A Sermon by Dr. Bob Griffin, Teaching Elder at Sovereign Grace Church
“I believe that one reason why the church of God at this present moment has so little influence over the world is because the world has so much influence over the church” Charles Haddon Spurgeon, 1862
I. JESUS’ PRAYER FOR HIMSELF
A. FOR STATUS
1. PASSION
Jn 17:1, When Jesus had spoken these words, He lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son that the Son may glorify You.
(II Cor 5:21; Col 2:14; Gen 3:15; Is 53:3; John 1:29)
2. PRESENCE
Jn 17:5 Now, Father, glorify Me in Your presence with the glory that I had with You before the world existed
(Isaiah 42:8)
B. FOR SUPREMACY
1. POWER
Jn 17:2 You’ve given Him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom You have given Him.
(I Jn 5:13)
2. PERFORMANCE
Jn 17:3-4 And this is eternal life, that they know You the only true God, and Jesus the Messiah You sent (having completed the work that You gave Me to do).
II. JESUS’ PRAYER FOR HIS DISCIPLES
A. FOR SALVATION
1. PLAN
Jn 17:6,8 I’ve brought Your name to light for those whom You gave Me out of mankind. They . . obeyed Your word . . and have received them and have come to know in truth . . believing You sent Me.
2. PRAISE
Jn 17:9-10 I pray concerning them – not praying for all mankind, but for those whom You gave me . . I am glorified in them.
B. FOR SECURITY
1. PERSEVERANCE
Jn 17:11-12 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, keep those you’ve given me . . that they may be one, even as We are one. While I was with them, I kept them . . I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, fulfilling prophecy.
(Eph 1:13-14)
2. PLEASURE
Jn 17:13 But now as I come to You, what I’ve said on earth results in My joy fulfilled in them.
3. PERSECUTION
Jn 17:14-15 I have given them Your Word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I don’t ask You to remove them from the world, but that You keep them from Evil.
(Luke 22:31-32; John 6:63)
C. FOR SANCTIFICATION
1. PURITY
Jn 17:17 Sanctify them by truth; Your Word is truth.
(II Timothy 3:17)
2. PURPOSE
Jn 17:18 As you sent Me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.
(Job 23:12)
III. JESUS’ PRAYER FOR ALL BELIEVERS
A. FOR SOLIDARITY
1. PROCLAMATION
Jn 17:20 I don’t ask for the [disciples] only, but also for all who will believe in Me through their words
(Rev 13:8)
2. PARITY
Jn 17:21 that they may all be one, just as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be in Us
(Eph 4:4-6; Rom 12:5)
3. PERCEPTION
Jn 17:23b so that the world may know that You . . loved them
B. FOR SUPPORT
1. PROOF
Jn 17:24 Father, I desire that the ones You’ve given Me may be with Me where I am, to witness the glory You have given Me
(Col 3:1; I Jn 2:15ff)
2. PERPETUITY
Jn 17:25a,26 O righteous Father, even though the world doesn’t know You, I made known to them Your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which You have loved Me may be in them.
Summary of prayer is in seven words (from John MacArthur: We see the believers
(1) Preservation by the Father;
(2) Jubilation in His grace;
(3) Liberation from attacks of Satan;
(4) Sanctification in the Word;
(5) Unification in one with other believers;
(6) Association in heaven-mindset; and then our ultimate
(7) Glorification.