The Lord’s Prayer – 1
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The Lord’s Prayer – 1
Sermon by Thomas Thornhill Jr
Passage: John 17:1-5
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TEACHINGS OF Jesus (63)
We are continuing our study of the teachings of Jesus. We have been addressing His final week the past few lessons. Today we want to begin a 3 part examination of the Lord’s prayer as recorded in John 17.
- Background
- First, a brief reminder of the importance of prayer.
- We know that prayer is how God has chosen for us to communicate with Him.
- I have always described prayer as a spiritual indicator – your “prayer life” is a pretty good indicator of your faithfulness to God.
- And what has always impressed me about Jesus is how He, as the Son of God, continually prayed to the Father. Now, if Jesus needed to pray to God that often, what does that say about the rest of us?
- I call this the Lord’s Prayer because of its content. The traditional “Lord’s Prayer” found in Matthew 6:9-13 is actually a model prayer – Jesus teaching how to pray. As you examine the prayer of Jesus in our text, it becomes clear that this is one of the greatest prayers recorded in scripture and it records the genuine desires of Jesus. This prayer is also referred to as the “High-Priestly Prayer” because within, we Jesus interceding on behalf of His followers.
- We have reached the culmination of the life of Jesus. He has had the “Last Supper” with His apostles. He has devoted some time trying to assure them as He prepares to leave them. We noted some of His conversation in our last lesson.
- Today we want to study this prayer of Jesus. Likely it was a “closing prayer” of sorts on that occasion, or it could have been at some point on the way to the garden of Gethsemane. John 18:1 notes that when Jesus spoke these words, he then went out with His disciples to the garden.
- This prayer of Jesus can be divided into 3 parts – praying for Himself, praying for His disciples and praying for those who learned from them. We will notice some of the thoughts in this prayer.
- First, a brief reminder of the importance of prayer.
- I have finished the work (1-5)
- Father, the hour has come – Jesus, knows it is finally time.
- This was the time that His entire life had led to.
- In fact, this is the time frame from which the entire history of the world centers around. It is even acknowledged by our calendars.
- Glorify Your Son, that He may glorify You.
- The life of Jesus has been about glorifying the Father.
- While Jesus was accepted and praised by many, others despised Him. The leaders have plotted to have Him put to death in a humiliating way. What He about to endure was far from glorifying.
- HOWEVER, when it is done and He is raised on Sunday, and then ascends to heaven, He will be glorified. Jesus will be vindicated. (Cf. John 7:39, 1 Peter 1:21 notes that God raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory; Philippians 2:9-11).
- As He had been given authority over all flesh, now He would give eternal life to those who belonged to Him.
- While on earth Jesus had authority – Matthew 11:27 – “All things have been delivered to Me by My Father.” John 5:22 – the Father had committed all judgment to the Son, Also vs. 26-27; John 3:35 – God has committed all things into His hands.
- When He arose (and was glorified) He again declared His authority – Matthew 28:18, Colossians 1:18 notes that He is head of the church and in all things He might have the preeminence.
- This is eternal life – that they may know You (God and the Son)
- In this expression, Jesus is declaring that He is the source of eternal life. John 14:6, 15:5, etc.
- Of course, this is a reference to salvation, the hope we have.
- John 3:16, Titus 3:4-7 describes the kindness of God poured out abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, wherein we have hope of eternal life. 1 John 5:11 notes that God has given us eternal life, and that life is in His Son.
- But lest we forget, this eternal life calls for:
- Obedience – Matthew 25:46 speaks of the righteous having eternal life. Matthew 7:21 – we must do His will. Hebrews 5:9, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.
- Faithful endurance – Romans 2:7, 1 Timothy 6:12 speaks of laying hold of eternal life
- Consider also, eternal life involves knowing God – knowing God is not the same as knowing someone on earth. It is about understanding and relationship. It is believing in Him AND believing Him (faith) to be as real as if He were standing next to us on earth. It is acknowledging Him for who He is with “reverence and godly fear”.
- 1 John 2:3-4, we know that we know Him when we keep His commandments.
- 1 John 3:6, we are striving to live without sin.
- 1 John 4:6, we hear and believe His word
- 1 John 4:8, by loving God and others.
- I have glorified You on earth – in everything Jesus did, He was glorifying the Father.
- Let us consider some ways that Jesus glorified the Father
- He was a proper example – continually, we read that He kept the Father’s word. He lived life without sin – 1 Peter 2:21-22
- He was thankful – Jesus often gave thanks to God as He prayed. Matthew 11:25, John 11:41-42 – at the raising of Lazarus.
- He praised the Father before others – Matthew 6:9, 11:25-27 where He praises God in prayer for whom He chose.
- He revealed the Father’s word – John 14:24, 7:16 – My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me.
- He respected the authority of the Father – He kept His word (John 8:55, 15:10)
- He sought to win others to Him – He came to seek and save the lost – Luke 19:10. It was His mission. Every time He said, “Follow Me” (Matthew 4:19, 8:22, 9:9, 16:24, 19:21, etc.) He was seeking to win others – some followed, others did not. And let us not forget His death was about drawing others to Him – John 12:32
- By giving Himself on the cross – this was the ultimate act of glory to God. Jesus went through with it, for us.
- How can we glorify God?
- Do all to the glory of God – 1 Peter 4:11, 1 Corinthians 10:31
- By our example – the way we talk, dress, act. Jesus was an example in everything. Matthew 5:16, 1 Peter 2:12 – honorable conduct among the Genitles.
- By being thankful – consider this week – we pause to give thanks to God for our abundance. Do we? 2 Corinthians 4:15, For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. Colossians 4:2 calls for us to continue earnestly in prayer with thanksgiving. People ought to see our gratitude toward God in our lives – our words and conduct.
- By praising God – when we sing and pray, we are glorifying God.
- By sharing His word with others – we glorify God when we tell others about Him.
- By respecting His authority – again, 1 Corinthians 10:31, all that we do is to His glory; Colossians 3:17 – all should be done in the name of the Lord. When we respect God’s boundaries, we are bringing glory to Him.
- By bearing fruit – 1 John 15:8. We have noted that fruit comes in many different ways. It certainly includes reaching the lost – sharing God’s word with others. Just as Jesus sought to teach others, so should we (Mark 16:15-16).
- By sacrifice – when we sacrifice, we are glorifying God – Hebrews 13:15-16, Romans 12:1-2, etc.
- By sanctification – we must be holy and set apart to Him. When God truly is our master, we are glorifying Him. 1 Peter 1:15-16 – be holy even as He is, 3:15 – with sanctification, we prepare to give an answer to others;
- Let us consider some ways that Jesus glorified the Father
- I have finished the work – Jesus had completed everything necessary to accomplish His mission on earth. All that remained was for Him to die on that cross, and He was about to do that! And His resolve was clear. Throughout His work on earth, Jesus had a mission – John 4:34, 5:36. John 19:30 – on the cross, one of His final utterances was, “It is finished”. We will address that more in a coming lesson.
- Now, glorify Me together with yourself with the glory He had before the world was.
- Again, Jesus acknowledges the glory of the Father and the glory He was to receive.
- But here we note that Jesus also addresses His eternal nature – the glory He had before the world was.
- That was how John began this gospel, John 1:1-2, cf. John 8:58.
- Consider also Philippians 2:5-8 – Jesus was in heaven and left heaven to go through what He was about to face.
- As we sing in so many songs, “O what a Savior”.
- Father, the hour has come – Jesus, knows it is finally time.
And thus we see the prayer of Jesus on His behalf. And we have seen, even in this there are lessons for us to learn – we need eternal life, we need Him, we need to glorify God, we need to know Him, AND we need to finish our work – Revelation 14:13, Matthew 24:13, etc. Is God glorified in you?