Jesus, Prayer Warrior (Part 2)
Seeing Jesus Through the Eyes of a Friend • Sermon • Submitted
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· 9 viewsJesus now focuses on praying for His disciples.
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Introduction
Opening Illustration - I have been Pastor Here for 4 years this month. Amazing!
I remember the special service we had at LBC to “send me off” to ABC! People from LBC and ABC stood around us and laid their hands on Angie and me and they prayed! It was humbling to say the least...
“Jesus prays” is an amazing concept as it is, but can you imagine being the disciples and hearing Jesus praying specifically for you? That must have been amazing!
Main Idea - Jesus Prays a Powerful Prayer for His Disciples
(that they Be Kept by the Father and One with Each Other)
Transition - In this powerful prayer, Jesus prays to His Father in three interesting ways. And He starts with a praise...
1. Jesus Praises His Father for the Faith of His Disciples (vs. 6-8)
This whole text is an interesting glimpse into the interplay between two members of the triune Godhead. Both are God very God, yet they are separate persons. And as strange as it may seem to the casual observer, there is great mystery and beauty in watch the God the Son praise God the Father for the Faith of the disciples...
Intro information...
6 “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. 8 For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.
Explain -
Verse 6 - As Jesus continues His prayer to His Father He tells the Father some of the things He (the Son) has accomplished. The first is that He “manifested” the Father’s “name to the people whom you gave me out of the world.” The word, “Manifested” shows up in most of the major translations of Scripture. However, the NIV and CSB use a different word that help clarify what Jesus is talking about.
Verse 6 - As Jesus continues His prayer to His Father He tells the Father some of the things He has accomplished. The first is that He “manifested” the Father’s name “to the people whom you gave me out of the world.” The word, “Manifested” shows up in most of the major translations of Scripture. However, the NIV and CSB use a different word that help clarify what Jesus is talking about.
6 “I have revealed your name to the people you gave me from the world. They were yours, you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.
Jesus revealed the name of the Father to His Apostles. He showed it to them...
If you remember, the "Name” of God is quite significant. If you go all the way back to the book of Exodus...
13 Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” 14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’ ” 15 God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.
Ex 3
Carson says, “God’s Name embodies His character: to reveal God’s name is to make God’s character known.” (The Pillar NT Commentary on John)
And Jesus revealed the character of the Father by embodying the character of the Father through the life of the Son.
9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
Jesus showed them the Father because He walked out the character of the Father all the time! How?
How did He reveal it?
Remember the Son always did that which pleased the Father...
29 And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.”
It was God the Father who drew the disciples in from the World and gave them to the Son. By faith in the Word of the Father they became followers of Jesus. It was through the Father’s word that they became followers of the Word!
And then He says something interesting.
“…and they have kept your word.”
Well, is this true? Had the kept the Word of the Father? I mean, they had not always demonstrated a firm grasp on Jesus’ ways...
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
15 But Peter said to him, “Explain the parable to us.” 16 And he said, “Are you also still without understanding?
16 And he said, “Are you also still without understanding?
24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” 25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
So how is it that Jesus can so confidently say that they, His disciples, have kept His word?
Again, please remember WHEN Jesus is praying this prayer. It is just before His death. They disciples had not yet seen or even understood the concept of His resurrection. They had not yet experienced the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Taking these thing in consideration help us to understand His words more clearly. Especially when we compare theses disciples to the other “disciples” that walked away from the ministry of Jesus.
66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. 67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life,
66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. 67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?”
They sure were not perfect, and they made their share of mistakes along the way, but they believed that Jesus was the Messiah and that faith was sufficient to save them! And belief in Christ is all that is necessary...
29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”
And by this work, they kept the Father’s Word!!
Take a look at verse 7...
7 Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you.
Jesus had instructed them well. And they now “KNOW”. The word “KNOW” in this sentence is egnōkan. It is in the perfect tense and means their “state of knowledge” at that time.
Verse 7 - Jesus had instructed them well. And while they didn’t fully comprehend all the information they had received from Jesus, they would in short order. The information dump was complete! They know that everything the Father gave the Son was indeed from Yahweh!
In other words, they may not have known everything about the Messiah but they knew enough!
8 For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.
Jesus spoke the truth of the Father and they received it and believed it! They believed the basics and that was enough.
egnōkan
Jesus had instructed them well. And while they didn’t fully comprehend all the information they had received from Jesus, they would in short order. The information dump was complete! They know that everything the Father gave the Son was indeed from Yahweh!
Carson - “They may not have understood that their Messiah had to die and rise again; they may not have grasped how he was to embrace and fulfil in his own person Old Testament motifs of kingship, sacrifice, priesthood and suffering servant. But they had come to the deep conviction that Jesus was God’s messenger, that he had been sent by God and that all he taught was God’s truth.” D. A. Carson, The Gospel according to John, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; W.B. Eerdmans, 1991), 559.
D. A. Carson, The Gospel according to John, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; W.B. Eerdmans, 1991), 559.
They believed the words of the Father that were given to them by the Son. This was Jesus’ goal before He left them. This is what He needed to do for His friends...
And while they didn’t fully comprehend all the information they had received from Jesus, they would in short order. The information dump was complete! They know that everything the Father gave the Son was indeed from Yahweh!
Verse 8 - Jesus clarifies the “everything” He says in verse 7. Do you see it? Jesus gave the disciples all the WORDS the Father had given the Son.
49 For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak.
15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
The Word of the Father passed through the mouth of the Son to instruct the Apostles on God’s redemptive plan for all people of all time. A plan that they would be on the forefront of communicating! Look again at verse 8...
8 For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.
The Apostles, for all the disbelief and foolishness that they have and will yet exhibit, understood something crucial; that Jesus came from the Father and they believed that the Father sent the Son into this world. That’s huge!
They will fully understand Jesus’ origins...
They will fully understand Jesus’ mission...
They will fully understand Jesus’ destiny...
Jesus accomplished the will of God in regard to the disciples. He got them prepared! And they had the faith to believe His words to be true...
Jesus Praises His Father for the Faith of His Disciples
Review - Jesus Praises His Father for the Faith of His Disciples
Illustrate -
Illustrate -
Apply - The disciples believed that Jesus was sent to this world by the Father so that the world might be saved through Him. The obvious question that comes from this is what do you believe about Jesus?
By the way, this is a wonderful question to ask anyone, “What do you believe about Jesus?” The correct answer to this question will be is like the correct passcode to unlock your phone or to get into your online banking information. I hate it when I am trying to log into an online account and I can’t remember my passcode! I think I have a million variations of passcodes!! And I often forget what I initially created so I hit the “Forget your password” link and go through the whole process again to set up yet another password! ARRRGGGHHH So frustrating!
But nothing will be more frustrating for the person who thinks they have the correct password in order to enter heaven, only to find out after they die and stand before the God of the universe that they got it wrong! And at that point there is no link that you can press to change your password!
But you can change it today!
One day all of us in this room will stand before God and He will ask the question, “Why should I let you into my heaven?” And if your answer is anything but “I’m totally relying on Jesus and His finished work on the cross to pay for my sin and satisfy the wrath of God.” And, my friend, you need to get that password set up today! But it’s not just a phrase with magic words that unlocks the doors of Heaven to you. You must BELIEVE like the disciples believed. Because, without FAITH it is impossible to please Him!
Review - Jesus Prays a Powerful Prayer for His Disciples
1. Jesus Praises His Father for the Faith of His Disciples
2. Jesus Prays to His Father About the Glory He Receives from His Disciples (vs. 9-10)
As Jesus continues to pray for His dear friends, He makes an interesting clarification. Check out verse 9...
9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them.
Verse 9 - Jesus says to the Father that He is praying for them, but not for the world. Why would He make this distinction in His prayer?
He says to the Father that He is praying for them, but not for the world. Why would He make this distinction in His prayer?
Why wouldn’t Jesus pray for the world. After all, God loves the world
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
First, this part of the prayer is for the Disciples only
And Jesus came to save the world...
47 If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.
So why then does He pray in this manner? Why does He say He is praying for the disciples but He is NOT praying for the world?
Well, to pray for the World - the satanic run, evil system that is actively against God and all that He stands for is a fools errand. The worlds system will not be redeemed just at Satan will not be redeemed. So thinking of the world in this sense, it makes no sense for Jesus to pray for the world.
However, there are those within the worlds system that will respond to the gospel and leave the kingdom of darkness and begin to walk in the kingdom of the Son! There will be many that come out of the world. If you are a Christian, that is what happened to you!
There are those within the worlds system that will respond to the gospel and leave the kingdom of darkness and begin to walk in the kingdom of the Son!
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,
1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
And when you look at the substance of the Lord’s prayer to the Father, you can see what He is praying for, for the disciples would make no sense to pray for the World’s system.
God’s mission is to pull people out of the World’s evil system! This is what why God had Paul stay and plant a church in Corinth...
And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.” And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
Acts 18:
These are individuals God will draw out from the world and they will be saved. The omniscient God knows this as fact. He knows they will respond to the gospel, become followers of Christ and populate and serve in the church in Corinth.
So you can see, it is the context of the word “World” in Jesus’ prayer in that helps us see the difference between the World’s evil system and the individuals the Father draws out from the system! This is what the Father does!
And when you look at the substance of the Lord’s prayer to the Father, you can see what He is praying for, for the disciples would make no sense to pray for the World’s system.
The world has not and will not keep the Word of God like the disciples did.
The world does not and will not recognize who Jesus is and everything He has is from the Father like the disciples did.
The world Certainly does not recognize that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the World like the disciples did.
For Jesus to pray for the World’s system in this way makes no sense, but it does make sense for Jesus to pray for
This is what why God had Paul stay and plant a church in Corinth...
9 And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, 10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.” 11 And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. 12 But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the tribunal,
9 And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, 10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.” 11 And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
When you understand how Jesus means world here it makes more sense. He is speaking of the Satanic run, evil world. The system that is actively against
No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.
And, remember from how God the Father draws people? Through the proclamation of the Powerful word of God!
1 Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
5 For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. 6 But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
1-
Perhaps the Father is drawing you into His family today? Respond to His call! Repent and place your faith in Jesus...
Verse 10 - Again we see the Son declaring unity with the Father...
10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them.
The New American Standard Bible helps us understand how to better translate this.
10 and all things that are Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine; and I have been glorified in them.
J.C. Ryle says - This sentence seems to come in parenthetically, and to be a reassertion of the great truth of the perfect unity of the Father and the Son. The words in the Greek mean literally “things,” and not “persons.” “All my things are Thy things, and all Thy things are my things. As with everything else, these eleven disciples are not mine more than Thine, or Thine more than mine.” This continual assertion of the doctrine of the perfect unity of the Godhead, and the distinction of the Persons in the Trinity, is very remarkable and instructive. - J. C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on John, vol. 3 (New York: Robert Carter & Brothers, 1880), 187–188.
This sentence seems to come in parenthetically, and to be a reassertion of the great truth of the perfect unity of the Father and the Son. The words in the Greek mean literally “things,” and not “persons.” “All my things are Thy things, and all Thy things are my things. As with everything else, these eleven disciples are not mine more than Thine, or Thine more than mine.” This continual assertion of the doctrine of the perfect unity of the Godhead, and the distinction of the Persons in the Trinity, is very remarkable and instructive.
J. C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on John, vol. 3 (New York: Robert Carter & Brothers, 1880), 187–188.
As Ryle says, “all things” certainly includes His disciples. And it is in His disciples, in particular that He has been glorified in their belief of Him...
Their belief that He is who He claims to be.
Their belief that He was sent from the Father in Heaven as the long promised Messiah.
Their belief that “He has the words of eternal life” has glorified Him.
Have you ever thought about this? When someone actually believes the words of the Father about the Son, the Son is glorified! Certainly there are salvific implications here. In other words, when someone trusts Christ, the fact that they believe Christ makes him more glorified or famous. So when someone becomes a believer, Jesus gets more glory!
But also you, Christian. Do you believe more about Christ now than you did a year ago? If so, the more you believe the more glory you bring Him!
16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.
And yet the Son did not work alone. The Father created all things through the Son...
2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
But specifically in verse ten Jesus claims that His disciples, created by Him and the Father, are also possessed by the Son and the Father.
Explain -
The more you believe the more glory you bring Him. It’s like when I was a young kid, the more I grew in my understanding and appreciation for my dad, the more I bragged about him and the more I could think he could do. “My dad can beat up your dad!” or “Oh yeah, well my dad can pick up a car!” Admittedly, I would stretch the truth a little about my dad to win the argument. :)
But we don’t need to stretch the truth about Jesus! The more we believe about Him, the more amazing He becomes to us! And then the more we brag about Him and the more glory He receives.
Apply -
Do you believe in Jesus? Are you growing in your appreciation for who He is and what He is capable of? If you are, it will show up in your life and in your speech and He will get more and more glory from you! Is this happening in your life?
Are you
Review - Jesus Prays a Powerful Prayer for His Disciples
Review - Jesus Prays a Powerful Prayer for His Disciples
1. Jesus Praises His Father for the Faith of His Disciples
2. Jesus Prays to His Father About the Glory He Receives from His Disciples
3. Jesus Prays to His Father that He will Keep them One (Vs. 11-12)
Jesus understood the harsh reality of the World’s system. He understood how important their unity around the Gospel would be and so He asked the Father to help them...
11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
Jesus is leaving soon. In fact, He makes it sound like He as already left! In His mind, it is as good as done and He is returning to the Father.
They, from a worldly perspective, will be on their own. No more Rabbi to teach them. No more Master to lead them. No more friend to encourage them. They will be left - after the brutal and traumatic death of Jesus - to their own devices.
Or will they?
This is as the heart of Jesus prayer for His dear friends. The last thing the Lord wanted was for all the time investing in teaching them about “the Way” would go by the wayside!
The Master disciple-maker knew something that we must know, remember and practice as well. He prayed for His disciples! He prayed that the Father would not only keep them but that He would keep them one! Look at what He prays...
“Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.” -
He prays to His Holy (set apart, unique) Father (BTW, this is the only time in this gospel that Jesus refers to His Father this way) to “keep them in your name, which you have given me...”
To “keep” means to “guard” or to “protect”.
So He is asking the Father to protect them in “your Name which you have given me...”
How should we understand this?
The name of God, according to J.C. Ryle is often used throughout Scripture to signify the character and attributes of God!
Remember the world that Jesus is leaving the disciples in! (to the church at Pergamum)
13 “ ‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
His disciples are going to need all the help from on high they can get! The world, the flesh and the devil would do everything they can to get these disciples to fall away and destroy them. They needed the name that is above every name to keep, guard and protect them! And God’s Name is nothing to be trifled with or taken for granted!
10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.
1 Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer;
1 Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer;
2 from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I,
I like how the NIV translates verse 11.
11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one.
By the power of your name, the name you gave me!
12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.
Rev
This is the Father’s name that He bestowed on the Son! And His prayer is they would be kept by this name! That they, the ones who would part of the beginning of the Church, would be protected so they could get the job done!
But notice what else He adds to His prayer to the Father. He prays that the same unity they, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit enjoy would be given to the disciples. That they would have great unity around the Name.
What kind of unity do you think the Godhead experienced for all eternity? From before God ever created this place? It was and is perfect, harmonious, unity. This is the kind of unity that Jesus begs the Father for His guys. Why? For many reasons, but I believe Jesus desired unity for His disciples because unity brings protection.
12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
He would no longer be with them to “keep the peace” and He knew that bickering, backbiting, gossip and slander would DESTROY the new Church movement that was about to begin!
But, if they could be unified around a single purpose, a single name, nothing would stop them from accomplishing the most significant movement in Human history - the establishment and growth of His Bride, the church!
Verse 11 - Jesus is out, they are still in! Jesus is going home, but they are still facing the realities of this world. His prayer is that they be kept! And is interesting.
Verse 12 - It was the Lord Jesus’ job to not only call the Disciples to salvation and service, but to protect and keep them while He taught them the Father’s plan. Look at verse 12...
12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.
The powerful Name of Jesus is a name that carries protection. In fact, “Jesus” literally means, “God saves”. He saves. He protects from the worst fate we could ever experience. He, by His Name, protects His disciples from eternal Hell!
Because He was their Good Shepherd, on Jesus’ watch, none of them were lost except Judas. However, Judas was never a sheep. Judas had the same problem as the Pharisees...
25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”
2
And even though He had every opportunity to believe and become a sheep, He failed to do so and was used by God’s sovereign plan as a pawn by Satan to see that Jesus hung on the cross.
Now folks, this sovereign interplay between man’s freewill and still accomplishing His plan makes my head hurt! The fact of the matter is that our God is so big, so powerful that He is able to get His will accomplished down to the millisecond while still allowing all humans of all time to exercise their own freewill. How? I don’t know! Which only makes him, from my limited perspective, more amazing! More God-like!!!
Judas was used by God to be a part of the process that would send Jesus to the cross, yet He is in Hell this very minute, not because He betrayed Jesus, but because He never believed in the name of the only one that could give Him eternal life!
Even down to the last hours, Jesus is concerned for the welfare of His disciples. He is also concerned that they remain unified! This is the partial motive for this High Priestly Prayer! As long as they are unified behind the all-powerful Name of God, they will not only be secure, they will accomplish great things for the Lord!
“The "Miracle on Ice" refers to a medal-round game during the men's ice hockey tournament at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York, played between the hosting United States, and the defending gold medalists, the Soviet Union.
The "Miracle on Ice" refers to a medal-round game during the men's ice hockey tournament at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York, played between the hosting United States, and the defending gold medalists, the Soviet Union.
The Soviet Union had won the gold medal in five of the six previous Winter Olympic Games, and were the favorites to win once more in Lake Placid. The team consisted primarily of professional players with significant experience in international play. By contrast, the United States' team—led by head coach Herb Brooks—consisted exclusively of amateur players, and was the youngest team in the tournament and in U.S. national team history.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miracle_on_Ice
Apply -
Apply - Listen, what theses American Hockey players accomplished because of their unity behind the name of their country is nothing compared to what the disciples accomplished by their unity behind Christ! This is what the Lord prayed for and this is what happended.
Two things we can learn from this.
Find your security in the only Name under heaven that can save you! Jesus!
Do everything in your power to be unified with this Local body of believers. You won’t believe what God is willing to do through a local body of believers who are unified around the name of their God! Are you out of unity? Don’t sit back and wait, get it repaired and allow God to use you with this body!
Review - Jesus Prays a Powerful Prayer for His Disciples
Review - Jesus Prays a Powerful Prayer for His Disciples
1. Jesus Praises His Father for the Faith of His Disciples - Where is your faith at today?
2. Jesus Prays to His Father About the Glory He Receives from His Disciples - Are you giving glory to God with your life? How is it showing up in your actions and your words?
3. Jesus Prays to His Father that He will Keep them One - If you are in Christ today, you are kept by Christ! What are you doing to protect the unity of this body?
Conclusion
Application
Sometimes, on particularly hard days, I remember back to four years ago and I feel the weight of the hands that were on me as people prayed for Angie and me. That memory and those prayers help me to press on!
I’m sure the disciples felt the same way as they remembered how Jesus prayed for them!
Isn’t it great to realize that Jesus Prays for His disciples? Isn’t encouraging to know that if you are His, he prays for you as well?
Invitation
Connection Group Questions
1. What was the one thing that stood out to you from this sermon and/or text?
2. What is significant about Jesus praising the Father for the faith of the Disciples? What can we learn from this part of His prayer?
3. Discuss ways you see in this gospel and elsewhere that the disciples glorified Jesus. What can we learn and do based on this information?
4. Jesus prayed that the Father would guard the Disciples in His (physical) absence. As they heard Him pray this, what do you think they were thinking? How can this encourage us today?