WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.540 Well, if you have your Bible with you, you can open it up to the Gospel of John, chapter 17. 00:00:24.460 --> 00:00:26.940 We're still here on the night of Jesus' betrayal. 00:00:27.199 --> 00:00:28.879 It's after the Last Supper. 00:00:29.839 --> 00:00:37.939 Judas has gone out to enact his betrayal, and Jesus has been teaching and warning and comforting the disciples. 00:00:39.079 --> 00:00:45.519 As I suggested in an earlier message, Jesus and his disciples have likely left that upper room where they had the meal, 00:00:46.340 --> 00:00:52.560 and they have not yet crossed the Kidron Valley and entered the Garden of Gethsemane. 00:00:52.560 --> 00:00:58.880 We don't know exactly where they are right now, but perhaps they found a vineyard along the way somewhere to stop at. 00:00:59.359 --> 00:01:05.799 And immediately following all this teaching and warning and comfort that Jesus has been giving, 00:01:06.960 --> 00:01:09.599 Jesus breaks into a prayer. 00:01:10.079 --> 00:01:11.579 And it's quite a lengthy prayer. 00:01:12.700 --> 00:01:17.700 You may have heard of these words of Jesus referred to as his high priestly prayer. 00:01:17.700 --> 00:01:24.939 It makes up the entirety of chapter 17, after which Jesus and his disciples will enter the Garden of Gethsemane. 00:01:25.219 --> 00:01:28.480 And we'll see the betrayal that happens there. 00:01:29.000 --> 00:01:34.340 So let's come now to John 17, verses 1 to 5. 00:01:34.420 --> 00:01:36.300 We'll read the first few verses together. 00:01:36.299 --> 00:01:43.319 And we'll see what we can hear and understand from these words of Jesus. 00:01:49.399 --> 00:01:53.000 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed, 00:01:53.819 --> 00:01:56.099 Father, the hour has come. 00:01:57.299 --> 00:02:00.739 Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 00:02:00.739 --> 00:02:09.139 For you granted him authority over all people, that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 00:02:09.919 --> 00:02:18.699 Now this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 00:02:19.620 --> 00:02:23.919 I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. 00:02:23.919 --> 00:02:33.659 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. 00:02:35.679 --> 00:02:39.899 These are very special words to have recorded for us in our Bibles. 00:02:40.239 --> 00:02:44.779 It's as though the cover's being pulled back and we're getting a glimpse of something so rare. 00:02:45.839 --> 00:02:50.719 Jesus, the Son of God, is now pouring out his heart to the Father. 00:02:50.719 --> 00:02:56.240 And we've had glimpses of this special relationship between Jesus and his Father. 00:02:57.120 --> 00:03:02.800 But this here's an entire chapter of us being able to hear and see 00:03:02.800 --> 00:03:08.159 just how it is that Jesus relates with God, his Father. 00:03:09.840 --> 00:03:11.460 We hear how he prays. 00:03:11.919 --> 00:03:13.180 So this is very special. 00:03:14.439 --> 00:03:18.900 I think of this chapter as almost just like a diamond mine within the Bible. 00:03:18.900 --> 00:03:24.060 There's so much in here, so rich, so beautiful, the things that we see here. 00:03:24.740 --> 00:03:29.860 Already after these first five verses, we have heard some strange things. 00:03:31.360 --> 00:03:37.900 As we've seen all along, there's something wonderful and mysterious to this relationship 00:03:37.900 --> 00:03:40.700 that Jesus has with his Father. 00:03:41.520 --> 00:03:43.259 It's not like anything that we know. 00:03:43.259 --> 00:03:48.979 And so we hear Jesus praying things that we would never pray to God. 00:03:50.280 --> 00:03:54.079 We may never in this life get to the bottom of what these things mean 00:03:54.079 --> 00:03:59.419 because they reflect a relationship that is truly beyond our comprehension. 00:04:00.199 --> 00:04:04.479 And so we'll be content this morning just to understand something, anything, 00:04:04.780 --> 00:04:10.539 about this mysterious and wonderful relationship between Jesus and his Father. 00:04:10.539 --> 00:04:15.039 So you're going to hear me say a lot in this chapter and in some of the messages ahead here. 00:04:15.319 --> 00:04:16.219 I'm not sure. 00:04:16.699 --> 00:04:17.860 I don't know. 00:04:18.519 --> 00:04:19.259 It seems. 00:04:19.819 --> 00:04:20.680 We guess. 00:04:21.620 --> 00:04:23.860 Because these are deep waters. 00:04:24.000 --> 00:04:28.920 So let's begin with what Jesus says here in verse 1. 00:04:29.759 --> 00:04:32.879 Jesus looks toward heaven and he prays, 00:04:32.879 --> 00:04:35.300 Father, the hour has come. 00:04:36.740 --> 00:04:41.699 Glorify your Son that your Son may glorify you. 00:04:42.379 --> 00:04:43.939 So here it is at last. 00:04:44.139 --> 00:04:45.040 The hour has come. 00:04:45.360 --> 00:04:48.159 If we've been listening carefully throughout the Gospel of John, 00:04:48.519 --> 00:04:53.600 there has been for Jesus this hour, this time that is getting closer and closer. 00:04:54.120 --> 00:04:57.139 We heard something of this back in John chapter 7 verse 6 00:04:57.139 --> 00:04:58.600 where Jesus said, 00:04:58.719 --> 00:05:00.439 My time is not yet here. 00:05:00.439 --> 00:05:06.040 And back then, the Festival of Tabernacles was about to happen in Jerusalem 00:05:06.040 --> 00:05:10.399 and Jesus' brothers were urging him to go down to Judea 00:05:10.399 --> 00:05:13.459 and do a miracle tour leading up to the festival. 00:05:13.639 --> 00:05:15.139 They wanted him to go more public, 00:05:15.399 --> 00:05:17.519 to stop doing things so much in secret, 00:05:17.699 --> 00:05:19.860 to show himself to the world. 00:05:21.459 --> 00:05:24.639 And then Jesus, of course, he didn't follow their advice, 00:05:25.019 --> 00:05:27.839 but he did end up going down to the festival in Jerusalem. 00:05:27.839 --> 00:05:32.219 And while he was there teaching in the temple court, 00:05:32.359 --> 00:05:36.099 something he said made some of the Jews there angry with him. 00:05:36.879 --> 00:05:38.459 And we read this. 00:05:38.599 --> 00:05:40.459 They tried to seize Jesus. 00:05:41.060 --> 00:05:43.019 This in John 7 verse 30. 00:05:43.519 --> 00:05:45.239 But no one laid a hand on him. 00:05:45.319 --> 00:05:45.579 Why? 00:05:46.059 --> 00:05:48.839 Because his hour had not yet come. 00:05:48.839 --> 00:05:51.939 So way back in chapter 7, 00:05:52.019 --> 00:05:54.659 we've had this sense that an hour is coming for Jesus 00:05:54.659 --> 00:05:56.459 when he will be seized. 00:05:57.199 --> 00:05:59.979 When they will get their hands on him. 00:06:00.979 --> 00:06:03.539 And then, as the story continued on, 00:06:03.979 --> 00:06:06.259 Jesus made his last trip to Jerusalem. 00:06:07.259 --> 00:06:08.559 In John chapter 12, 00:06:08.739 --> 00:06:11.559 just after he made his triumphal entry, 00:06:11.659 --> 00:06:14.459 you'll recall that there were some Greeks who wanted to see Jesus. 00:06:14.459 --> 00:06:19.060 And Jesus, in response to them wanting to see him, 00:06:19.099 --> 00:06:22.899 made this curious statement on hearing the news. 00:06:25.239 --> 00:06:25.879 He said, 00:06:25.939 --> 00:06:29.319 The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 00:06:30.399 --> 00:06:31.919 Very truly, I tell you, 00:06:31.939 --> 00:06:35.259 unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, 00:06:35.819 --> 00:06:37.799 it remains only a single seed. 00:06:37.800 --> 00:06:40.020 But if it dies, 00:06:40.400 --> 00:06:42.540 it produces many seeds. 00:06:44.620 --> 00:06:45.840 So this hour, 00:06:46.340 --> 00:06:49.379 Jesus talks about it as the hour when he will be glorified, 00:06:49.520 --> 00:06:53.040 and also hints at it as the hour of his death. 00:06:53.100 --> 00:06:55.580 Or at least that's a part of what this hour includes. 00:06:57.060 --> 00:06:59.060 So this hour has been looming. 00:06:59.500 --> 00:07:00.699 It's been getting closer. 00:07:01.560 --> 00:07:05.540 It's the hour in which Jesus will show himself most fully to the world. 00:07:05.540 --> 00:07:10.420 It's the hour in which he will be seized and arrested by his opponents. 00:07:11.480 --> 00:07:13.939 It's the hour in which he will die. 00:07:15.140 --> 00:07:16.960 And in Jesus' words, 00:07:17.080 --> 00:07:19.439 it's the hour in which he will be glorified. 00:07:20.960 --> 00:07:21.700 Jesus says, 00:07:21.800 --> 00:07:22.700 That hour is here. 00:07:23.660 --> 00:07:24.640 The time is now. 00:07:25.900 --> 00:07:26.939 Right after this prayer, 00:07:27.060 --> 00:07:29.680 he will lead his disciples into the Garden of Gethsemane. 00:07:29.960 --> 00:07:34.320 And it's there that Jesus' opponents will finally get their hands on him. 00:07:34.319 --> 00:07:35.959 And all of it will begin. 00:07:37.199 --> 00:07:39.379 But notice what comes to mind for Jesus 00:07:39.379 --> 00:07:43.819 as he thinks about his imminent arrest and suffering. 00:07:44.339 --> 00:07:46.920 We might expect Jesus to pray something different. 00:07:48.019 --> 00:07:50.339 Perhaps the hour has come. 00:07:51.199 --> 00:07:54.300 Father, help me endure this suffering. 00:07:54.300 --> 00:07:56.900 But no. 00:07:57.259 --> 00:07:58.280 He prays instead, 00:07:58.819 --> 00:08:00.759 Glorify your Son. 00:08:02.060 --> 00:08:04.319 That your Son may glorify you. 00:08:06.079 --> 00:08:09.319 Already Jesus is saying something that sounds pretty strange to us. 00:08:10.139 --> 00:08:11.740 What is this hour all about? 00:08:14.060 --> 00:08:15.900 It's about glory. 00:08:15.899 --> 00:08:20.319 It's about glory coming to Jesus. 00:08:21.939 --> 00:08:24.579 It's about glory coming to the Father. 00:08:26.060 --> 00:08:28.639 And it's not coincidence that this will happen. 00:08:28.839 --> 00:08:29.579 This is personal. 00:08:29.739 --> 00:08:30.579 This is intentional. 00:08:32.000 --> 00:08:34.699 Where does Jesus get this glory from? 00:08:35.759 --> 00:08:37.679 He asks for it from the Father. 00:08:38.039 --> 00:08:40.039 It's the Father who will glorify the Son. 00:08:41.039 --> 00:08:43.459 Where will the Father receive glory in this hour? 00:08:43.599 --> 00:08:46.980 Jesus says he will bring it to the Father. 00:08:48.459 --> 00:08:51.740 They will in this hour glorify one another. 00:08:53.199 --> 00:08:56.039 Now we have to stop and talk about this word glorify 00:08:56.039 --> 00:08:57.879 because it's kind of a weird word for us. 00:08:57.959 --> 00:08:59.019 It's a biblical term 00:08:59.019 --> 00:09:02.759 and it's not one that we just use ordinarily in our language today. 00:09:03.559 --> 00:09:04.439 What does it mean? 00:09:04.440 --> 00:09:08.060 To glorify means to exalt. 00:09:08.260 --> 00:09:09.560 It means to lift up. 00:09:10.040 --> 00:09:11.080 It means to honor. 00:09:11.300 --> 00:09:13.200 It means to praise. 00:09:13.460 --> 00:09:17.340 It means to draw people's attention to something that is worthy. 00:09:18.100 --> 00:09:21.380 To put the spotlight on someone or something. 00:09:23.260 --> 00:09:26.480 And so Jesus asks his Father to do that for him. 00:09:26.600 --> 00:09:27.440 To exalt him. 00:09:28.140 --> 00:09:30.440 To magnify his name. 00:09:30.720 --> 00:09:31.320 His worth. 00:09:31.320 --> 00:09:34.320 To bring attention and praise and honor to him. 00:09:34.440 --> 00:09:38.440 It's worth looking back here 00:09:38.440 --> 00:09:40.700 and remembering what Jesus said earlier 00:09:40.700 --> 00:09:43.380 in John chapter 8 verse 54. 00:09:45.220 --> 00:09:46.620 Earlier Jesus said, 00:09:46.800 --> 00:09:48.360 If I glorify myself, 00:09:49.180 --> 00:09:50.800 my glory means nothing. 00:09:52.160 --> 00:09:54.400 My Father, whom you claim as your God, 00:09:54.760 --> 00:09:57.180 is the one who glorifies me. 00:09:57.280 --> 00:10:00.740 So Jesus has not been seeking glory from people. 00:10:00.740 --> 00:10:06.299 He's not been living just to draw the attention and praise of the crowds. 00:10:08.460 --> 00:10:11.080 Rather, his attitude, his prayer, 00:10:11.240 --> 00:10:13.039 all through this has been this. 00:10:13.200 --> 00:10:15.320 Father, glorify your name. 00:10:16.659 --> 00:10:18.700 He's been seeking for his Father's glory. 00:10:19.740 --> 00:10:21.159 The glory of his name. 00:10:21.659 --> 00:10:25.340 He's been living so as to make much of his Father. 00:10:25.340 --> 00:10:27.940 To get others' attention on to the Father. 00:10:28.060 --> 00:10:30.639 To get others to repent and turn back to the Father. 00:10:31.879 --> 00:10:32.980 All the teachings. 00:10:33.180 --> 00:10:33.500 It's been, 00:10:34.500 --> 00:10:35.879 What is the Father like? 00:10:37.100 --> 00:10:40.440 Talking about his grace and his love and his compassion. 00:10:40.940 --> 00:10:41.340 His generosity. 00:10:41.340 --> 00:10:44.580 His eagerness to answer prayer. 00:10:44.580 --> 00:10:47.900 All through Jesus' ministry, 00:10:48.139 --> 00:10:51.320 he's been seeking praise and honor and glory 00:10:51.320 --> 00:10:53.220 for his Father's name. 00:10:54.400 --> 00:10:56.300 Yet Jesus, the Son, 00:10:56.460 --> 00:11:00.180 is worthy of praise and honor and glory as well. 00:11:00.300 --> 00:11:02.920 We heard this back in John chapter 5 verse 22. 00:11:04.480 --> 00:11:05.660 There Jesus said, 00:11:05.659 --> 00:11:12.000 The Father has entrusted all judgment to the Son 00:11:12.000 --> 00:11:15.139 that all may honor the Son 00:11:15.139 --> 00:11:17.819 just as they honor the Father. 00:11:18.980 --> 00:11:22.600 So God the Father desires all to honor his Son, 00:11:22.740 --> 00:11:24.000 to worship his Son, 00:11:24.139 --> 00:11:26.179 to give glory to his Son 00:11:26.179 --> 00:11:29.939 just as they worship and honor and praise and give glory to him. 00:11:31.639 --> 00:11:34.279 And the Son is worthy of this, 00:11:34.279 --> 00:11:37.899 but he doesn't seek it from human beings. 00:11:38.500 --> 00:11:42.019 He seeks the glory that he is due from God, 00:11:42.120 --> 00:11:43.240 only from God. 00:11:44.139 --> 00:11:46.279 And that's what we hear Jesus praying here. 00:11:47.740 --> 00:11:49.039 Glorify your Son. 00:11:50.379 --> 00:11:50.939 Basically, 00:11:51.559 --> 00:11:51.879 Father, 00:11:52.620 --> 00:11:54.899 bring glory to my name. 00:11:56.120 --> 00:12:00.000 This is a prayer that is only fitting for Jesus to pray 00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:02.199 because of who he is. 00:12:02.200 --> 00:12:04.640 Bring glory to me, 00:12:04.780 --> 00:12:05.379 says Jesus. 00:12:06.820 --> 00:12:08.560 But notice what follows. 00:12:09.580 --> 00:12:12.660 So that I may bring glory to you. 00:12:13.720 --> 00:12:15.940 There's a mysterious relationship here. 00:12:16.640 --> 00:12:19.860 In the same breath as Jesus asks for glory, 00:12:20.540 --> 00:12:22.940 he prays for it with a reason. 00:12:23.120 --> 00:12:26.200 So that I may glorify you. 00:12:26.200 --> 00:12:30.520 How can I say this? 00:12:31.580 --> 00:12:32.640 At the root, 00:12:33.160 --> 00:12:37.020 at the base of Jesus' desire for his own glory, 00:12:37.379 --> 00:12:39.720 at the bottom of this request, 00:12:40.140 --> 00:12:41.420 it's not self-seeking. 00:12:42.200 --> 00:12:43.360 It's this desire 00:12:43.360 --> 00:12:45.180 to bring glory 00:12:45.180 --> 00:12:46.980 to his Father's name, 00:12:47.520 --> 00:12:50.360 to highlight the worthiness of the Father. 00:12:50.360 --> 00:12:54.379 There's a mysterious relationship here 00:12:54.379 --> 00:12:55.539 between Father and Son. 00:12:55.659 --> 00:12:56.500 Again, we see it. 00:12:57.320 --> 00:12:58.480 There's a flow of love 00:12:58.480 --> 00:12:59.580 from one to the other. 00:13:00.519 --> 00:13:02.720 There's also this desire to exalt, 00:13:02.860 --> 00:13:03.500 to lift up, 00:13:03.620 --> 00:13:04.940 to magnify 00:13:04.940 --> 00:13:07.159 one to the other. 00:13:09.779 --> 00:13:11.779 We barely understand what's going on here 00:13:11.779 --> 00:13:13.120 between Jesus and the Father. 00:13:13.259 --> 00:13:13.680 And already, 00:13:13.820 --> 00:13:14.879 Jesus is moving on 00:13:14.879 --> 00:13:16.420 to say something else. 00:13:16.420 --> 00:13:17.920 Verse 2. 00:13:17.919 --> 00:13:21.000 Glorify your Son 00:13:21.000 --> 00:13:22.959 that your Son may glorify you. 00:13:23.379 --> 00:13:24.839 For you granted him authority 00:13:24.839 --> 00:13:25.959 over all people 00:13:25.959 --> 00:13:28.899 that he might give eternal life 00:13:28.899 --> 00:13:31.779 to all those you have given him. 00:13:34.360 --> 00:13:35.819 Have you ever found yourself 00:13:35.819 --> 00:13:36.599 just listening in 00:13:36.599 --> 00:13:38.000 on someone else's conversation 00:13:38.000 --> 00:13:38.899 and feeling like 00:13:38.899 --> 00:13:39.939 they know a lot 00:13:39.939 --> 00:13:41.439 about what they're talking about, 00:13:41.519 --> 00:13:42.639 but you have no idea 00:13:42.639 --> 00:13:43.679 what they're talking about? 00:13:45.179 --> 00:13:46.379 That's kind of how I feel 00:13:46.379 --> 00:13:47.860 when I first hear these words. 00:13:48.519 --> 00:13:50.279 It's like I'm on the outside here. 00:13:50.959 --> 00:13:52.279 There is this concern, 00:13:53.039 --> 00:13:54.399 this plan, 00:13:54.539 --> 00:13:55.299 this purpose 00:13:55.299 --> 00:13:57.579 that Father and Son know about, 00:13:58.079 --> 00:14:00.299 that they're talking to each other about. 00:14:01.740 --> 00:14:02.779 And what is it? 00:14:02.799 --> 00:14:03.599 It seems like Jesus 00:14:03.599 --> 00:14:04.719 just brings it up again, 00:14:04.799 --> 00:14:06.539 like this is an ongoing conversation 00:14:06.539 --> 00:14:07.419 they've been having. 00:14:09.699 --> 00:14:10.539 And somehow, 00:14:10.719 --> 00:14:12.059 this statement's all related 00:14:12.059 --> 00:14:13.179 to Jesus' request. 00:14:13.179 --> 00:14:14.459 glorify your Son 00:14:14.459 --> 00:14:16.659 that your Son may glorify you 00:14:16.659 --> 00:14:19.199 for just as you gave to him authority. 00:14:19.359 --> 00:14:20.239 And Jesus goes on 00:14:20.239 --> 00:14:21.839 and says the whole thing. 00:14:22.299 --> 00:14:24.379 How does this all fit together? 00:14:25.699 --> 00:14:26.719 I'll be honest. 00:14:26.720 --> 00:14:29.399 I don't know the connection here. 00:14:29.460 --> 00:14:31.220 I don't understand the relationship here 00:14:31.220 --> 00:14:32.480 between these two statements. 00:14:32.980 --> 00:14:34.660 I could probably meditate on this 00:14:34.660 --> 00:14:36.000 for a good long while, 00:14:36.700 --> 00:14:37.519 years maybe. 00:14:38.120 --> 00:14:39.779 Maybe after reading through my Bible 00:14:39.779 --> 00:14:41.980 another three, four, five times, 00:14:41.980 --> 00:14:43.740 some of it will come clearer. 00:14:45.139 --> 00:14:47.200 But what can we understand here 00:14:47.200 --> 00:14:48.259 in verse two? 00:14:49.139 --> 00:14:50.740 Well, Jesus does make a statement. 00:14:51.659 --> 00:14:52.800 He says to his Father, 00:14:53.820 --> 00:14:54.539 you granted, 00:14:55.320 --> 00:14:57.840 or literally you gave 00:14:57.840 --> 00:14:59.779 him, the Son, 00:15:00.019 --> 00:15:03.000 authority over all people 00:15:03.000 --> 00:15:05.759 that he might give eternal life 00:15:05.759 --> 00:15:06.720 to all those 00:15:06.720 --> 00:15:08.500 you have given him. 00:15:09.740 --> 00:15:10.639 We'll just stop there 00:15:10.639 --> 00:15:11.560 with that first piece. 00:15:11.559 --> 00:15:12.699 You granted, 00:15:12.899 --> 00:15:14.359 you gave the Son authority 00:15:14.359 --> 00:15:15.519 over all people, 00:15:16.019 --> 00:15:17.859 literally over all flesh. 00:15:19.559 --> 00:15:20.159 Why? 00:15:21.859 --> 00:15:23.539 For a specific reason. 00:15:24.799 --> 00:15:26.639 So that he, the Son, 00:15:27.219 --> 00:15:28.739 might give eternal life 00:15:28.739 --> 00:15:31.539 to them. 00:15:32.419 --> 00:15:33.759 We'll talk about who them is 00:15:33.759 --> 00:15:34.319 in a moment. 00:15:35.719 --> 00:15:37.419 The purpose of the authority 00:15:37.419 --> 00:15:38.759 that has been given to Jesus 00:15:38.759 --> 00:15:40.099 is for him to use it 00:15:40.100 --> 00:15:42.019 to give eternal life 00:15:42.019 --> 00:15:43.040 to people. 00:15:44.159 --> 00:15:45.120 And again, 00:15:45.460 --> 00:15:46.139 we're kind of 00:15:46.139 --> 00:15:47.600 swimming up to here, 00:15:47.980 --> 00:15:48.700 aren't we? 00:15:49.700 --> 00:15:50.840 We might have assumed, 00:15:51.220 --> 00:15:53.399 well, Jesus is God. 00:15:54.399 --> 00:15:55.440 He's the Word 00:15:55.440 --> 00:15:56.360 who was with God 00:15:56.360 --> 00:15:57.100 and was God 00:15:57.100 --> 00:15:57.779 in the beginning, 00:15:58.399 --> 00:15:59.759 before anything 00:15:59.759 --> 00:16:00.759 has been made. 00:16:02.100 --> 00:16:03.300 There he was. 00:16:03.299 --> 00:16:05.879 We might assume that Jesus 00:16:05.879 --> 00:16:07.039 always had authority 00:16:07.039 --> 00:16:08.240 over all flesh. 00:16:09.179 --> 00:16:10.419 Look back at what it says 00:16:10.419 --> 00:16:11.859 in John 1, verse 3. 00:16:12.219 --> 00:16:12.459 It says, 00:16:12.639 --> 00:16:13.019 Through him, 00:16:13.139 --> 00:16:13.679 the Word, 00:16:13.799 --> 00:16:15.419 that's the one that became flesh, 00:16:15.500 --> 00:16:16.059 it's Jesus, 00:16:16.719 --> 00:16:17.219 through him, 00:16:17.279 --> 00:16:18.459 all things were made. 00:16:19.599 --> 00:16:20.299 Without him, 00:16:20.759 --> 00:16:21.859 nothing was made 00:16:21.859 --> 00:16:23.539 that has been made. 00:16:24.500 --> 00:16:25.559 And so we might assume 00:16:25.559 --> 00:16:26.379 that since Jesus 00:16:26.379 --> 00:16:27.500 had his hand 00:16:27.500 --> 00:16:28.459 in making everything 00:16:28.459 --> 00:16:29.240 that was made, 00:16:29.359 --> 00:16:30.419 including all flesh, 00:16:30.539 --> 00:16:31.179 all people, 00:16:31.179 --> 00:16:32.319 we might assume 00:16:32.319 --> 00:16:33.279 that he has always 00:16:33.279 --> 00:16:34.199 had authority 00:16:34.199 --> 00:16:36.079 over all flesh, 00:16:36.199 --> 00:16:37.039 over all people. 00:16:38.159 --> 00:16:38.919 But now, 00:16:39.259 --> 00:16:40.919 Jesus is telling us 00:16:40.919 --> 00:16:43.199 that the authority 00:16:43.199 --> 00:16:44.299 he now has 00:16:44.299 --> 00:16:45.259 over all people 00:16:45.259 --> 00:16:47.079 has been given to him 00:16:47.079 --> 00:16:49.899 by his Father. 00:16:51.500 --> 00:16:52.579 What happened? 00:16:53.479 --> 00:16:54.799 Did he lose it 00:16:54.799 --> 00:16:57.919 when he took on human flesh 00:16:57.919 --> 00:16:59.039 and became one of us? 00:17:01.179 --> 00:17:02.239 Or is it only 00:17:02.239 --> 00:17:03.779 with regard to his humanity 00:17:03.779 --> 00:17:05.139 that he must be granted, 00:17:05.839 --> 00:17:07.000 given this authority, 00:17:07.679 --> 00:17:09.460 since no human being 00:17:09.460 --> 00:17:11.399 has ever had that authority? 00:17:12.679 --> 00:17:13.619 If you're new 00:17:13.619 --> 00:17:14.539 or visiting with us 00:17:14.539 --> 00:17:15.059 this morning, 00:17:15.399 --> 00:17:16.240 don't worry. 00:17:16.720 --> 00:17:17.480 Not every sermon 00:17:17.480 --> 00:17:18.259 is like this. 00:17:18.799 --> 00:17:19.599 And if this sounds 00:17:19.599 --> 00:17:20.480 rather confusing, 00:17:21.339 --> 00:17:22.159 it's confusing 00:17:22.159 --> 00:17:23.419 even for some of us 00:17:23.419 --> 00:17:24.119 who have been Christians 00:17:24.119 --> 00:17:24.859 for decades. 00:17:25.399 --> 00:17:26.440 I'm going to bet 00:17:26.440 --> 00:17:27.220 that the disciples 00:17:27.220 --> 00:17:28.460 listening to this prayer 00:17:28.460 --> 00:17:29.139 were wondering, 00:17:29.140 --> 00:17:30.860 what are you talking 00:17:30.860 --> 00:17:31.620 about, Jesus? 00:17:34.500 --> 00:17:35.820 But we're pressing in 00:17:35.820 --> 00:17:36.640 to understand 00:17:36.640 --> 00:17:37.420 what we can 00:17:37.420 --> 00:17:38.280 of the depths 00:17:38.280 --> 00:17:39.880 of who Jesus is 00:17:39.880 --> 00:17:41.120 and of this relationship 00:17:41.120 --> 00:17:42.020 between Jesus 00:17:42.020 --> 00:17:43.520 and his Father. 00:17:43.660 --> 00:17:44.580 These two persons 00:17:44.580 --> 00:17:45.160 who together 00:17:45.160 --> 00:17:45.900 with the Spirit 00:17:45.900 --> 00:17:47.900 make up one God. 00:17:48.700 --> 00:17:49.759 It is mysterious. 00:17:50.660 --> 00:17:51.680 It is confusing. 00:17:52.520 --> 00:17:53.320 But let's not just 00:17:53.320 --> 00:17:54.020 throw in the towel 00:17:54.020 --> 00:17:54.980 and wait for heaven. 00:17:55.460 --> 00:17:56.259 Let's learn everything 00:17:56.259 --> 00:17:57.559 that we can about God 00:17:57.559 --> 00:17:58.680 through the words 00:17:58.680 --> 00:18:00.920 that Jesus has given us here. 00:18:03.440 --> 00:18:04.379 This idea 00:18:04.379 --> 00:18:05.319 that authority 00:18:05.319 --> 00:18:06.759 is given to the Son 00:18:06.759 --> 00:18:08.460 shows up in more places 00:18:08.460 --> 00:18:09.920 than just this. 00:18:10.779 --> 00:18:11.660 We heard about it 00:18:11.660 --> 00:18:12.859 back in John 5, 00:18:13.539 --> 00:18:14.420 verse 25. 00:18:15.700 --> 00:18:16.400 Jesus said, 00:18:16.400 --> 00:18:17.340 at that time, 00:18:18.280 --> 00:18:19.800 very truly I tell you, 00:18:20.500 --> 00:18:21.420 a time is coming 00:18:21.420 --> 00:18:22.380 and has now come 00:18:22.380 --> 00:18:22.980 when the dead 00:18:22.980 --> 00:18:24.000 will hear the voice 00:18:24.000 --> 00:18:25.040 of the Son of God 00:18:25.040 --> 00:18:27.000 and those who hear 00:18:27.000 --> 00:18:27.880 will live. 00:18:29.240 --> 00:18:30.420 For as the Father 00:18:30.420 --> 00:18:31.940 has life in himself, 00:18:32.519 --> 00:18:34.019 so he has granted 00:18:34.019 --> 00:18:35.180 the Son also 00:18:35.180 --> 00:18:36.560 to have life 00:18:36.560 --> 00:18:37.840 in himself. 00:18:38.440 --> 00:18:39.860 And he has given him 00:18:39.860 --> 00:18:40.380 authority 00:18:40.380 --> 00:18:41.700 to judge 00:18:41.700 --> 00:18:43.400 because he is 00:18:43.400 --> 00:18:44.180 the Son of Man. 00:18:44.180 --> 00:18:46.340 These words of Jesus 00:18:46.340 --> 00:18:47.240 in John 5 00:18:47.240 --> 00:18:47.960 blow my mind 00:18:47.960 --> 00:18:49.140 every time I read them. 00:18:50.200 --> 00:18:51.400 I scratch my head 00:18:51.400 --> 00:18:51.840 over them. 00:18:53.000 --> 00:18:54.620 Jesus just said 00:18:54.620 --> 00:18:55.779 that it has been 00:18:55.779 --> 00:18:56.560 granted to him. 00:18:56.660 --> 00:18:57.820 It was given to him 00:18:57.820 --> 00:18:58.779 to have life 00:18:58.779 --> 00:18:59.720 in himself. 00:19:04.240 --> 00:19:05.299 There's a mysterious 00:19:05.299 --> 00:19:07.039 transaction going on here 00:19:07.039 --> 00:19:08.400 between Father and Son. 00:19:09.460 --> 00:19:09.940 And again, 00:19:10.039 --> 00:19:11.200 we all just kind of assume, 00:19:11.299 --> 00:19:11.700 don't we, 00:19:11.759 --> 00:19:12.320 that Jesus, 00:19:12.580 --> 00:19:13.380 because he's God, 00:19:13.380 --> 00:19:14.180 he already has 00:19:14.180 --> 00:19:15.100 life in himself. 00:19:16.340 --> 00:19:17.220 That's what John 00:19:17.220 --> 00:19:19.060 chapter 1 verse 4 says. 00:19:19.140 --> 00:19:19.420 It says, 00:19:19.520 --> 00:19:20.580 in him was life. 00:19:21.960 --> 00:19:23.020 But somehow, 00:19:23.600 --> 00:19:25.020 in some mysterious way, 00:19:25.080 --> 00:19:25.700 it is granted 00:19:25.700 --> 00:19:26.480 to the Son 00:19:26.480 --> 00:19:27.600 to have life 00:19:27.600 --> 00:19:28.420 in himself 00:19:28.420 --> 00:19:30.920 before he then 00:19:30.920 --> 00:19:31.980 turns to speak, 00:19:32.560 --> 00:19:33.480 granting life 00:19:33.480 --> 00:19:34.140 to the dead 00:19:34.140 --> 00:19:35.080 who will hear 00:19:35.080 --> 00:19:35.720 his voice. 00:19:36.840 --> 00:19:37.880 And again here 00:19:37.880 --> 00:19:39.200 in verse 27, 00:19:39.680 --> 00:19:40.220 Jesus says 00:19:40.220 --> 00:19:40.740 that the Father 00:19:40.740 --> 00:19:41.760 has given him 00:19:41.760 --> 00:19:42.280 authority 00:19:42.279 --> 00:19:43.379 authority to judge. 00:19:45.319 --> 00:19:46.160 Didn't he already 00:19:46.160 --> 00:19:47.059 have that authority? 00:19:48.259 --> 00:19:49.039 Well, apparently, 00:19:49.180 --> 00:19:49.740 it seems that 00:19:49.740 --> 00:19:50.500 in some sense, 00:19:51.259 --> 00:19:51.960 he did not. 00:19:53.079 --> 00:19:53.879 We hear this 00:19:53.879 --> 00:19:54.779 in the Great Commission. 00:19:56.079 --> 00:19:56.940 A verse we're all 00:19:56.940 --> 00:19:57.700 familiar with. 00:19:58.039 --> 00:19:58.839 Matthew 28, 00:19:58.960 --> 00:19:59.819 verse 18. 00:20:00.359 --> 00:20:01.119 All authority 00:20:01.119 --> 00:20:02.119 in heaven and on earth 00:20:02.119 --> 00:20:03.139 has been given to me, 00:20:03.379 --> 00:20:04.079 said Jesus. 00:20:04.879 --> 00:20:05.339 Therefore, 00:20:05.480 --> 00:20:06.359 go and make disciples. 00:20:06.359 --> 00:20:09.539 Here again, 00:20:09.619 --> 00:20:10.399 we see that Jesus 00:20:10.399 --> 00:20:11.479 has all authority 00:20:11.479 --> 00:20:12.979 in heaven and on earth, 00:20:13.039 --> 00:20:13.679 but we notice 00:20:13.679 --> 00:20:14.379 his words. 00:20:14.779 --> 00:20:15.559 It was given 00:20:15.559 --> 00:20:16.899 to him 00:20:16.899 --> 00:20:18.639 by his Father. 00:20:20.319 --> 00:20:21.259 So at some point, 00:20:21.319 --> 00:20:21.879 if we're honest 00:20:21.879 --> 00:20:22.939 with the words of Jesus, 00:20:23.079 --> 00:20:24.199 we have to acknowledge 00:20:24.199 --> 00:20:25.059 that there's some 00:20:25.059 --> 00:20:25.939 sense 00:20:25.939 --> 00:20:27.219 or some time 00:20:27.219 --> 00:20:28.559 in which he did not 00:20:28.559 --> 00:20:29.099 have 00:20:29.099 --> 00:20:30.379 all authority 00:20:30.379 --> 00:20:31.819 in heaven and on earth. 00:20:31.899 --> 00:20:32.500 It was given. 00:20:33.799 --> 00:20:34.699 There was some time 00:20:34.700 --> 00:20:35.340 or some sense 00:20:35.340 --> 00:20:36.080 in which he did not 00:20:36.080 --> 00:20:36.940 have the authority 00:20:36.940 --> 00:20:37.840 to judge. 00:20:38.819 --> 00:20:39.840 There was some time 00:20:39.840 --> 00:20:40.559 or some sense 00:20:40.559 --> 00:20:41.340 in which he did not 00:20:41.340 --> 00:20:42.299 have the authority 00:20:42.299 --> 00:20:44.240 to give eternal life 00:20:44.240 --> 00:20:45.720 to people. 00:20:47.360 --> 00:20:48.220 That's what Jesus 00:20:48.220 --> 00:20:49.100 is implying here 00:20:49.100 --> 00:20:49.700 in this prayer 00:20:49.700 --> 00:20:50.620 in John 17. 00:20:52.180 --> 00:20:53.319 How could this be 00:20:53.319 --> 00:20:54.200 that this Jesus, 00:20:54.440 --> 00:20:55.160 who is God, 00:20:56.700 --> 00:20:57.700 had to be given 00:20:57.700 --> 00:20:58.640 authority 00:20:58.640 --> 00:21:00.759 in order to give 00:21:00.759 --> 00:21:01.740 eternal life? 00:21:03.240 --> 00:21:04.559 Well, this is my best guess 00:21:04.559 --> 00:21:05.599 as to how and why. 00:21:06.899 --> 00:21:07.799 Let me say it 00:21:07.799 --> 00:21:08.440 right up front, 00:21:08.599 --> 00:21:08.919 clearly. 00:21:09.740 --> 00:21:11.819 Jesus is no less divine 00:21:11.819 --> 00:21:13.919 than we have believed. 00:21:14.519 --> 00:21:15.460 He is truly 00:21:15.460 --> 00:21:17.019 and fully God. 00:21:18.480 --> 00:21:20.099 And at the same time, 00:21:20.859 --> 00:21:21.879 Jesus is perhaps 00:21:21.879 --> 00:21:24.139 much more human 00:21:24.139 --> 00:21:26.399 than we imagined. 00:21:28.099 --> 00:21:29.099 When it comes 00:21:29.099 --> 00:21:30.419 to Jesus' humanness, 00:21:31.500 --> 00:21:33.039 that part of him 00:21:33.039 --> 00:21:34.319 had a beginning. 00:21:37.279 --> 00:21:38.440 I'll say that again. 00:21:39.379 --> 00:21:40.259 I'll give you some time 00:21:40.259 --> 00:21:40.879 to run it through 00:21:40.879 --> 00:21:41.879 the heresy checker. 00:21:43.279 --> 00:21:44.480 The human part 00:21:44.480 --> 00:21:45.059 of Jesus 00:21:45.059 --> 00:21:47.200 had a beginning. 00:21:48.700 --> 00:21:49.819 There was a time 00:21:49.819 --> 00:21:50.500 when the word 00:21:50.500 --> 00:21:51.339 had not yet 00:21:51.339 --> 00:21:52.420 become flesh. 00:21:53.799 --> 00:21:54.759 But something 00:21:54.759 --> 00:21:55.519 awesome 00:21:55.519 --> 00:21:56.680 and wonderful 00:21:56.680 --> 00:21:57.039 happened 00:21:57.659 --> 00:21:59.619 in that moment 00:21:59.619 --> 00:22:00.159 when Jesus 00:22:00.159 --> 00:22:00.899 was conceived 00:22:00.900 --> 00:22:02.200 in his mother's womb 00:22:02.200 --> 00:22:03.519 by the power 00:22:03.519 --> 00:22:04.800 of God's Holy Spirit. 00:22:05.240 --> 00:22:06.440 An eternal being 00:22:06.440 --> 00:22:08.180 was mingled 00:22:08.180 --> 00:22:10.300 with a new 00:22:10.300 --> 00:22:11.759 human life. 00:22:15.860 --> 00:22:16.960 So deeply, 00:22:17.160 --> 00:22:18.040 so mysteriously 00:22:18.040 --> 00:22:18.540 united 00:22:18.540 --> 00:22:19.440 that we can barely 00:22:19.440 --> 00:22:20.740 come to grips 00:22:20.740 --> 00:22:22.360 with just who it is 00:22:22.360 --> 00:22:23.820 staring back at us. 00:22:24.960 --> 00:22:25.540 God, 00:22:26.140 --> 00:22:26.960 yes. 00:22:28.240 --> 00:22:29.600 And at the same time, 00:22:29.599 --> 00:22:30.500 a new man, 00:22:31.399 --> 00:22:33.159 a new human being, 00:22:33.539 --> 00:22:35.199 and not an old one. 00:22:38.019 --> 00:22:39.459 A new human being 00:22:39.459 --> 00:22:40.079 was Jesus, 00:22:40.279 --> 00:22:40.980 and with regard 00:22:40.980 --> 00:22:41.959 to his humanity, 00:22:42.259 --> 00:22:45.159 he had no special authority. 00:22:46.539 --> 00:22:47.779 He wasn't born 00:22:47.779 --> 00:22:49.079 into special privilege 00:22:49.079 --> 00:22:50.500 or authority 00:22:50.500 --> 00:22:51.279 of any kind. 00:22:51.539 --> 00:22:52.159 With regard 00:22:52.159 --> 00:22:53.139 to his humanity, 00:22:53.319 --> 00:22:54.759 he had not life 00:22:54.759 --> 00:22:55.839 in himself. 00:22:55.839 --> 00:22:58.339 With regard 00:22:58.339 --> 00:22:59.099 to his humanity, 00:22:59.259 --> 00:23:00.359 he had no authority 00:23:00.359 --> 00:23:02.119 to judge the world 00:23:02.119 --> 00:23:04.579 or to call the dead 00:23:04.579 --> 00:23:05.759 out of their graves, 00:23:05.919 --> 00:23:06.419 giving them 00:23:06.419 --> 00:23:07.359 eternal life. 00:23:07.759 --> 00:23:08.740 And so this authority 00:23:08.740 --> 00:23:09.859 had to be given 00:23:09.859 --> 00:23:10.559 to Jesus 00:23:10.559 --> 00:23:13.379 by his Father. 00:23:14.679 --> 00:23:15.740 Now we might wonder 00:23:15.740 --> 00:23:16.319 at what point 00:23:16.319 --> 00:23:16.819 in the story 00:23:16.819 --> 00:23:18.000 does Jesus receive it? 00:23:18.299 --> 00:23:18.919 I don't know. 00:23:19.879 --> 00:23:20.579 Seems for sure 00:23:20.579 --> 00:23:21.259 that he had it 00:23:21.259 --> 00:23:22.119 at the Great Commission. 00:23:22.119 --> 00:23:24.619 even here, 00:23:24.879 --> 00:23:25.639 he speaks of it 00:23:25.639 --> 00:23:26.859 in the past tense. 00:23:26.979 --> 00:23:27.819 You granted him 00:23:27.819 --> 00:23:28.579 past tense, 00:23:28.659 --> 00:23:29.099 authority. 00:23:30.919 --> 00:23:32.339 Even in John chapter 5, 00:23:32.419 --> 00:23:33.419 it's in the past tense. 00:23:33.500 --> 00:23:34.439 It seems he had it then. 00:23:34.519 --> 00:23:35.279 We could speculate. 00:23:35.439 --> 00:23:36.539 Was it at his baptism? 00:23:36.779 --> 00:23:38.799 Was it at his birth? 00:23:38.959 --> 00:23:40.000 Was it at conception? 00:23:40.179 --> 00:23:40.839 We don't know. 00:23:41.519 --> 00:23:42.399 Whenever it was, 00:23:42.899 --> 00:23:43.799 Jesus knows 00:23:43.799 --> 00:23:45.899 that at some point 00:23:45.899 --> 00:23:46.899 or in some sense, 00:23:47.039 --> 00:23:48.359 he received authority 00:23:48.359 --> 00:23:49.099 from God 00:23:49.099 --> 00:23:50.299 to do that 00:23:50.299 --> 00:23:50.859 which according 00:23:50.859 --> 00:23:52.000 to his human nature 00:23:52.000 --> 00:23:52.619 he could not 00:23:52.619 --> 00:23:53.419 otherwise do. 00:23:55.299 --> 00:23:56.619 He received authority 00:23:56.619 --> 00:23:57.299 from the Father 00:23:57.299 --> 00:23:59.720 to give eternal life 00:23:59.720 --> 00:24:01.379 to people. 00:24:03.460 --> 00:24:04.519 How insane 00:24:04.519 --> 00:24:05.639 this must sound 00:24:05.639 --> 00:24:07.519 to an unbelieving world. 00:24:08.740 --> 00:24:09.619 Here's a man 00:24:09.619 --> 00:24:10.319 who prays 00:24:10.319 --> 00:24:11.720 to an unseen God 00:24:11.720 --> 00:24:12.180 in heaven 00:24:12.180 --> 00:24:14.000 and acknowledges 00:24:14.000 --> 00:24:14.819 in his prayer 00:24:14.819 --> 00:24:16.059 that God 00:24:16.059 --> 00:24:16.839 has given him 00:24:16.839 --> 00:24:17.339 authority 00:24:17.339 --> 00:24:18.659 over all flesh 00:24:18.660 --> 00:24:20.900 to give eternal life 00:24:20.900 --> 00:24:22.160 to people. 00:24:23.940 --> 00:24:25.019 This is why people 00:24:25.019 --> 00:24:25.980 have come to surmise 00:24:25.980 --> 00:24:26.560 that Jesus 00:24:26.560 --> 00:24:27.800 was either a liar 00:24:27.800 --> 00:24:29.140 or a lunatic 00:24:29.140 --> 00:24:30.900 or the Lord 00:24:30.900 --> 00:24:33.000 that he claimed to be. 00:24:33.160 --> 00:24:34.160 This is a wild 00:24:34.160 --> 00:24:35.140 and lofty claim. 00:24:36.519 --> 00:24:37.100 And amazingly, 00:24:37.320 --> 00:24:38.380 Jesus doesn't even seem 00:24:38.380 --> 00:24:39.060 to care about 00:24:39.060 --> 00:24:39.660 who's listening. 00:24:40.680 --> 00:24:41.360 It's as if he's 00:24:41.360 --> 00:24:42.019 simply talking 00:24:42.019 --> 00:24:43.000 with God the Father 00:24:43.000 --> 00:24:44.240 the way he always does. 00:24:45.620 --> 00:24:46.680 He seems to have 00:24:46.680 --> 00:24:48.000 this absolute confidence 00:24:48.000 --> 00:24:49.500 in just who he is 00:24:49.500 --> 00:24:51.660 and this amazing 00:24:51.660 --> 00:24:52.340 understanding 00:24:52.340 --> 00:24:53.600 of the kind of authority 00:24:53.600 --> 00:24:55.000 that he possesses 00:24:55.000 --> 00:24:57.220 and where 00:24:57.220 --> 00:24:58.259 and whom 00:24:58.259 --> 00:24:59.560 he got it from. 00:25:02.060 --> 00:25:02.940 He's claiming 00:25:02.940 --> 00:25:03.799 to have authority 00:25:03.799 --> 00:25:04.500 from God 00:25:04.500 --> 00:25:06.019 to give eternal life 00:25:06.019 --> 00:25:07.299 to people. 00:25:08.640 --> 00:25:09.740 Think about that. 00:25:11.279 --> 00:25:12.140 He's claiming 00:25:12.140 --> 00:25:13.039 to be able 00:25:13.039 --> 00:25:13.680 to give 00:25:13.680 --> 00:25:15.700 life that lasts forever 00:25:15.700 --> 00:25:16.640 to people 00:25:16.640 --> 00:25:17.860 who ordinarily die. 00:25:19.259 --> 00:25:20.279 Do you hear this? 00:25:22.960 --> 00:25:23.559 But then 00:25:23.559 --> 00:25:24.400 who are these people 00:25:24.400 --> 00:25:24.960 that Jesus 00:25:24.960 --> 00:25:27.259 gives eternal life to? 00:25:27.360 --> 00:25:28.080 Let's finish off 00:25:28.080 --> 00:25:28.779 the verse here. 00:25:30.700 --> 00:25:31.580 Jesus says, 00:25:31.680 --> 00:25:32.360 You granted him 00:25:32.360 --> 00:25:33.700 authority over all people 00:25:33.700 --> 00:25:34.539 that he might give 00:25:34.539 --> 00:25:35.480 eternal life 00:25:35.480 --> 00:25:37.000 to all those 00:25:37.000 --> 00:25:38.880 you have given him. 00:25:40.880 --> 00:25:41.759 That's interesting. 00:25:41.900 --> 00:25:42.779 There's another dimension 00:25:42.779 --> 00:25:43.460 to all this. 00:25:43.559 --> 00:25:44.140 Another way 00:25:44.140 --> 00:25:45.080 in which the Father 00:25:45.080 --> 00:25:46.140 and the Son 00:25:46.140 --> 00:25:47.480 are relating 00:25:47.480 --> 00:25:48.240 to each other 00:25:48.240 --> 00:25:48.880 in all this. 00:25:49.259 --> 00:25:49.820 Jesus says, 00:25:49.920 --> 00:25:50.600 It's the Father 00:25:50.600 --> 00:25:52.140 who is giving people 00:25:52.140 --> 00:25:53.460 to his Son. 00:25:55.200 --> 00:25:56.780 Even though it's all flesh, 00:25:56.920 --> 00:25:57.560 all people 00:25:57.560 --> 00:25:58.100 that Jesus 00:25:58.100 --> 00:25:59.400 has authority over, 00:26:00.400 --> 00:26:01.740 it's for the purpose 00:26:01.740 --> 00:26:02.920 of giving eternal life 00:26:02.920 --> 00:26:03.640 to those 00:26:03.640 --> 00:26:04.580 that the Father 00:26:04.580 --> 00:26:05.400 has given 00:26:05.400 --> 00:26:06.560 to him 00:26:06.560 --> 00:26:08.680 that he has 00:26:08.680 --> 00:26:09.400 this authority. 00:26:09.400 --> 00:26:13.160 imagine for a moment 00:26:13.160 --> 00:26:13.600 that you're one 00:26:13.600 --> 00:26:14.240 of the disciples 00:26:14.240 --> 00:26:15.019 just sitting there 00:26:15.019 --> 00:26:15.960 listening to this 00:26:15.960 --> 00:26:17.400 prayer of Jesus. 00:26:18.680 --> 00:26:19.620 And now Jesus 00:26:19.620 --> 00:26:20.860 is referring to you 00:26:20.860 --> 00:26:22.980 as someone 00:26:22.980 --> 00:26:24.360 who has been 00:26:24.360 --> 00:26:24.820 given 00:26:24.820 --> 00:26:25.960 to Jesus 00:26:25.960 --> 00:26:27.660 by the Father. 00:26:29.740 --> 00:26:30.800 I've said this before 00:26:30.800 --> 00:26:31.440 in this series. 00:26:31.620 --> 00:26:32.380 There's just something 00:26:32.380 --> 00:26:33.160 much bigger, 00:26:33.400 --> 00:26:34.120 much greater 00:26:34.120 --> 00:26:35.019 going on here 00:26:35.019 --> 00:26:36.040 than just some guys 00:26:36.040 --> 00:26:37.160 that just all of a sudden 00:26:37.160 --> 00:26:38.160 figured it out 00:26:38.160 --> 00:26:38.759 for themselves 00:26:38.759 --> 00:26:39.560 and discovered, 00:26:39.740 --> 00:26:40.259 Oh, look, 00:26:40.360 --> 00:26:41.180 this is the Messiah. 00:26:42.620 --> 00:26:43.460 Here he is. 00:26:45.000 --> 00:26:45.460 Actually, 00:26:45.620 --> 00:26:46.440 according to Jesus, 00:26:46.600 --> 00:26:47.820 there's an eternal God 00:26:47.820 --> 00:26:49.259 who is both 00:26:49.259 --> 00:26:50.360 Father and Son. 00:26:51.340 --> 00:26:52.320 The Son is walking 00:26:52.320 --> 00:26:53.100 around here 00:26:53.100 --> 00:26:53.960 in human flesh 00:26:53.960 --> 00:26:54.740 as one of us 00:26:54.740 --> 00:26:56.040 and Jesus says 00:26:56.040 --> 00:26:56.840 that these guys, 00:26:57.019 --> 00:26:58.000 these followers 00:26:58.000 --> 00:26:58.640 of his 00:26:58.640 --> 00:27:00.000 are the gift 00:27:00.000 --> 00:27:01.700 of his Father 00:27:01.700 --> 00:27:02.860 to him. 00:27:03.920 --> 00:27:04.759 It's like there's 00:27:04.759 --> 00:27:06.000 a higher level story 00:27:06.000 --> 00:27:06.940 going on here 00:27:06.940 --> 00:27:07.519 and we're not 00:27:07.519 --> 00:27:08.279 the main actors. 00:27:09.460 --> 00:27:10.539 We're the present 00:27:10.539 --> 00:27:11.340 being given 00:27:11.340 --> 00:27:12.840 from one main actor 00:27:12.840 --> 00:27:13.980 to the other. 00:27:15.700 --> 00:27:17.039 And Jesus has said 00:27:17.039 --> 00:27:18.320 things like this before. 00:27:18.460 --> 00:27:19.360 John chapter 6, 00:27:19.440 --> 00:27:20.180 verse 37, 00:27:20.900 --> 00:27:21.539 All those 00:27:21.539 --> 00:27:23.220 the Father gives me 00:27:23.220 --> 00:27:24.799 will come to me. 00:27:25.420 --> 00:27:25.900 Again, 00:27:26.019 --> 00:27:26.759 in verse 39 00:27:26.759 --> 00:27:27.759 of the same chapter, 00:27:28.500 --> 00:27:29.580 And this is the will 00:27:29.580 --> 00:27:30.440 of him who sent me 00:27:30.440 --> 00:27:31.420 that I shall lose 00:27:31.420 --> 00:27:33.019 none of all those 00:27:33.019 --> 00:27:34.840 he has given me, 00:27:34.839 --> 00:27:36.559 but raised them up 00:27:36.559 --> 00:27:37.359 at the last day. 00:27:38.699 --> 00:27:40.240 This is the higher reality. 00:27:41.179 --> 00:27:42.659 We hear about Jesus, 00:27:43.059 --> 00:27:43.980 we repent, 00:27:44.139 --> 00:27:45.000 we believe in him, 00:27:45.179 --> 00:27:46.519 but above all that 00:27:46.519 --> 00:27:47.919 and beneath all that, 00:27:48.019 --> 00:27:48.939 God is at work 00:27:48.939 --> 00:27:50.419 to give people 00:27:50.419 --> 00:27:51.839 to his Son. 00:27:53.439 --> 00:27:54.799 And Jesus knows that. 00:27:55.059 --> 00:27:56.339 That's what's in his mind 00:27:56.339 --> 00:27:57.079 as these men 00:27:57.079 --> 00:27:58.299 are right here with him 00:27:58.299 --> 00:27:59.419 listening to his prayer. 00:27:59.420 --> 00:27:59.660 Father, 00:28:00.560 --> 00:28:01.440 Father, 00:28:01.580 --> 00:28:02.660 you have given them 00:28:02.660 --> 00:28:03.920 to me. 00:28:05.840 --> 00:28:06.980 And I have authority 00:28:06.980 --> 00:28:07.800 to give them 00:28:07.800 --> 00:28:09.620 eternal life. 00:28:13.640 --> 00:28:14.400 Let's move on 00:28:14.400 --> 00:28:15.060 to verse 3. 00:28:15.960 --> 00:28:16.840 This is one of my 00:28:16.840 --> 00:28:17.580 favorite sayings 00:28:17.580 --> 00:28:18.019 of Jesus 00:28:18.019 --> 00:28:18.880 in the whole Bible. 00:28:21.820 --> 00:28:22.660 Jesus says, 00:28:22.800 --> 00:28:23.880 Now this is 00:28:23.880 --> 00:28:24.840 eternal life, 00:28:24.839 --> 00:28:26.559 that they know 00:28:26.559 --> 00:28:27.459 you, 00:28:28.139 --> 00:28:30.019 the only true God, 00:28:30.339 --> 00:28:32.399 and Jesus Christ, 00:28:32.799 --> 00:28:33.859 whom you have sent. 00:28:36.740 --> 00:28:37.799 Another strange, 00:28:38.019 --> 00:28:38.500 full, 00:28:38.740 --> 00:28:39.379 wonderful saying 00:28:39.379 --> 00:28:39.919 of Jesus. 00:28:42.240 --> 00:28:43.079 It's as though 00:28:43.079 --> 00:28:44.039 Jesus here 00:28:44.039 --> 00:28:45.679 defines eternal life. 00:28:45.759 --> 00:28:46.379 He has authority 00:28:46.379 --> 00:28:47.579 to give eternal life 00:28:47.579 --> 00:28:49.119 to all those 00:28:49.119 --> 00:28:49.759 who have been given 00:28:49.759 --> 00:28:50.220 to him, 00:28:50.519 --> 00:28:51.299 but now it's like 00:28:51.299 --> 00:28:53.359 he steps aside 00:28:53.359 --> 00:28:53.759 for a moment 00:28:53.759 --> 00:28:54.059 and says, 00:28:54.160 --> 00:28:54.779 and this is what 00:28:54.779 --> 00:28:55.420 it's all about, 00:28:55.519 --> 00:28:56.519 this eternal life. 00:28:58.099 --> 00:28:59.180 It's about them 00:28:59.180 --> 00:29:01.220 knowing you, 00:29:02.559 --> 00:29:03.940 the only true God. 00:29:04.480 --> 00:29:05.299 It's about them 00:29:05.299 --> 00:29:06.379 knowing me, 00:29:07.640 --> 00:29:08.420 Jesus Christ. 00:29:09.740 --> 00:29:10.440 It's about this 00:29:10.440 --> 00:29:12.000 everlasting relationship 00:29:12.000 --> 00:29:13.519 between them 00:29:13.519 --> 00:29:15.220 and you 00:29:15.220 --> 00:29:16.119 and them 00:29:16.119 --> 00:29:16.680 and me. 00:29:19.400 --> 00:29:20.319 Verse 4. 00:29:21.900 --> 00:29:23.039 Jesus prays, 00:29:23.039 --> 00:29:24.180 I have brought you 00:29:24.180 --> 00:29:25.460 glory on earth 00:29:25.460 --> 00:29:26.819 by finishing the work 00:29:26.819 --> 00:29:28.200 you gave me to do. 00:29:29.000 --> 00:29:30.480 This verse is loaded too. 00:29:31.019 --> 00:29:32.119 I could preach a whole message 00:29:32.119 --> 00:29:33.379 just on this one statement, 00:29:33.619 --> 00:29:34.659 but I won't do it. 00:29:36.159 --> 00:29:37.680 It's the son's desire, 00:29:38.039 --> 00:29:39.399 as we saw in verse 2, 00:29:40.059 --> 00:29:40.980 to bring glory 00:29:40.980 --> 00:29:42.220 to the father 00:29:42.220 --> 00:29:45.019 so that I might glorify you, 00:29:45.119 --> 00:29:45.659 said Jesus. 00:29:46.740 --> 00:29:48.339 That's what Jesus wants to do. 00:29:48.339 --> 00:29:50.039 He wants to magnify 00:29:50.039 --> 00:29:50.659 the worth 00:29:50.659 --> 00:29:52.000 of his father, 00:29:52.480 --> 00:29:53.759 to put the spotlight 00:29:53.759 --> 00:29:55.220 on his glory. 00:29:56.480 --> 00:29:57.240 And Jesus says, 00:29:57.439 --> 00:29:58.899 I have been doing that 00:29:58.899 --> 00:30:01.339 right up until now. 00:30:02.879 --> 00:30:03.559 How? 00:30:03.559 --> 00:30:06.919 By finishing the work 00:30:06.919 --> 00:30:08.980 you have given me to do. 00:30:10.639 --> 00:30:11.899 This has been the aim 00:30:11.899 --> 00:30:12.500 of Jesus 00:30:12.500 --> 00:30:14.159 all along 00:30:14.159 --> 00:30:15.379 in everything he does, 00:30:15.460 --> 00:30:16.440 in all the teaching, 00:30:16.599 --> 00:30:17.879 in all the discipling, 00:30:17.940 --> 00:30:18.879 in all the miracles. 00:30:20.460 --> 00:30:21.480 But now Jesus 00:30:21.480 --> 00:30:22.440 is so aware 00:30:22.440 --> 00:30:24.000 that the pinnacle 00:30:24.000 --> 00:30:24.819 of his work 00:30:24.819 --> 00:30:26.839 is about to be accomplished. 00:30:28.039 --> 00:30:29.500 The work that he must do 00:30:29.500 --> 00:30:30.240 to save 00:30:30.240 --> 00:30:31.899 those who have been 00:30:31.900 --> 00:30:32.680 given to him. 00:30:32.800 --> 00:30:34.140 This is the difficult work 00:30:34.140 --> 00:30:35.380 of going to the cross 00:30:35.380 --> 00:30:37.420 and dying for them. 00:30:38.500 --> 00:30:39.060 It's as though 00:30:39.060 --> 00:30:39.780 Jesus is saying, 00:30:39.880 --> 00:30:40.380 I've finished 00:30:40.380 --> 00:30:41.180 all the work 00:30:41.180 --> 00:30:42.180 that you've given me 00:30:42.180 --> 00:30:42.860 to do 00:30:42.860 --> 00:30:44.100 up till this point, 00:30:44.220 --> 00:30:44.920 bringing glory 00:30:44.920 --> 00:30:45.580 to your name, 00:30:45.740 --> 00:30:45.980 Father. 00:30:46.700 --> 00:30:48.180 But now what is before me 00:30:48.180 --> 00:30:49.340 is that final stretch, 00:30:50.120 --> 00:30:51.840 this hour 00:30:51.840 --> 00:30:53.740 in which I must suffer 00:30:53.740 --> 00:30:55.100 and die 00:30:55.100 --> 00:30:55.700 for the sins 00:30:55.700 --> 00:30:56.259 of the world. 00:30:57.460 --> 00:30:58.880 Let these words 00:30:58.880 --> 00:31:00.740 be firmly fixed 00:31:00.740 --> 00:31:01.600 in your mind 00:31:01.599 --> 00:31:03.839 it's no coincidence 00:31:03.839 --> 00:31:04.639 that this is 00:31:04.639 --> 00:31:05.599 the gospel account 00:31:05.599 --> 00:31:06.399 in which we hear 00:31:06.399 --> 00:31:07.059 Jesus say 00:31:07.059 --> 00:31:07.839 from the cross, 00:31:08.539 --> 00:31:10.919 it is finished. 00:31:12.879 --> 00:31:14.019 Mission accomplished. 00:31:15.619 --> 00:31:16.719 It is finished 00:31:16.719 --> 00:31:18.439 is not just 00:31:18.439 --> 00:31:19.319 the cry of a man 00:31:19.319 --> 00:31:20.039 who has suffered 00:31:20.039 --> 00:31:21.299 a long while 00:31:21.299 --> 00:31:22.699 to save sinners. 00:31:22.779 --> 00:31:23.759 It's the cry of a man 00:31:23.759 --> 00:31:25.039 who has been at work 00:31:25.039 --> 00:31:27.740 for decades 00:31:27.740 --> 00:31:29.240 to bring glory 00:31:29.240 --> 00:31:30.000 to his Father 00:31:30.000 --> 00:31:30.859 for years 00:31:30.859 --> 00:31:32.180 up until this point 00:31:32.180 --> 00:31:33.079 here 00:31:33.079 --> 00:31:34.119 and finally 00:31:34.119 --> 00:31:34.839 culminating 00:31:34.839 --> 00:31:35.680 at the cross. 00:31:39.779 --> 00:31:40.759 Verse 5. 00:31:41.279 --> 00:31:42.119 Last one. 00:31:44.339 --> 00:31:45.319 Jesus says, 00:31:45.460 --> 00:31:46.140 And now, Father, 00:31:46.859 --> 00:31:48.200 glorify me 00:31:48.200 --> 00:31:49.640 in your presence 00:31:49.640 --> 00:31:50.420 with the glory 00:31:50.420 --> 00:31:51.980 I had with you 00:31:51.980 --> 00:31:53.480 before the world 00:31:53.480 --> 00:31:54.240 began. 00:31:54.240 --> 00:31:56.160 I could preach 00:31:56.160 --> 00:31:56.920 three sermons 00:31:56.920 --> 00:31:57.740 on this verse. 00:31:58.500 --> 00:32:00.059 I love this verse. 00:32:01.380 --> 00:32:02.160 Jesus asked 00:32:02.160 --> 00:32:02.620 the Father 00:32:02.620 --> 00:32:03.240 to give him 00:32:03.240 --> 00:32:03.839 the glory 00:32:03.839 --> 00:32:04.500 that he had 00:32:04.500 --> 00:32:05.200 with the Father 00:32:05.200 --> 00:32:06.220 before the world 00:32:06.220 --> 00:32:06.839 began. 00:32:07.839 --> 00:32:08.079 Like, 00:32:08.140 --> 00:32:08.920 do you hear this? 00:32:10.620 --> 00:32:12.140 Who prays like this? 00:32:13.140 --> 00:32:14.339 Who says things 00:32:14.339 --> 00:32:14.960 like this? 00:32:15.599 --> 00:32:16.440 This verse 00:32:16.440 --> 00:32:17.480 highlights both 00:32:17.480 --> 00:32:18.259 the humanity 00:32:18.259 --> 00:32:19.779 and the deity 00:32:19.779 --> 00:32:21.140 of Jesus. 00:32:21.140 --> 00:32:21.339 Jesus. 00:32:21.339 --> 00:32:25.939 Jesus has awareness 00:32:25.939 --> 00:32:27.000 of being 00:32:27.000 --> 00:32:27.919 with the Father 00:32:27.919 --> 00:32:29.119 before the world 00:32:29.119 --> 00:32:29.919 was. 00:32:32.339 --> 00:32:33.619 He knows 00:32:33.619 --> 00:32:34.619 about the glory 00:32:34.619 --> 00:32:36.500 that he had 00:32:36.500 --> 00:32:37.359 with the Father 00:32:37.359 --> 00:32:38.779 before the world 00:32:38.779 --> 00:32:39.500 existed. 00:32:40.819 --> 00:32:42.099 This reveals 00:32:42.099 --> 00:32:42.500 Jesus' 00:32:42.699 --> 00:32:43.359 divine nature 00:32:43.359 --> 00:32:44.379 that he is 00:32:44.379 --> 00:32:45.779 truly God. 00:32:47.359 --> 00:32:48.699 While his humanity 00:32:48.699 --> 00:32:49.519 had a beginning, 00:32:49.519 --> 00:32:51.639 his divinity, 00:32:52.339 --> 00:32:53.180 his godness 00:32:53.180 --> 00:32:53.799 did not. 00:32:54.839 --> 00:32:55.680 He longs 00:32:55.680 --> 00:32:56.079 out of that 00:32:56.079 --> 00:32:57.000 divine nature 00:32:57.000 --> 00:32:58.460 with those 00:32:58.460 --> 00:32:59.660 eternal memories 00:32:59.660 --> 00:33:01.099 to be lifted 00:33:01.099 --> 00:33:02.039 up to the 00:33:02.039 --> 00:33:02.859 glorious kind 00:33:02.859 --> 00:33:03.379 of existence 00:33:03.379 --> 00:33:04.460 that he enjoyed 00:33:04.460 --> 00:33:05.660 with the Father 00:33:05.660 --> 00:33:06.460 before the world 00:33:06.460 --> 00:33:07.160 even began 00:33:07.160 --> 00:33:09.579 because Jesus 00:33:09.579 --> 00:33:10.619 is God. 00:33:11.700 --> 00:33:12.599 Only God 00:33:12.599 --> 00:33:13.079 could speak 00:33:13.079 --> 00:33:13.619 this way. 00:33:13.619 --> 00:33:13.719 humanity. 00:33:15.819 --> 00:33:16.519 But now 00:33:16.519 --> 00:33:17.119 this verse, 00:33:17.259 --> 00:33:17.679 these words 00:33:17.679 --> 00:33:18.159 of Jesus 00:33:18.159 --> 00:33:19.119 also highlight 00:33:19.119 --> 00:33:19.879 his humanity. 00:33:21.059 --> 00:33:22.099 This is perhaps 00:33:22.099 --> 00:33:22.719 one of the verses 00:33:22.719 --> 00:33:23.379 we point to 00:33:23.379 --> 00:33:24.000 most often 00:33:24.000 --> 00:33:24.459 as we try 00:33:24.459 --> 00:33:25.259 to understand 00:33:25.259 --> 00:33:26.139 this mystery 00:33:26.139 --> 00:33:27.739 that the word 00:33:27.739 --> 00:33:29.019 became flesh 00:33:29.019 --> 00:33:30.279 and lived 00:33:30.279 --> 00:33:30.959 among us. 00:33:32.079 --> 00:33:32.939 We wonder 00:33:32.939 --> 00:33:33.719 what happened 00:33:33.719 --> 00:33:34.379 when Jesus, 00:33:35.099 --> 00:33:35.659 though he was 00:33:35.659 --> 00:33:36.479 in very nature, 00:33:36.579 --> 00:33:37.539 very form God, 00:33:37.619 --> 00:33:38.219 what happened 00:33:38.219 --> 00:33:39.119 when he emptied 00:33:39.119 --> 00:33:39.699 himself or 00:33:39.699 --> 00:33:40.239 made himself 00:33:40.239 --> 00:33:40.719 nothing 00:33:40.720 --> 00:33:41.660 by taking 00:33:41.660 --> 00:33:42.200 the form 00:33:42.200 --> 00:33:43.360 of a servant 00:33:43.360 --> 00:33:44.039 and becoming 00:33:44.039 --> 00:33:45.079 one of us, 00:33:45.140 --> 00:33:46.100 a human being. 00:33:46.200 --> 00:33:46.900 What changed 00:33:46.900 --> 00:33:47.279 for him 00:33:47.279 --> 00:33:47.799 when he came 00:33:47.799 --> 00:33:48.799 down from 00:33:48.799 --> 00:33:49.579 heaven to earth? 00:33:50.140 --> 00:33:50.920 These words 00:33:50.920 --> 00:33:51.460 of Jesus 00:33:51.460 --> 00:33:52.120 give us 00:33:52.120 --> 00:33:52.720 something of 00:33:52.720 --> 00:33:53.220 an answer. 00:33:53.900 --> 00:33:54.559 He lost 00:33:54.559 --> 00:33:55.299 something 00:33:55.299 --> 00:33:56.660 of his glory. 00:33:58.720 --> 00:33:59.799 Not all of it. 00:34:00.579 --> 00:34:01.360 As we see 00:34:01.360 --> 00:34:02.220 in John 2, 00:34:02.339 --> 00:34:02.819 verse 11, 00:34:02.900 --> 00:34:03.480 after he did 00:34:03.480 --> 00:34:04.380 his first miracle, 00:34:04.620 --> 00:34:05.079 the disciples 00:34:05.079 --> 00:34:06.339 said that it 00:34:06.339 --> 00:34:06.920 was one of the 00:34:06.920 --> 00:34:07.519 signs through 00:34:07.519 --> 00:34:08.559 which he revealed 00:34:08.559 --> 00:34:09.480 his glory. 00:34:09.480 --> 00:34:10.940 So he still 00:34:10.940 --> 00:34:11.559 possessed 00:34:11.559 --> 00:34:12.579 some of his 00:34:12.579 --> 00:34:13.019 glory, 00:34:13.300 --> 00:34:14.280 but it's as 00:34:14.280 --> 00:34:15.619 though much 00:34:15.619 --> 00:34:16.340 of his glory 00:34:16.340 --> 00:34:17.179 was veiled. 00:34:17.900 --> 00:34:18.699 It was hidden 00:34:18.699 --> 00:34:20.159 by his 00:34:20.159 --> 00:34:21.099 humanity. 00:34:22.059 --> 00:34:22.420 Some would 00:34:22.420 --> 00:34:22.980 say that he 00:34:22.980 --> 00:34:23.780 laid aside 00:34:23.780 --> 00:34:24.460 his glory 00:34:24.460 --> 00:34:25.579 when he 00:34:25.579 --> 00:34:26.400 became a man. 00:34:27.280 --> 00:34:27.699 And yet even 00:34:27.699 --> 00:34:28.159 here it's 00:34:28.159 --> 00:34:28.780 difficult to 00:34:28.780 --> 00:34:29.179 describe, 00:34:29.340 --> 00:34:29.639 well what 00:34:29.639 --> 00:34:30.320 exactly did 00:34:30.320 --> 00:34:30.639 he lay 00:34:30.639 --> 00:34:31.019 aside? 00:34:32.059 --> 00:34:32.460 We could 00:34:32.460 --> 00:34:32.920 speak of 00:34:32.920 --> 00:34:33.500 position 00:34:33.500 --> 00:34:35.000 and privilege 00:34:35.000 --> 00:34:35.579 for sure. 00:34:36.440 --> 00:34:36.920 We could 00:34:36.920 --> 00:34:37.639 probably speak 00:34:37.639 --> 00:34:38.219 of authority 00:34:38.219 --> 00:34:38.880 as well as 00:34:38.880 --> 00:34:39.240 we've just 00:34:39.239 --> 00:34:40.500 heard since 00:34:40.500 --> 00:34:41.439 Jesus acknowledged 00:34:41.439 --> 00:34:42.099 he had to 00:34:42.099 --> 00:34:42.559 be given 00:34:42.559 --> 00:34:43.219 authority 00:34:43.219 --> 00:34:44.679 from the 00:34:44.679 --> 00:34:45.000 Father. 00:34:45.299 --> 00:34:45.759 Again, 00:34:45.859 --> 00:34:46.179 this is 00:34:46.179 --> 00:34:46.659 mysterious. 00:34:46.919 --> 00:34:47.259 This is 00:34:47.259 --> 00:34:47.779 beyond what 00:34:47.779 --> 00:34:48.099 we can 00:34:48.099 --> 00:34:48.539 fathom. 00:34:50.059 --> 00:34:50.739 But here's 00:34:50.739 --> 00:34:51.519 Jesus who 00:34:51.519 --> 00:34:52.559 knew glory, 00:34:53.219 --> 00:34:54.000 who had 00:34:54.000 --> 00:34:54.699 the glory 00:34:54.699 --> 00:34:56.219 with the 00:34:56.219 --> 00:34:56.859 Father in 00:34:56.859 --> 00:34:57.599 his presence. 00:34:58.139 --> 00:34:58.679 Here he is 00:34:58.679 --> 00:34:59.379 now praying 00:34:59.379 --> 00:35:00.639 to have it 00:35:00.639 --> 00:35:01.279 back again, 00:35:02.099 --> 00:35:02.779 longing for 00:35:02.779 --> 00:35:02.959 it. 00:35:04.359 --> 00:35:05.219 This is how 00:35:05.219 --> 00:35:05.959 far down 00:35:05.959 --> 00:35:06.599 Jesus has 00:35:06.599 --> 00:35:07.159 come to 00:35:07.159 --> 00:35:07.899 rescue us. 00:35:07.900 --> 00:35:09.000 he has 00:35:09.000 --> 00:35:09.420 stooped 00:35:09.420 --> 00:35:10.000 down to 00:35:10.000 --> 00:35:10.559 becoming 00:35:10.559 --> 00:35:12.220 one of 00:35:12.220 --> 00:35:12.559 his 00:35:12.559 --> 00:35:13.539 creatures. 00:35:14.500 --> 00:35:15.019 He 00:35:15.019 --> 00:35:15.619 exchanged 00:35:15.619 --> 00:35:15.860 the 00:35:15.860 --> 00:35:16.160 heights 00:35:16.160 --> 00:35:16.360 of 00:35:16.360 --> 00:35:16.700 heaven 00:35:16.700 --> 00:35:17.800 for the 00:35:17.800 --> 00:35:18.200 lowly 00:35:18.200 --> 00:35:18.880 dusty 00:35:18.880 --> 00:35:19.480 streets 00:35:19.480 --> 00:35:20.340 of 00:35:20.340 --> 00:35:20.760 Israel. 00:35:21.700 --> 00:35:22.000 And we 00:35:22.000 --> 00:35:22.340 could go 00:35:22.340 --> 00:35:22.599 on. 00:35:23.380 --> 00:35:23.860 I love 00:35:23.860 --> 00:35:24.280 this verse 00:35:24.280 --> 00:35:24.700 but let's 00:35:24.700 --> 00:35:25.099 draw this 00:35:25.099 --> 00:35:25.420 to a 00:35:25.420 --> 00:35:25.760 close. 00:35:27.639 --> 00:35:28.160 Four 00:35:28.160 --> 00:35:29.059 truths that 00:35:29.059 --> 00:35:29.539 come out of 00:35:29.539 --> 00:35:29.840 Jesus' 00:35:30.039 --> 00:35:30.300 prayer, 00:35:30.579 --> 00:35:31.079 these five 00:35:31.079 --> 00:35:31.400 verses. 00:35:31.559 --> 00:35:31.880 What do we 00:35:31.880 --> 00:35:32.360 learn about 00:35:32.360 --> 00:35:32.900 God from 00:35:32.900 --> 00:35:33.480 this prayer? 00:35:38.539 --> 00:35:39.059 Well, 00:35:39.120 --> 00:35:39.599 first we 00:35:39.599 --> 00:35:40.019 see that 00:35:40.019 --> 00:35:40.940 Jesus desires 00:35:40.940 --> 00:35:41.820 to glorify 00:35:41.820 --> 00:35:42.519 his Father 00:35:42.519 --> 00:35:44.019 by finishing 00:35:44.019 --> 00:35:44.500 the work 00:35:44.500 --> 00:35:44.920 that God 00:35:44.920 --> 00:35:45.300 gave him 00:35:45.300 --> 00:35:45.720 to do. 00:35:48.380 --> 00:35:48.860 Next, 00:35:49.000 --> 00:35:49.539 we see that 00:35:49.539 --> 00:35:51.140 Jesus desires 00:35:51.140 --> 00:35:51.559 to be 00:35:51.559 --> 00:35:52.260 restored to 00:35:52.260 --> 00:35:52.720 the glory 00:35:52.720 --> 00:35:53.260 he had 00:35:53.260 --> 00:35:53.640 with his 00:35:53.640 --> 00:35:53.940 Father 00:35:53.940 --> 00:35:54.559 before the 00:35:54.559 --> 00:35:55.340 world began. 00:35:56.340 --> 00:35:56.780 And both 00:35:56.780 --> 00:35:57.240 of these, 00:35:57.380 --> 00:35:57.940 in both of 00:35:57.940 --> 00:35:58.160 these, 00:35:58.220 --> 00:35:58.480 and through 00:35:58.480 --> 00:35:58.920 both of 00:35:58.920 --> 00:35:59.220 these, 00:35:59.579 --> 00:36:00.680 we see 00:36:00.680 --> 00:36:01.159 that Jesus 00:36:01.159 --> 00:36:01.920 is truly 00:36:01.920 --> 00:36:03.900 God and 00:36:03.900 --> 00:36:04.380 that Jesus 00:36:04.380 --> 00:36:05.200 is truly 00:36:05.200 --> 00:36:06.159 human, 00:36:07.639 --> 00:36:08.619 truly one 00:36:08.619 --> 00:36:09.099 of us. 00:36:11.260 --> 00:36:12.079 So let's 00:36:12.079 --> 00:36:12.500 just draw 00:36:12.500 --> 00:36:13.019 some quick 00:36:13.019 --> 00:36:13.440 lines of 00:36:13.440 --> 00:36:14.000 application 00:36:14.000 --> 00:36:14.420 here. 00:36:15.460 --> 00:36:16.159 If you're 00:36:16.159 --> 00:36:16.539 not a 00:36:16.539 --> 00:36:17.139 believer in 00:36:17.139 --> 00:36:18.300 Jesus today, 00:36:19.180 --> 00:36:19.740 do you hear 00:36:19.740 --> 00:36:20.180 what Jesus 00:36:20.180 --> 00:36:20.760 is saying? 00:36:21.320 --> 00:36:22.099 He has 00:36:22.099 --> 00:36:22.780 authority 00:36:22.780 --> 00:36:24.220 to give 00:36:24.220 --> 00:36:24.820 eternal 00:36:24.820 --> 00:36:26.220 life to 00:36:26.220 --> 00:36:26.619 people. 00:36:28.920 --> 00:36:29.340 We all 00:36:29.340 --> 00:36:29.740 know that 00:36:29.740 --> 00:36:30.139 death is 00:36:30.139 --> 00:36:31.220 coming for 00:36:31.220 --> 00:36:31.680 each one 00:36:31.680 --> 00:36:31.980 of us 00:36:31.980 --> 00:36:32.340 at some 00:36:32.340 --> 00:36:32.659 point. 00:36:36.240 --> 00:36:36.980 Yet here's 00:36:36.980 --> 00:36:37.380 the one 00:36:37.380 --> 00:36:38.159 who claims 00:36:38.159 --> 00:36:39.159 to be able 00:36:39.159 --> 00:36:40.240 to undo 00:36:40.240 --> 00:36:40.619 that, 00:36:40.880 --> 00:36:41.260 to help 00:36:41.260 --> 00:36:42.000 you beat 00:36:42.000 --> 00:36:42.639 that and 00:36:42.639 --> 00:36:43.240 live forever, 00:36:43.639 --> 00:36:44.539 to raise 00:36:44.539 --> 00:36:45.000 you up at 00:36:45.000 --> 00:36:45.400 the last 00:36:45.400 --> 00:36:45.700 day. 00:36:47.900 --> 00:36:48.579 And this 00:36:48.579 --> 00:36:48.880 is, he 00:36:48.880 --> 00:36:49.480 says, is a 00:36:49.480 --> 00:36:50.019 free gift. 00:36:50.579 --> 00:36:51.099 It's a gift 00:36:51.099 --> 00:36:51.619 of God's 00:36:51.619 --> 00:36:52.119 grace for 00:36:52.119 --> 00:36:52.559 all who 00:36:52.559 --> 00:36:53.039 believe in 00:36:53.039 --> 00:36:53.240 him. 00:36:55.500 --> 00:36:56.119 Have you 00:36:56.119 --> 00:36:56.480 put your 00:36:56.480 --> 00:36:57.039 faith, have 00:36:57.039 --> 00:36:57.480 you put your 00:36:57.480 --> 00:36:58.639 trust in 00:36:58.639 --> 00:36:59.019 Jesus? 00:37:02.779 --> 00:37:03.379 For the 00:37:03.379 --> 00:37:03.799 rest of 00:37:03.799 --> 00:37:04.319 us, those 00:37:04.319 --> 00:37:04.799 who already 00:37:04.799 --> 00:37:06.379 believe, I 00:37:06.379 --> 00:37:06.839 want to take 00:37:06.839 --> 00:37:07.339 us down a 00:37:07.339 --> 00:37:07.920 different line. 00:37:09.339 --> 00:37:10.219 If Jesus 00:37:10.219 --> 00:37:11.119 desires to 00:37:11.119 --> 00:37:11.920 glorify his 00:37:11.920 --> 00:37:13.739 father so 00:37:13.739 --> 00:37:14.799 deeply and 00:37:14.799 --> 00:37:15.659 has lived to 00:37:15.659 --> 00:37:16.379 do so, so 00:37:16.379 --> 00:37:17.799 fully, what 00:37:17.799 --> 00:37:18.379 should we do? 00:37:20.799 --> 00:37:21.460 If the 00:37:21.460 --> 00:37:21.940 father's 00:37:21.940 --> 00:37:22.599 desire is to 00:37:22.599 --> 00:37:23.319 glorify his 00:37:23.319 --> 00:37:25.319 son and 00:37:25.319 --> 00:37:26.019 works to 00:37:26.019 --> 00:37:27.819 do that, to 00:37:27.819 --> 00:37:28.159 put the 00:37:28.159 --> 00:37:28.940 spotlight on 00:37:28.940 --> 00:37:29.839 him, what 00:37:29.839 --> 00:37:30.179 should we 00:37:30.179 --> 00:37:30.440 do? 00:37:32.480 --> 00:37:33.159 How should 00:37:33.159 --> 00:37:33.619 we live? 00:37:36.179 --> 00:37:36.920 Let me put 00:37:36.920 --> 00:37:37.339 it this way, 00:37:37.420 --> 00:37:37.819 what's the 00:37:37.819 --> 00:37:38.359 purpose of 00:37:38.359 --> 00:37:38.679 life? 00:37:41.299 --> 00:37:41.759 The 00:37:41.759 --> 00:37:42.179 Westminster 00:37:42.179 --> 00:37:42.619 Shorter 00:37:42.619 --> 00:37:43.299 Catechism 00:37:43.299 --> 00:37:43.779 says it 00:37:43.779 --> 00:37:44.239 this way, 00:37:44.239 --> 00:37:45.399 the chief 00:37:45.399 --> 00:37:46.599 end of 00:37:46.599 --> 00:37:49.119 man, the 00:37:49.119 --> 00:37:50.079 highest purpose 00:37:50.079 --> 00:37:51.839 of man is 00:37:51.839 --> 00:37:52.839 to glorify 00:37:52.839 --> 00:37:55.779 God and 00:37:55.779 --> 00:37:56.299 to enjoy 00:37:56.299 --> 00:37:57.299 him forever. 00:37:58.159 --> 00:38:00.619 Jesus 00:38:00.619 --> 00:38:01.299 isn't just 00:38:01.299 --> 00:38:02.339 setting us 00:38:02.339 --> 00:38:02.879 an example 00:38:02.879 --> 00:38:03.420 here of 00:38:03.420 --> 00:38:05.159 how we 00:38:05.159 --> 00:38:05.579 should pray 00:38:05.579 --> 00:38:06.059 on Sunday 00:38:06.059 --> 00:38:06.440 mornings. 00:38:06.980 --> 00:38:07.699 He's setting 00:38:07.699 --> 00:38:08.039 us an 00:38:08.039 --> 00:38:08.719 example here 00:38:08.719 --> 00:38:09.279 of how we 00:38:09.279 --> 00:38:09.739 should live 00:38:09.739 --> 00:38:10.399 our entire 00:38:10.399 --> 00:38:12.259 lives from 00:38:12.259 --> 00:38:12.739 start to 00:38:12.739 --> 00:38:13.059 finish. 00:38:13.159 --> 00:38:13.739 What our 00:38:13.739 --> 00:38:14.679 aim should 00:38:14.679 --> 00:38:15.000 be. 00:38:16.679 --> 00:38:17.500 Our worship 00:38:17.500 --> 00:38:18.019 should be more 00:38:18.019 --> 00:38:18.579 than just four 00:38:18.579 --> 00:38:19.319 or five songs 00:38:19.319 --> 00:38:19.920 that we sing 00:38:19.920 --> 00:38:20.379 on Sunday 00:38:20.379 --> 00:38:20.779 morning. 00:38:21.159 --> 00:38:21.480 It should 00:38:21.480 --> 00:38:22.159 be the 00:38:22.159 --> 00:38:22.759 offering of 00:38:22.759 --> 00:38:23.359 our entire 00:38:23.359 --> 00:38:24.960 lives to 00:38:24.960 --> 00:38:25.599 this great 00:38:25.599 --> 00:38:26.519 and glorious 00:38:26.519 --> 00:38:27.319 God and 00:38:27.319 --> 00:38:27.900 his son, 00:38:28.860 --> 00:38:29.599 Jesus Christ. 00:38:30.779 --> 00:38:31.219 And so if 00:38:31.219 --> 00:38:31.739 you're a believer, 00:38:32.339 --> 00:38:33.059 I want to 00:38:33.059 --> 00:38:33.599 encourage you to 00:38:33.599 --> 00:38:34.239 ask yourself 00:38:34.239 --> 00:38:34.839 this question. 00:38:34.920 --> 00:38:35.480 Is that the 00:38:35.480 --> 00:38:36.299 main focus of 00:38:36.299 --> 00:38:36.920 my life? 00:38:37.739 --> 00:38:38.739 To bring 00:38:38.739 --> 00:38:40.420 glory to 00:38:40.420 --> 00:38:41.000 this God 00:38:41.000 --> 00:38:42.579 and to 00:38:42.579 --> 00:38:43.099 his son, 00:38:43.500 --> 00:38:43.799 Jesus? 00:38:45.339 --> 00:38:46.239 To know 00:38:46.239 --> 00:38:46.599 him. 00:38:46.599 --> 00:38:50.380 Is that my 00:38:50.380 --> 00:38:51.319 main priority? 00:38:51.320 --> 00:38:53.380 the thing 00:38:53.380 --> 00:38:53.800 for which 00:38:53.800 --> 00:38:54.220 all other 00:38:54.220 --> 00:38:54.660 things in 00:38:54.660 --> 00:38:55.120 life must 00:38:55.120 --> 00:38:55.740 make way 00:38:55.740 --> 00:38:58.519 and submit 00:38:58.519 --> 00:38:58.800 to. 00:38:59.640 --> 00:39:00.160 Have I got 00:39:00.160 --> 00:39:01.080 my priorities 00:39:01.080 --> 00:39:01.820 straight? 00:39:03.680 --> 00:39:04.400 The good 00:39:04.400 --> 00:39:04.860 news of the 00:39:04.860 --> 00:39:05.420 gospel is 00:39:05.420 --> 00:39:05.980 that Jesus 00:39:05.980 --> 00:39:07.039 had his 00:39:07.039 --> 00:39:07.580 priorities 00:39:07.580 --> 00:39:08.340 straight. 00:39:09.340 --> 00:39:09.980 And he 00:39:09.980 --> 00:39:10.420 was willing 00:39:10.420 --> 00:39:10.820 to lay 00:39:10.820 --> 00:39:11.280 down his 00:39:11.280 --> 00:39:11.740 life in 00:39:11.740 --> 00:39:12.100 order to 00:39:12.100 --> 00:39:12.600 finish the 00:39:12.600 --> 00:39:13.059 work that 00:39:13.059 --> 00:39:13.900 God gave 00:39:13.900 --> 00:39:14.200 him to 00:39:14.200 --> 00:39:14.420 do. 00:39:14.740 --> 00:39:15.660 He glorified 00:39:15.660 --> 00:39:16.240 the Father 00:39:16.240 --> 00:39:17.640 completely 00:39:17.640 --> 00:39:18.160 with his 00:39:18.160 --> 00:39:18.780 whole earthly 00:39:18.780 --> 00:39:19.340 life and 00:39:19.340 --> 00:39:20.019 in so doing 00:39:20.019 --> 00:39:21.080 he saved 00:39:21.079 --> 00:39:21.539 the rest 00:39:21.539 --> 00:39:22.159 of us who 00:39:22.159 --> 00:39:22.739 have failed 00:39:22.739 --> 00:39:23.159 to do 00:39:23.159 --> 00:39:23.460 so. 00:39:24.980 --> 00:39:25.920 And amazingly 00:39:25.920 --> 00:39:26.819 Jesus offers 00:39:26.819 --> 00:39:27.319 us this 00:39:27.319 --> 00:39:27.900 gift, this 00:39:27.900 --> 00:39:28.699 eternal life 00:39:28.699 --> 00:39:30.940 as a gift 00:39:30.940 --> 00:39:33.219 freely of 00:39:33.219 --> 00:39:33.900 God's grace. 00:39:34.699 --> 00:39:35.219 And so let's 00:39:35.219 --> 00:39:36.360 not shrink 00:39:36.360 --> 00:39:36.799 back. 00:39:38.159 --> 00:39:39.019 Let's offer 00:39:39.019 --> 00:39:39.500 ourselves 00:39:39.500 --> 00:39:40.299 completely to 00:39:40.299 --> 00:39:40.539 him. 00:39:41.319 --> 00:39:42.119 To bring 00:39:42.119 --> 00:39:42.619 glory to 00:39:42.619 --> 00:39:42.860 him. 00:39:44.119 --> 00:39:44.920 Let's live 00:39:44.920 --> 00:39:45.900 as Paul 00:39:45.900 --> 00:39:46.519 says, as 00:39:46.519 --> 00:39:47.900 living sacrifices 00:39:47.900 --> 00:39:50.019 holy and 00:39:50.019 --> 00:39:50.559 pleasing to 00:39:50.559 --> 00:39:50.860 God. 00:39:51.079 --> 00:39:51.539 God 00:39:51.539 --> 00:39:52.819 for this 00:39:52.819 --> 00:39:53.139 is our 00:39:53.139 --> 00:39:53.599 true and 00:39:53.599 --> 00:39:53.860 proper 00:39:53.860 --> 00:39:54.279 worship. 00:39:57.239 --> 00:39:57.679 Let's 00:39:57.679 --> 00:39:57.880 pray. 00:40:00.759 --> 00:40:01.340 Father in 00:40:01.340 --> 00:40:01.819 heaven, thank 00:40:01.819 --> 00:40:02.360 you so much 00:40:02.360 --> 00:40:02.719 that you 00:40:02.719 --> 00:40:03.079 have given 00:40:03.079 --> 00:40:03.440 us a 00:40:03.440 --> 00:40:05.119 glimpse of 00:40:05.119 --> 00:40:05.599 that sweet 00:40:05.599 --> 00:40:06.480 relationship you 00:40:06.480 --> 00:40:07.159 have with 00:40:07.159 --> 00:40:07.559 your son. 00:40:08.360 --> 00:40:08.920 And I 00:40:08.920 --> 00:40:09.420 pray that it 00:40:09.420 --> 00:40:09.940 would change 00:40:09.940 --> 00:40:10.119 us. 00:40:10.199 --> 00:40:10.559 I pray that 00:40:10.559 --> 00:40:10.799 it would 00:40:10.799 --> 00:40:11.500 transform our 00:40:11.500 --> 00:40:11.819 hearts. 00:40:12.819 --> 00:40:13.360 That we 00:40:13.360 --> 00:40:13.920 would realize 00:40:13.920 --> 00:40:14.460 that this 00:40:14.460 --> 00:40:15.099 story that 00:40:15.099 --> 00:40:15.460 we're caught 00:40:15.460 --> 00:40:16.099 up into is 00:40:16.099 --> 00:40:16.480 so much 00:40:16.480 --> 00:40:17.000 bigger than 00:40:17.000 --> 00:40:18.420 just some 00:40:18.420 --> 00:40:18.920 of the 00:40:18.920 --> 00:40:19.700 things that 00:40:19.700 --> 00:40:20.900 we often 00:40:20.900 --> 00:40:21.599 get distracted 00:40:21.599 --> 00:40:22.059 with in 00:40:22.059 --> 00:40:22.579 our lives. 00:40:24.079 --> 00:40:24.800 Speak to 00:40:24.800 --> 00:40:25.200 our hearts 00:40:25.200 --> 00:40:25.740 again about 00:40:25.740 --> 00:40:26.280 eternity, 00:40:27.099 --> 00:40:28.000 about your 00:40:28.000 --> 00:40:28.519 glory. 00:40:29.460 --> 00:40:29.760 Reveal 00:40:29.760 --> 00:40:30.440 yourself to 00:40:30.440 --> 00:40:31.380 us and 00:40:31.380 --> 00:40:32.000 lead us, we 00:40:32.000 --> 00:40:32.440 pray, in 00:40:32.440 --> 00:40:32.940 bringing glory 00:40:32.940 --> 00:40:33.559 to your name. 00:40:34.559 --> 00:40:35.300 Thank you for 00:40:35.300 --> 00:40:35.639 Jesus. 00:40:35.639 --> 00:40:37.019 Amen.