Jesus’ Will (John 17)

Good morning. Peter, one of the pastors here. Welcome to Garden City. 

Several years ago – Will. – What do we want to be done with all our stuff and our kids (2) in the event something were to happen to Grace and me. We know God will take care of them. But we also had a responsibility to have some kind of plan. Funny – Making decisions when the kids are still young (3&1) – Trying to figure out who will be the most responsible. Who will be the most financially savvy. Who is likely to take care of the others. More Seriously – Who should our kids go and live with? Will – So people didn’t have to guess what we wanted.

Context: Jn.17. Bibles. Turn. Screen. “High Priestly Prayer” – Jesus’ will/final wishes – see what’s on Jesus’ mind and his heart in his prayer before he faces the cross and leaves…

Text: John 17 1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

Jesus begins by praying for himself – Selfish? Glorify me. No. Jesus’ prayer for himself reveals a lot about who he is and his self-giving love. Because the glory he is praying for…

1. Glory through suffering – the cross. – The very purpose. Of all the miracles and signs – the greatest was coming. Work of Redemption. Death and resurrection would draw people – that just his perfect life alone couldn’t. (Perfect life without death and resurrection. Heaven. That’s how it’s done. – Good for you. How does that help me?) 

Cross – There’s no length the love of God will not go to save us. The worst that could be done to Jesus – death on a cross – Jesus willingly died. But the glory of the resurrection would overshadow the humiliation and shame of his death. Barclay – The cross – This is what human beings think of my son. The resurrection – This is what I think of my Son. Through the cross was both Jesus’ path to glory and way back to the Father.

2. Glory – Jesus – asking for – God will not give glory to another. (Isa. 42:8, 48:11) So how is it that Jesus is asking for something that is only for God himself and is saying he already had this glory? – 1) Before the world existed – with God. Intimacy/Oneness with God the Father. 2) Authority over all flesh to give eternal life – Not just a messenger. Not just a good teacher. Not just a prophet. And not just with God, but is God. (Jn.1)

3. Eternal Life – Knowing the only true God AND Jesus Christ. Not doing good things. Not being a good person. And not even “knowing” (head) the right facts and details about God.

“Knowing” is more than intellectual knowledge. Satan and the demons have intellectual knowledge. (“Know” – Sex) – Intimate/Loving personal relationship with Jesus. – Through faith in God, in Jesus, who loved you and laid down his life for you so that you would not know eternal death but in his resurrection, you share in his eternal life. (Could spend the rest of the message just in these verses – Jesus’ identity and his self-giving love sets up the rest of his prayer…)

6 “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. 8 For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. 

Jesus – I’ve done everything I’ve come to do. (Will do. Good as done) And my disciples believe I am the Son of God sent from the Father.

Now…Jesus prays for the 11 and then all who will believe in him…
9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. (Judas Iscariot – Betrayed) 13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.

20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, (Notice the shift in Jesus’ prayer. He’s now praying all who will believe – for US! – Jesus, the night he would be betrayed and soon thereafter be crucified, prayed for you and me. We were on his mind. How amazing is that?) 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. 

Ok. Let’s break down Jesus’ prayer. First, Jesus prays multiple times for…

1. Unity and Oneness v. 11-12, 21-23. If you look at the world and Christians today, unity and oneness are not necessarily the first words you’d use to describe our current situation. Instead we’d probably say we are divided. By:

-Politics – Who we should vote for. Which party represents the values of Christianity more? Which policies are more important? Should I vote for policies that benefit me or others? (Each side – Christians can/should vote only this way.)
-Cultures and Ethnicities – Racism. The world has a pecking order. Superiority. It’s better to be from this place than that place. People from these places are better, smarter, more valuable. Most would be too afraid to admit they have these thoughts in their head, but they’re there.
-Individual vs. Family – My own freedom and will vs. blood is the most important thing. Both worshipped and weaponized for their own agenda.
-Socioeconomics – Rich and poor. Live in different neighborhoods. Different lifestyles. Often separate us completely. The realities of life are so different. Can’t relate to one another.
-Education – How just how much. But what’s best – Christian school, homeschool, private vs public school. -Hobbies – Things we enjoy and spend time doing. Funny – Other people’s hobbies – Idols. They spend too much time. They care too much. Ours are just hobbies. More spiritual. Spiritual ranking system.

It’s so easy to look at other people and to see them as other, as lesser. It is within every human heart to divide and separate and find ways to put ourselves above others. And so we usually orient our lives around people who are like us.

And we haven’t even gotten to…All the differing views Christians on spiritual things and the church – what kind of church should we be and what should we be doing – (Not even talking about Pastors – But if you do have thoughts, Ps. Eric would love to talk with you): 
-Worship – songs, loud vs quiet, lights on or off
-Sermon – too long, too short (How many?)
-Outreach – What kinds. How bold – EV.
-Spiritual gifts – which gifts should be exercised on a Sunday morning and how? 
-When and how is Jesus coming back? 
-What are our views on alcohol? 
-What kinds of movies we should/shouldn’t watch. 
-What kind of music is ok to listen to? Should we only listen to Christian music?
-Should we celebrate certain holidays like Halloween?

In our international church – there really is no reason why we should all be here together. Is there? Except for the fact that – 

We have a oneness and unity Jesus prays for that is greater than all our differences – Perfect, loving union of the Father, Son, and Spirit in us. – Which is the unity Jesus prays for in Jn. 17. That we would be one, just as Jesus and the Father are one – We join in on their oneness.

Why Jesus prays – Kept in God. In his name. (v.11-12) – That’s what unites us and brings people who are so different together. Jesus is the unifier, the center of his people, this church. Eph. 4 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

We’re not gathered here at Garden City around a pastor, not preferences, or styles. The primary – The gospel of Jesus Christ. (7 – Trinity, Deity and Humanity of Christ, Death and resurrection of Jesus, Salvation by grace through faith, Second Coming of Jesus, etc. Without any one of these – You are not a Christian.) And everything else – secondary, tertiary issues – that we can agree to disagree on with grace. Without judgment. Without canceling each other.

And yes, Jesus knew that this would be hard. The disciples couldn’t be more different from one another. – Tax Collector – Served the Romans/Greedy Traitor, Political Zealot, Fishermen – Commoners, a Traitor, some were in the inner circle, others were not, some tried to be above the rest, and some talked too much – big game but couldn’t back it up. Jesus knew we could never do it on our own. That’s why he prays for us.

It’s not that we love the things that differentiate us too much. It’s that we love Jesus too little. – Eph. 4 1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Like Jesus – Humbled himself for our sake and considered us above himself. Gentleness – Didn’t treat us how our sins deserve. Patience – Pursuing us and forgiving us – giving us many chances. Bearing with us – Knowing our flesh and our weakness. – When we see that Jesus had nothing in common with us – We couldn’t be any more different – He is holy and righteous and we were sinful and unrighteous. But he loved us and brought us in. So we now know how to love others like he loved us.

Maintain the unity of the Spirit – Not create it. Not increase it. It’s already been given to us. Jesus has won perfect oneness with God and unity with one another for us. Live it out. “Of the Spirit” – Christ. – Love, Mind, Purpose, Mission of Christ. 

Oneness and Unity. Not uniformity or sameness. The goal is not for everyone in the church to agree on everything and think the same on every issue. It’s to bring all our differences and submit them to something greater. Our sameness is not our strength, but our unity in diversity.

And this is what Jesus says, when we live out the unity that he has won for us…(v.23)

1) Testimony to the world. – Jesus is who he said he was. Not by how great our ministries are or how many people we can gather. The world will know Jesus by our oneness and love for one another. – Our love for one another is the best apologetic/proof to the unbelieving world. (PJD)

2) Nature of God’s love – The Father loves us with the very love he loves Jesus. Isn’t that just the most incredible thing? That God loves you the same as he loves Jesus. He cannot love you more than he does right now. You can’t do better to earn more and you can’t do anything to lose it. And when we love one another with this love that God has loved us -The world sees there is no other explanation to the oneness and love of God in us. Love that is not of this world. Love that no other religion can claim.

2. Joy and Perseverance v. 13-16. Doesn’t pray for an easy life. Doesn’t pray for riches. Doesn’t pray we would avoid suffering. (Those would all have been nice.) Instead – We will be hated by the world. Prays – Joy in Jesus in the midst of hardship and to be kept from the enemy. – What does that mean? Not free – suffering, not temptation. (Most of the disciples would be martyred and die a terrible death.) But from believing the lies of the enemy. From unbelief and denying Jesus. Sustained by the joy of knowing Jesus as greater than life. 

Our collective joy and oneness is crucial for our perseverance. It’s easier to follow Jesus together than alone. Strength in numbers. Ecc. 4:12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. (Korea – HAB) Reminding one another. Pointing one another to Jesus, to fix our eyes and our hope on him. Pulling each other up. Sharpening one another. – An isolated Christian is an emergency. If you’re not in some kind of regular community, where you know others and others know you deeply – you need to get engaged asap. Community Group – Next Steps.

3. Holiness v. 17, 19. Set apart from the world. Different. How? Not spiritual pride/arrogance. The Word is our truth – Differentiates us from the world. Our ultimate authority is God’s Word. Submit everything. It doesn’t matter what the world or culture says. The Word is the timeless truth that doesn’t change with time or context. It’s true for all peoples at all times.

Why every week on Sunday in our service, in our community groups during the week, and through our Bible Reading Plan – We open up our Bibles and see what it has to say. Cause you don’t need to hear from me – what my thoughts and opinions are – and I have a lot of them. You need a word from God. That’s what changes us.

And again, it’s easier to stand firm on God’s Word together than trying to do it on your own. Discipleship/Sanctification happens in relationships. Not in isolation.

Sanctified by God’s Word – We cannot change the world if we are like the world. Sanctified – set apart for special use… (BKC)

(Missional) 4. Sent v. 18. Into the world. Not removed/isolated/escape from. Not huddle inside the church. Those people out there, nonbelievers, are dirty – their language, their actions – offensive. Guess what – The bible says so were you until Jesus saved you. – We have to be comfortable being with, not becoming, nonbelievers, to win them. Platt – Our mission is not to disinfect Christians and put them on a shelf, but to disciple them and put them into service. 

Note: Jesus doesn’t pray for the world – but for believers. Not that Jesus doesn’t care about the world. He came to save the world. But because the hope for any city, any community, is found in the church and believers in that city. (PJD) The church is God’s plan A to reach the world.

So when you pray for the salvation of the people in our city, you should probably like Jesus, first pray for the church – for the strengthening of believers, the unity of believers, for their faithfulness to Jesus and the mission. And that may have the greatest impact for global missions than anything else.

Remember – Our unity in Jesus and in diversity is our strength? Our differences are supposed to better equip us to live sent in the world. – 

Eph. 4 7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift … 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Equippers and the Equipped – Both are necessary. Varied giftings and callings – each one, every one. To reach every corner, every person, in our city. 

One Body, Many Members. Familiar language – One God, Three Persons. The unity that exists between the Godhead is the unity we are called to maintain and put on display to the world.

Could you imagine if the church were filled with people like me? I like me alot. I think me is awesome. (Not good english but you know what I mean.) But even I know that just a bunch of me’s is not good for the church. To be filled only with people who…stubborn, think they’re always right, and have the tendency to see people as getting in the way. Terrible. Detrimental. Sometimes a sledge hammer is not always the tool you need. – Scalpel.

We need one another. We’re better and more effective together than on our own. Jesus and his mission unites us and compels us to live this way. – Disunity – Ineffectiveness in our mission.

Same goes for churches – No competition of churches. We cannot love ourselves – our strategy, our way of doing things, our church – more than we love Jesus and his mission. I love Garden City – but I love the Church more. We’re not better. We can’t do it on our own. (Ps. Kyle Mercer) – We are a church for anyone but not for everyone. No one single type of church is going to reach KL. We need to plant and work together with different kinds of Jesus/gospel centered churches for the mission.

And we need to pray that these other churches in our city flourish. – ICMK, GCC, Flourish Hill, Dr. MC – Many of you need to go with him to plant in Permaisuri. (Seems like Ps. Peter is trying to get rid of us. Kind of. Not because I don’t like you. But because the mission is so important and we need to multiply churches to accomplish it.)

How Jesus ends his prayer – 24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. 26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

5. Dwell in God’s love. Continue to make known – God’s love for us. We would delight in it. Be satisfied in it. I desire for my followers to be with me in God’s presence.

Only possible because of the cross. – Jesus by taking our place – death – and putting us in his place – eternal life – he gives us the perfect love of the Father for the Son. We are brought into and loved with that love. Having been loved, we now love each other and the world. 

This is what Jesus prayed for us. That means – it’s as good as done. Jesus’ prayer for us is perfectly effective. Because it’s based not on us but Jesus’ finished work for us.

Confidence we have in Jesus and his love for us. Robert Murry M’Cheyne (Scottish Minister. Early 1800s) – “If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million enemies. Yet distance makes no difference. He is praying for me.” – Jn. 17.

I’m a good person so that’s what will get me into heaven. Respectfully, what does that have to do with anything? Ex (Online): Imagine you went to the richest man in Malaysia’s house. Hey, I’m moving in with you. I’m a good person. So you should let me in. What are they going to say? NO. You don’t know me. And more importantly, I don’t know you. 

Eternal life is intimately and personally knowing Jesus. Putting your faith in him. Who died for you in your place so you could have eternal life. He crossed eternity and became one of us, in pursuit of us, so you can know him and be saved by his finished work. Receive it. Free gift.