T EACH US TO P RAY The Example of Christ in Jn 17

I NTRODUCTION We often hear people speak of “The Lord’s Prayer” found in Mt 6:9-13 (cf. Lk 11:2-4 ) Nowhere in scripture do we ever see this term used… It is better termed the model prayer as Jesus is teaching His disciples how they should pray This evening I would like to look at one of Jesus’ actual prayers to His Father and see what we can learn

Q UICK BACKDROP “Father the hour has come…” ( Jn 17:1 ) What “hour” was He speaking of? His betrayal on the cross ( Jn 16:31-33 ) A time of separation and suffering A time for God’s purpose to be carried out (cf Jn 3:16 )

J ESUS ’ PRAYER FOR H IMSELF (J N 17:1-5) “Glorify your Son that He may glorify You” ( vs 2 ) Jesus provides us here some tremendous examples for our prayers We can make requests for our personal needs/help We need to make sure that when ask for blessings we are asking for them to help us better serve God and do His will Many prayers are not granted because they come from selfish reasons ( Jam 4:3 ) We should always offer our petitions up with the Father’s will in mind ( Mt 6:10, 26:42; 1 Jn 5:14 )

J ESUS ’ PRAYER FOR THE DISCIPLES (J N 17:6-19) Keep them in unity ( vs 11 ) “Keep through your name those whom you have given me” “That they may be one as We are” Note this is not a unity based on what the world says today of, “Go along to get along” ( 2 Jn ) This is a unity based on being in Christ and God as they are in one another

J ESUS ’ PRAYER FOR THE DISCIPLES (J N 17:6-19) “Keep them in unity” Jesus prays for this unity because He realizes the time has come when the disciples are going to be separated from one another and not be together united in the same physical place ( Jn 16:32 ) Jesus had kept them together while He was on Earth and this allowed for strength and support of one another ( vs 12 )

J ESUS ’ PRAYER FOR THE DISCIPLES (J N 17:6-19) Keep them from the evil one ( v 15 ) Jesus knew that after His departure Satan would turn his attention now to the disciples ( Rev 12:1-6, ) Note Jesus does not seek their removal, but rather their protection as they work through difficulties Disciples cannot be a light to the world if they are not living in it (cf Mt 5:14-16 ) They type of protection prayed for can be found in Rom 8:35-39

J ESUS ’ PRAYER FOR THE DISCIPLES (J N 17:6-19) Sanctify them…( vs 17 ) We understand this means to set them apart, in this case, for a holy purpose Jesus gives the instrument of sanctification: The Word of God Through this sanctification, other petitions for the disciples would be carried out The Word would keep them united in Christ The Word would keep them from the evil one Note the Word had done this for Jesus when tempted by Satan in the wilderness ( Mt 4:4-11 ) “It is written…”

J ESUS ’ PRAYER FOR US TODAY (J N 17:20-26) That we all be one The nature of the desire As he and the Father are one ( v 21 ) Together with the Father and the Son ( v 23a ) The purpose of this oneness The world may believe the Father sent the Son ( 21c ) The world may know that the Father sent the Son and loved them ( 23c )

J ESUS ’ PRAYER FOR US TODAY (J N 17:20-26) That we all be one The means to acquire this oneness The glory which God gave Christ ( v22 ) One author’s thoughts as to what this glory might be God gave Christ the glory of Sonship and this resulted in their unity Christ gives to His disciples the glory of becoming the sons of God ( Jn 1:12; 1 Jn 3:1 ) This glory, the adoption and gift of the Spirit, ought to effect that they be one as We are one

J ESUS ’ PRAYER FOR US TODAY (J N 17:20-26) That we behold His glory We be with Him where He is ( v 24a ) This of course being Heaven as He had spoken of earlier ( 14:3 ) We behold His glory given to Him by the Father ( v24b ) The same glory prayed for earlier ( v1 ) The eternal glory He had with the Father before the world was ( v5 ) When the Father loved Him before the creation of the world ( 24c ) Glory like what is depicted in the visions of Rev (cf. Rev 5:6-14 )

J ESUS ’ PRAYER FOR US TODAY (J N 17:20-26) That we be loved by His Father The Father has loved us ( v 23 ) As seen in the sending of His Son ( Jn 3:16 ) As seen by offering Him as a propitiation ( 1 Jn 4:10 ) The Father will love us ( v 26 ) With the same love He has for the Son A love for all who keep His commandments (cf. Jn 14: )

C ONCLUSION : H OW J ESUS ’ PRAYER RELATES TO US TODAY Jesus desires all of these things for Christians today We be kept in unity ( Jn 17:20-21 ) We be kept from the evil one ( 1 Jn 5:18-20 ) We be sanctified ( Rom 6:19 )

C ONCLUSION : H OW J ESUS ’ PRAYER RELATES TO US TODAY What was true for the disciple back then, is true for His disciple (Christians) today Christians are the Father’s gift to the Son ( Jn 6:44-45, 17:24 ) Christians have received the Word of God ( 1 Thes 2:13 ) Christians belong to Christ and God jointly ( 1 Cor 3:23 )

C ONCLUSION : H OW J ESUS ’ PRAYER RELATES TO US TODAY What was true for the disciple back then, is true for His disciple (Christians) today Christians glorify Christ and God and cause others to do the same ( 2 Thes 1:11-12; 1 Pet 2:11-12 ) Christians no longer have the benefit of Christ here on earth ( Acts 1:9-11 ) Christians are not of the world and sometimes even hated by the world ( Rom 12:1-2; 1 Pet 4:4 ) Christians today are sent out into the world ( 1 Cor 5:9-10 )