Jesus' Final Prayer

 JESUS' FINAL PRAYER MAY 16, 2021 Given by Craig Minke In John 17 we read a emotional prayer of Jesus speaking to his disciples about his ascension and our relationship with him and the Father. Today's passage is found in: JN 17:6-19 6 "I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; 8 for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. 9 I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. 10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. 11 And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost, so that the scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves. 14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 15 I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. 16 They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth. (NRSV) Maybe I should start by asking a question? What led up to you following Jesus? * Maybe some of us had parents who were Christians and taught us about Christ from infancy. * Some of us may have had miraculous experiences that suddenly revealed the reality of God. * Some may have gone on a journey for truth and Jesus found you at the end of the road. * Whatever the story, we often tend to think about how we started following Christ by looking at things that happened in our lives that guided us toward Jesus. * Another question may be what life circumstance led us to begin following Jesus What if we could ask Jesus that question? * What if we could each ask Jesus, "What did you do to get me to follow you?" * Do you think his answer would be different from our answer? * I believe the answer is "yes." I would focus on things that happened in my life, and there is nothing necessarily wrong with that. * However, Jesus would talk about things that he personally did to draw me nearer to himself. * Jesus' answer would be far more intimate and personal. * His answer would reveal his deep love and commitment to me long before I knew him. His answer would include his birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension. * His answer would be to remind us that IF HE hadn't ascended and taken us to the Father, we would still be wandering around in our own helplessness. * We would NOT BE participating in the relationship and COMMUNION of the Father, Son and Spirit. In John 17 Jesus PRAYED ABOUT AND FOR THE 12 DISCIPLES, and his beautiful prayer reveals the immensity of the promise of bringing us into the presence of the Father. * Let's keep in mind that Jesus prays this prayer in the shadow of the cross, on the evening of his betrayal. * With his death so close at hand, he made sure this prayer gave us hope, sure promises, and a view into the things most important to him. An EXERCISE you may want to try at home is to read this passage and think in terms of what the disciples initially heard and what thoughts might have come to mind. * Then read it and ask how they came to understand even more after the resurrection. * Finally, I suggest you read it a third time and ask how this prayer has meaning to us as we think of Jesus' ascension. Let's look at some background to today's reading. JN 17:1-5 After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come (the hour of his death); glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, * Notice that Jesus asks the Father to GLORIFY HIM. * WHY? * So he can GLORIFY THE FATHER, a reciprocal relationship. * Glorify means to give HONOR. 2 since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. * In verse 3 Jesus DEFINES ETERNAL LIFE - to KNOW (to be in a close personal relationship with (The Father and Son) 4 I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. 5 So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed. (NRSV) * Jesus had FINISHED THE WORK he was given to do. He had accomplished his TASK. What was going through the minds of the disciples as Jesus was earnestly praying for them? * While it might be fun to guess what the disciples were thinking, it's more important for us to read this passage THROUGH THE LENS OF THE ASCENSION AND SEE WHAT JESUS WAS PRAYING FOR THEM AND OR US TODAY. Let's continue: JN 17:6-10 6 "I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. * Jesus makes clear his PURPOSE was to MAKE THE FATHER KNOW TO US. * Jesus coming enabled us to see what the real nature of God was like. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; 8 for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. * Jesus keeps emphasizing the UNITY that exists between him and the Father. * Everything is FROM YOU... * The words I gave them are SENT FROM YOU... * They know I CAME FROM YOU... * They know YOU SENT ME... 9 I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. * Note that Jesus' said the disciples had been given to Him by the Father. They belonged to the father, but they had been entrusted into His hands. He (Jesus) was responsible for them and their welfare. * Therefore he prayed for them, that the Father would give them special strength in the coming days. * You see Jesus' disciples belonged to both Him and the Father. * God is just as deeply concerned about his followers as Jesus was and is. 10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. (NRSV) * Jesus makes clear that WE BELONG TO THE FATHER ALREADY and he (GOD) gave us to Jesus. * In v10 he says "All mine are yours and yours are mine." * This is glorified in this relationship with us verse 10 says. * Let's bring him glory by allowing our conduct to be fitting of who we are in Him. You see the emphases on our connection; * to the Father through the Son, and our connection * to the Son because of the Father. * The Father knew us before the incarnation and gave us to Jesus. Let's continue: JN 17:11-19 11 And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. * Jesus was now leaving the world and returning to heaven and the Father. * The whole mission of preaching the gospel to the world now rested upon the shoulders of his disciples. (Matt 28:19-20) * As they went they would be equipped by God by the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. * In v11 Jesus' prayer is that God would keep them together as ONE. PRAYER FOR UNITY * As unity between believers should be as strong as the unity that exists between Father and Son. * We live in an extremely divisive world, prejudice, competition, lust selfishness, egotism, hurt, angry spirits, possessiveness, pride, self-praise, hate, war, materialism. * The divisive world was a threat to the disciples, being in a world that could have been influenced and led astray - so Jesus prays for them. * We too have to guard and ask for God's help so we can have his nature, his character and his purpose. * As believers we must guard against the divisive spirit or nature of the world infiltrating our lives in things such as: GRUMBLING, GRIPING, COMPLAINING, CRITICIZING, ENVYING, GOSSIPING, OPPOSING, BYPASSING, IGNORING, ISOLATING, 12 While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost, so that the scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves. * Jesus prays that they also may have JOY IN ALL ITS FULNESS. 14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 15 I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. * Jesus knew the world would hate his followers just as it hated him. * He prays that God would keep and protect his followers for the EVIL ONE, SATAN. * After all we are working in SATAN'S WORLD, he does walk about as a ROARING LION, and without God's protection WE ARE EASY PREY. * It is NOT EASY TO LIVE in the world and NOT be OF THE WORLD * Remember what ROM 12:2 says. be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God 16 They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. ILLUSTRATION: I'd like to read this story to illustrate the point Imagine a young boy's experience as a baseball fanatic. He plays the game, collects the cards, memorizes statistics, and idolizes the players. In fact, all the boys in his neighborhood follow his leadership. But then a new boy moves next door and introduces a new game none of them have ever played. His personality draws the other boys to him. Soon, along with the new game, there is also a new leader, with new rules and new loyalties. The former leader feels alienated, angry, and confused. He regards the new game as an intrusion and the new leader as an enemy. He is torn between his desire for friendship and his fear of betraying "his" game. He wants to be loyal to the old game. The world sees our allegiance to Jesus Christ in the same way. Christ threatens to shatter the neighborhood structure. His rules are different. His words are attractive. But loyalty to Christ means disloyalty to the world. We can understand the world's confusion, but we should never forget that we were also part of that life. But precisely because we have been there, we need to build bridges and find common ground with unbelievers so they can see the difference Christ makes in our lives. But we must never return to the old game. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. * Jesus' prayer for us is that God would sanctify us through his WORD, HIS WORD IS TRUTH. * We have been SANCTIFIED BY THE TRUTH, and that truth has a name. HE is JESUS 18 As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. * Jesus said just as the father had sent him into the world to make disciples v18 so he is sending us to make disciples in this world. * It will not always be pretty, it won't be easy, most will reject us, but this is the task he has given us. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth. (NRSV) * To be sanctified is to be "see apart" * Jesus set himself apart to please Godl * His prayer also is that we are set apart, being set apart to serve, and worship God is what salvation is all about. * The Word of God holds new instructions for the believer every day. * The Word of God shows us as believers how to be more and more conformed to the image of Christ every day. SET APART A follower of Christ becomes sanctified (set apart for sacred use, cleansed and made holy) through believing and obeying the Word of God (Hebrews 4:12). He or she has already accepted forgiveness through Christ's sacrificial death (Hebrews 7:26-27). But daily application of God's Word has a purifying effect on our minds and hearts. Scripture points out sin, motivates us to confess, renews our relationship with Christ, and guides us back to the right path. Let's finish the prayer: JN 17:20-25 20 "I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, * Jesus didn't just pray for the 12 here he prays for all future believers that also includes you and me here today in our world * This is most precious Jesus prays for us - for you and me for of us who believe today. * Of course only God knows, but think of the preciousness of the fact that Jesus prayed for every one of us.... * The weakest as well as the strongest * The diseased as well as the healthy * The orphan as well as the children of the family * The widow and widower as well as the couple. * The prisoner as well as the free * The believer in the darkest jungles as well as the believer in the limelight. * The purpose of Jesus' prayer should be our purpose for praying: * He asked for unity, to have "love for another" * He prayed for peace * Jesus prayed for those he want us to reach. 21 that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. BECOMING ONE Jesus' great desire for his disciples was that they would become one. He wanted them unified as a powerful witness to the reality of God's love. Unity between believers is not often mentioned as the catalyst for someone becoming a Christian. However, Christian unity does provide an environment for the gospel message to make its clearest impact, and lack of unity among Christians frequently drives people away. Are you helping to unify the body of Christ, the church? You can pray for other Christians, avoid gossip, build others up, work together in humility, give your time and money, exalt Christ, and refuse to get sidetracked by arguing over divisive matters. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. * Jesus' prayer is that believers may be perfected in unity - that unity come from Jesus within us. * As it says in JN 13:34-35 We are given a NEW COMMAND, LOVE ONE ANOTHER, AND AS A RESULT OF THIS ALL MEN WILL KNOW WE ARE HIS DISCIPLES - IF WE HAVE LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER. * That is also how we can GLORIFY GOD by OUR ACTIONS. * The unity will help us convince the world that God sent Christ and that He loves loves and died for all mankind. * Believer must be one in spirit and mind in proclaiming the gospel * There is but ONE MESSAGE - God sent Jesus out of heaven into the world * There is only ONE REQUEST of men - to believe that God did sent Jesus into the world * There is only ONE MISSION - that men be one unified in proclaiming the message of the glorious gospel. 24 Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. 25 "Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me. 26 I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them." (NRSV) OUR RESOURCES IN CHRIST John 17 contains a storehouse of resources God makes available to us as disciples of Jesus. What more could we ask for? What else could we need? • Jesus give us eternal life (17:2). • Jesus prays for us (17:9, 20). • The Holy Father protects us (17:11). • Jesus gives us the words of God (17:8, 14). • Jesus sets us apart for special service (17:17-18). • We are unified with God and Christ (17:21, 23). • We have God's love (17:23-24, 26). • Christ is in us (17:23). • Jesus reveals God to us (17:26). Because we have these wonderful resources, we can persevere in our faith. JOHN 17 NOW LEADS TO THE ASCENSION. When Jesus ascended... * He received his FULL GLORY * If you recall he told Mary to not cling to him because he had not yet ascended. * That glory was also given to us in order that we might PARTICIPATE in the communion shared by the Father, Son and Spirit. * He was GIVEN ALL AUTHORITY in heaven and earth. * Recall before giving the disciples their commission in Matthew 28, he reminded them that he had been given ALL POWER AND AUTHORITY. * After giving them the commission, he reminded them he would be with them ALWAYS. * He TOOK US WITH HIM. * Yes, we are still here, but Jesus asked the Father that we could be WHERE HE IS-at the FATHER'S RIGHT HAND. * We are already CITIZENS of God's kingdom. * And finally * The promise of ETERNAL LIFE became a reality to ALL who are in Christ. Jesus' prayer makes clear that the goal of Christ's work was to unite us to the triune God and each other, but that is not all. * In John 17:13, Jesus says that he spoke his prayer out loud so that the hearers as we read early may have "THE FULL MEASURE OF JOY WITHIN THEM." * John later stated in 1 John 1:4 that he detailed his witness of Jesus to make his readers' "JOY COMPLETE." * These two passages help us to understand that knowing the details of our RECONCILIATION and REDEMPTION brings us joy. * When we see the extent of God's love and care for us, joy bubbles up. The ascension completed the work God gave his Son. * What does Jesus' ascension mean for us PERSONALLY? * When Jesus returned to the Father his work of rescuing and redeeming us was COMPLETE. * Salvation is a DONE DEAL for all those who believe that Jesus is who he says he is, and WE ARE IN HIM. * FORGIVENESS is past tense. * The RANSOM has been paid. * HOPE is restored. * God's plan to bring us back into relationship with himself WAS ENACTED. * Because Jesus ascended, WE HAVE ACCESS TO THE THRONE OF GOD , to the very PRESENSE of the Father, who LOVES US and desires to be in INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP with us. We can only imagine what the disciples thought as they listened to this prayer. * How do you think the disciples felt watching Jesus ascend into the heavens. * They thought he would probably be back in a few days, weeks, month, years or especially in their lifetime. * We can only imagine how many times the words of this prayer came back to encourage them in the years ahead. * What we do know is the words of this prayer were answered at the ASCENSION. * God's greatest joy is to be ONE with his children. * The ASCENSION brought about that JOY. CLOSING PRAYER