CHURCH IMPROVEMENT: BUILDING A CHURCH THAT HONORS GOD AND LOVES PEOPLE BY ENTERING THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE TRINITY

JOHN 17:1-26

INTRODUCTION

In John 17, we find the longest recorded prayer of Jesus, a benediction over the men with whom He’d lived, worked, eaten, slept, and fellowshipped for three years. The setting is very intimate and Jesus’ tone is full of passionate concern.

After celebrating the Passover with the disciples, Jesus went on to tell His disciples of His soon departure, and the promised coming of the Holy Spirit. Having left the Upper Room, Jesus with His disciples and had passed through the vineyards that surrounded Jerusalem. As he paused somewhere along that route, in all likelihood he picked up a vine and taught them, saying, "I am the vine and you are the branches." Then in the vineyard or elsewhere along the way, in the bright Passover moonlight "he lifted up his face unto heaven," and prayed aloud in the hearing of the disciples. Through them we get to listen in on one of His personal conversations with God. This is not Jesus teaching us how to pray, as in Luke 11. This is Jesus allowing us to listen in on how He prays to the Father! We hear His desires, priorities, and concerns. We witness His love, joy, and directives as He shares an intimate conversation with the Father hours before He goes to the cross.

If the final words of a dying man bear special significance, then this prayer of Jesus is quite telling. In it, He speaks about the people and matters that are closest to His heart. We see the depth of His faith in and relationship with His Father, and we see the intensity of His love and concern for His friends. Jesus could have prayed about so many important things at a time like this, but He chose to focus on just a few basic areas. What He prayed for and how He prayed for those things are worth our consideration. He is not giving hurried, last-minute instructions, but is drawing His friends (and us) into the most intimate relationship He has.

This passage is rich in treasure, and there are many things which can be drawn out. To propose to take this prayer in but a single message is roughly akin to being handed a gallon bucket and being told to empty the Pacific Ocean in less than an hour; or like trying to take a drink from a fire hydrant. In order to accomplish this we are going to limit our scope today to the hallmarks of Jesus’ prayer and their impact on us entering the fellowship of the Trinity.

We are a church which joins in Christ’ intimacy by . . .

• by being CONSUMED with God’s glory,

BODY

I. Being CONSUMED with God’s glory.

Jesus prayed for Himself only twice, (in verses 1 & 5) and in both instances He expressed His desire to bring glory to the Father. This is the purpose of all prayer, no matter what the subject or circumstance. The best result in any situation is that God receives all glory. Bringing glory to the Father was Jesus’ purpose here on earth, and He wants us to share in that same goal.

1 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. (John 17:1-5, NIV)

Twice Jesus asks to be glorified, in two different ways, and for two different reasons. With the ultimate goal to bring glory to the Father:

First, he asks to be glorified in and by means of the cross. This is what he means by the words. "The time has come." All through this gospel John has shown him to be moving toward this hour. So in the cross, with its agony, blood, grief and loneliness he is asking to be glorified. It is not a selfish prayer because he immediately adds that by means of his death he will glorify the Father.

We must understand what this term "glorify" means. How is someone "glorified"? The word means to make manifest hidden values, hidden riches. The sun is a glory because the gases that make it up are being consumed and manifested in brilliant light. Jesus himself is glorified that way. John began his gospel by saying, "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory. . ." (John 1:14a, NIV). What glory? "Full of grace and truth," (John 1:14b NIV). All his inner qualities of grace and truth became visible. Here our Lord is praying that by means of the cross something that is hidden to the world will be manifested.

That is Jesus' first reason for asking to be glorified -- not only because it will bring glory to the Father, but, as he goes on to say, it will complete his work on earth: All that he has done finds its completion in the cross. Thus he says, "I have brought you glory on earth," having accomplished the work which he now sees as completed, anticipating the cross, "the work you gave me to do." The death he awaits is the capstone of that work.

Then Jesus prays to be glorified by returning to heaven: "And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began." In Philippians, Paul writes that because Jesus became obedient unto death, God the Father "Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Phil 2:9-11 NIV). Thus by means of that exaltation following the cross, God the Father is glorified.

Most of us find it easy to pray, “God, be glorified in me.” But unlike Jesus, we rarely envision suffering as a part of the equation. More often we expect joy in serving God, painlessly exercising the gifts and talents He has given us. Jesus had spent His life ministering to human needs in a way that brought much glory to His Father. But at this point in His life glorifying God would mean something else; something that most of us, like the Apostles, wouldn’t at first glance have called “glory.” This path would lead through the agony of the cross. Jesus would have to suffer, not only in His body, but also in giving up everything that He had a “right” to as God’s beloved Son. It would not be until Jesus submitted Himself to the shameful sufferings of Gethsemane and Calvary that God’s glory would be fully displayed.

God’s glory is best exhibited in my life when I humbly allow His complete sovereignty over me – even if it means giving up my “right” to serve Him in the way I desire. Praying for the glory of God may open the door to suffering, or provide an eternal perspective on the suffering you face. For some, it might be the pain of persecution, injustice, deprivation, or criticism. For others, it may not be outwardly visible; parental disappointment, broken relationships, a walk through the pitch-black valley of shadow. Or it could be in opposition to our attempt to minister to others. What ever the form it takes, we need to be aware that God’s glory often is revealed in us through the painful sacrifice of self-sufficiency that Jesus modeled on the cross.

I remember listening to a seminar recently when the speaker told how he had struggled for years with a fear of drowning. As a child he had fallen off of a boat and almost drowned, and was therefore afraid of being out in water over his head. He said that this fear normally didn’t impact his life, but one time he was asked to speak at a seminar that was going to be meeting on a conference cruse ship. He really prayed about the speaking engagement, and felt that the Lord really wanted him to accept. So in spite of his fear he to the engagement. Over the next few months he found himself praying over and over asking that God would take away his fear and keep him from drowning. Yet, as the date drew closer he found his fear still there just as strong. In desperation he once again got on his knees and prayed that God would give him confidence that he would not drown. In stead of receiving assurance, he felt that God said, “Your right you could drown, but my grace is sufficient.” It was then that he understood that God was asking him to sacrifice his fear. That he may indeed drown because of going on a boat, but if that was the case, then God would enable him to drown like a Christian. Even in death he could give glory to God. With that confidence he was able to face his fear and speak to the people on that boat. The promise isn’t that we will live life with out pain or struggle, but that God will reveal His glory through His grace and mercy applied in your time of need.

We are a church which joins in Christ’ intimacy . . .

• by being CONSUMED with God’s glory,
• and by being in COMMUNION with the Father.

II. Being in COMMUNION with the Father, through His Son.

In verse two, Jesus also states that through the cross he will gain the right to give eternal life to all whom the Father brings to him. In verse three He defines eternal life. It says; “ 3Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” He defines eternal life as "knowing God." That is really living. Coming to know the Father and Jesus is the meaning of life. We were created to seek God and to know Him. Yet, because of the fall we were separated from that reality.

Jesus’ prayer shows that now we have been invited into fellowship with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Relationship is what fuels prayer. Intimacy is what empowers intercession. Prayer can become deep, passionate, and meaningful when the relationships are secure. Jesus experienced a wonderful oneness with His Father, and He wants His friends to experience it as well.

So what does it mean to “know” God? This is not talking about an aspect of knowledge; of knowing facts. If you walk the streets of Janesville and ask people if they believe in God, most will actually say, “Yes, I believe there is a God.” Yet, they will live life outside of “knowing” God. In fact, doing things in Jesus’ name, or working for God doesn’t prove that we know God. In Matthew 7:22 Jesus states; “ 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you . . .’”

In verse eight if John 17 Jesus points to the doorway into “knowing” God. He says; “For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me.”Knowing God is believing in His word, and in the one whom He sent, Jesus. It is having intimacy with God. This can be seen in Jesus’ words earlier in John 14:23b; “. . . If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” That is eternal life, to be found in communion with the Father. Jesus died so that our relationship with the Father could be restored.

When you pray, is the focus communion with God, or is the focus your need? We should pray for our needs and the needs of others, but that should only be the occasion of our prayer not its focus. The focus needs to be a desire to know God. Eternal life begins now for all who believe in Christ, for the path to communion with God is open.

In the Tuesday Men’s Bible study we have been discussing prayer, and recently went through the Lord’s Prayer found in Luke 11. What I found to be the most impacting is after Jesus’ teaching on prayer he gives the parable of the bread. I have read that passage many times, and I am sure that many of you are familiar with the story line. A man comes to his friend’s door in the middle of the night seeking bread. He knocks on the door and won’t go away until his friend gives him the bread. So why did he go to his friend’s door; because of two reasons. First, he needed bread. Second, he knew his friend had bread. So what does that have to do with prayer? Luke 11:13b says; “. . . how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.” See the need we really have, and often fail to see, is the need for His Spirit. We need God! If we see this need then we will go to the only possible source to have that need meet, and we will knock on that door until we receive His Spirit, and enter into the fellowship of the Trinity.

We are a church which joins in Christ’ intimacy . . .

• by being CONSUMED with God’s glory,
• by being in COMMUNION with the Father.
• and by being in CONNECTION with believers.

III. Being in CONNECTION with believers.

Jesus prayed that we would be in connection with each other. That we would be one, just as He was one with the Father. God’s glory and our intimacy with the Father are the agents of this oneness and unity. Also, according to John 17:21, this oneness will help the world believe that God sent Jesus. Or as John 13:35 says the world will know we are His disciples by our love for each other. Jesus wants His disciples (both then and now) to be as connected with each other as He is with the Father

This isn’t an intuitional oneness. All believers do not need to belong to the same organization, but we need to be identified with one another. We need to be working for the same goal, the glory of the Father through Christ Jesus. Notice the nature of this unity: " 21that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” Just as the Father and the Son share life, so all believers share the same life: the life of the Son in us. That is what makes us brothers and sisters wherever we are in the world. So when we pray, we need to view other believers as Christ saw His disciples. So how did Jesus view and pray for the disciples?

First, Jesus approached prayer for His followers with the understanding that they were a gift, verse nine (v. 9) says; “I pray for . . . those you have given me.” When we enter prayer under the premise that other believers are given to us by God, our privileged role in their lives stimulates passion and delight in intersession.

Second, Jesus’ prayer was fueled by His intimate involvement in the disciples’ lives. He knew their strengths, their weaknesses, their needs, and their vulnerabilities. According to verse eleven (v. 11) He recognized that they lived in the world with its struggles. He was in tune with their circumstances, challenges, and trials.

Third, Jesus prayed for them with an assurance of what will be rather than as a questionable work in progress. He prayed seeing them from an eternal perspective, trusting in the Father’s plan for them.

So in light of these three things, let’s look at what Jesus prays for His disciples. He prays in verse three (v. 3) for their souls, that they would know God. He prays in verse eleven (v. 11) for their relationships, that they would be one. He prays in verse thirteen (v. 13) for their emotions, that they would experience His joy fully. In verse fifteen (v. 15) He prays for their protection, that God would keep them from the evil one. He prays for their minds in verse seventeen (v. 17), that God would sanctify them by the truth. In verse twenty (v. 20) He prays for their witness, for those who would believe because of their testimony.

Also, instead of focusing on their fumblings and failings, or bemoaning their weaknesses, Jesus reflected on what these men were to become. Jesus exuded confidence as He declared in verse six (v. 6), they have kept your word. In verse seven (v. 7) that they have come to know that everything You have given Me is from You. In verse eight (v.8) that they have received my word and truly understood that I came from You, and they believed that you sent Me. Verse ten (v. 10), I have been glorified in them. Verse fourteen (v. 14), they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. And verse twenty two (v. 22), the glory which You have given Me I have given to them.

You can only pray these kinds of things with relevance, specificity, and conviction when you spend time along side others as Jesus did – eating, sleeping, working, ministering, praying, living. Sharing life with His disciples stirred Jesus’ heart to pray for them with fervor. And so it is with us. I can tell when I haven’t been involved enough in others’ lives. My prayers for them grow vague, and my desire wanes. I begin to approach intersession less out of a compassionate heart and more out of a sense of duty.

What anticipation and passion we can experience in prayer when we recognize, as Jesus did, that the people in our lives are gifts from God. Jesus has afforded us the privilege of standing – in life and in prayer – shoulder-to-shoulder with others in the battles of this world, whether they live across oceans or across the street. Just as Jesus knew how to pray for His disciples because He shared His life with them, we will know how to pray for others when we share life with them.

CONCLUSION

When we look at Jesus’ prayer we see the desires that can fuel our own prayers. Our desire for God’s glory lifts our eyes out of the mud, and drives us hungrily knocking at His door. Our intimacy with God through Christ energizes our prayers. Our connection with and love for each other provides the passion for our prayers. Our determination to see our friends experience God’s best creates the fervency for effective prayers.

We are a church which joins in Christ’ intimacy by . . .

• being CONSUMED with God's glory.
• being in COMMUNION with the Father.
• being in CONNECTION with believers.

Intimacy with the living God is the key to vitality and fruitfulness. It begins with the recognition of Jesus as "sent from God." It develops as awareness grows of the Father's power and love, and finds its deepest expression in a growing consciousness of the presence within of Jesus himself. Love and unity are the hallmarks of the true church. The church must be a loving community if it desires the world to believe that we have been with Jesus! We can only receive this love by prayer, as we enter into fellowship with the author of love. Jesus is sending us today the same message He sent to His disciples. John 17 is His invitation, a glorious invitation into intimacy with Him and with His church.

Today is the first day of the New Year and I think that this call to intimacy with God needs to dominate our thoughts through out this year. This year the prayer team will be putting together a monthly prayer calendar. If you have received the January newsletter then you may have already seen it. I challenge you to take the weekly focus and set aside fifteen minutes every day to seek God. Together let’s pursue intimacy with God since Christ died to provide us the opportunity.

CLOSING PRAYER/BENIDECTION

25 Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, 26 but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all nations might believe and obey him— 27 to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen. (Romans 16:25-27 NIV)

© Copyright 2006 Derek Perdue.
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