[0:00] My apologies, we were running slightly late from Glasgow, so we're starting slightly behind schedule here at the moment, so please forgive me.
[0:13] Give everyone a welcome this morning to our service of morning worship here in the Amphreys Free Church. Just a few of intimations as we come together.
[0:24] Some of you are new to me, I'll be new to you. My name's Alan Thompson, I come from Glasgow. I've preached a couple of times here, while the situation here is vacant, so I'm here with my wife Ruth today.
[0:43] I'll be preaching here this morning, and God willing this evening at 6pm when we reconvene. God willing. Just a few intimations for us as we gather together.
[0:59] This evening's service, as I've already said, is at 6pm, and I will be leading and speaking at that service. On Wednesday at 7pm, here in the hall, there is a prayer meeting and a Bible study.
[1:12] That will take the form of a missionary prayer meeting, and Norman Cumming will lead that. And then next Lord's Day, God willing, again at 11am and 6pm, we'll meet here.
[1:26] And the speaker on that occasion will be Thompson Mackenzie from Downvale Free Church, where I go myself. And then one final intimation for us this morning.
[1:37] The Food Bank First Base is open to receive contributions again for the needy. There is information available about suitable non-perishable goods at the rear of the church there, next to the box for your contributions.
[1:54] And if you have any questions, please see William Kenyon. I think those are the intimations, all in the will of our God.
[2:06] As we come to worship God this morning, as we come to sing his praises, the psalmist said in Psalm 122 these words, I was glad when they said unto me, let us go to the house of the Lord.
[2:26] I was glad when they said unto me, let us go to the house of the Lord. Well let's come before that God in our opening psalm of praise, Psalm 96.
[2:39] We're going to listen to people praise God. We're going to praise God in our hearts ourselves. Psalm 96 from the Scottish Psalter, verses 1 to 5.
[2:49] Oh sing a new song to the Lord. Sing all the earth to God. To God. Sing. Bless his name. Show still his saving health.
[3:02] Abroad. For great's the Lord, verse 3 says. Or verse 4 says. And greatly he is to be magnified. Yes, worthy to be feared is he.
[3:14] Above all gods beside. We'll listen to this praise. Verses 1 to 5 of Psalm 96 from the Scottish Psalter.
[3:25] Amen. O sing a new song to the Lord. Sing all the earth to God.
[3:39] To God sing. Bless his name. Show still his saving health. Christ of God.
[4:02] Amen.. And greatly He is to be magnified.
[4:25] Yea, worthy to be feared is He above all gods beside.
[4:38] For all the gods are idols which my dead nations fear.
[4:50] But our God is the Lord by whom the heavens created were.
[5:06] Let's come before God in prayer as we seek His face as we come together this morning. Almighty God and our loving Heavenly Father we come into Your presence this Lord's Day morning this beautiful Lord's Day this first day of the week.
[5:30] We come to praise and to magnify You. You are the God above all other gods that the psalmist says gods who don't even exist.
[5:42] You are the one true and living God. The God who has made us. The God who created us. The God who upholds this world by the word of Your power.
[5:56] We thank You for Your goodness to us. We thank You for all the blessings that You give to Your creatures every one of us. Whether You are your believing people or whether we are people who are still afar off from You.
[6:15] You shine Your face in grace and common grace to us all. Father we thank You that our very breath that we breathe is given to us by Yourself.
[6:34] And Father as we come this morning into Your presence we are thankful that we can come and as we have been exhorted to sing Your praise and to magnify Your name and to lift You up in our hearts and in our minds.
[6:53] And Father we ask that as we come to You this morning that You might come by Your Holy Spirit and presence Yourself with us here that the worship that we offer might be pleasing and acceptable to You.
[7:07] that it might be reverent that it might acknowledge how great You are how different You are how above all other things and beings You are.
[7:22] And Father that we might be humbled before You. That our minds might be still to know that You are God.
[7:34] And that the greatest thing that we can engage in as Your creatures is to worship You and to give You what is rightfully Yours our obedience and our praise and our worship.
[7:49] So Father we realise that we are sinful all of us. We've all fallen short of Your standards. And Father we need Your help even to focus our minds upon You and to ponder Your greatness and Your great acts.
[8:13] But Father we thank You that as we come to You this morning we acknowledge that You are not only our Creator but that You are our Redeemer for those who are Your people.
[8:24] You've come to us in the person of Your Son. He has come down into this world to live a life that we could not live to die a death that we could not die.
[8:40] And He's come on behalf of Your people to redeem us and to heal us and to ransom and to restore us to a relationship with Yourself.
[8:53] Father there was a time when many of us all of us were afar off from You. and we were strangers to Your grace and to Yourself.
[9:06] But Father we thank You that You reached down to many of us here and enabled us to come and to acknowledge You as our God as the one who we needed as the only Saviour of sinners.
[9:21] And so we're so thankful that we can come this morning into Your presence and call You our Father which art in Heaven. Father we thank You for every head that's bowed here this morning from the youngest person to the oldest.
[9:41] Father we acknowledge that all of us need You as our Saviour and as our Redeemer. And Father we thank You that You've provided a Saviour in Your Son the Lord Jesus.
[9:55] So as we come this morning we pray that His name might be exalted amongst us and that we might have ears to hear what He and Your Spirit have to say to us through Your Word.
[10:11] We thank You for this beautiful day a day of rest a day that You have designed whereby we can come apart and rest and think specifically about You and all Your greatness.
[10:25] we can set aside the work issues and the anxieties and the fears of the rest of our lives the rest of these other six days that take up so much of our lives and so much of our minds and so much of our attention.
[10:43] Father how gracious You are to give us a day to remember You the Lord's Day. Father we pray for those who are here who You know their every need You know all our needs and You're sufficient for them all.
[11:01] Father we pray that again from the youngest to the oldest that You will still our hearts and that we will rest and find shelter under the shadow of the Almighty as we come together and that we might go away renewed and invigorated again reinvigorated to live for You and to trust You and to rest in You.
[11:29] Father we pray for ourselves here we pray wherever Your Word is opened where people meet to praise and to worship You this morning we pray that You might be with all those preachers at those services and those meetings and that people might come and find salvation in Your Son the Lord Jesus that their lives might be renewed that they might repent and that they might find salvation in Jesus Christ Father we think further afield we think of our government at this time and all sorts of difficulties with this COVID and all the other things that are going on in this world we pray that You might give them wisdom and that they might do justice and righteousness and that they might enact that and enact those laws with a view to Yourself
[12:31] Father we think of those who cannot meet like this for whatever reason people who live in war torn lands this morning Syria Lebanon Yemen we think we think of India Father we pray for Your people where they are we thank You that Your Son prays for them even now prays that they might be kept we pray that You might enable them and strengthen them in the midst of persecution to trust You with all their heart and soul and mind and strength so Father we thank You that You're a great God You're sufficient for all these things there's nothing happens out with Your control not a sparrow falls to the ground but You do not see it and we're so thankful of that so help us to rest in
[13:33] You and be with us here by Your Holy Spirit we ask this in Jesus name Amen Now boys and girls there's quite a few of you here this morning I have got one or two things that I need you to help me with and then I'm going to tell you a story as it were from the Bible so I'd like you to put your hands up if you think you're smart here this morning there's no need to be shy Thomas I know you're smart you're also humble this morning you don't want to say you're smart yeah there's one boy he thinks he's smart good at least he's honest now I need you to tell me can you tell me what that is come on you don't need to put your hand up now you can shout out if you want Thomas a what a comic no I wouldn't call that a comic it's bread right how many is that three yeah well good on you mate that's one how many is that
[14:41] I think maths is needed in the Kenyan household three four Thomas not embarrassing you how many is that young lady with the glasses that's five yeah that's five okay now if you're really smart you'll know if you know your Bible you'll know what story's coming next yeah now I've got something else here there's five rolls okay and what do you think's in this bag yeah anybody I got these yesterday what is that it's a fish and I'm not going to take the other one out because it's going to be very smelly up here when I'm preaching but there's another one in there there's two fish in there that's two Thomas okay two okay so there's two fish in there and there's five rolls and if you're really smart you'll know what story I'm going to tell you about because the
[15:49] Lord Jesus who is an amazing person was here on earth and one day he was he was always he went around healing people and there was always crowds that were following after the Lord Jesus and one day he got to the end of the day he was really tired and but there was all this crowd of people there and the Lord Jesus had been healing some people and he healed a lot of people he healed blind people and deaf people and people that couldn't walk properly and he got to the end of this day and he was really tired and he probably just wanted if he had a home to go home and sleep but he couldn't and he saw these all these lots and lots of people in fact the Bible tells us that there was 5,000 people 5,000 men and I'll not ask you to do the maths but that didn't count the women and then the children so there was probably maybe about 15,000 people and they were hungry and the Lord
[16:59] Jesus asked one of his followers a man called Philip and he said have you got any bread have you got anything for the people to eat because they're hungry because the Lord Jesus was very kind and loving and Philip said looked at the Lord Jesus and said there's no way that we've got any food for all of these people but then there was a little boy maybe the same age as you Thomas maybe a little bit more maybe a little bit older and he had in his he had a it wouldn't have looked like this but he had his lunch bag yeah with him that day in Galilee and in his lunch bag he had how many rolls Thomas no he had five they say never never deal with children or animals yeah five rolls and two fish didn't they and then the Lord Jesus did an amazing thing he lifted up his eyes to heaven and he blessed the food because that's a good thing to do for us all and then he started to give those rolls and the fish out to his disciples to give to all the people and those five loaves and two fish well that probably wouldn't even feed here all the people in this church today but the amazing thing was that all of that food the Lord Jesus performed an amazing miracle and it fed five thousand or even up to fifteen thousand people maybe even more that is an amazing story about the Lord Jesus now when I was your age I didn't like fish
[18:46] I don't know lots of people lots of children don't like fish do you like fish no I know I don't I don't I've never met children that like fish I didn't like fish Thomas will tell me he likes fish in a minute but you know the amazing thing was that everybody had more than enough to eat because the Lord Jesus had provided for everybody so the next time that you're eating fish or a roll you might have a roll tomorrow morning and if you're good you can have those rolls yeah remember the story that the Lord Jesus performed an amazing miracle because he cared for people he was able to provide for everybody so the next time you're eating your roll or fish remember the story the true story from the Bible the miracle that the Lord Jesus performed because he is a wonderful person and no matter how young or how old you are here this morning he's the only one that can provide for all our needs nothing that we face in earth at school or wherever we are is too big for
[20:11] God to provide for and to help us so I want you to remember that story this morning from the Bible let's pray together and ask God to help us to do that father we thank you for this amazing miracle that the Lord Jesus performed in Galilee we thank you for his compassion for people his care he was able to take what that young boy had and provide for everybody that was there who all had a need who all needed to be fed and father we take that lesson to ourselves and we pray that you might help us to realize that the Lord Jesus is the only one that can provide for all our needs and especially to save us from our sins father we ask that you might help us all especially the young people here to remember this great miracle of the Lord Jesus we ask this in
[21:15] Jesus name Amen now we're going to sing to God's praise again from the Scottish Psalter in Psalm 103 verses 1-5 Psalm 103 and verses 1-5 O thou my soul bless God the Lord and all that in me is be stirred up his holy name to magnify and bless bless O my soul the Lord thy God and not forgetful be of all his gracious benefits he hath bestowed on thee verses 1-5 of Psalm 103 from the Scottish Psalter to God's praise verse 1-5 O thou my soul bless God the
[22:17] Lord and all that in me is he said dead ofental him to magnify mi blest let's go let's go my shoulder Lord my heart and all And Lord, forget to be Of all his gracious benefits He hath issued on thee
[23:20] O find in equity to God Most graciously forgive Who thy diseases on the pains Doth heal and heal me Who does redeem thy life And love to death Is not for thou Who live in love
[24:25] In kindness of And tender mercies grow Who will thou But trust all good things Thou satisfy thy love So love thee As the evil say Renew it is thy youth Now can I invite you If you have your Bibles with you To turn with me to John's Gospel
[25:28] John's Gospel and chapter 17 John's Gospel and chapter 17 And we're going to read the whole of this passage this morning I don't intend to speak on the whole of this passage this morning We want to look at this prayer of the Lord Jesus This is a prayer just before he goes to the cross It's on the eve of his crucifixion And we want to look at this this morning The opening few verses And then this evening God willing With God's help we'll look at some lessons from the rest of this passage I know that one commentator on this book had over 50 sermons So we won't be covering 50 sermons worth hopefully in two sermons But let's read together what John Inspired by God Says of this closing prayer of the Lord Jesus When Jesus had spoken these words
[26:30] He lifted up his eyes to heaven And said Father the hour has come Glorify your Son That the Son may glorify you Since you have given him authority over all flesh To give eternal life To all whom you have given him And this is life eternal That they know you The only true God And Jesus Christ Whom you have sent I glorified you on earth Having accomplished the work that you gave me to do And now Father Glorify me in your own presence With the glory that I had with you Before the world was 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
[27:31] And they have kept your word Now they know that everything that you have given me Is from you For I have given them the words that you gave me And they have received them And I have come to know And have come to know In truth That I came from you And they have believed that you sent me I am praying for them I am not praying for the world But for those whom you have given me For they are yours All mine are yours And yours are mine And I am glorified in them 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 While I was with them I kept them in your name
[28:33] Which you have given me I have guarded them And not one of them is lost Except the son of destruction That the scripture might be fulfilled But now I am coming to you And these things I speak in the world That they may have my joy Fulfilled in themselves 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 do not ask that you take them Out of the world But that you keep them From the evil one They are not of the world Just as I am not of the world Sanctify them in the truth Your word is truth As you sent me into the world So I have sent them into the world And for their sake I consecrate myself
[29:35] That they also may be sanctified In truth I do not ask for these alone But also for those who will believe in me Through their word That they may all be one Just as you Father Are in me And I in you That they also may be in us So that the world may believe That you have sent me The glory that you have given me I have given them That they may be one Even as we are one I in them And you in me That they may become perfectly one So that the world may know That you sent me And loved them Even as you loved me Father I desire That they also Whom you have given me May be with me Where I am To see my glory That you have given me Because you love me Before the foundation of the world
[30:36] Oh righteous Father Even though the world Does not know you I know you And these know That you have sent me I made known to them Your name And will continue to make it known That the love with which You have loved me May be in them And I in them Amen And may God give us good Understanding of His written word Now before we come to Look at that Let's sing again To God's praise From Psalm 95 Psalm 95 In the Scottish Psalter And we're going to Sing verses 1 to 6 Psalm 95 Verses 1 to 6 Oh come let us sing to the Lord Come let us everyone A joyful noise Make to the rock
[31:36] Of our salvation Let us Before his presence come With praise And thankful voice Let us sing psalms To him with grace And make A joyful Noise And so on Down to Verse 6 To God's praise Psalm 95 From the Scottish Psalter O come let us sing to the Lord Come let us everyone A joyful noise Take to the rock Of our salvation Let us be born
[32:37] For His presence Let us sing sound to Him with praise and make a joyful noise.
[33:04] For God the great God and great King, above all gods He is.
[33:21] Deaths of the earth are in His hand, the strength of Him is His.
[33:37] To Him the same shall see in arms, for He the same in name.
[33:53] The pride that lost so low in His hand is far and first is He.
[34:09] O come and let us worship Him, let us alarm me home.
[34:25] And on our knees before the Lord, our Maker let us all.
[34:42] Good, now could you turn with me back in your Bibles to the passage that we read a moment ago to John chapter 17.
[34:56] This is the passage we're going to look at this morning just for a little bit of time. I realise that we're running just slightly late here. The words that we have read this morning from John 17.
[35:09] Come at the end of what is known as Christ's farewell discourse to His disciples. They are some of the closing words of the Lord Jesus Christ.
[35:23] John 17 is a prayer. It's a prayer between the Son of God and His Father in Heaven. And the content of the prayer is largely a prayer of intercession on behalf of all of God's people as we shall see.
[35:44] We are allowed to eavesdrop into this prayer of the Lord Jesus. Six prayers of the Lord Jesus are recorded in the Gospels.
[35:57] But we are not allowed into the content of those prayers very much. But here we are allowed to eavesdrop into this closing or one of the closing prayers of the Lord Jesus.
[36:09] Robert Trail, a 17th century Scots Puritan said these words of this passage. It is the greatest prayer that was ever offered on earth.
[36:26] And it followed the greatest sermon that was ever preached on earth. So we want to look at this prayer this morning and this evening.
[36:38] But just to give it its context. Because we really need to understand and appreciate the context in which this passage comes. When we come to the closing chapters of John's Gospel.
[36:51] John the writer as it were seems to go into slow motion as he records the Lord Jesus' life. From chapter 13 through to chapter 17.
[37:05] He records the events of just one night. The last night of the Lord Jesus' life here on earth.
[37:16] That he spends with his disciples. In an upper room. From chapters 13 to chapters 16.
[37:27] Those four chapters record as it were the sermon. Or the final teaching of the Lord Jesus to his disciples. He tells them a number of things in those chapters that we have.
[37:46] Amongst the things that he teaches them. He tells them that he's going away. He is soon to die. He's leaving them.
[38:00] He tells them that he will die. But that he will rise again. And he'll go back to his father in heaven. He tells them that in his absence.
[38:10] They will have direct access to the father in heaven through the Holy Spirit. He tells them however. That they in his absence when he's gone away.
[38:21] Will encounter tribulation and trouble and opposition. The world he says will hate them. Just as it hated him and cast him out.
[38:34] But he tells them that they will have the Holy Spirit. And he will come and he will help them. In his absence. He promises them in those four chapters.
[38:48] That they will have everything as his people. That they will need. But as he stands on the brink of his death. Which is to take place the very next day.
[39:00] When he goes to the cross. The disciples are afraid. They are troubled. They are anxious. They are full of fear.
[39:12] After all. The Lord Jesus has been with them for the last three years. Of their lives. And of his life. And now they are going to be left in this world. How are they going to cope?
[39:23] Is going through their minds. They are going to be alone they think. And so the Lord Jesus has spent. The majority of the Thursday night.
[39:35] Prior to Good Friday. Bringing God's word to them. Speaking to them. Especially about the Father. In chapter 16 and verse 27.
[39:50] He tells these disciples. For the Father himself loves you. Because you have loved me. And have believed that I came from God.
[40:04] Oh they were troubled. And they were anxious. They were trembling at what was going to arise. But the Lord Jesus finishes his sermon.
[40:17] On a triumphant note. For in chapter 16 and verse 33. He says these words. These things he says. As he speaks to his disciples. I have spoken to you.
[40:28] That in me you might have peace. In the world. Where you are going to be left. You shall have tribulation. But listen to these words he says.
[40:40] Be of good cheer. I have overcome the world. But now in chapter 17.
[40:51] He comes no longer to speak to the disciples about the Father. But he comes to speak to the Father. About the disciples.
[41:02] In this prayer. This is not only a prayer for his immediate disciples. As we shall see. Those who are with him in that upper room.
[41:13] They are living. But the prayer extends out to all his believing people. So that prayer. This prayer that we are going to consider. Is a prayer that the Lord Jesus prayed.
[41:25] While he was here on earth. It is a prayer that he prays in heaven. Today. For all of his people. Not just his immediate disciples.
[41:37] It is often called. His high priestly prayer. You see. In the Old Testament. The role of the prophet.
[41:48] The prophet. Was to represent God. To the people. The prophet. Brought God's word. To the people of God. But the role of the priest.
[42:02] Was to represent the people. To God. He would offer up sacrifices. And intercessions. On behalf. Of God's people.
[42:14] And that's what Jesus did here. In this prayer on earth. But it is something that he continues to do. In heaven. Where he is just now. There is a hymn.
[42:28] I would love to have sung it here. Before the throne of God above. I have a strong. A perfect plea. A great high priest.
[42:38] Whose name is love. Whoever lives. To plead. For me. And so this is something. This prayer.
[42:49] While it starts on earth. On the closing night. Of the Lord Jesus' life. It's a prayer. That he continues to pray. In heaven. He ever lives. The writer to the Hebrews says.
[43:01] To make intercession. For us. His people. And so his work. Goes on. Today. Now the chapter itself.
[43:12] Is divided into three parts. In verses 1 to 5. We have the Lord Jesus' prayer. To his father. About himself.
[43:25] And then in verses 6 to 19. The Lord Jesus prays for. His immediate disciples. Those who are with him in that upper room. That he's just been teaching.
[43:36] But then in verses 20 to the end. The Lord Jesus' prayer. Extends out. It expands out. To cover all his believing people.
[43:49] So if you're here this morning. So if you're here this morning. As a believer. As a Christian. As someone who's put their faith. And trust. In the Lord Jesus Christ.
[44:00] Then this is a prayer. That he prays for you. Now I just want us. As I say. We're not going to cover all of this. But I want us to look this morning. Just at verses 1 to 5.
[44:13] Just for the short time that we have. And so that you know. Where I'm heading with this. I want us just to consider. Three headings with regards. To verses 1 to 5.
[44:24] Firstly. I want us to look at Christ's. Attitude in his prayer. Secondly. I want us to look at Christ's. Asking. In the prayer.
[44:36] And then thirdly. I want us to consider. Christ's argument. In his prayer. With his father. Firstly then. Christ's attitude.
[44:47] In prayer. Look at verse 1. When Jesus had spoken. These words. That's the words of chapter 13 to 16. He lifted up his eyes.
[44:57] To heaven. And he said. Father. The hour has come. Glorify your son. That your son. May glorify. You.
[45:11] He lifts his eyes. Towards his father. In heaven. In prayer. The gospel writers. Tell us.
[45:21] That the Lord Jesus. Was a man. Of prayer. He communed. Daily. With his father. Morning.
[45:32] By morning. We are told. His ear was opened. And he got instructions. From his father. For that very day. On one occasion. He spent a whole night.
[45:43] In prayer. The gospel writers. Tell us that. He arose. Early. In the morning. Before dawn. To go.
[45:54] To the mountain. To pray. Pray. It's difficult. To get up. In the morning. Sometimes. Isn't it? It's even more difficult. To get up. To pray.
[46:06] If you're anything. Like I am. Anyway. But the Lord Jesus. Get up daily. To pray. He often.
[46:16] Resorted. The writers tell us. To the mountain. Of olives. To a garden. Called. Gethsemane. To pray. We may tend to think.
[46:29] That the Lord Jesus. Didn't need to pray. After all. He's the son of God. The one who. Is equal. In essence. With the father.
[46:39] And the holy spirit. Who had always enjoyed. Eternally. Communion. In that. What we call. Trinity. He'd always enjoyed. Fellowship with God.
[46:51] His father. He certainly. Told his disciples. And urged his disciples. How to pray. And not to give up.
[47:02] Praying. But why did he. Have to pray. Why did the Lord Jesus. Have to pray. Well we need to realize. That as a man.
[47:13] A real. Human. Being. In this world. He depended. On God. The father. In heaven. And even more so.
[47:26] At this critical. Crucial point. In his life. With the cross. Looming. The very next day. On Friday. He depended. On his father.
[47:38] You remember. What the psalmist. Would say. Or said. In Psalm 121. I lift up my eyes. To the hills. From whence. Or where does my help come.
[47:49] My help comes. From the Lord. Who made heaven. And the earth. The psalmist realizes. That as he looked up. To the hills. The help. The help didn't come.
[48:00] From the hills. He looked beyond the hills. To the maker of the hills. To the one. The great creator. And he says. It's there that my help. Comes from. And the Lord Jesus. Is doing that here.
[48:11] He's looking. Beyond the hills. As it were. And he's looking. To his father in heaven. He had this attitude. Of dependency.
[48:22] You see. Prayer. Was essential to him. Even the Lord Jesus. Could not go on. Daily without prayer. He was entirely dependent.
[48:34] On his father. To do. His father's will. That was his attitude. He looked to God. For guidance.
[48:46] And light. And strength. As God. As God. There was no need. For him to pray. In one sense.
[48:56] He was. As we have already seen. Co-equal. With the father. He was omniscient. He was omnipotent. He was all powerful. All knowing. But here on earth. As a true man.
[49:07] As a real human being. Come to redeem. His people. To finish the work. That he was assigned.
[49:19] His attitude was one of prayer. You see. The point of this whole passage. If you were to read it through. Is that as a man.
[49:30] Now. In heaven. His present work. Is still to continue. To pray. And to intercede. For his own.
[49:42] He had an attitude. Of life. Long prayer. But here. He needs strength. Specifically. So he asks the father. To help him.
[49:55] And can I ask. Can I. Surmise. That if he needed to pray. How much more. Do we. Need. To pray. That was Christ's.
[50:10] Attitude. And prayer. One of dependence. But secondly. Let's look at his. Asking. What does he pray for? What is he asking? Well back to verse one again.
[50:21] Father. The hour has come. Glorify your son. That the son may. Glorify. You. You see.
[50:31] The main concern. Of the Lord Jesus. In his asking. In this prayer. At this very point. In his life. Is that. He may be glorified.
[50:43] And that God the father. Will be glorified. So that having. Been glorified. And we shall look at that. He can bring. Glory to his people.
[50:54] He can bring his people. To glory. To ultimately. To go to heaven. But not only that. But. He wants to bring them. Look at verse two.
[51:05] Eternal life. You see. The Lord Jesus. Is anxious. That God's glory. May be seen. And seen especially. In the salvation. Of sinners.
[51:18] That they may come. To know the father. Verse three. And the whole purpose. Of his life. And it should be the whole purpose. Of our life. Was to glorify God.
[51:30] To do his will. To please him. To do the work. That he had been given. To do. You remember.
[51:42] That occasion. Back. It's recorded for us. In Luke's gospel. Chapter two. When the Lord Jesus. Was about 12 or 13 years of age. And he went up to Jerusalem. With his parents.
[51:54] And his parents lost them. Lost him. On the way home. It's an amazing. It's an amazing situation. As a parent. To not know. That your son is with you. For a couple of days. But.
[52:04] I don't know if you've ever. Lost one of your children. I know that. We lost one of our children. In the shop one day. I won't blame my wife. My child was with.
[52:15] Ruth. And. Rebecca got lost. Dreadful feeling. Mary and Joseph. Had misplaced the Lord Jesus.
[52:26] They thought. And then they found their way back. To the temple. As you will recall. And I'm sure. They were kind of. Anxious. If not angry. And do you remember.
[52:39] The Lord Jesus' words to them. When they found him. He said. Did you not know. Even at the age of 12. That I must be.
[52:49] About my father's. Business. You see. Christ was here. To do. God's will. To glorify God. To be obedient.
[53:00] To him. He was here. To reveal. The father. And that's far greater. That's a fulfillment. Of the old testament.
[53:11] Revelation. Isn't it? Far greater. And that revelation. Of God. Would climax. At the cross. When he will be. Lifted up.
[53:22] That's the term. That John uses. In his gospel. You see. In the gospels. Of Matthew. And Mark. And Luke. Christ's glory. Is emphasized.
[53:34] In the resurrection. But it's different. When you come to John's gospel. For in John's gospel. Christ's glory. Is seen.
[53:45] When he is lifted up. Physically. On the cross. When he is exalted. On the cross. And John uses.
[53:56] As it were. A double meaning. To speak about the Lord Jesus. Being physically lifted up. On the cross. And that is his exaltation. In one sense. That's his glorification.
[54:07] According to John. It's the greatest thing. About Christ's life. And this prayer.
[54:18] This intercession. This asking. Of the Lord Jesus. At the end of his. Earthly ministry. Comes as he looks forward. To the cross.
[54:32] And then beyond that. To his heavenly. Ministry. In heaven. He's thinking about the cross. But he's thinking.
[54:42] Beyond the cross. And he says. These tremendous words. And we don't have time. To go into them. But the hour. Has come. John has been talking.
[54:54] In his gospel. About this hour. From chapter 2. In Jesus's first. Miracle. At Cana. Of Galilee. The hour.
[55:05] The hour. Has not yet come. The hour. The hour is not here. But now the hour. Has come. The Lord Jesus.
[55:16] Is on. The verge. Of his crucifixion. I just want us to look. If we can. Just to get that sense. Of this idea. Of the hour. In chapter 12.
[55:26] Can you turn back with me. Just to chapter 12. And verse 23. Of John's gospel. There was many times.
[55:38] In the Lord Jesus's life. Where people tried to arrest him. And John tells us. They couldn't do it. They wanted to kill him. On one occasion. They couldn't do it. Why? Because his hour.
[55:49] Had not. Yet. Come. But now. When we come to John 12. And verse 23. Let's just read these verses. And Jesus answered them. Saying. The hour.
[56:01] Has come. For the son of man. To be glorified. Truly. Truly. I say. To you. Unless a grain of wheat. Falls into the earth.
[56:11] And dies. It remains alone. But if it dies. It bears much fruit. He who loves his life. Loses it. And he who hates his life. In this world. Will keep it. To life.
[56:22] Eternal. If anyone serves me. He must follow me. And where I am. There my servant. Will be also. If anyone serves me. The father will honor him.
[56:35] Then he says these words. Now my soul. Has become troubled. And what shall I say father. Or what shall I say. Father.
[56:47] Save me from this hour. But for this purpose. I came to. This hour. Father. Father. Glorify.
[56:59] Your name. You see the linkage. Between glorifying. And his death. That corn of wheat. That's going to fall into. The ground. Here he is.
[57:10] Just before the cross. The crucial moment. Is at hand. His one ask. Here is this. Father. He says.
[57:22] Enable me. To go on. Give me strength. To bear. The cross. Give me all I need. For this event. And he does it.
[57:34] In order. That your great glory. In this matter of salvation. May be seen. I have come to do that.
[57:44] He says. Enable me. To do it. That your name. The father's name. May be glorified. And that's his plea. And that's his asking.
[57:55] And that's his petition. His primary ask. And concern. Is to glorify God. To finish the work. Of salvation.
[58:07] That God's name. Might be glorified. And praised. Now I'm conscious of time. But let's just quickly look. Thirdly. At Christ's argument.
[58:18] Thirdly. As he prays. Jesus prays. This prayer. In the light. Of what we sometimes call. The eternal plan.
[58:30] Of redemption. What do I mean by that? Well this hour. That we've thought about. This hour. Was planned. This going to the cross.
[58:42] Was no accident. This going to the cross. Had a purpose. It was to redeem. His people. This hour was divinely appointed.
[58:55] From eternity. And in accordance. It would take place. With the divine timetable. For Christ. Every event. Every moment.
[59:07] Every circumstance. Every day. Every day. Led to this. Appointed hour. To this. Appointed time.
[59:17] When he would be lifted up. On a cross. To die. And the hour had come. When he would accomplish. Or he would finish the work.
[59:28] Here on earth. And he would go back to glory. You see. Before time began. Before even Adam sinned.
[59:39] In the garden. God ordained. And God planned. That Christ. Would be crucified. And a plan.
[59:50] Of redemption. Was constructed. And was made. And it was agreed. In the councils. Of eternity. That Christ.
[60:01] Would come. As a man. To be. Our representative. To obey. God's law. And he would then.
[60:14] In his death. Pay the penalty. And take the judgment. For sin. The penalty. And the judgment. That people like you. And I deserve.
[60:28] And the Lord Jesus. In these verses. Is saying. I have done everything. That was agreed upon. Father. I finished the work.
[60:39] That you gave me. To do. All your demands. Have been met. And he says. It's as if he says. Looking forward. The cross is the next.
[60:49] Day. But he says. I finished it already. It's as good as sealed already. But he says. I finished it. Look at what he says. In verse 4. He says. I've glorified thee.
[61:01] On the earth. In his life. He had done that. He always did the things. That pleased the father. He was sinless. Perfect. Harmless. He says.
[61:12] I've glorified thee. On the earth. Verse 5. He says. I've finished the work. That you gave me. To do. Verse 6. I have manifested. Thy name.
[61:23] To those. That you gave me. His people. His elect. I have given them. Your word. Verse 8. Verse 12. He says. Look at what I've done.
[61:34] I have kept them. I've guarded them. God. God. And so he says. In verse 5. And now father. Glorify me. In your own presence.
[61:45] With the glory. That I had with you. Before the world. Existed. He says. Clothe me. Now. In the splendor. That I had with you. Before the world.
[61:57] Began. Give me back. That position. Of glory. That I. Had. Given up. To come into the world. In other words.
[62:08] His argument. Is this. His argument. Is this. Father. You promised. And you. Covenanted. That if I. Did these things.
[62:20] Then you would. Give me a people. And that people. Would be with me. One day. To behold. My glory. He's therefore saying.
[62:34] Father. Keep your promise. Then. Keep your covenant. Reward me. Restore me. Back.
[62:45] To your side. And he says. These things. And I've got underlined. In my notes. So that one day.
[62:56] I can bring. All those. That you gave me. My people. My sheep. The church. To be with me.
[63:07] Where I am. To behold. My glory. You know. Your salvation. Was planned. If you're a believer.
[63:18] Remember. That council. Was about. Sinners. Like you. And I. And the question is.
[63:32] Does that. Thrill you. This morning. Does it not. Bring you. Assurance. In all the troubles. Of your life. In the midst of. Covid. And everything else. That happens.
[63:43] In the world. We have tribulation. That nothing. Can separate us. From the love. Nothing. Can separate us. From the love.
[63:53] Of God. Which is in. Christ Jesus. Christ has gone. To the cross. And he's finished. The work. To save. Sinners. Like you.
[64:04] And I. But his work. Of intercession. Goes on. And hopefully. You'll see. Some of that. This evening. He's the one.
[64:15] Who ever lives. To make intercession. For. His people. May we rejoice. In our saviour. In our prophet.
[64:25] And our great. High priest. Let's pray together. Father. We thank you. For our salvation. Those of us.
[64:35] Who are believers. This morning. We thank you. That it meant. For the Lord Jesus. To go the way. Of the cross. To die. In our place.
[64:46] In our stead. To give his life. A ransom. For the many. Father. We thank you. That he's the one. Who. Prays.
[64:57] For us. Your people. Even now. That work. Of intercession. Goes on. In your presence. Just as the.
[65:08] High priest. In the old testament. Bore those names. On his breast. And on his shoulders. So father. We thank you. That your son. Bears. Our names. Before your face.
[65:19] In heaven. Father. We thank you. For our salvation. We pray that. For those. Who are here. Who. Are not believers.
[65:30] Who are not Christians. Who have never put their faith. And their trust. In the one. Who went to the cross. At Calvary. We pray that. You might speak to them.
[65:42] And that you. Might draw them. To yourself. Father. We ask this in. Jesus name. Amen. Now we're going to close.
[65:54] And I realize. Time is gone. We're going to close. By singing. Listening to. A beautiful hymn. It's in mission praise.
[66:06] The head that once. Was crowned with thorns. Is crowned with glory. Now. I'll read the verses. A royal diadem adorns. The mighty. Victor's. Brow.
[66:18] To them. The cross. With all its shame. With all its grace. Is given. Their name. An everlasting name. Their joy. The joy.
[66:29] Of heaven. They suffer with their Lord. Below. They reign with him above. Their prophet. And their joy. To know. The mystery. Of.
[66:39] His love. The cross he bore. His life. And health. Though shame. And death. To him. His people's hope. His people's wealth. Their everlasting.
[66:52] Theme. This hymn. Written by a man called Thomas Kelly. 300 years ago. The truths. Are ever relevant. 647.
[67:04] In mission praise. The head that once. Was crowned. With thorns. Thank you William. The색 that once. Harman comes.
[67:15] Ralph's pride. Hor 대� Babylon. The Lord. То have a man called him. Israel. To a place. He cruelty to another. In high�를. The Christianity. The Lord, the diadem, the gods, the mighty angels cry.
[67:35] The highest nations as emeral thoughts, this is, this is my light.
[67:48] The King of kings and Lord of gods, and then tis our light.
[68:02] The joy of all who dwells, the joy of all who belong.
[68:13] To whom He benefits His love, and Christ is made to come.
[68:28] To them the cross with all its shame, with all its grace is here.
[68:40] Then in an everlasting name, their joy the joy of all.
[68:52] They suffer with their Lord below. They reign with Him above.
[69:07] Their profit and their joy to know the mystery of His love. The cross is evil, is thine and hell.
[69:26] No shame and death to Him. His people's heart, His people's heart, with ever last is in Thee.
[69:46] Let's conclude with a benediction then. Now may the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit be with us and remain with us always.
[70:04] Amen. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.