Revision as of 16:41, 10 September 2018

Objectives

Materials

Introduction

Main Body

Setting The Stage

• In John 15 Jesus taught his disciples about their relationships. Relationships with Christ, relationships with each other, and relationships with the world.
• In John 16, Jesus teaches his disciples about the coming Holy Spirit and imminent departure.
• John 17 records the prayer of Jesus right before his arrest.
• The prayer of Jesus will give us insight into both His heart for His people and His people's deeper needs.

Main Proposition

Point 1, The Priority of God's Glory (V. 1-5 )

In the first three verses of John 17 no fewer than three ινα clauses show the purpose behind cosmological events.

Grammatically, ινα introduces a subordinating conjunction.

1. Subordinating conjunction
   1. final, introducing a subordinate clause expressing a purpose: in order that, so that, so
   2. introducing a clause of effort, indicating what someone is trying to accomplish: that
   3. usually poetic: where

Christ's Priority Was God's Glory (V. 1)

Verse 1

• The hour refers to the time of Jesus's death. The significance of calling it "the hour" is important. In some sense this is the moment that all of time turns upon. The fulcrum of time. From Genesis 3:15 until now all of creation earnestly waited for this moment.

• Notice the purpose even of Christ's glory was ultimately God's glory. In the greek Christ uses a ινα clause. In order that Your Son also may glorify you.

Eternity Is Focussed on God's Glory (V. 2-3)

Verse 2

• yet another ινα clause demonstrates that God gave Christ authority in order that Christ might give eternal life.

Verse 3

• In verse 3, the third ινα of this chapter introduces the idea of what eternal life actually is: knowing God and Christ. Have you ever heard someone say "he lived a full life" or "he is enjoying all life has to offer?" According to Christ, eternal life is not experiencing all there is to experience. No, eternal life is knowing God.

It Is All About God's Glory (V. 4-5)

Verse 4

• Notice the implication, everything Christ did was purposed for the Glory of God.

Verse 5

• The priority is God's glory. But don't miss the fact that in God's glory, Christ is glorified as well. We should aim for God's glory and realize that God's glory is also what is best for us.

• Romans 8:28 states
  • And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

As Christians, we must make God's glory our highest aim.

Transition (V. 6-8)

• Sandwiched between two rich sections on Christ and God are some specific prayer requests that Christ makes. From these prayer requests we can learn a lot about our own needs.

Verse 6

• Notice the ownership. As Christians, we belong to God.

Verse 7

• Notice the source

Verse 8

• Notice the belief

Point 2, We Have Not Arrived (V. 9-19)

• I worry that too often we set ourselves on a pinnacle and then apply Biblical teaching to everyone else around us.

We Need Keeping (V. 9-12)

Verse 9

• Christ makes a strong contrast that he is praying not for the world, but for His disciples here. The world may have a multitude of problems, but Christ chose to pray for His disciples.

Verse 10

• Nothing we have done or ever will do will warrant God's gracious provision of salvation. Chosen, before the foundation of the world, we have nothing with which to brag or stand self-righteously.

Verse 11-12

• Notice the contrast, while Christ is no longer on Earth, we are. This might seem obvious at first, but think about it. The implication is that we re susceptible to the wiles of the world. We must not get complacent in our walk. We must not get complacent in our application of scripture to ourselves.
• Notice that Christ prays for unity. I do not believe Christ prayed for the sake of praying. I believe Christ prayed for something that we desperately need, the unity that only comes through God.

We Are Here Now (V. 13-15)

Have you ever thought to yourself. I just wish I could be done with all of this and get to heaven, it would b so much easier. Well, while it is good to long for heave, we must realize we are here now and God put us here for a reason so we need to get to work!

Verse 13

• The message of scripture is unified in the statement that true, lasting joy only comes through God.

Verses 14-15

• It is not that our permanent place of belonging is in the world but rather that our mission right now is a mission in the world.
• Christ does not pry that e would be taken out of the world, that would be contrary to our mission, God's plan, and hence, our joy.
• Instead Christ prays for spiritual protection.

We Are Destined For Something More (V. 16-19)

Verse 16

• For the moment we have been placed in the world and asked to serve in the world, but we must remember that at the moment of salvation we are positionally sanctified, set apart, no longer of the world but in the world bound for our real home.

Verse 17

• When people come home from an extended stay foreign country they often want to eat something from their home. A young man who worked in an islamic area of China came home after two years and could not get enough bacon and pepperoni. Someone visiting him back in the US might see bags of pepperoni in the refrigerator, a snack. Those who stay for an extended time long for some of the comforts of their home. We are not of the world, and we may long to be home, but we at least have access to something from our home. The word of God!
• Do you long for the word of God like it is a rare commodity that represents all you hold dear from home?

Verse 18

• Christ was obedient to God, we must in turn be obedient to Christ.

Verse 19

• Just inc are you are thinking this is too much to ask. Christ has one final reminder. He gave up everything for you.

As Christians, we must be cautious about becoming to comfortable with where we are.  We have not arrived, yet we are asked to serve in a fallen world, knowing that our ultimate home and sanctification awaits.

Point 3, Unity is not a Given (V. 20-23)

Point 4, Christ Loves Us (V. 24-26)

Conclusion