The Prayer of God s Son

Transcription

1 Lesson #85 The Prayer of God s Son John 17:6-11 Presented Live on November 18, 2018 I. Introduction and review A. We have been studying the Lord s prayer found in John 17 B. Jesus divided his prayer into three parts 1. He prays for Himself 2. He prays for His twelve disciples 3. And He then prays for His church C. As Jesus opens this prayer, He first prays for Himself 1. In doing so He reveals to us His spiritual priorities 2. His priorities are three: a. The glorify the Father b. Seeking everlasting life for mankind c. Revealing the Father by delivering His word D. His prayer efforts for His 11 disciples didn t start here 1. Jesus prayed for His disciples before He chose them [Luke 6:12] 2. Jesus prayed for His disciples during His public ministry [John 6:15] Page 1 of 8

2 3. Jesus prayed for His disciples at the every end of His time hear on earth [Luke 22:32] 4. And Jesus prayed for His disciples once He ascended into heaven [Rom. 8:34 and Heb. 7:25] E. But we must also remember that while Jesus prayed specifically for His disciples, the principles of His prayer apply to all believers II. Jesus speaks to the Father about His disciples A. He appears start with a preamble of sorts 1. Doesn t the Father already know this 2. So why does Jesus do it? B. John 17:6-8 I have manifested Your name to the men whom You gave Me out of the world; they were Yours and You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. 7 "Now they have come to know that everything You have given Me is from You; 8 for the words which You gave Me I have given to them; and they received them and truly understood that I came forth from You, and they believed that You sent Me. 1. This passage is spoke by Jesus in the way a middle easterner would say things a. However its not how a westerner would convey the same information b. We tend to speak chronologically 2. A chronological breakdown of 17:6-8 a. The disciples were part of the world system b. The Father called them out of the world c. And then He gave them to His Son d. Jesus revealed and display God s name to these men e. And they have kept the Father s word (1) Word (in verse 6) lo,goj logos Meaning: a word (as embodying an idea), a statement, a speech (2) Words (in verse 8) r`h/ma rhema Meaning: a word, by impl. a matter f. They have learned what Jesus taught them Page 2 of 8

3 g. And believed that the Father sent the Son into the world as His representative C. Notice that the Father called these men out of the world 1. Our Lord has always called His men out of the world, separating them from that satanic system 2. That list would include Abraham, Moses, David, Elijah and Paul D. Why is Jesus most concerned with manifesting God s name to His disciples? 1. Because it reveals the person and character to the believer 2. God s name is considered to be Him, in a manner of speaking a. His name represents His character and His attributes b. Consider the example of a diamond 3. His commandment: Exodus 20:7 "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain. a. Vain aw>v' shav' {shawv} or aw>v; shav {shav} Meaning: 1) emptiness, vanity, falsehood 1a) emptiness, nothingness, vanity 1b) emptiness of speech, lying 1c) worthlessness (of conduct) 4. Consider these passages: a. Isa. 50:10: (1) Trust in the name of the Lord. (2) What are we trusting in? (3) The attributes, character and relationships promised in His name (4) The actions He will take, that are assured to us by His name b. Prov. 18:10: (1) God's name is a strong tower - safety. (2) A place of refuge where one can find safety, respite, peace and rest. Page 3 of 8

4 III. (3) How do you get inside this tower the Name of God (4) Wrapping it around you (5) Entering with your heart (6) Seeking a vantage point form which we can see over any obstacle c. Psa. 20:7 [A Psalm of David] (1) Some boast in weaponry. (2) Boast in the name of the Lord. (3) Should we boast? (4) Jeremiah believed in boasting (5) Paul believed in boasting (6) What do you boast in? (7) What does it mean to boast in the name of God? (8) Consider I Sam. 17: 45 (9) Consider Acts 4:8-12 E. Consider also Jesus claims that 1. They have kept the Father s word; 2. They have learned what Jesus taught them, and 3. Believed that the Father sent the Son into the world as His Messiah 4. You see Jesus not only taught them divine truth a. He would then illustrate it b. And even more then that, He represented divine truth in His very presence c. And His disciples believed that His words were the Father s words Now Jesus starts to petition the Father on behalf of His disciples A. John 17:9-11 I ask on their behalf; I do not ask on behalf of the world, but of those whom You have given Me; for they are Yours; 10 and all things that are Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine; and I have been glorified in them. 11 "I am no longer in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We Page 4 of 8

5 are. B. Jesus now starts His petition but then interrupts that petition with what can be called a parenthetical statement 1. In ths parenthesis, He states the following: a. I am no tasking on behalf of the World (1) Does that mean that Jesus does not love the world? (2) See John 3:16 b. He then claims that what is His is also the Father s and what is the Father s is His (1) Jesus stresses this concept to convey the principle that He and the Father are one c. He then reminds the Father that these men have contributed to the glory of the Son d. The purpose of this parenthetical statement being to show the worthiness of His petition and a favorable response 2. Jesus also speaks to purpose a. He reminds the Father that soon Jesus will be leaving this world b. These disciples with be left behind c. They will now be God s primary representatives on this earth C. Jesus now finishes His initial petition requesting the Father 1. Keep them in Your name 2. And safe guard their unity D. What does it mean to keep them in Your name? 1. Keep means to guard or protect (thre,w tereo Meaning: to watch over, to guard) 2. It is this very word in the Greek language that is used to describe the primary responsibility of shepherd for his flock 3. He is to keep them separated from the dangers of the world Page 5 of 8

6 E. Jesus petitions the Father that these men (and those that follow after them) might be one 1. This concept of unity is mentioned not only in verses 9-11, but also in verses 12, and 26 of this prayer 2. We should understand this to mean a binding together as the Son is bound to the Father 3. What unity or oneness is our Lord speaking of? 4. Well first and foremost, these men must stick together during the infancy of the Church, or it will end before it gets stated 5. But is that all? 6. There have been many who have misquoted, misinterpreted and misused this passage 7. They claim that the Church cannot be divided and any such division is an affront to God 8. It started during my lifetime with what was called the ecumenical movement a. First it wants to unite all protestant denomination b. Then unite them with the Catholic church, the Eastern Orthodox church and the Church of England c. Have you ever heard of the Unity Church 9. Sometimes these movements have used subterfuge to accomplish their ends a. One part of that was the promise keepers organization b. Part of its message was good and Biblical c. But others parts were designed to bring all Christians together 10. A more recent ecumenical movement group is the emergent church a. They also have as one of their most important tenets the reunification of all believers b. They add mystics to the group and also other religions like Islam, Buddhists and Hindus 11. Is that what Jesus was really asking for? Page 6 of 8

7 IV. F. Jesus clarification 1. Consider the passage: that they may be one even as We are. a. There you can see that there are some stipulations on this oneness b. Jesus is asking for the same oneness that He has with the Father 2. We must understand that unity is not over truth, but that truth is preemptive to unity 3. The Father and the Son have no differences whatsoever as to the truth, in fact they are the truth 4. Unity must never dilute truth 5. Can we have full unity with those who believe that doing good is essential to salvation, for example? 6. This call for unity also speaks to us that God did not plan on Christians separating themselves from the world and living a monastic lifestyle 7. Can we have unity with those who proclaim that God s name is allah? a. Do you remember how much emphasis Jesus has placed on the Name of God b. Both in verse 6 and in verse Notice also that Jesus uses the moniker Holy Father a. Only time was when He was discussing unity b. What is holiness? c. First and foremost it is purity d. Including a purity of truth and would never condone false truth G. But what Jesus does want for these men is the indescribable pleasure of oneness with God in His truth and purity Final thoughts A. With the institution of the Church the history of the world has now changed 1. It has truly become the tale of two cities 2. The city of God, and Page 7 of 8

8 3. The city of man 4. Heb. 11:10, In which will you choose to live? 6. Will you choose as Abraham did or as Lot? B. Consider again a portion of John 17:10b... I have been glorified in them. 1. Jesus is speaking of the disciples 2. How is He glorified in them? 3. As Jesus character and nature is instilled into the believer by the sanctification process, a. The world is able to see our Savior s character and b. Come to understand that He does have a presence in the world 4. Does your life reveal those things? & Believer s Bible Class & Douglas W. Brady Page 8 of 8