JOHN 17:11-24
JESUS PRAYED FOR YOU!
Life of Christ #53
My Mom was dying. Dad went home to Heaven just four months before. The day before I had made a comment about "if Mom gets better." I was chastised by my aunt, "Don't say if, but when!" I knew better. This upset me.
Now, the next day, on a Friday morning, upon arriving at the hospital I discovered that it was time to make a decision. Do we honor her living will concerning "heroics" and let her go, or keep her on dialysis. After consulting with a nurse and two doctors, I, my brothers, and sister all agreed it was time to let mom go.
There was one problem. I was concerned about my aunt's (Mom's sister) reaction. I asked one of the doctors to talk to her. There I was by the phone. The hospital chaplain was hovering, and the doctor was ready to talk to my Aunt. I got her on the phone, and the doctor talked to her. Then, the chaplain and doctor moved away so I had privacy. My Aunt understood and was ready to let Mom go. We had her blessing.
However, right after I hung up, I was overwhelmed with grief and tears. In a second, the chaplain was back, and sitting next to me. He had been around, but keeping his distance. He took my hand, and prayed with me. That's all he did. But it was what I needed.
I, myself, am a volunteer hospital chaplain. This time I was on the receiving end. I learned firsthand how much the prayers of others are appreciated.
You too have probably appreciated times when someone has prayed for you in your presence. You have also appreciated knowing that others were praying for you and situations that concern you.
And here is an even more comforting thought. If you are a Christian the Lord Jesus has prayed for you, does pray for you and will pray for you.
Hebrews 7:24-25 - But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. [25] Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
Hebrews 4:14-16 - Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. [15] For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. [16] Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Christian, do you know what the first record we have of Jesus praying for you is? It is in the next passage in our series on the Life of Christ.
After the Last Supper, which we saw a couple of weeks ago Jesus did some teaching known to us as the “Upper Room Discourse”. Somewhere, either in the Upper Room or traveling to the Garden of Gethsemane, the Lord Jesus prayed for his disciples and us in John 17.
Although verses 11-19 specifically have the disciples in view, I feel that it can be implied that Jesus’ requests are the same for us as well. So in verses 11-24 we see that Jesus prayed for you!
JESUS PRAYED FOR YOUR SECURITY – Vss. 11-15
JESUS PRAYED FOR YOUR SANCTIFICATION – Vss. 16-19
JESUS PRAYED FOR YOUR SOLIDARITY -Vss. 20-23
JESUS PRAYED FOR YOUR SUBLIMITY – Vs/ 24
We normally consider another prayer to be the Lord’s Prayer.
Matthew 6:9-13 - After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. [10] Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. [11] Give us this day our daily bread. [12] And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. [13] And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
To be honest, though, the prayer we call the Lord’s Prayer is really a model given to us. It is really the “Disciples’ Prayer”. I feel that the real Lord’s Prayer is this one before us. It is a prayer of intercession. It is a prayer that has been answered and will continue to be answered.
Vs. 1 – Jesus teaches us something about prayer here. When Jesus prayed, he asked that He, as the Son, would glorify the Father in this His hour.
The hour was the hour of his betrayal, arrest, trial, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension.
Vs. 2 – The ultimate glory was that was in His giving eternal life to all those who have or will trust Him as Savior.
Vs. 3 – We have an explanation of the eternal life that Jesus gives to those who believe. If you know the Lord Jesus, you know God. It you know God, you know the Lord Jesus.
John 14:6 - Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Vs. 4 – The Lord Jesus glorified God the Father on the earth. He brought glory to God’s name.
How did Jesus do this? Simply by doing the work which God gave Him to do!
How will we glorify God on the earth? Simply by doing the work that He gave us to do.
There are some things God wants all of us to do like praising, praying, witnessing, getting to know God better, and living a holy life.
There are other things that God will call on you to, such as ministering to a family member or a friend, or being a pastor, Sunday School Teacher, Bible study leader or a missionary. God does not call any of us to be exactly like someone else in our ministry.
Vs. 5 – Although Jesus had glory while he walked the earth, he had voluntarily limited the glory that he displayed while here. It was time for Him, as an obedient son having completed His task to be dressed once again in His heavenly glory.
Now, having talked to the Father about His own situation, He directs His thoughts towards praying for the Eleven, and all that have followed them, including us. These are things that God is doing or will do for us.
Vs. 6 – Notice that like the disciples, we are taken from the world’s way of doing things to belong to the Lord Jesus.
We are His possession because we are God’s possession. And notice the distinguishing point about disciples, “They have kept thy Word.”
A true believer keeps God’s Word. He or she is not perfect, but gives indication of their faith by their obedience.
Now let’s consider what Jesus prayed His disciples.
JESUS PRAYED FOR YOUR SECURITY – Vss. 11-15
Vs. 11 – One of the great problems many Christians have had with their salvation is thinking that they could lose that salvation.
One reason why people think that they can lose their salvation is because they think that staying saved is up to them!
Getting saved was the work of God.
Ephesians 2:1 - And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: [9] Not of works, lest any man should boast.
As this prayer by Jesus indicates, staying saved is also the work of God. Jesus was leaving this world and asked that God would …keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me…
To the Jewish people a name was important. The name of a person was to be a reflection of their character.
So when Jesus asks God to keep us by His name. He is asking that we be kept by the character of God.
And remember this, one of the characteristics or attributes of God is that He is all powerful.
John 10:27-30 - My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: [28] And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. [29] My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to
pluck them out of my Father's hand. [30] I and my Father are one.
Vs. 12 – When Jesus was here He worked at keeping His disciples. The one that was not kept, Judas, was never a believer in the first place.
Judas was not a child of God as the other disciples were. He was the “son of perdition”.
According to the American Heritage Dictionary, perdition means a. Loss of the soul; eternal damnation. b. Hell.
Vs. 14 – Jesus had given the disciples and us God’s Word.
If we have truly trusted Jesus Christ as our Savior, we have trusted His Word.
The world hated Jesus because Jesus was not of this world. The world hates Christians because we are of another world, Heaven because we belong to Jesus.
Vs. 15 – Wouldn’t it be nice if the moment we got saved, we just went to Heaven?
That’s not God’s plan. The plan is that we who know Jesus Christ as Savior will witness to those who do not know Him. So, God, doesn’t remove us from the world but He keeps us from evil, or as it might also be translated, “the evil one”.
There is only so much that Satan can do. Satan can not take us away from Jesus or God. Oh, He would like to, but God won’t let Him!
I have one last thought before we move on. In some cases it appears that a person has lost their salvation. They claim to be saved, and might even show some change, and then they fall back permanently into a life of sin. I don’t feel that person was ever saved in the first place.
The person who is truly saved is kept by God.
JESUS PRAYED FOR YOUR SECURITY – Vss. 11-15
JESUS PRAYED FOR YOUR SANCTIFICATION – Vss. 16-19
Vs. 16 – Much of our anxiety would be removed if we simply accepted this truth.
Jesus was not of this world. The things that often matter in this world like position, wealth, control, and personal comfort didn’t matter to Him.
Jesus is from Heaven. Jesus is God.
You, if you know the Lord Jesus as Savior are not of this world. This world is just a temporary residence. You are actually a citizen of Heaven.
Philippians 3:20 - For our conversation (citizenship) is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
Vs. 17 – The word “sanctify” and the word “holy” are the same word in Greek. Someone who is holy is set apart. God is Holy. He is set apart from sin.
The moment we trusted Jesus Christ, we became “holy” or “set apart”. The word translated “saint” is also from the same root word. As Christians we are “saints”. God has set us apart for Him. We are holy in our position, because we have been set apart for Him in Christ.
And I want to remind you that we are not only holy in our position as Christians, but we are to be holy in our practice as Christians.
1 Peter 1:15-16 - But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; [16] Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
Do you wonder how you can possibly live a holy life?
A good start to the holy life is taking seriously what Jesus says here, “THY WORD IS TRUTH!”
The more I read, study, memorize, and meditate on the Word, the more I will obey the Word. The more I obey the Word the more holy in practice I will be.
Vs. 18 – Jesus was sent by the Father into the world to save the World. Jesus sends us into the world with the message of that salvation.
Vs. 19 – Jesus set himself apart for us. He lived His life in this world for us. He now lives in Heaven interceding for us!
As Jesus set Himself apart for us, we should be set apart for Him.
Jesus is the bridegroom for the true church made up of all true Christians.
We are the bride.
We expect our earthly brides to be set apart for us.
Ladies expect their earthly grooms to be set apart for them.
Jesus has every right to expect us to be set apart or holy for Him as He is for us.
JESUS PRAYED FOR YOUR SECURITY – Vss. 11-15
JESUS PRAYED FOR YOUR SANCTIFICATION – Vss. 16-19
JESUS PRAYED FOR YOUR SOLIDARITY -Vss. 20-23
Vs. 20 – Now Jesus specifically mentions us. He is asking specifically for all Christians.
Vs. 21 – God the Father and God the Son are one as parts of the Trinity. They are one although they are unique in personality.
Jesus prayed that we also would be one. This unity is not a unity of behavior, not a unity of denominations, not is it a unity of personality. Christians are not clones.
Christians are to be unified in Spirit, the Holy Spirit.
Philippians 2:1-4 - If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, [2] Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. [3] Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. [4] Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
Christians are to be unified in their love for Christ and for each other.
John 13:34-35 - A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. [35] By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Vs. 22-23 – Jesus enables us to be unified. As we practice abiding in Christ and Him in us the world is going to take notice.
As each Christian practices being in Christ, they will also practice being on the same “wave length” as other Christians. They will be unified in Spirit!
"We cannot do better than to follow the maxim which was enunciated by a certain Rupert Meldenius at the beginning of the seventeen-century and quoted with approval by Richard Baxter: 'In fundamentals unity, in non-fundamentals (or "doubtful things") liberty, in all things charity.'" - John Stott, CHRIST THE CONTROVERSIALIST p44 http://elbourne.org/sermons/index.mv?illustration+319
“Snowflakes are frail, but if enough of them get together they can stop traffic.” - Vance Havner Ibid
JESUS PRAYED FOR YOUR SECURITY – Vss. 11-15
JESUS PRAYED FOR YOUR SANCTIFICATION – Vss. 16-19
JESUS PRAYED FOR YOUR SOLIDARITY -Vss. 20-23
JESUS PRAYED FOR YOUR SUBLIMITY – Vs. 24
Here is a prayer that God still answers for Jesus every day!
Every time a believer dies this prayer is answered!
The Lord Jesus is in Heaven.
Every time a Christian dies He or She goes to Heaven.
2 Corinthians 5:8 - We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
And what will we do in Heaven?
We will behold the eternal glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
It’s okay to cry when we lose a loved one.
But let’s also remember that we weep for ourselves.
We have not reason to weep for the person who knows Jesus as Savior!
We maybe should be a little jealous!
He’s basking in the glory of the Lord Jesus!
We’re still stuck here.
Jesus prayed for you!
Every one of these prayers has been answered is answered every day!
JESUS PRAYED FOR YOUR SECURITY – Vss. 11-15
JESUS PRAYED FOR YOUR SANCTIFICATION – Vss. 16-19
JESUS PRAYED FOR YOUR SOLIDARITY -Vss. 20-23
JESUS PRAYED FOR YOUR SUBLIMITY – Vs. 24