WEBVTT 00:00:00.440 --> 00:00:07.520 Thanks so much, Sarah. It's lovely to be here today. I haven't met you, met some new folks 00:00:07.520 --> 00:00:11.220 this morning. Lovely to have you. My name is Graham. I've got the real joy of being 00:00:11.220 --> 00:00:16.039 the pastor here of the church. I like to think I'm young and trendy, and then I hear Sarah 00:00:16.039 --> 00:00:22.219 use a word like chillax, and I think, who am I kidding? But here's what I'd love you 00:00:22.219 --> 00:00:26.740 to do. I'd love you to come to John 17. Whether you get on your phone, or whether you have 00:00:26.739 --> 00:00:31.019 the physical Bible open in front of you, or grab one on the pews here, because this 00:00:31.019 --> 00:00:37.060 is a special, special chapter of the Bible that we step into today. This really is holy 00:00:37.060 --> 00:00:43.280 ground. This will blow your socks off today when you take in what's going on in John 17. 00:00:44.060 --> 00:00:51.500 Let me tell you what John 17 is. This is in classic Amazon Prime documentary style. This 00:00:51.500 --> 00:00:56.659 is all or nothing Jesus. I love those documentaries. Have you ever watched one of 00:00:56.659 --> 00:01:02.119 these programs before? I love them because the cameras are given all access passes to go 00:01:02.119 --> 00:01:07.500 places where they wouldn't normally go. You're taken right behind the scenes to see what's 00:01:07.500 --> 00:01:13.579 really going on in HQ, backstage, and you think to yourself, this is what's really going on 00:01:13.579 --> 00:01:22.379 in the heart of things. And that's what John 17 is. This is a behind the scenes, all access, 00:01:22.379 --> 00:01:31.679 fly on the wall, deep dive into the very heart of Jesus. And why it's fascinated and why it's 00:01:31.679 --> 00:01:38.299 thrilled the souls of Christians down the ages is I think it's here probably more than anywhere else. 00:01:39.340 --> 00:01:46.799 And all of scripture before the cross, where we see so clearly the things that matter most 00:01:46.799 --> 00:01:53.200 to Jesus. And so if you're here today and you wouldn't call yourself a follower of this man, 00:01:53.259 --> 00:01:58.340 here's the question that I pass to you today and one that I'd love for you to catch, put under your 00:01:58.340 --> 00:02:03.500 arm and run with a rugby ball right through the next 25 minutes or so, Doohan style, had to mention it. 00:02:05.079 --> 00:02:09.180 The question I want you to think about is this, is what makes Jesus tick? 00:02:09.180 --> 00:02:14.580 Well, get some out of bed in the morning as it were. What's he all about, this man? 00:02:15.719 --> 00:02:21.599 You know, our world where we are so used to being burnt by people presenting is one thing in public, 00:02:22.140 --> 00:02:26.780 only for it later to emerge that they are another thing in private. 00:02:27.640 --> 00:02:33.100 I want you to see the sparkling consistency to the life of this man, Jesus. 00:02:33.099 --> 00:02:41.159 That really his inner life is just as magnetically beautiful as his outer life. I promise you that 00:02:41.159 --> 00:02:48.740 you will never meet anyone like him. And if you are a Christian, then here's what I want you to do. 00:02:48.799 --> 00:02:53.879 I want us to do. I want us to come and feast on every little morsel of John 17. 00:02:53.879 --> 00:03:01.799 How slow and how often forgetful we are when it comes to remembering and savouring just 00:03:01.799 --> 00:03:08.280 how committed a saviour Jesus is to us. And it will do our souls the world of good 00:03:08.280 --> 00:03:18.579 to overhear Jesus praying to his Father and hearing him praying amongst other things, praying for us. 00:03:18.580 --> 00:03:26.060 Now, listen, this is where I want you to particularly think about this. If you think in the game of life right now, 00:03:26.120 --> 00:03:31.060 I'm not winning. You come in here today with all sorts of burdens on your mind, 00:03:31.340 --> 00:03:34.880 with people on your hearts, with mistakes that you've made. 00:03:35.740 --> 00:03:42.180 And I want you to know that when it comes to his people, Jesus doesn't run a survival of the fittest kind of deal. 00:03:42.900 --> 00:03:45.340 He's not a shareholder in your life. 00:03:45.340 --> 00:03:51.259 He's not interested just in the good highlights, the match of the day highlights, where it's just, 00:03:51.319 --> 00:03:52.719 just give me the good bits. 00:03:53.340 --> 00:03:56.120 No, Jesus sees you. He sees all of you today. 00:03:56.340 --> 00:04:00.560 And he carries your name into the very presence of the Father. 00:04:00.920 --> 00:04:03.780 He carries your sin all the way to the cross. 00:04:04.759 --> 00:04:08.080 And this is the man who holds your life in his hands. 00:04:08.819 --> 00:04:12.480 And you could not ask for a more committed Jesus. 00:04:12.479 --> 00:04:22.740 And what makes what Jesus is doing here even more powerful is when we appreciate the two contexts which this prayer has. 00:04:23.599 --> 00:04:28.300 Now, one comes in the context of the bigger story of the Bible. 00:04:28.680 --> 00:04:36.740 And it's so moving and so powerful that I'm going to put it in a goodie bag and we're going to save it right for the end of this sermon. 00:04:36.740 --> 00:04:42.040 And the other comes in the context of the bigger story of this book of John. 00:04:42.139 --> 00:04:44.180 Do you see verse 1 of John 17? 00:04:45.720 --> 00:04:50.319 Jesus declares, Jesus knows that his hour has come. 00:04:50.699 --> 00:04:55.160 So this is not just another day in the life of this man. 00:04:56.340 --> 00:05:00.579 Jesus knows that he's on the cusp of the cross. 00:05:00.579 --> 00:05:03.680 And that's why I think they're right. 00:05:03.759 --> 00:05:07.180 I've heard so many people refer to this down the years as the real Lord's Prayer. 00:05:09.279 --> 00:05:12.819 As Jesus says, Father, this is everything that's on my heart. 00:05:13.219 --> 00:05:17.860 And this is everything that I go to the cross in his own words, verse 4. 00:05:18.019 --> 00:05:19.899 I go there to finish it. 00:05:20.860 --> 00:05:21.740 Do you see that word? 00:05:21.740 --> 00:05:30.280 It's a word that's so closely connected in the Greek to the final word that Jesus will use as he dies on the cross, 00:05:30.579 --> 00:05:36.519 as he declares in front of the watching world in the presence of his Father that it is finished. 00:05:37.960 --> 00:05:44.620 So what are the things that dominate Jesus' prayer in these, his final moments? 00:05:44.620 --> 00:05:46.759 Here's the first of them, verses 1 to 5. 00:05:46.879 --> 00:05:50.500 He prays for himself to be glorified. 00:05:51.740 --> 00:05:55.439 You see, that word glory, it comes up time and time again in this gospel. 00:05:55.560 --> 00:05:56.379 We've met it before. 00:05:56.800 --> 00:06:00.180 It's something that is to be praiseworthy. 00:06:01.300 --> 00:06:03.319 This is what sports teams do, don't they? 00:06:03.360 --> 00:06:08.079 When they win a cup or they win a bit of silverware, something that's never been done before. 00:06:08.139 --> 00:06:10.040 They go on the open bus tour around the city. 00:06:11.259 --> 00:06:16.199 And we look and we gaze and we think, no, those people, those people, they deserve glory. 00:06:18.139 --> 00:06:19.759 You want something to get glory. 00:06:20.019 --> 00:06:21.280 I take it this is what it means. 00:06:21.279 --> 00:06:26.339 It means that you want everyone in the public domain to see that this is a big deal. 00:06:26.759 --> 00:06:27.859 This is a big deal. 00:06:29.319 --> 00:06:32.799 And Jesus longs that the Father would glorify, do you notice it? 00:06:33.000 --> 00:06:37.979 He would glorify him, which is really strange when you think about it. 00:06:37.980 --> 00:06:48.259 Because if any of us were to utter those words that we want glory for ourselves, we would think to ourselves, that is narcissistic, wouldn't we? 00:06:49.560 --> 00:06:54.740 It's the kind of line that you'd expect to come from a candidate auditioning for The Apprentice on your CV. 00:06:54.740 --> 00:06:55.740 I want glory. 00:06:55.740 --> 00:06:56.040 I want glory. 00:06:56.040 --> 00:06:57.480 That's why I'm in this gig. 00:06:57.759 --> 00:06:59.819 But you think to yourself, Jesus wants glory. 00:06:59.819 --> 00:07:00.819 glory. 00:07:00.819 --> 00:07:07.779 Which only makes sense if you step inside how he defines glory. 00:07:07.779 --> 00:07:08.779 glory. 00:07:08.779 --> 00:07:11.159 And just take in these opening few verses. 00:07:11.159 --> 00:07:16.139 Glory to Jesus is wrapped up with glorifying his Father. 00:07:16.139 --> 00:07:21.000 Accomplishing the work that his Father sent him to earth to do. 00:07:21.419 --> 00:07:26.839 Glory to Jesus is wrapped up with giving eternal life to his people. 00:07:28.000 --> 00:07:37.060 A people who the Father has chosen since before the foundation of the world and given as a gift to the Son. 00:07:37.060 --> 00:07:39.699 And that tells you all you need to know about this God. 00:07:40.060 --> 00:07:41.399 This God is a giver. 00:07:43.100 --> 00:07:44.160 He's a giver. 00:07:44.540 --> 00:07:47.540 Everything he does is out of an overflow of who he is. 00:07:47.860 --> 00:07:49.420 The Father gives the Son. 00:07:49.819 --> 00:07:51.579 The Son gives eternal life. 00:07:51.660 --> 00:07:53.840 And from the Father and the Son, they give the Spirit. 00:07:54.220 --> 00:07:55.459 This God is a giver. 00:07:55.840 --> 00:07:59.120 Do you need to recalibrate your understanding of who he is and how he works? 00:08:00.180 --> 00:08:01.720 He is a giving God. 00:08:03.199 --> 00:08:05.639 What is eternal life according to Jesus? 00:08:05.639 --> 00:08:05.879 Jesus. 00:08:06.680 --> 00:08:09.139 It's not so much everlasting life. 00:08:09.319 --> 00:08:10.300 Although that is true. 00:08:11.599 --> 00:08:12.860 Do you see how he defines it? 00:08:12.879 --> 00:08:19.439 It is a personal and saving knowledge of and a passionate and transforming love for the eternal one. 00:08:19.979 --> 00:08:25.240 Know that according to Jesus, that is the very reason that you and I were made in the first place. 00:08:27.579 --> 00:08:31.459 Jesus not only saves us for, but he also shows us, doesn't he? 00:08:31.500 --> 00:08:32.960 With his example, with his life. 00:08:32.960 --> 00:08:36.300 As my American pals would say, he shows us true north. 00:08:39.019 --> 00:08:42.620 No wonder when you have a father and you know a father as good as this. 00:08:42.720 --> 00:08:51.940 No wonder glory to Jesus is to return to the glory that he both shared and had with his father in heaven before the foundation of the world. 00:08:52.700 --> 00:08:55.379 Glory is on the mind of Jesus. 00:08:55.379 --> 00:08:59.179 And secondly, verses 6 to 19. 00:08:59.320 --> 00:09:04.919 Do you see how Jesus prays for his disciples to be sanctified? 00:09:05.200 --> 00:09:08.519 So the other thing that's in Jesus' heart is his band of disciples. 00:09:08.519 --> 00:09:16.860 This group of men who've been with him, who've been up close and personal, who've seen and heard, who've asked, who've listened. 00:09:18.079 --> 00:09:22.240 Who Jesus has poured himself into their lives over the last three years of his. 00:09:23.240 --> 00:09:26.379 Now, why are these 11 of these men on his mind? 00:09:26.379 --> 00:09:32.600 Because they are the ones that Jesus has entrusted, verse 8, do you see? 00:09:34.340 --> 00:09:35.620 With his words. 00:09:36.320 --> 00:09:42.460 The words that Jesus has received from the Father that he's made known to his disciples. 00:09:42.639 --> 00:09:48.580 These are words that Jesus doesn't just want them to keep to themselves, to hoard. 00:09:48.580 --> 00:09:56.680 These are the words that they will take to the nations and they will share with the nations. 00:09:57.500 --> 00:10:02.860 As the Spirit comes and he propels the gospel out to the world. 00:10:04.220 --> 00:10:05.700 Why does Jesus pray for them? 00:10:05.759 --> 00:10:08.879 Because he knows that after he's gone, not only will they be vulnerable, 00:10:09.960 --> 00:10:14.040 but they will be in for the same treatment that he got when he was on earth. 00:10:14.280 --> 00:10:16.960 And that explains why Jesus says, I'm praying for them. 00:10:17.220 --> 00:10:18.480 Father, I pray for them. 00:10:18.480 --> 00:10:20.019 I pray that they would be, do you see the word? 00:10:20.080 --> 00:10:21.420 I pray that they would be kept. 00:10:22.420 --> 00:10:25.740 Father, would you have your hand upon their lives? 00:10:25.820 --> 00:10:27.000 Don't take them out of the world. 00:10:28.700 --> 00:10:29.379 Love that. 00:10:29.899 --> 00:10:34.700 Don't take them out of the world, but keep them from the evil one, verse 15. 00:10:36.420 --> 00:10:37.980 It's a wonderful little picture there, isn't it? 00:10:38.000 --> 00:10:40.399 Of our role as Christians. 00:10:40.620 --> 00:10:43.740 It's not just to be, come out of the world and be separate. 00:10:44.180 --> 00:10:47.000 It's not to go into the world and just be the same as everyone else. 00:10:47.000 --> 00:10:47.960 It's to be distinct. 00:10:47.960 --> 00:10:49.259 Remember, we always say this. 00:10:49.680 --> 00:10:52.100 Our job as disciples is not to be sweet. 00:10:52.480 --> 00:10:53.740 It's not to be sour. 00:10:54.120 --> 00:10:56.320 It's to be salty in the world. 00:10:56.879 --> 00:10:58.040 And that's what he's praying. 00:10:59.700 --> 00:11:00.820 That word sanctify. 00:11:00.920 --> 00:11:02.080 That's a big biblical word. 00:11:02.180 --> 00:11:02.720 Here's what it means. 00:11:02.780 --> 00:11:04.360 It just means something that's set apart. 00:11:04.360 --> 00:11:06.980 In this context. 00:11:06.980 --> 00:11:09.879 Jesus is saying, set them apart from the world. 00:11:10.680 --> 00:11:13.620 Lord, I pray that they would be devoted to you, Heavenly Father. 00:11:14.620 --> 00:11:17.340 Not just to you, but for you. 00:11:17.340 --> 00:11:19.960 And his truth. 00:11:19.960 --> 00:11:21.560 Praise Jesus. 00:11:21.560 --> 00:11:26.460 Would this truth have its forming and cleansing effect on their life? 00:11:26.720 --> 00:11:30.420 So what Jesus is about to do is he sets himself apart. 00:11:31.139 --> 00:11:37.060 As he sanctifies himself will be for their sake and for our good. 00:11:37.059 --> 00:11:43.459 And real quick, thirdly, verses 20 to 26. 00:11:43.579 --> 00:11:46.979 Jesus prays for the church to be unified. 00:11:48.039 --> 00:11:49.919 Now, are you ready to have your mind blown here? 00:11:49.919 --> 00:12:04.139 Jesus moves from thinking about his immediate disciples to begin to think about the billions of people who the Father has given him in eternity past, 00:12:04.559 --> 00:12:07.679 who will come to faith in him at some point in the future. 00:12:07.779 --> 00:12:09.679 That's a lot of people. 00:12:12.000 --> 00:12:13.179 Now, you go on Google. 00:12:13.319 --> 00:12:19.179 Quick Google search will tell you that it's still one of the most popular greeting cards that they sell in the card factory. 00:12:19.179 --> 00:12:24.379 Or in Clintons are the ones that say, thinking of you. 00:12:25.819 --> 00:12:27.099 You see one of them before? 00:12:27.319 --> 00:12:28.239 You got one of them before? 00:12:28.359 --> 00:12:29.419 You sent one of them before. 00:12:29.539 --> 00:12:30.279 Thinking of you. 00:12:30.759 --> 00:12:32.799 Because it means the world to us, doesn't it? 00:12:32.819 --> 00:12:36.779 When we know that somebody was thinking of us. 00:12:38.659 --> 00:12:43.500 Those words still mean the world to us. 00:12:43.500 --> 00:12:45.199 Well, take this in. 00:12:46.319 --> 00:12:48.240 That here is God the Son. 00:12:49.179 --> 00:12:53.639 Speaking to God the Father about you. 00:12:56.819 --> 00:13:03.519 Here is a conversation within the Trinity about you. 00:13:03.519 --> 00:13:13.299 See your name in his prayer as Jesus prays to the Father for all those who will believe in me through their word. 00:13:13.419 --> 00:13:14.299 See your name. 00:13:15.299 --> 00:13:18.340 And I take her littlest to nursery every day. 00:13:18.419 --> 00:13:24.360 What she does when she goes in, they've just got a little notice board and all the names and all the faces of the children on there. 00:13:24.360 --> 00:13:27.139 And they say to her, just find yourself, find yourself. 00:13:27.259 --> 00:13:33.419 And so she goes and she looks and she finds it and she sticks it in the little letterbox, which is their way of taking the register. 00:13:33.419 --> 00:13:37.719 And that's what Jesus invites us to do here. 00:13:37.719 --> 00:13:38.539 Find your name. 00:13:40.199 --> 00:13:41.120 See your name. 00:13:42.339 --> 00:13:43.379 In his prayer. 00:13:44.599 --> 00:13:48.059 Do you see how Jesus desires there at verse 24? 00:13:52.479 --> 00:13:53.019 Do you see that? 00:13:53.139 --> 00:13:53.379 Jesus. 00:13:54.479 --> 00:13:55.279 His desire. 00:13:55.279 --> 00:13:58.159 Know that you do not have a reluctant Savior. 00:13:59.059 --> 00:14:00.079 His desire. 00:14:00.240 --> 00:14:02.579 His heart is that you would see his glory. 00:14:04.579 --> 00:14:05.639 That you would see it. 00:14:06.559 --> 00:14:07.600 That you would know it. 00:14:08.399 --> 00:14:11.019 As you see him in his glory with his Father. 00:14:12.019 --> 00:14:13.459 So it's driving this whole thing. 00:14:14.259 --> 00:14:15.139 That you would know that. 00:14:15.139 --> 00:14:27.399 You know, my best friend is, this morning, he sent me a text and he just said, my sister died. 00:14:29.659 --> 00:14:33.480 And she'd been suffering with cancer for a long, long time. 00:14:33.919 --> 00:14:35.379 And she died. 00:14:35.960 --> 00:14:39.080 And you just think, how do you get your heads around that? 00:14:39.080 --> 00:14:41.500 She was early thirties, two kids. 00:14:42.759 --> 00:14:43.500 Left her husband. 00:14:44.379 --> 00:14:46.920 Thinking about a mum and a dad having to bury their daughter. 00:14:48.040 --> 00:14:49.300 How do you get your heads around that? 00:14:53.840 --> 00:15:01.840 I take it they need to know, don't they, with our prayers, that there is no more committed a Savior than this one. 00:15:02.920 --> 00:15:06.600 Whose plan for her life is that she would see Jesus' glory. 00:15:09.080 --> 00:15:12.300 Do you see Jesus' heart for you today? 00:15:14.660 --> 00:15:16.340 In the mundaneness of your life. 00:15:17.720 --> 00:15:21.080 If you think that every day of yours is the same. 00:15:21.200 --> 00:15:22.660 When you think it's not making a difference. 00:15:22.780 --> 00:15:24.220 When you think, why am I in this job? 00:15:24.520 --> 00:15:25.580 What's life all about? 00:15:25.680 --> 00:15:29.860 Do you see his heart that you would see his glory? 00:15:32.720 --> 00:15:34.060 His desire for that. 00:15:34.500 --> 00:15:36.340 He prays that we would know that. 00:15:36.340 --> 00:15:40.340 And he also prays for our relational oneness. 00:15:40.480 --> 00:15:42.240 Do you see that word unity in the text? 00:15:43.680 --> 00:15:49.540 Jesus goes to the cross to achieve it and create it in his church. 00:15:50.620 --> 00:15:52.879 He has bound us together. 00:15:54.060 --> 00:15:57.519 We need to see that unity here means the world to Jesus. 00:15:58.420 --> 00:15:59.460 Do you see that? 00:15:59.600 --> 00:16:01.080 It means the world to him. 00:16:01.080 --> 00:16:11.000 Isn't it really interesting that Jesus, when he says that he will build his church, he is at that point, he is guaranteeing growth. 00:16:12.000 --> 00:16:15.660 But isn't it interesting when he comes to pray, he doesn't pray for growth. 00:16:16.440 --> 00:16:17.780 He prays for unity. 00:16:17.779 --> 00:16:22.100 Because he knows the spiritual battle that we will be in. 00:16:22.419 --> 00:16:28.959 He knows that the devil is a wily fox who will get in and he will sow the seeds of discord in our relationships. 00:16:29.500 --> 00:16:33.600 But the unity of his people draws out the heart and the prayers of Jesus. 00:16:35.799 --> 00:16:37.000 And just think about that. 00:16:37.459 --> 00:16:44.579 Feel the impression of his heart as we think about how much his people matter to him. 00:16:44.639 --> 00:16:46.000 Every single one of them. 00:16:46.000 --> 00:16:49.440 And I think often we need to repent when we get this wrong, right? 00:16:50.679 --> 00:16:59.159 Every time I belittle somebody or speak ill of someone in his family, what I am doing is I'm putting on my lumberjack shirt. 00:16:59.580 --> 00:17:05.180 I am picking up a hacksaw and I'm going to town on the tree that is the unity of the church. 00:17:08.279 --> 00:17:11.220 My sinful heart, it passes it off as a green light. 00:17:12.400 --> 00:17:13.680 You were justified to do it. 00:17:13.680 --> 00:17:15.740 You were fully right to think about that person. 00:17:16.000 --> 00:17:18.900 Sometimes I might pause and I think to myself, it's an amber. 00:17:20.299 --> 00:17:26.180 But through the spirit speaking through the text, see that according to Jesus, it's a red. 00:17:26.180 --> 00:17:34.320 When gossip comes our way in life, let us not be conduits for it. 00:17:35.060 --> 00:17:37.200 We're called to be cul-de-sacs. 00:17:38.759 --> 00:17:43.860 In other words, the gossip as it comes up our street, that belittling of somebody, 00:17:44.140 --> 00:17:47.900 all it will find when it comes to our lives is a dead end. 00:17:47.900 --> 00:17:53.160 Unity of his church means the world to Jesus. 00:17:53.160 --> 00:17:57.019 And here's why unity in his church means the world to Jesus. 00:17:57.460 --> 00:18:03.980 It is because our God's, his very essence is diversity in unity. 00:18:03.980 --> 00:18:11.740 Our God is gloriously Father, he is Son, and he is Spirit. 00:18:12.120 --> 00:18:13.920 One God, three persons. 00:18:14.400 --> 00:18:24.339 And we resemble him so wonderfully and powerfully when the local church reflects the loving community of diversity and unity. 00:18:24.339 --> 00:18:30.220 You know, I've just finished a book by a man called Jason Roach. 00:18:30.220 --> 00:18:34.200 He is one of the directors of London City Mission. 00:18:35.339 --> 00:18:39.039 And he's a man who describes himself as Black British. 00:18:40.299 --> 00:18:46.039 And he's born in London to parents from Barbados, having grown up in London, 00:18:46.519 --> 00:18:50.600 and having grown up seeing the good, the bad, and the ugly of the church here in the UK. 00:18:50.599 --> 00:18:54.279 And that made him really wrestle with the question, 00:18:54.799 --> 00:19:01.899 how can we be better in the UK at being a true multinational church? 00:19:02.279 --> 00:19:06.000 And he's written this book called Healing the Divide subtext, 00:19:06.799 --> 00:19:10.139 Advancing God's Vision for Racial Unity and Justice. 00:19:10.139 --> 00:19:13.299 And he asks some really soul-searching questions. 00:19:13.859 --> 00:19:19.539 And he graciously and yet powerfully points out the blind spots that we sometimes often have. 00:19:19.539 --> 00:19:22.139 But here's what he says in the book, and I love this. 00:19:22.220 --> 00:19:22.619 He said, 00:19:23.079 --> 00:19:27.399 Perhaps one reason that God created many nations bearing his image 00:19:27.399 --> 00:19:32.559 was to show something of his majestic nature as the triune God. 00:19:33.379 --> 00:19:39.259 His unity and diversity as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 00:19:40.559 --> 00:19:41.480 And then get this line. 00:19:42.180 --> 00:19:47.000 Our unity and diversity was meant to be an advert for God's. 00:19:47.000 --> 00:19:54.880 And the question comes at us as we see Jesus' heart for unity is how serious are we about this? 00:19:56.420 --> 00:20:05.819 Are we being intentional about pursuing this kind of multinational, cross-generational unity in our church? 00:20:06.500 --> 00:20:12.839 Do we celebrate and embrace the wonder of what God has done through the cross of Jesus 00:20:12.839 --> 00:20:19.480 when it comes to the quality of the love that we have for each other? 00:20:20.279 --> 00:20:25.139 Because see that Jesus knows that when the church does that, verse 23, 00:20:25.139 --> 00:20:31.500 it will cause the world to sit up and take notice of the love of the Father. 00:20:31.500 --> 00:20:34.839 Why do these people love each other? 00:20:37.140 --> 00:20:40.299 The only answer is that they reflect the God who is love. 00:20:41.920 --> 00:20:46.619 And they declare as they see that truly the living God lives amongst these people. 00:20:49.259 --> 00:20:51.000 Friends, here is all or nothing Jesus. 00:20:51.220 --> 00:20:53.599 And here he is praying and saying, 00:20:53.599 --> 00:21:00.339 Father, this is everything that's on my heart and everything that I go to the cross to finish. 00:21:01.159 --> 00:21:05.240 And that takes us so nicely to the second context to this prayer. 00:21:07.000 --> 00:21:13.679 And this one takes in the whole context of the bigger Bible story. 00:21:14.359 --> 00:21:17.740 You know, so back in the Old Testament when Israel came out of Egypt. 00:21:17.740 --> 00:21:21.339 And they're there, they're wandering in the wilderness. 00:21:22.019 --> 00:21:25.319 All of Israel is living in a massive campsite. 00:21:26.220 --> 00:21:30.240 And more than that, it is a massively organized campsite. 00:21:30.339 --> 00:21:35.099 So God has told the 12 tribes to set themselves up 00:21:35.099 --> 00:21:39.120 with three of them camping at each point of the compass. 00:21:39.640 --> 00:21:41.440 I should have had this as a PowerPoint, but I forgot. 00:21:42.740 --> 00:21:46.200 Three in the north, three in the south, three in the east, three in the west. 00:21:46.200 --> 00:21:52.059 And right in the middle of them was this huge tent called the tabernacle. 00:21:53.840 --> 00:21:54.980 God dwelt there. 00:21:55.160 --> 00:21:57.039 God dwelt in the middle of his people. 00:21:57.180 --> 00:21:59.200 That was what he was trying to get them to understand. 00:21:59.660 --> 00:22:03.500 And in the middle of that tabernacle where God dwelt 00:22:03.500 --> 00:22:07.080 was this area called the Holy of Holies. 00:22:07.960 --> 00:22:11.920 This was God's private throne room, if you like. 00:22:12.019 --> 00:22:15.400 This is where God was seated on the Ark of the Covenant. 00:22:15.400 --> 00:22:18.000 And nobody could just take a stroll in there. 00:22:19.040 --> 00:22:22.600 Except one man, the high priest. 00:22:23.240 --> 00:22:29.400 And on one day of the year, the day that was known as the Day of Atonement. 00:22:29.560 --> 00:22:32.420 The most special of days in the Israelite calendar. 00:22:33.019 --> 00:22:35.700 This was kind of what Independence Day is to Americans, 00:22:35.960 --> 00:22:37.660 what St. Andrew's Day is to us. 00:22:38.300 --> 00:22:39.220 You can take your pick. 00:22:39.340 --> 00:22:41.320 Whatever else means something to you. 00:22:41.319 --> 00:22:44.559 We read about this day in Leviticus 16. 00:22:44.679 --> 00:22:46.220 If you're doing the Bible in a year thing, 00:22:46.299 --> 00:22:47.980 you may well have reached this chapter. 00:22:48.159 --> 00:22:49.460 And it's wonderful. 00:22:50.659 --> 00:22:55.119 This one man on this one day goes into God's one presence. 00:22:55.119 --> 00:22:59.519 And he would offer the sacrifice that would atone for sin. 00:23:00.159 --> 00:23:04.739 That word atone just means people will be made right with their God. 00:23:06.099 --> 00:23:08.559 And before that day and before that work, 00:23:09.079 --> 00:23:11.899 God told the high priest to prepare himself. 00:23:11.900 --> 00:23:16.320 He makes a sin offering for himself. 00:23:16.960 --> 00:23:20.440 Because he knows that his sins make him guilty before a holy God. 00:23:20.960 --> 00:23:24.420 He makes a sin offering for his immediate family, 00:23:24.560 --> 00:23:25.840 his immediate household. 00:23:26.240 --> 00:23:29.500 Because he knows they need cleansing and protecting and forgiving. 00:23:29.940 --> 00:23:32.320 And then he was able to bring all of God's people 00:23:32.320 --> 00:23:35.480 into the presence of God to make atonement for their sin. 00:23:35.480 --> 00:23:38.680 So before that day, 00:23:38.960 --> 00:23:42.480 the great high priest has three groups of people on his mind. 00:23:43.500 --> 00:23:44.839 He has himself. 00:23:45.599 --> 00:23:47.519 He has those closest to him. 00:23:47.860 --> 00:23:50.620 And he has all of God's people on his mind. 00:23:53.059 --> 00:23:54.940 And what he is about to do 00:23:54.940 --> 00:23:57.920 is for all of them. 00:23:59.319 --> 00:24:01.480 And you see how in a truer way, 00:24:01.680 --> 00:24:02.799 here is Jesus. 00:24:02.799 --> 00:24:06.419 On the cusp of the cross. 00:24:06.500 --> 00:24:07.399 And what is he doing? 00:24:07.480 --> 00:24:09.099 What is he doing to prepare himself? 00:24:09.339 --> 00:24:09.919 He's praying. 00:24:10.019 --> 00:24:11.099 And who's he praying for? 00:24:12.819 --> 00:24:14.000 For himself. 00:24:15.460 --> 00:24:17.419 For his closest 12. 00:24:18.839 --> 00:24:20.960 And he's praying for all of God's people. 00:24:22.440 --> 00:24:24.279 What is John trying to do? 00:24:24.379 --> 00:24:26.339 What's John trying to do for his readers? 00:24:26.339 --> 00:24:30.200 He's trying to help give us the interpretive lens 00:24:30.200 --> 00:24:33.080 through which to read the next few chapters 00:24:33.080 --> 00:24:35.059 as Jesus is killed on the cross. 00:24:35.299 --> 00:24:38.180 What John is doing is he's saying to the world, 00:24:38.920 --> 00:24:41.580 here is the great high priest. 00:24:43.460 --> 00:24:44.860 A better one. 00:24:45.019 --> 00:24:47.920 One who doesn't need to offer a sacrifice for his sin 00:24:47.920 --> 00:24:49.660 because his life was sinless. 00:24:50.039 --> 00:24:52.740 One who didn't go to offer just a sacrifice. 00:24:53.240 --> 00:24:55.700 But one who went there to be the sacrifice. 00:24:55.700 --> 00:25:00.700 What John is saying before we enter the events of Passion Week, 00:25:01.220 --> 00:25:03.420 the next few days, 00:25:04.220 --> 00:25:07.220 is here is your great high priest. 00:25:08.500 --> 00:25:10.220 And he's about to go to work. 00:25:10.220 --> 00:25:15.240 You know, just as we close, 00:25:15.319 --> 00:25:19.940 can I just tell you about two really unimpressive Zoom calls 00:25:19.940 --> 00:25:22.339 that I was on last year. 00:25:24.440 --> 00:25:27.000 Both of them were membership classes that we run here. 00:25:28.339 --> 00:25:29.420 And from my end, 00:25:29.460 --> 00:25:32.579 I was the host of both of these membership classes on Zoom. 00:25:33.940 --> 00:25:35.079 And from my end, 00:25:35.120 --> 00:25:36.360 they were an utter disaster. 00:25:36.359 --> 00:25:40.240 My internet was dipping in and out. 00:25:40.839 --> 00:25:42.279 I had problems logging in. 00:25:42.939 --> 00:25:44.839 I couldn't work out to share my screen. 00:25:45.039 --> 00:25:46.959 I started speaking and I did the classic, 00:25:47.079 --> 00:25:47.879 I was on mute. 00:25:49.039 --> 00:25:51.000 My PowerPoint was budget at best, 00:25:51.119 --> 00:25:51.839 thinking to myself, 00:25:51.939 --> 00:25:55.319 why did I use Verdana font in white against that backdrop? 00:25:56.359 --> 00:25:57.919 And the whole thing was unimpressive. 00:25:59.599 --> 00:26:01.719 And all of a sudden I had this eureka moment, 00:26:01.859 --> 00:26:04.519 which really is just the spirit of God convicting me 00:26:04.519 --> 00:26:06.460 of being a numpty and reminding me 00:26:06.460 --> 00:26:07.740 of what's really important. 00:26:08.200 --> 00:26:11.019 Because I went from thinking about how the call went 00:26:11.019 --> 00:26:14.000 to thinking about who was on the call 00:26:14.000 --> 00:26:14.940 and what it represented. 00:26:17.720 --> 00:26:18.660 On those calls, 00:26:18.759 --> 00:26:20.220 if I remember rightly last year, 00:26:20.319 --> 00:26:21.779 and you guys will remember if you were there, 00:26:22.259 --> 00:26:24.139 we'd Chris and Grace are there from India. 00:26:25.559 --> 00:26:26.259 And we'd Jason, 00:26:26.379 --> 00:26:27.619 who was there from the States. 00:26:27.859 --> 00:26:28.579 And we'd Pamela, 00:26:28.660 --> 00:26:29.559 who was there from England. 00:26:29.839 --> 00:26:30.539 We'd Tophel, 00:26:30.619 --> 00:26:31.779 who was there from Cameroon. 00:26:31.900 --> 00:26:32.359 We'd Pete, 00:26:32.440 --> 00:26:33.660 who was there from Northern Ireland. 00:26:33.660 --> 00:26:35.019 We'd Jonathan, 00:26:35.140 --> 00:26:36.240 who was there from Scotland. 00:26:36.540 --> 00:26:39.200 People who were so incredibly different. 00:26:40.000 --> 00:26:42.160 People from all over the world. 00:26:42.380 --> 00:26:44.300 People who had different mother tongues. 00:26:44.800 --> 00:26:45.620 People who are working 00:26:45.620 --> 00:26:48.160 in completely different fields of work. 00:26:48.640 --> 00:26:50.580 People from completely different backgrounds 00:26:50.580 --> 00:26:51.340 and stories. 00:26:51.820 --> 00:26:53.000 And yet here we are 00:26:53.000 --> 00:26:55.680 on this unimpressive Zoom call. 00:26:56.700 --> 00:26:58.500 And yet this is 00:26:58.500 --> 00:27:00.960 how we have been bound together. 00:27:00.960 --> 00:27:03.059 We've been bound together 00:27:03.059 --> 00:27:05.759 in this crucified man from Nazareth. 00:27:06.980 --> 00:27:08.100 This is everything. 00:27:08.240 --> 00:27:08.819 This is it. 00:27:09.240 --> 00:27:10.519 This is everything 00:27:10.519 --> 00:27:12.240 that Jesus prayed for 00:27:12.240 --> 00:27:14.799 and that he died to accomplish 00:27:14.799 --> 00:27:16.700 in John 17. 00:27:16.920 --> 00:27:17.900 Had this moment 00:27:17.900 --> 00:27:18.880 where I just thought, 00:27:19.440 --> 00:27:20.279 this is it. 00:27:22.180 --> 00:27:23.039 This is it. 00:27:24.660 --> 00:27:25.539 You know, just as we close, 00:27:25.600 --> 00:27:27.019 I love the sweet words of that hymn, 00:27:27.160 --> 00:27:28.400 Beneath the Cross of Jesus. 00:27:28.400 --> 00:27:29.840 And we've closed with this. 00:27:31.580 --> 00:27:32.860 Beneath the Cross of Jesus, 00:27:33.080 --> 00:27:34.580 his family is my own. 00:27:35.660 --> 00:27:38.600 Once strangers chasing selfish dreams, 00:27:38.720 --> 00:27:40.120 now one through grace alone. 00:27:40.759 --> 00:27:42.440 How could I now dishonor 00:27:42.440 --> 00:27:44.380 the ones that you have loved? 00:27:45.400 --> 00:27:46.780 Beneath the Cross of Jesus, 00:27:47.019 --> 00:27:50.820 see the children called by God. 00:27:50.819 --> 00:27:52.299 Why don't we pray? 00:27:55.139 --> 00:27:56.259 And let's just be silent 00:27:56.259 --> 00:27:58.939 for just a few moments. 00:28:00.740 --> 00:28:01.439 And friends, 00:28:01.539 --> 00:28:03.119 bring your own prayers to God. 00:28:04.200 --> 00:28:07.339 As we've overheard Jesus pray today, 00:28:07.460 --> 00:28:09.339 and pray in particular for us, 00:28:11.119 --> 00:28:13.480 would you bring your own prayers, 00:28:13.639 --> 00:28:15.259 the own people that are on your hearts, 00:28:15.359 --> 00:28:17.179 the own situations to him, 00:28:17.819 --> 00:28:20.500 knowing his commitment to you? 00:28:20.819 --> 00:28:21.259 Amen. 00:28:25.379 --> 00:28:26.079 And so Father, 00:28:26.139 --> 00:28:27.759 I just pray that in the silence now, 00:28:27.859 --> 00:28:30.019 that your spirit would be at work in our midst. 00:28:31.839 --> 00:28:35.399 Would he be bringing that sense of conviction, 00:28:36.159 --> 00:28:38.759 of sin and our need of a savior? 00:28:38.939 --> 00:28:40.839 Would he be bringing that sense of comfort 00:28:40.839 --> 00:28:44.339 as we look at this Jesus 00:28:44.339 --> 00:28:46.819 who bore all our burdens on himself, 00:28:47.419 --> 00:28:49.339 and who's dealt with all our sin 00:28:49.339 --> 00:28:50.439 and our shame and our guilt? 00:28:51.799 --> 00:28:52.079 And Father, 00:28:52.179 --> 00:28:54.240 would your spirit lift our eyes 00:28:54.240 --> 00:28:56.319 to the fact that there's no condemnation 00:28:56.319 --> 00:28:58.339 for us that are in him? 00:28:59.439 --> 00:28:59.699 Father, 00:28:59.779 --> 00:29:01.379 maybe even today's the day 00:29:01.379 --> 00:29:04.480 where someone puts their trust in you, 00:29:04.599 --> 00:29:04.980 Lord Jesus, 00:29:05.099 --> 00:29:05.959 for the first time. 00:29:07.599 --> 00:29:08.119 So Father, 00:29:08.159 --> 00:29:09.699 we just thank you for this morning. 00:29:10.980 --> 00:29:11.379 Lord, 00:29:11.439 --> 00:29:13.379 may this just not be a fleeting meeting 00:29:13.380 --> 00:29:13.840 with you, 00:29:13.920 --> 00:29:14.700 the living God, 00:29:15.600 --> 00:29:17.460 but may you go with us from here, 00:29:18.080 --> 00:29:18.320 Lord, 00:29:18.360 --> 00:29:20.280 as we head out into our different weeks. 00:29:21.160 --> 00:29:21.260 Father, 00:29:21.320 --> 00:29:22.780 as we spend some time just together 00:29:22.780 --> 00:29:23.860 after this service, 00:29:23.980 --> 00:29:26.440 would you be accomplishing your purposes 00:29:26.440 --> 00:29:28.960 as we dwell in your presence, 00:29:29.060 --> 00:29:29.460 we pray, 00:29:30.180 --> 00:29:32.060 in his worthy 00:29:32.059 --> 00:29:35.159 and in his beautifully committed name we ask. 00:29:35.599 --> 00:29:35.960 Amen. 00:29:35.960 --> 00:29:36.059 Amen.