Jesus’ Prayer for His Church

John 17:20-267 June, 2015

Let’s re-cap chapter 17…•First, why is prayer powerful?• Jesus prayed for Himself•Then He prayed for the eleven•Now he prays for us•We often ask for prayers from other people•How would you like for the Son of God to pray for you? That’s what is happening here…

20 “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; 21 that they may all be one; even 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 sent Me. 22 The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; 23 I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent me,

and loved them, even as You have loved Me. 24 Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. 25 “O righteous Father, although the world has not known You, yet I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me;

26 and I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known, so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”

John 17:20-26, NASB

A. Jesus Prayed for our Unity…•Vv 20-23, Why does Jesus pray for our unity?•For 3.5 years he watched his boys constantly bicker about who’d be greatest•He knew we’d be no different• Last week I talked to you of the need to get to know each other better•Unity goes deeper than the superficial

A. Jesus Prayed for our Unity…•He desires a deep connection between those connected to Him•Thais unity brings peace between and within persons– unity of belief• It originates from shared convictions– unity of belief is what binds us together•Not vague faith, but very specific faith in Jesus that brings unity between Father & Son

A. Jesus Prayed for our Unity…•What do I mean by “sharing convictions”?• I’m talking about the core faith in Jesus Christ—•He is God, 2nd person in the Trinity; Died for our sins and rose again, because we are sinners and cannot get to Heaven by our own works; inerrancy of the Bible; etc.

A. Jesus Prayed for our Unity…•Next you’ll ask, “What about denominational doctrinal differences?”•My answer would be, “If they believe the core faith of Jesus, no matter eternally”•Major on the majors, not the minors•We don’t have to agree on everything to fellowship and work together for Kingdom advancement– false teaching however…(JO)

“Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?”

2 Corinthians 6:14, NASB

A. Jesus Prayed for our Unity…•The Unity he prayed for was within the body of Christ, NOT outside of it•What did he mean praying for unity in Glory?• Jesus gave all true believers His glory by completing His mission of revealing God in v4-6

A. Jesus Prayed for our Unity…Jesus’ ultimate purpose was to present the splendor and character of God and His glory in such a way that God would become personally real to the disciples and every believer. They, in turn, were to pass on what they had received to others who would also believe. Those who, in fact, received the glory would become unified by their shared relationship with Christ.

A. Jesus Prayed for our Unity…•What is the main purpose of this Unity?•Vv 21 and 23 show us • It’s a public witness-- an announcement to the world that Jesus came from•God and that God’s love rests upon us as it did on His own Son•Understand that when He prays this it’s NOT…

A. Jesus Prayed for our Unity…•Uniformity – absolute similarity of organization, style, personality, appearance•Nor unanimity – absolute agreement of opinion within a group of people•Nor union – absolute coalition or tight affiliation within the ranks of Christianity•What He does pray for is unity – oneness of heart, of faith, and of purpose

B. Jesus Prayed for our Destiny• In V24, He asks the father to secure our eternal destiny•Can you come up with a better, more secure foundation than that?!?•We have no idea what it is like to be forsaken of God on this Earth• Jesus does however…

C. Jesus Prayed for our Relational Love• Last two verses tie this up in the Love knot•Father loves the Son, the Son loves us, and we, in turn, are to love others•This love flows deep and wide and passes over any rocks of petty differences that disgrace the name and glory of God•The world has many chances, but WE are to show the Love of God to them

C. Jesus Prayed for our Relational LoveJesus also declares the importance of truth and love in the church. He makes it clear that truth and love must go together. It has well been said that truth without love is brutality, but love without truth is hypocrisy. The mind grows by taking in truth, but the heart grows by giving out in love. Knowledge alone can lead to pride, and love alone can lead to wrong decisions. Christian love must not be blind!

C. Jesus Prayed for our Relational LoveThe entire prayer of chapter 17 is based on the righteousness of God, who will vindicate the Son by glorifying Him. Jesus’ revelation of God was founded on personal knowledge and personal communion. When He spoke of God, it was on the basis of intimate relationship and not philosophical speculation. The essence of the revelation lay in the love of God, which Jesus exhibited toward the disciples. His purpose was to perfect His union with them, that they in turn might know the Father. Jesus wanted to include them in the inner fellowship of the Triune God.

Take-Home!• To grow in unity in Christ means giving in• Refusing to get hung up on trivialities

• To know your destiny means giving up• Being secure in our future requires that we stop striving and simply give up and trust Jesus

• To show His love means giving out• Christian love is visible and tangible. God has shown it to us and we are to do the same to others