Matthew 6:9-13 - After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

The Sermon for This Week is: Father...Glorify Your Son - John 17:1-5 - These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

INTRODUCTION

1. In a previous lesson we stated that the prayer of Jesus in John 17 is “The Greatest Prayer Ever Prayed”, noting four reasons...

a. The Person who prayed the prayer

b. The occasion that demanded the prayer

c. The contents of the prayer

d. The victory in Jesus that it reveals

2. We now begin to take a closer look at this prayer, beginning with the petition Jesus makes for Himself in verses 1-5 and asking...

a. What is Jesus asking for?

b. Why should God grant His request?

c. Was Jesus’ prayer answered?

[In regards to the first question...]

I. WHAT IS JESUS ASKING FOR?

A. THE PETITION EXPRESSED...

1. “Father...glorify thy Son” - John 17:1 -  These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:

2. “And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. - John 17:5

B. THE PETITION EXAMINED...

1. glorify - “to exalt to a glorious rank or condition” - Thayer

2. Jesus asks to be restored to His state of glory He had before the world existed - John 17:5 - And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

3. His request implies two great truths concerning Jesus:

a. His pre-existence, as foretold in prophecy- cf. Micah 5:2 - But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

b. His Deity, for God shares His glory with no one - cf. Isaiah 42:8 - I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

4. Overhearing this prayer, we appreciate why John began his gospel with these words:

a. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God...He was in the beginning with God.” - John 1:1a – “The same was in the beginning with God.” - John 1:2

b. “...and the Word was God.” - John 1:1b

5. Thus Jesus asks the Father to reinstate Him to the glorious position He had before coming to earth

[This leads us to our second question...]

II. WHY SHOULD GOD GRANT HIS REQUEST?

A. “THAT YOUR SON ALSO MAY GLORIFY YOU...”

1. Jesus desires to glorify His Father - John 17:1 - These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:

a. Thus His prayer is not purely personal

b. He wants to reciprocate by utilizing His glory to honor the Father

2. Jesus provides an important example in regards to our own prayers

a. Do we ask for blessings that we might better serve God and do His will?

b. Many prayers go unanswered because they are for selfish reasons - cf. James 4:3 - Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

c. Our requests should always be with the Father’s will in mind - cf. 1 John 5:14 - And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

B. “AS YOU HAVE GIVEN HIM AUTHORITY OVER ALL FLESH...”

1. The Father had already given Jesus ‘authority’ - John 17:2 - As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.

a. Authority to give eternal life - Jn 17:2 (more in our next study)

b. Authority to forgive sins - cf. Matthew 9:6 - But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.

c. Authority to execute judgment - cf. John 5:26-27 - For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.

d. Indeed, all authority in heaven and on earth - cf. Matthew 28:18 - And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

2. In view of such authority, it is only proper to receive glory to accompany it

C. “I HAVE GLORIFIED YOU ON EARTH...”

1. Jesus had glorified His Father on earth - John 17:4 - I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

a. By making His Father’s will and work His chief delight - cf. John 4:34 - Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

b. He came from heaven for this very purpose - cf. John 6:38 - For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

c. By His life and His words Jesus always glorified His Father

2. Again, Jesus provides an example regarding our own prayers

a. Do we base our requests solely on promises of what we will do?

b. Or do we seek to do His will first, and then ask God to fulfill what He has promised?

D. “I HAVE FINISHED THE WORK...”

1. He had finished the work given to Him by His Father - John 17:4 - I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

a. True, His greatest work (dying for our sins) had not yet been done - cf. John 19:30 - When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

b. But its accomplishment was so certain, Jesus could speak of it as done

2. Jesus illustrates the proper place prayer should occupy in our lives

a. Not something used only in the case of emergency

b. But complementing a life of devotion and service dedicated to glorify God!

[We now come to our third and final question...]

III. WAS JESUS’ PRAYER ANSWERED?

A. YES, BY MAKING HIS DEATH SIGNIFICANT...!

1. The significance of Jesus’ death gives Him great honor

2. As expressed in the book of Revelation - cf. Revelation 5:9-14 - And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

B. YES, BY RAISING HIM FROM THE DEAD...!

1. God declared Jesus to be the Son of God with power - Romans 1:4 - And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

2. And then gave Him glory - 1 Peter 1:21 - Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

C. YES, BY EXALTING HIM TO THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD...!

1. God seated Him at His right hand, far above all things - Ephesians 1:20-22 - Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, - 1 Peter 3:22 -  Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

2. Jesus now reigns with authority over the nations - Revelation 2:26-27 - And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. - Revelation 3:21 - To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

D. YES, THOUGH MORE GLORY IS TO COME...

1. When Jesus returns, He will be glorified in His saints - 2 Thessalonians 1:10 - When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.

2. He will sit on His throne of glory, as He judges the world - Matthew 25:31-32 - When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

CONCLUSION

1. The words of Paul confirm that God has glorified His Son - cf. Philippians 2:9-11 - Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

a. Having highly exalted Him, giving Him the name which is above every name

b. At which every knee will bow, and every tongue confess that He is Lord

2. But we do well to also remember...

a. Jesus not only prayed “Father...Glorify Your Son” - John 17:1 - These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: - John 17:5 - And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

b. Jesus also prayed that we might behold His glory! - John 17:24 - Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

c. Jesus desires that we share in His glory! - cf. Revelation 2:26-27 - And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. - Revelation 3:21 - To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

3. From these two passages in the book of Revelation...

a. We know that God has answered Jesus’ prayer to be glorified

b. We know that God will answer Jesus’ prayer that we may behold His glory!

Do you want to participate in that glory? Confess and obey Jesus as Lord (cf. Acts 2:36-38 - Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.), and then “hold fast” till He comes (cf. Revelation 2:25 - But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.)...!

Prayer: Mark 16:15-16 - And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. - Lord I truly thank You for giving the opportunity to present these words to my brethrens. I pray that You will keep them in Your blessings and accept them into Your heart - this  I pray in the name of Thy Son, Jesus, the Messiah, Your only begotten son which Ye sent to save mankind from themselves. Amen

Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen. - Ephesians 6:23-24

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