John 17, part three. This is called the high priestly prayer. Our Lord Jesus is praying while
he's on earth. And so it's God, the son praying to God, the father to reveal himself in John,
the apostle who's close by captures the prayer and the words of Jesus. I'm going to read today,
John 17, beginning at verse 20 to the end of this chapter. As you hear this, remember,
this is God's inspired, inerrant, infallible, clear and sufficient word. It's God's very own word for
us, his people. When I'm done reading, I'll say this is the word of the Lord and you can respond,
thanks be to God. John 17, starting at verse 20.
Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also, which shall believe on me through their word.
That they all may be one as thou, father, are in me and I in thee. That they may also be one in us,
that the world may believe that thou has sent me. Verse 22. And the glory which thou gavest me,
I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one. I in them and thou in me,
that they may be made perfect in one. And that the world may know that thou has sent me and has loved
them as thou has loved me. Father, I will that they also whom thou has given me be with me where I am,
that they may behold my glory which thou has given me. For thou lovest me before the foundation of the
world. O righteous father, the world hath not known thee, but I have known thee, and these have known
that thou hast sent me. And I have declared unto them thy name and will declare it that the love
wherewith thou has loveth me may be in them and I in them. This is the word of the Lord.
Lord, thanks be to God. Indeed, you may be seated. The Bible says that the grass withers, the flower
fades, but the word of the Lord endures forever. Let's pray.
O God, help us to behold your love in Jesus Christ today.
We ask that you will be glorified by the proclamation of your word. We pray, Lord, that you will cleanse
our thoughts, renew our minds, help us to think of you exactly how you have revealed yourself through
your word. I ask, Lord, that you will protect my lips and the words that do come out that are not
pleasing to you, Father. I pray that it will be forgotten, that it will blow away like the dust,
but I pray that your word, the gospel of Jesus Christ, the ministry of your spirit through the
preaching of the word, I pray, Lord, that that will serve the purposes that you intend in your people.
Those whom you love so dearly in the Son. We ask all of this for Christ's sake alone and for his glory. Amen.
Beloved congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ, do you want to know God's will?
Do you want to know God's will?
Jack Benny had a difficult marriage. His wife Sadie was, quote, a sharp-tongued, demanding, vain woman.
He had a tradition, nonetheless, of expressing his love to her by sending her roses.
Well, in the Christmas of 1974, the day after Christmas, Jack unexpectedly died.
His wife didn't expect to get the traditional roses, but they arrived.
She thought this must be the last time.
That year, Sadie trimmed the stems and placed the roses in a special vase beside the portrait of his smiling face.
She'd sit for hours in Jack's favorite chair, staring at his picture, the roses sitting there, as someone put it in a poem.
So even after he died, this expression of love stirred her heart, and it began to soften this widow.
Jack's final act, an expression of love, it revealed his heart for his bride.
Christ, in John 17, is praying hours before his final act to reveal his love for his bride.
3 p.m. on Friday, the Lord Jesus Christ will die.
In John 17, it's Thursday night, and Jesus Christ prays.
John 17 has to be one of the best chapters that we can meditate on to be reminded of God's love,
because it is the Son telling the Father how much he loves his bride, the church.
In this chapter, Jesus makes it crystal clear.
He wants his bride with him.
So do you want to know the will of God?
Well, put your eyes on John 17, verse 24.
This is the key verse that I want to try to hold on to and open up for you in this passage.
John 17, 24.
Jesus says,
Father, I will.
Here's what I will.
You want to know my will, church?
Here's what I will.
That word has been translated,
here's what I want.
Here's what I desire.
Jesus says in verse 24,
Father, I will that those you've given me be with me where I am.
That's the will of God.
That they may behold my glory,
which thou hast given me,
for thou loved me before the foundation of the world.
That's the will of God.
That verb, the will of God,
in this verse,
it's given to us in the first person, singular, masculine, present, active tense.
If there's ever a time to get excited about grammar,
this is one.
That means that Jesus,
actively, right now, currently,
in an ongoing way,
wills that you be with him.
And he wills that you see his glory,
the glory that his Father gave him.
Jesus says,
I, the Lord God,
I desire you.
I, the Lord God,
want you.
I, the Lord God,
chose you.
You want to know more of God's will?
It's all good news today.
It's all good news.
And here's,
here's another thought related to this.
The better you know someone,
the more you understand what they wish,
what they want,
what they will.
We think of this a lot this time of year,
where it's a tradition to give one another gifts.
The better I know my wife,
the better I'll know what this time,
in this stage of her life,
she will want.
What is it her will right now?
What would she enjoy?
Just think about that.
That's how well the Father knows his Son.
That he gives you,
the bride,
to the Son,
as a gift.
And that's the direction.
Yes, the Lord knows us,
and he knows all of our needs
can only be met in Christ.
But here, the message is that
you are the gift from the Father
to the Son.
No one knows the Son better than the Father.
What is it that the Son wants?
It's exactly what the Father's going to give.
It's you.
God proves that he knows his Son
by giving his Son
what his Son wants.
And his Son wants you.
I'm going to try to open up for us today
five insights into God's will
from this glorious passage.
Number one,
it's God's will
that you and I believe in Christ
through his word.
That's God's will.
We see that
in this prayer,
Christ is revealing
the eternal decree of God.
Christ prayed for you
whom God chose
to believe in him.
Look at verse 20.
I do not ask for those only,
referring to his apostles,
the disciples,
but for those who will believe in me
through their word.
Anyone who will believe
in the testimony
of the new covenant,
the new testament,
and receive,
this is God,
Jesus Christ,
the Son,
the mediator.
That's who Jesus
is specifically praying for.
All who will believe.
What does this mean
to believe in this way?
I love this definition
by John Gill,
to believe,
to receive the word of God.
Quote,
to believe in this saving sense
is a spiritual sight
of Jesus Christ.
Do you have that?
You need to be able
to see the necessity,
the fitness,
and suitableness
of Jesus Christ
as a Savior.
It's a going forth
unto Jesus Christ,
laying hold
of Jesus Christ,
and depending upon
Jesus Christ
for life and salvation.
that's what it means
to believe.
And Jesus,
as he prays,
he's praying
for this vast
multitude of souls
worldwide
that will believe
in him.
This is what
the New Testament
calls the elect.
It's the elect.
It's those
Christ came
to save.
That's exactly
who he's praying for.
In 1 Peter 3,
9,
we read that
God is long-suffering
toward us,
not willing that
any should perish,
but that all
should come
to repentance.
He wills that.
Man is responsible
to believe in God.
So think of that.
You're in this position,
and I am in this position
when we're born.
It's our responsibility
to behold God
and believe.
And he desires
that none should perish.
And Jesus is praying
for you
who will believe.
He desires
that all should come
to repentance.
God said
in John 3, 36,
whoever believes
in the Son
has eternal life.
This is what's at stake.
But here's the other side
of that double-edged sword.
Whoever does not
obey the Son,
Jesus said in John 3,
shall not see life,
but the wrath
of God
remains on him.
You were born
in the default state
of being under
the wrath of God
because of sin.
That's the curse
of being under
the fall from Adam.
Ever since then,
we're all born
with that sin,
and we add on
our own sin
on top of that.
Well, now we arrive
at this glorious insight.
Christ,
he prays
for you who will
believe in him
through his word.
That's his will,
is that you will
believe in him.
And we saw
in John 17,
verse 9,
you can look there
in your Bible
just a few verses back,
referring to
the elect
and the apostles
specifically,
and then all those
who would believe
by necessary consequence
there.
In John 17,
9,
he says,
I am not praying
for the world,
but for those
whom you have given
me,
for they are yours.
So for whom
does Christ pray
in verse 20,
I pray for every
soul who will
believe in me
through their word,
through the word
of the apostles.
I'm going to try
to lay a foundation
here that's very
important for what
I believe he's
emphasizing in verse
22 and verse 21.
And the best way
to put this dilemma,
so you have the wrath
of God remaining
on you because of sin.
Shilin,
the rapper,
church planter,
he put it this way,
because of your sin,
God's wrath on you
abides,
and hell is the place
you'll eternally reside.
That means your wrath
from God
hasn't been satisfied.
So how does the cross
relate to those
in hell?
Well,
they be saying,
Lord knows he tried,
but we believe
his mission
was accomplished
when he died.
Do you understand
what he's saying here?
He's saying that
this people,
this bride of the Lord,
the ones that Jesus
prays for now,
are those same souls
that the Father chose.
The same souls
the Father gave
to the Son
in the covenant
of redemption.
Before he purchases
those souls
on the cross,
our Lord Jesus
prays for his elect,
for his bride.
Shailene put it this way,
it's the same souls
that the Father chooses.
The Son gets bruised
for them,
and the Spirit
renews them
and produces
fruit in them.
It's the same people,
the people of God.
If you believe in Christ,
it is because God
decreed
to give you
his Son.
He chose you,
he purchased you,
he renewed you,
he is sanctifying you,
and he will one day
glorify you.
We read in Romans 8.
So it's the will of God
that you believe
in him
through his word.
And if you believe,
it's because
he has called you
through his Son.
Christ prayed for you
whom God chose
to believe in him.
Here's a test.
You want to know right now,
is Christ
praying for me?
Am I one of those
he is praying
for today?
Those who are
the bride of Christ,
you can have assurance
from Revelation 22.
the bride
prays,
oh,
return quickly,
Lord Jesus.
The Spirit and the bride
are the ones
longing and calling others
to invite Jesus back.
Come quickly,
Lord Jesus.
We desire
your second coming.
The second insight
into the will of God
is this.
God desires
to prove to the world
that Christ
succeeded
in his mission.
God desires
to prove to the world
that Christ
succeeded
in his mission.
Look at verse 21.
He prays 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 sent me.
So the unity
of the body
and the bride,
that's one of his desires,
but it's leading
to something else.
It's so that the world
can believe
that he succeeded
in his mission.
What is happening
in the church
cannot be explained
any other way
except that Christ
did it.
The apostles testified
in the scriptures.
Yes,
the Father sent the Son.
The Spirit breathed out
the New Testament.
That same Spirit
ministers the Word of God
today
to the ends of the earth
and those the Spirit
is regenerating
and calling
and opening your eyes.
You receive the Word of God
that way.
You receive it
as the testimony
about Jesus Christ
and you believe.
This is what's described
in 1 Thessalonians 2.13.
When you receive
the Word of God
which you heard from us,
you received it
not as the Word of man,
but as it is in truth,
the Word of God
which effectually
works in you
that believe.
It effectually
works in you
that believe.
Was Jesus trying
to make
the whole world
His bride?
Shailene asks.
Well, we can answer
that directly
with 1 Corinthians 7.23.
You, church,
were bought
with a price.
If Jesus bought you,
you are His.
His wrath
has been satisfied
for you.
Shailene again
put it this way
in his song.
Quote,
If saving everybody
was why Christ came
in history,
with so many in hell,
we'd have to say
that He failed miserably.
So many think
that He came
only to make it possible.
You're saying
the cross by itself
doesn't save.
That we must do something
to give the cross
its power.
That means
at the end of the day,
the glory is ours.
But Christ,
He paid for you.
He paid the price.
He ransomed you
who believe.
Why did He do this?
For the glory
of God alone.
Soli Deo Gloria.
When you believe
the testimony
of the New Testament,
the gospel
of Jesus Christ,
of how God saves you,
then your faith
is proving
to the world
that Christ succeeded
in His mission.
You can testify
like Paul in Romans 1.16,
I am not ashamed
of the gospel,
for it is the power
of God
for salvation
to everyone
who believes.
When you are united
to the spiritual family
of Christ,
the church,
your membership,
it proves
that Christ succeeded
in His mission.
Acts 4.32,
the full number
of those
who believed
were of one heart
and soul
because they are united
to Christ.
Do you want to know
the will of God?
God desires
to prove to the world
that Christ succeeded
in His mission.
And He uses us
to prove that
to the world
as 1 Thessalonians 5
says it,
we rejoice
always,
we pray
without ceasing,
we give thanks
in all our circumstances.
This is God's will
in Christ Jesus
for you.
That means
that when you pray,
when you commune
with the triune God,
your prayers
prove
to the world
that Christ
succeeded
in His mission.
A third observation,
God wants the world
to see
that He
is love.
Do you want to know
the will of God?
It's the will of God
to show the world
that He is
love.
He tells us this plainly
in 1 John 4.8,
God
is
love.
Father,
Son,
and Spirit,
the one God,
the triune Godhead,
the creator of all.
What is He?
God
is
love.
Look what Jesus
prays in verse 22.
Father,
the glory
that You have
given Me,
I have given
to them
that they may be
one even
as we are one.
I in them
and You in Me
that they
may become
perfectly
one.
I'm going to read
a bit more
to explain
the connection
with God is love
and that's what
He wants to show
the world.
But let me clarify
one thing
in passing first.
Look at what He says
at the end of verse 22.
that My people
will be one
even as
Father and Son
are one.
That's a difficult
teaching, right?
Even as.
What does He mean
by even as?
there was a false
teacher named
Arius
and he
took what we know
about the relationship
between people
and he tried to
apply that to God
and that's the
upside down way
of doing theology.
We start with
what is true of God
and then that informs
what we make sense
of ourselves
as people.
So Arius,
here's the wrong teaching.
He said that
the church
is united
to Christ
in a way
of not being
the same essence
as Christ
and we agree
with that
but then he took
it a step further
and said
Jesus Christ
therefore can't be
of the same essence
as the Father.
That was Arius'
teaching.
So Augustine
clarified
biblically
from the full
counsel of God's word
even as
we are one.
Augustine said
this can refer
to essence
and it can also
refer to love.
So in essence
the Father and Son
are one
but in their distinction
the two persons
of Father and Son
there's a love
between Father and Son
and that's what
Augustine said
is the correct interpretation.
Yes, Father and Son
are one in essence
because of
they're the Trinity
it's three in one God
but the relationship
between Father and Son
also communicates
a love
between the persons
and it's only
in the latter sense
not in the essence
of being united
to God in essence
but in being united
to God
with such a loving bond
as the Father and Son
have in their love.
So love is the essence
of who God is
God is
love
and God wants to
share that love
among Father, Son
and Spirit
with the Bride
of Christ.
That's how tight
the union
of God's people is
to God
through the Son.
God wants
the world
to know
that the Father
sent the Son
because He
is love
and God wants
the world
to know
that the Father
loves His elect
just as the Father
loves His own Son.
What a glorious truth.
1 John 4-7
calls the church
beloved
let us love
one another.
Why?
For love
is from God.
God shows
the world
He is love
by infusing
divine love
in us.
He shares
His glorious
divine love
with His people.
And then the world
looks on
and they could say
the words of Psalm
133.1
we testify
behold
how good
and pleasant
it is
when brothers
dwell
in unity.
Do you want
to know
the will
of God?
It's that
we share
His love
with one another.
The love
that the Father
has for the Son
that we would
share that
with His people.
God wants
the world
to see
through the church
that He
is love.
The invisible
God
shows the world
He is love
by His visible
people.
This is our
generation.
We are the ones
living on earth
now.
We're united
to Christ
but He's
leaving us
here
to reveal
His love.
It's the love
of Christ
the fruit
of the Spirit
the righteousness
of God
the Son
put on
to His people.
Paul describes
it this way
in Ephesians 4
2 and 3
The love
is made visible
with Christ-like
humility
gentleness
patience
bearing with
one another
in love
eager to
maintain
the unity
of the Spirit
and the bond
of peace.
Jesus had told
them this already
in John 13
35
By this
all people
will know
that you are
my disciples
if you love
one another.
Fourth insight
into the will
of God
is this
God
wills
you
to behold
His glory
in the Son.
You want to know
the will of God?
It's the will of God
that you behold
His glory
in the Son.
Look at verse 24
Jesus
prays
Father
I will
that they
also
whom
Thou
hast
given
me
be
with
me
where
I
am
that
they
may
behold
my glory
which
Thou
hast
given
me
for
Thou
lovest
me
before
the
foundation
of the
world.
In
John 14
23
Jesus
had said
my Father
will love
those who
believe in
me.
We will
come
to Him
and make
our home
with Him.
Jesus
wants you
with Him
so you
behold
His glory.
We have to
ask the question
why?
Why does
Jesus
want you?
And the answer
He gives
in this
verse
is simply
Jesus
wants you
for the
same
reason
the
Father
wants
the
Son.
It's
because
He loved
the Son
eternally.
God
wants you
with Him
because He
loved you
eternally.
You were
chosen in
Christ
before the
foundations
of the
world
Ephesians
1
says.
Sinclair
Ferguson
summed this
all up
so
simply
and
correctly
I believe
He pointed
out three
things
God tells
us He
wants
in this
passage.
God
wants
you
church
to be
one.
That's
number one.
Number two
God
wants you
to see
Christ's
glory.
That's
number two.
Number
three
God
wants
you.
Simply
that God
wants
you.
We
behold
the love
of a
holy
perfect
righteous
God
and we
think
I can't
be one
with you
God
in this
way.
Even
though I'm
saved I
know
you've
washed
me
clean.
I
still
have
remaining
sin
in my
flesh.
Sinclair
Ferguson
pointed
out
the only
interest
Jesus
has
in your
sin
is to
get rid
of it.
He
only cares
to know
how can
I get
rid of
this sin
so that
there is
nothing
between
us.
Why?
Because
He wants
you.
Ferguson
said the
reason God
wants you
is because
He loves
you.
The reason
He loves
you is
because
He is
love.
1 Thessalonians
4.3
tells us
this is
the will
of God
your
sanctification.
Why?
So there
can be
nothing
between
you and
God.
He wants
you that
much.
Do you
want to
know the
will of
God?
God
wants
you and
He wills
you to
behold His
glory in
His Son
Jesus Christ.
will of
God.
Well the
fifth insight
into the
will of
God is
that God
chooses to
make Himself
known to
you.
God
wills,
God
decrees,
and God
chooses to
make Himself
known to
you.
Look at what
Jesus prays in
verses 25 and
26.
O
righteous
Father,
even though the
world does
not know
you, I
know you,
and these
know you.
They know
that you
have sent
me.
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
and I
in them.
God
chooses
to continue
to make
Himself
known to
you who
are chosen
in Him.
Aquinas
pointed out
Jesus is
praying this
right before
He goes
to the
cross.
And what
He's praying
for,
His words
to the
Father
are being
accomplished
in time
in history.
What Christ
prays for
as a man,
He is also
simultaneously
accomplishing
as God.
This
glorious
resurrection
life,
Jesus
will give
to His
disciples.
Jesus
prays to
His
Father
what we
receive
as a
promise
that He
will
continue
to make
God
known
to His
people.
Jesus
says,
I will
continue
to make
known
to them
the glory
of my
resurrection
which you
Father
have given
me by
your
eternal
decree
and which
soon
will be
accomplished
in history.
This is so
that the
love with
which you
have loved
me may
be in
them and
I in
them.
God
chooses to
make Himself
known to
you again
and again
and again.
Day after
day,
week after
week,
isn't He so
faithful?
He makes
Himself
known.
He reminds
you,
I am
love.
Year after
year,
in deeper
ways than
you could
ever dream
of,
He continues
to reveal
who He
is to
you,
His
people,
whom He
called.
Do you
remember that
story I
told you
about Jack
who died
and left
the roses?
Well,
another year
went by
and his
wife was
learning to
live without
her mate.
This poem
tells it this
way,
that with
loneliness and
solitude that
had become
her fate,
then the
very hour
the doorbell
rang and
there were
roses sitting
by her
door.
She brought
the roses
in and
just looked
at them
in shock,
then went
to get the
telephone to
call the
florist shop.
The flowers
you received
today were
paid for in
advance,
they told her.
Your husband
always planned
ahead.
He left
nothing to
chance.
There's a
standing order
that I have
on file down
here and he
has paid
well in
advance.
You'll get
them every
year.
And each
year he
sent her
roses and
the note
would always
say,
I love you
even more
this year
than last
year on
this day.
My love
for you will
always grow
with every
passing year.
And for
nine years
his gift
continued to
remind her
of his
love.
Well,
this is a
mortal man
and he
can't grow
in his love
for her
from the
grave.
How much
greater is
the love
of Christ
for his
bride?
Because he
is not
dead,
he is alive
and he
continues to
make known
his love
for you
church.
Day after
day,
month after
month,
year after
year,
because he's
alive and
he wants
you to be
with him,
that you
will behold
his glory.
And it's
the glory
that he had
with the
father before
time.
He's the
lamb that
was slain from
the foundations
of the
world.
There's
nothing that
can add
glory to
God,
his glory
is full.
But now
he brings
his bride
into his
presence to
enjoy his
glory and
to see that
he is love
and to share
his love
with you,
his people.
Christ's
final prayer
reveals he
is love.
This is
Christ's
last will.
It's his
final wishes
for you
who are
his.
God's
will is
for you
to believe
in him
through his
word.
God's
will is
for you
to trust
that Christ
succeeded
in his
mission.
God's
will is
for you
to see
Christ
and know
that God
is love.
God's
will is
for you
to behold
the glory
of God
in the
sun.
God's
will
is you
that you
know him.
God's
will dear
friend
is that
you be
with him.
my
encouragement
to us
in a
special way
this week
as we
prepare for
Christmas
you get
to be
with God
because
he came
to you.
He came
to dwell
and to
be with
you.
And we
have the
promise that
he is
resurrected
and alive
and we
will join
him in
his second
coming.
We will
join him
in our
glorified
bodies
and this
kingdom
of God
will never
come to
an end.
We will
worship him
with this
vast multitude
that no
man can
count more
than the
stars of
the sky.
We will
be among
that number
because God
is love.
Let's
pray.
Oh we
praise you
our triune
God,
Father,
Son,
and Spirit.
We thank
you that
this is the
will of
God.
We thank
you that
this is
the desire
of our
Lord Jesus
Christ
to have
his people.
Proverbs
13,
12 says
a desire
fulfilled
is a
tree of
life.
And this
was Christ's
desire
which he
fulfilled
and he
became
the tree
of life
that we
could
abide
in his
city,
that we
could
enter
through
the
walls,
enter
through
the
gates
and be
us
standing
on the
foundation
of the
true
glorious
temple
that is
Jesus
Christ.
Lord,
we receive
this by
faith now.
We believe
help our
unbelief
and one
day we
trust that
you are
faithful.
You will
make our
faith be
turned to
sight.
We long
for that
day.
Come
quickly,
Lord Jesus.
And his
bride joins
in saying
Amen.