darkness.

In verses 13-26 Jesus continues this prayer to urge his disciples to be Sanctified in truth; your word is truth. He is calling them to be holy and then calling those that would become disciples that they would be bonded in unity.

Conclusion

What a timely message right now in this time of so much uncertainty, sickness, political unrest that the Body of Christ would look at the prayer of our Savior and High Priest Jesus and see that God’s work in us will not fail, His work in this world to see His people reconciled to Himself and glorify Him would not fail, that His people would obey him, walk in a manner worthy of Him, and be unified during a time of so much disunity in our nation and in our world.

This is for these students as we celebrate and encourage them, but this is a call for us all to unify together, believe in His sovereign hand to work without fail, and to glorify Him with all that we do!