Holy Saints in a Hostile World (Jn. 17)

Introduction

· Please take your Bible and turn with me to John 17

· The Washington Post recently asked readers to describe 2020 in a single word. One reader said Exhausting. “All of our challenges have been drawn-out, slow-motion car wrecks.” Another reader said Relentless. “The hits just kept on coming. The good, the bad, the ugly. We could not allow ourselves to succumb. We had to find creative means of succor [relief]. Succor became survival.”

· If I could pick just one word to sum up 2020, it would be “humbling.” The combined forces of riots and wildfires and political chaos and a global pandemic have brought a collective humbling of the human race. We should, at least, all emerge from 2020 a little more humble, aware of our frailty, and more dependent on God. We’ve been reminded that in spite of all our modern diversions and technological advances, we are still just dust. We cannot control even a single day of our lives.

· As you enter 2021, are you optimistic about the future, or do you have a sneaking suspicion things may only get worse? Do you wonder what God thinks about all of this, and what he would say to his church today? As I contemplated these questions, I was reminded of Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer in John 17. I think it sums up how Jesus wants us to approach the new year, and gives us a little peek at how he is praying for us right now as our Great High Priest.

· I’m going to read the entire chapter and as I read, I encourage you to look for three themes that emerge: the glory of God, the unity of the church, and the holiness of God’s people. Read all of John 17.

· Amen. What a prayer. Martin Lloyd Jones calls this “one of the richest and most sublime statements to be found anywhere, even in the Scriptures themselves.” We are listening in on a conversation between God the Son and God the Father, and remarkably, the Son is praying for you and for me.

· THREE THEMES EMERGE FROM THE HIGH PRIESTLY PRAYER…

The Glory of God

· Jesus begins his prayer in v. 1, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you.”

· To “glorify” is to praise, to worship, to magnify. It’s quite remarkable actually. Jesus is asking the Father to glorify him. Jesus has glorified the Father throughout his lifetime (v. 4). Now he asks that the Father would glorify him.

· He is speaking here of the crucifixion. The moment of Christ’s deepest humiliation will also be a moment of glory. After all, God will put all his attributes on display while Christ hangs upon the cross – his love, his patience, his mercy, his sovereignty, his faithfulness, his righteousness, his wrath. The cross is a mighty billboard to the glory of Christ and the attributes of God.

· “Father, glorify me so I may glorify you.” No mortal man would ever dare make such a statement. Yet here Jesus prays he will be glorified. This is itself proof of his deity. He shared this glory from eternity past (v. 5), and now he will move from degree of glory to another as he goes to the cross. This will give God the Father even greater glory (v. 1).

· As Jesus prays in the upper room, God’s glory is on his mind. And as we enter a new year, God’s glory should be on our mind. It is after all, the very reason for which we were created. 1 Corinthians 10:31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

· We learned a few weeks ago from Eph. 2 that we are God’s workmanship, created for good works. I wonder, what “good works” has God ordained for you to accomplish in 2021? What works of mercy? What acts of service? What expressions of worship?

· 1 Peter 4:11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

· 2021 takes on new potential and becomes a brighter prospect, when we realize God is going to give us new and fresh opportunities this year to delight in him and glorify him.

· >>One of the primary ways we can glorify God is through our love and unity. This leads to a second theme that emerges in the High Priestly Prayer.

The Unity of the Church

· As I read through the prayer, you probably already noticed the word “one.” It appears 8x in this prayer. (See Jn. 17:11, 22-23).

· When God instituted marriage, he said that a man should leave his father and mother, and the two will become one flesh. I call this marriage math, when 1+1=1. It is a sweet and almost mystical union. When God instituted the church, we again have a miraculous thing happen. Not just two become one, but 50, 100, or more become one.

· I reported last Sunday at our business meeting that our current membership is 56. These are the people who have made a profession of faith in the gospel, agree with our statement of faith, have covenanted together to support the ministry of the church, and to hold one another accountable in Christian love. If you’re not already a member, I encourage you to consider joining.

· With a church even of our small size, there is quite a bit of diversity, and that’s a good thing. We should have rich and poor, old and young, black and white, Raiders fans and Chargers fans. But our union with Christ and our common bond in the gospel should far outweigh any differences we have.

· 2020 gave us lots of new opportunities to show Christian love one to another. And we will no doubt have many more opportunities in 2021.

· You say, “How can I pursue Christian unity?” I’m glad you asked! Here are three ways you can pursue greater unity in your relationships in the coming year:

· #1 Overlook the little stuff (1 Cor. 13:5 Love is not irritable or resentful. CSB does not keep a record of wrongs. Eph. 4:2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love)

· #2 Give the benefit of the doubt. (1 Cor. 13:7 Love believes all things, hopes all things). Believe in the best rather than assuming the worst. Don’t constantly question people’s motives or always read between the lines. Trust that they mean well, and that even if they hurt you, it was probably unintentional.

· #3 Resolve problems quickly. Ephesians 4:26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger. Matthew 5:23–24 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

· This unity will not only strengthen God’s church and give him glory, but it also has an evangelistic effect. (see vv. 21, 23). Our love for one another is proof that Jesus is God’s Son, the one and only Savior. When the world sees Christians demonstrating true love, it is a powerful demonstration of the truth of the gospel.

· >>>But there is one final theme that emerges from this prayer…

The Holiness of God’s People

· Jesus prays not only for our unity, but also for our holiness. He says we are to remain “in the world” for a little while, but are not “of the world.” i.e. not characterized by the world, not pressed and conformed into its mold. We are to be distinct, set apart.

· See v. 14-16

· It would have been nice if when God saved you, he immediately raptured you. But he didn’t do that. He deliberately kept you in this world. You and I are to be a light shining in the darkness, a fish swimming against the current, a sweet melody amidst the noise.

· When John mentions the “world” he speaks of humanity apart from God. He is referring to our ungodly society. Ever since The Fall, the world has been a wicked place. Gen. 6:5 says, “The LORD saw that the wickedness of men was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” Every person on this planet is a sinner who falls short of God’s glory. Take all that collective sin, selfishness, and idolatry, and multiply it by billions, and you have a world that is often fighting against itself, and is diametrically opposed to God.

· Did you grow in holiness in 2020? Think specifically about your use of social media. Did it point you to Christ, or often weight you down?

· It is said that the two things that shape you the most are the books you read and the people you spend time with. Why not make choices at the outset of this year that will point you to Christ and greater holiness?

Conclusion

· Now look with me at John 17:24. In this verse, Jesus refers to all of redemptive history, from eternity past to eternity future.

· Oh how we long for the day when we will be with Christ. Do you long for that? This passage tells us that Jesus does too! He desires that we would be with him, where he is, delighting in his presence and his glory.

· In the meantime, live for the glory of God, pursue the unity of the Spirit, and strive for growing holiness. May God help us to fulfill his will for our lives.