May 13, 2021

I. Introduction

A. Give context of the prayer

1. Last supper

2. Jesus is leaving - no longer physically present

II. Jesus defines who he is praying for

A. and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. John 17:8

B. 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. John17:9

C. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. John 17:11

1. The world in John are those people who reject the life-giving message of Jesus

a. Defining a Christians relationship to the world would many sermons - it is that complex

b. It’s not a rejection of nature or the environment or our physicality, but rather a deep foreboding that the deck has been stacked against you and that you just can’t count on much.

2. Personal question - if sin is rejection of Jesus and faith is accepting of Jesus, should Christians have some difference than the world?

III. Christian Unity

A. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. John 17:11

B. They are to be protected so that they may love as they have been commanded to love in a way that not only draws them into union with the divine love but also shows that love to the world into which they are being sent as Jesus has been sent

1. Unity is the work of God

2. Our unity is based on Jesus love being lived out for the world - we are united in the following of Jesus

3. The more Christian focus on other issues the less unity we have

4. When our hope is based on nothing less than Jesus Christ - we will be united.

IV. Joy from following Jesus

A. 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. John 17:13

B. Joy at the resurrection.

C. Hope that comes from knowing God is in control

1. When suffering comes from doing God’s will (e.g. John Lewis at the Edmund Pettus Bridge) we can have joy even when we suffer.

2. Joy is not happiness but a sense of peace (that passes understanding) even when we are in difficult situations

V. Who is the “Evil one?”

A. I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. John 17:15

B. Ones who reject Jesus

C. Those who love money

D. Jesus knows we will follow people rather then Him

VI. This is God’s work

A. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. John 17:

B. Define Sanctify

1. Take in the qualities of God

2. Exhibit traits such as love, mercy, forgiving

3. set apart- in knowing God the disciples see what it is to true live and live eternally (as in fully not as in forever)

a. placing others before self

b. love before power

c. Forgiveness over control

d. sacrifice over sustainability

C. Define Truth

1. Jesus is the truth in that he complete reveals God to us