THE LORD’S PRAYER

JOHN 17:1-26


      In John 17, Jesus entered the “holy of holies” in prayer. Like the high priest on the Day of Atonement, Jesus prayed for (peri-9, 15) Himself (1-5), the disciples (6-19), and the Church (20-26). The prayer illustrated His intercession in heaven (Rom. 8:34; Heb. 9:24; 1 Jn. 2:1).


Heb. 7:25 [NLT]. Therefore He is able, once and forever, to save everyone who comes to God through him. He lives forever to plead with God on their behalf.


      Jesus prayed with uplifted eyes to the Father (Jn. 11:41; Lk. 18:13). The Father always heard the prayers of Jesus (Jn. 11:42) who gained immediate access to heaven. Jesus prayed with the answers assured.


      Jesus went to the Father with His requests (not aitew [Mt. 7:7–seeking of an inferior] but erwtaw [Jn. 17:9-15-20–request of an equal] Endnote ; qelw–Jn. 17:24). Jesus prayed as to a Father (Jn. 17:1-5-21-24), Holy Father (Jn. 17:11), and righteous Father (Jn. 17:25). Robert Murray McCheyne said, “What a man is in his prayer-closet is what he is.” Endnote


  I. Glorify the Son (17:1-5; Jn. 13:31, 14:13, 17:1-4-5-10-22-24; visible manifestation of spiritual obedience)


      A. The Son glorified the Father with His work at the cross (1-4; Jn. 12:23; finished–Jn. 4:34, 5:36, 19:30).


          1. Giving the gift of eternal life (Jn. 4:14; authority–Jn. 1:12)


          2. Knowing the Father through Jesus (Jn. 6:69)


      B. The Father glorified the Son with heaven’s worship after the resurrection (5; Jn. 17:24).


Rev. 5:12 [NKJ]. Saying with a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”


      Marcus Rainsford explained, “He asks His Father to take the Son of Man into the position He as the Son of God occupied before His incarnation; that there, as the Representative of His people, and as Head of His Church, and Head over all things to His Church, He might rule everything in heaven, and in earth, and hell, for their benefit.” Endnote


 II. Purify the disciples (17:6-19)


      The Father gave the disciples to Jesus as a gift (Jn. 17:6, 9-10 [16:15]). Jesus prayed that the Father would keep (Jn. 17:6-11-12-15) these disciples after His departure (Jn. 17:11-13; Jn. 14:28, 16:16-28).


1 Th. 5:23 [NLT]. Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until that day when our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.


Jude 1 [Cambridge]. Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and the brother of James, to those of God’s selection who have been made holy by God the Father and are kept safe for Jesus Christ:


      A. Kept by the Word (Jn. 17:6-14-17-20)–out of the world (6-8; kosmoV–Jn. 17:5-6-9-11-12-13-14-15-16-18-21-23-24-25)


          1. Manifested the name


          2. Given the words


              a. Received (Jn. 12:48)


              b. Known


              c. Believed


      B. Kept by union with Jesus–in the world (9-13)


          1. In the Father’s name (Jn. 17:6-11-12-26)


          2. In the Father’s hand


              a. Saved (2 Tim. 1:12; Jude 24)


2 Th. 3:3 [LB]. But the Lord is faithful; he will make you strong and guard you from satanic attacks of every kind.


              b. Lost (Jn. 18:9; 2 Th. 2:3)


          3. In the Father’s joy (Jn. 15:11, 16:22)


      C. Kept by prayer against Satan (Mt. 6:13)–from the world (14-16; Jn. 15:19)


Eph. 6:16 [NLT]. In every battle you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan.


      Samuel Chadwick wrote, “Satan dreads nothing but prayer. His one concern is to keep the saints from praying. He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks our wisdom, but trembles when we pray.” Endnote


      D. Kept by truth–into the world (17-19; Jn. 20:21)


2 Cor. 6:7 [LB]. We have been truthful, with God’s power helping us in all we do. All of the godly man’s arsenal-weapons of defense, and weapons of attack-have been ours.


          1. Cleansed in the Word (Eph. 5:26)


2 Pet. 1:4 [NLT]. And by that same mighty power, he has given us all of his rich and wonderful promises. He has promised that you will escape the decadence all around you caused by evil desires and that you will share in his divine nature.


          2. Cleansed for witness (apostellw–Jn. 17:3-8-18-21)


      G. Campbell Morgan said, “The Church pure is the Church powerful.” Endnote E. M. Bounds wrote, “We can only meet our full responsibilities and fulfill our high mission when we go forth sanctified as Christ our Lord was sanctified.” Endnote


III. Unify the Church (17:20-26; 17:11-21-22-23)


      Jesus prayed for the unity of the church that would believe through the word of the disciples (1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 2:18). He compared this unity to the spiritual oneness of the Father and Son (Jn. 14:10-20, 17:21-22). Jesus will complete the union at the marriage supper of the Lamb.


1 Cor. 10:17 [NLT]. And we all eat from one loaf, showing that we are one body.


Eph. 2:13-14 [NLT]. But now you belong to Christ Jesus. Though you once were far away from God, now you have been brought near to him because of the blood of Christ.

 14. For Christ himself has made peace between us Jews and you Gentiles by making us all one people. He has broken down the wall of hostility that used to separate us.


Eph. 4:4 [NLT]. We are all one body, we have the same Spirit, and we have all been called to the same glorious future.


      The unity of the church centered in the mission of Jesus. Jesus prayed for the church to be one with His mission in the world.


      A. In the earth (20-23)


          1. That the world might believe the Father sent the Son (20-21)


          2. That the world might know the Father loved the Church (22-23; Jn. 15:9)


      B. In the heavenlies (24-26; Eph. 1:10)


          1. To see the Father’s love for the Son (24; Jn. 14:3)


1 Pet. 1:19-20 [NLT]. He paid for you with the precious lifeblood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.

 20. God chose him for this purpose long before the world began, but now in these final days, he was sent to the earth for all to see. And he did this for you.


          2. To see the Son’s love for the disciples (25-26; Rom. 5:5)


Eph. 3:17. And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love.


      Real glory, purity, and unity in the church will result in real revival. Jesus intercedes that the church might experience the realities of heaven on earth. When will the church join Jesus in this intercession?


APPENDIX

CONCORDANCE OF FREQUENT WORDS IN JOHN 17


and I (kamos 6-18-21-26)

as (kathos 2-11-14-16-18-21-22-23)

before (pro 5-24)

believed (pistuo 8-20-21)

come (erkomai 1-11-13)

Father (pateer 1-5-11-21-24-25)

finished (telioo 4-23)

for (peri 9-20)

given (didomi 2-4-6-7-8-9-11-12-14-22-24)

glorify (doxazo 1-4-5-10)

glory (doxa 5-22-24)

I (ego 4-9-11-12-14-16-19-22-23-24-25)

in (en 10-11-12-13-17-19-21-23-26)

kept (phulasso 12)

kept (teereo 6-11-12-15)

know (ginosko 3-7-8-23-25)

life (zoee 2-3)

loved (agapao 23-24-26)

may be (o 11-19-21-22-23-24-26)

name (onoma 6-11-12-26)

now (nun 5-7-13)

one (hen 11-21-22-23)

out of (ek 6-12-14-15-16)

pray (erotao 9-15-20)

sanctify (hagiazo 17-19)

sent (apostello 3-8-18-21-23-25)

that (hoti 7-8-9-14-21-23-24)

that (hina 1-2-3-4-11-12-13-15-19-21-22-23-24-26)

truth (aleethia 17-19)

word (logos 6-14-17-20 [rhema 8])

world (kosmos 5-6-9-11-12-13-14-15-16-18-21-23-24-25)