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: I Pray For Them – For Those Who Will Believe - John 17:20-26 - Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. 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. O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

 

INTRODUCTION

 

1. In previous sermons devoted to “The Greatest Prayer Ever Prayed”, we noted that...

a. Jesus first prayed for Himself (“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.

b. Jesus next prayed for His disciples (“I Pray For Them”) - John 17:6-19 - I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

 

2. Jesus then prayed for those who would believe through their word - John 17:20 - Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

a. I.e., those who would come to believe in Jesus through the teaching of the apostles

b. This would include everyone who believes in Jesus today

 

[In this third and final part of Jesus’ prayer, we learn what was heavy on the mind of Jesus concerning His followers during this difficult time just before His arrest and crucifixion. In can read our text - John 17:20-26 - Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. 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. O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

 

I. JESUS’ DESIRE FOR US

 

A. THAT WE BE ONE...

 

1. The nature of the oneness Jesus desires - John 17:21 - That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. - John 17:23a - I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one;

a. As He and the Father are one

b. Together with the Father and the Son

 

2. The purpose of the oneness Jesus desires - John 17:21c  - that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. - John 17:23b - and that the world may know that thou hast sent me

a. That the world may believe the Father sent the Son

b. That the world may know the Father sent Jesus, and loved them

 

3. The means to the oneness Jesus desires - John 17:22 - And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

a. The glory which God gave Christ - John 17:22 - And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

b. B. W. Johnson offers the following insight as to what this ‘glory’ might be:

1) “God gave Christ the glory of Sonship and this resulted in their unity.”

2) “So Christ gives to his disciples the glory of becoming the sons of God (John 1:12 - But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: - 1 John 3:1 - Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.).”

3) “This glory, the adoption and gift of the Spirit, ought to effect that they be one as we are one.”

c. Adam Clarke rephrases Jesus’ words in this way:

1) “I have communicated to all those who believe, or shall believe in me, the glorious privilege of becoming sons of God;”

2) “that, being all adopted children of the same Father, they may abide in peace, love, and unity.”

 

B. THAT WE BEHOLD HIS GLORY...

 

1. That we be with Him where He is - John 17:24a - Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am

a. That is, in heaven, as He had mentioned earlier - John 14:3 - And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

b. Using the futuristic present form of speech (e.g., John 17:4 - I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.)

 

2. That we behold His glory given to Him by the Father - John 17:24b - that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me:

a. That glory prayed for earlier - 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:

b. The eternal glory He had with the Father before the world was - 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.

c. When the Father loved Him before the creation of the world - John 17:24c - for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

d. Glory like that depicted in the visions of Revelation - e.g., Revelation 5:6-14 - And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. 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.

 

C. THAT WE BE LOVED BY HIS FATHER...

 

1. The Father has loved us - John 17:23 - I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

a. Manifested by sending His Son - John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

b. Manifested by offering Him as a propitiation - 1 John 4:10 - Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

 

2. The Father will love us - John 17:26 - And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

a. With the same love He has for His Son!

b. For all who keep His commandments - cf. John 14:21 - He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. - John 14:23 - Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

 

[Such is Jesus’ desire for us as expressed in His prayer: 1) to be one; 2) to behold His glory; and 3) to be loved by His Father! How shall we react to such a prayer? Let me suggest...]

 

II. OUR DUTY FOR JESUS

 

A. TO WALK IN UNITY...

 

1. Preserving the unity of the Spirit - Ephesians 4:3-6 - Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

a. Keeping that which Jesus accomplished for us

b. Through doctrinal faithfulness to each of the seven ‘ones’

 

2. Attaining unity of mind and judgment - 1 Corinthians 1:10-13 - Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? - Philippians 2:1-5 - If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

a. In our dealings with one another as brethren

b. By developing and displaying the mind of Christ

 

-- That the world might know that God loves them and has sent His Son

 

B. TO WALK IN FAITH...

 

1. To remain steadfast to the end - Hebrews 3:12-14 - Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;

a. There is a real danger of developing a heart of unbelief

b. We are partakers of Christ (and His glory) if we remain steadfast to the end

 

2. To receive the crown of life - Revelation 2:10 - Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. - Revelation 3:21-22 - 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. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

a. We must remain faithful till death

b. We must overcome if we are to sit with Him on His throne

 

-- That we might behold His glory in heaven and throughout eternity

 

C. TO WALK IN LOVE...

 

1. Love for God - Matthew 22:37-38 - Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. - John 14:15 - If ye love me, keep my commandments. - John 14:21 - He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. - 1 John 5:3 - For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

a. The greatest commandment of the Old Law

b. Demonstrated by keeping the commandments of the Lord

 

2. Love for the children of God - Ephesians 5:1-2 - Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. - 1 John 5:2 - By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.

a. Imitating God who loved us

b. Demonstrated by keeping the commandments of God

 

-- That we might remain in His love

 

CONCLUSION

 

1. If we take Jesus’ prayer seriously, we will do all we can to...

a. Walk in unity

b. Walk in faith

c. Walk in love

 

-- Are you doing your part to see that His prayer is answered?

 

2. We note the concluding words of “The Greatest Prayer Ever Prayed”...

a. Those disciples with Jesus knew that He was sent by God - John 17:25 - O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.

b. He taught them that they might know the love of God and the fellowship of Christ - John 17:26 - And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

 

3. Years later, the disciple who recorded Jesus’ prayer wrote an epistle...

a. That we might have share in the fellowship of God and Jesus - 1 John 1:1-3 - That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

b. That our joy might be full - 1 John 1:4 - And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

 

Both Jesus and John would have us share in the wonderful love and fellowship with God. May “The Greatest Prayer Ever Prayed” always encourage us to do what we must to experience it...!

 

 

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

 

This sermon is in the Public Domain - Free for all to use with the only requirement: That it never be used for profit.