Sermon on the Significance of the Lord’s Prayer in John 17.
The Lord’s prayer in John is often overlooked in comparison to Jesus’ instruction on how to pray in Matthew 6. This is largely due to the fact that in John 17 we are not receiving an instruction but seeing Jesus pray. However, there is great value in this example. As you listen, read closely the words of Jesus as He prays to His Father on the eve of his suffering.
As we begin John 17, Jesus is only a few hours away from the events that lead to His crucifixion. He and His disciples will soon be in the garden where Jesus will be betrayed by Judas and handed over to the chief priests.
At this time, Jesus stops to talk to the Father in the presence of the disciples. Heading into an event of isolation to carry a burden only He can carry, Jesus’ prayer centers on unity with the Father and unity with one another. The prayer serves as:
- Jesus’ adoration of and oneness with the Father,
- His plea that the disciples also be one, and
- that future believers be one as well.
Listen as Pastor Dwight expounds further upon on this moment and prayer.
Note: Sermon available for online listening until January 26th, 2020. To view more sermons, visit our Sermon Archive.
Bulletin Message from the Pastor
Giving Glory to God
God’s Word speaks not only of giving glory to God, but of the glory of God. How do we do that? What is glory? The common usage of the word “glory” is to give praise to or to worship another. True Biblical glory is much more than to give a compliment to someone or to practice some ritual of worship as paying homage to an image or bowing down or giving money or possessions.
In John 17:1-5, Jesus prayed:
Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You, even as You gave Him authority over all flesh, that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life. This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do. Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.
John 17:1-5
Here the meaning of glorify is more akin to exalt.
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”[a] made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.
2 Corinthians 4:6
Here, the magnificence of God’s wisdom (glory) is described as light. God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. The glory of God is about the greatness of His love, forgiveness, care, and concern for us. The glory of God is the light the Lord shines on the truth and upon us to keep us secure. The light is not just enough to keep us from falling, but shines brightly enough to lead us all the way. His light leads us from within.
Therefore, we will give Him glory (worship) because of His love, not to earn it. “I pray that out of His glorious [abundant] riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being” (Ephesians 3:16).
Pastor Dwight <><