Jesus' Prayer for the Next Generation Believer

John 17:20–23 CSB

“I pray not only for these, but also for those who believe in me through their word. May they 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 you sent me. I have given them the glory you have given me, so that they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me, so that they may be made completely one, that the world may know you have sent me and have loved them as you have loved me.

Introduction:

Main Point:

The Father and Son's unity is Jesus' prayer for the next generation of believers. It begins with One Master, One Message, and One Mission.

I. One Master

John 17:1–4 (CSB)

Jesus spoke these things, looked up to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you,

since you gave him authority over all people, so that he may give eternal life to everyone you have given him.

This is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and the one you have sent—Jesus Christ.

I have glorified you on the earth by completing the work you gave me to do.

John 1:9–14 (CSB)

The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world was created through him, and yet the world did not recognize him.

He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.

But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name,

who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 6:68 (CSB)

Simon Peter answered, “Lord, to whom will we go? You have the words of eternal life.

John 13:13–15 (CSB)

You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are speaking rightly, since that is what I am.

So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.

For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done for you.

New Command

John 13:34–35 (CSB)

“I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another.

By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

John 15:16–17 (CSB)

You did not choose me, but I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you.

“This is what I command you: Love one another.

“When you’re not sure what to say or do, ask what loves requires of you.” Andy Stanley

1 Corinthians 13:4–7 CSB

Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not arrogant, is not rude, is not self-seeking, is not irritable, and does not keep a record of wrongs. Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

II. One Message

John 17:20 CSB

“I pray not only for these, but also for those who believe in me through their word.

John 3:16 CSB

For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 5:6–8 (CSB)

For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly.

For rarely will someone die for a just person—though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die.

But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

BC Days

Titus 3:1–3 CSB

Remind them to submit to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to slander no one, to avoid fighting, and to be kind, always showing gentleness to all people. For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another.

New Life

Titus 3:4–7 (CSB)

But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared,

he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior

so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.

III. One Mission

John 17:21–23 CSB

May they 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 you sent me. I have given them the glory you have given me, so that they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me, so that they may be made completely one, that the world may know you have sent me and have loved them as you have loved me.

John 3:17–18 (CSB)

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.

John 4:34 CSB

“My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work,” Jesus told them.