The Real Lord’s Prayer

Sermon preached by Pastor C. John Steer

Autumn Ridge Church, Rochester, MN

August 14 & 15, 2008

 

 

Scripture:  John 17:1-26

No. 20:     John’s Gospel

 

 

PRAYER

Father in these next few moments, allow us to have a glimpse of your glory that we in turn may glorify you.  Amen

 

* * *

If you want to learn about swimming look at this man.

Michael Phelps is the greatest swimmer in history and has won more Olympic Gold Medal than other human being.

 

But if you want to learn about praying then listen to this man.

Jesus can speak to the Father like no one else.

 

Today we are going to enjoy a master class on prayer from the master himself. So please turn to John chapter 17 in your Bible and the message outline as we listen in to the divine conversation of the Trinity.

 

This is the real Lord’s Prayer.

We usually think of the Lord’s Prayer as the one that begins, “Our Father, who art in heaven.”  But that prayer should more accurately be called “The Disciples Prayer.” 

 

For although Jesus taught it he could never pray it.

He could not say “Forgive us our debts,” for he had none that needed forgiving.

John 17 is the real Lord’s Prayer.

 

It has also been described as the High Priestly Prayer for here Jesus is interceding for us as our High Priest before the throne of his Father.

The job of the High Priest was to atone for the sins of the people and represent them before God. 

That is exactly what Jesus is about to do as he goes to the cross.

 

Down through the centuries Christians have found this prayer a source of tremendous comfort.

Martin Luther said of this prayer, “It is so deep, so rich, so wide, no one can fathom it.”

Archbishop William Temple described it as, “Perhaps the most

sacred passage in the four gospels.”

The Scottish Reformer John Knox had this prayer read to him every day during his final sickness and in the closing moments of his life he testified that these verses were a great source of strength.

 

John tells us, “Jesus looked toward heaven and prayed.”

(v 1)   This was a common posture for prayer among Jews.

They stood upright with their eyes open.

What a lesson to the disciples to see their Lord in his greatest hour of need pray to his Father.

 

If you are trouble today follow Jesus’ example.

If you are fearful of the future turn to your Heavenly Father in prayer.

You can stand or sit or lie down.

You can have your eyes open or closed.

It doesn’t matter, just pray.

 

Then listen to how Jesus’ addresses God.

He calls him “Father” six times as well as (v 1) “Holy Father” (v 11) and “Righteous Father.” (v 25)

 

The way we picture God will determine our level of intimacy with him.

If we see God as a judge we will see ourselves as a defendant.

If we see God as a teacher we will see ourselves as a student.

If we see God as a general we will see ourselves as soldier.

If we see God as a king we will see ourselves as a subject.

 

None of these pictures encourages intimacy.

They are all biblical pictures and contribute to our knowledge of God but we will find it very difficult to pray honestly and openly to a judge, teacher, general, or king.

 

But Father, that’s different.

This is the main image of God presented in the New Testament and that is why Jesus tells us, “When you pray say ‘Father’.” (Luke 11:2)

 

For some of us to picture a father is not helpful. Maybe we were abandoned or abused by our father. But if that is the case we must remember that while our earthly father failed us our Heavenly Father will not, for he is a “Holy Father” and a “righteous Father” who will never abandoned his children.

 

Do you know God as your Father?

You may wonder how you can enter into that relationship.
John’s gospel tells us, “To all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”(John 1:12)

Jesus’ prayer is divided into three parts.

First, JESUS PRAYS FOR HIMSELF (VS 1-5)

 

This is the shortest part of the prayer.  You learn more about a person by hearing them pray than hearing them preach. 

Jesus’ prayer tells us a lot about himself.

 

First we discover He is the Lord of History.

Jesus begins, “The time has come.” (v 1)

He is referring to the period of time marked off on God’s calendar when the Savior of the world would die on the cross of Calvary for us.

 

“The time has come,” acknowledges that God is in charge of history. History is not an accident. It is going in a positive direction.  History is energized, planned, mapped out and chartered by a sovereign God who runs the universe.

History is occurring precisely the way God planned.

He knows exactly what will happen and he chooses the hour of each event to take place.

 

It is exciting to contemplate that God is writing history.

This gives us great security.

God planned for sin to run its course and then destroy it.

He designed for his redeemed remnant to come to him and they do. 

 

Henry Ford may have said, “History is bunk.”

But that is not true. History is the materializing of God’s will.

That is why history is one of the most thrilling and relevant studies for in it we see the hand of God working down through the centuries.

 

Jesus is the Lord of Glory.

Jesus prays, “Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.” (v 1)   Jesus’ desire in life is glory.

He goes on to say, “Now Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.”

(v 5)

 

Now what is Jesus asking for here?

There is a Greek and a Hebrew meaning to this word “glory”.

In Greek the word “glory” means reflecting character and it is invisible.

In Hebrew “glory” means reflecting light and it is therefore visible.

 

Before Jesus came to earth he had both invisible and visible glory.

He reflected the character of God and he reflected the shining light of God’s holiness.

 

Jesus laid aside the light of glory when he came to earth but he kept the glory of his character.

That is why he was able to say, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.”  (John 14:9)

Occasionally the light of his glory was restored. 

 

It happened on the Mount of Transfiguration when Peter, James and John saw Jesus’ clothes become dazzling white.

 

Now at the end of his earthly ministry on the verge of his crucifixion and resurrection Jesus prays that he might again enjoy this visible glory in the presence of his Father.

He needed this motivation to endure the crucifixion.

 

He knew that on the cross he would even lose his invisible glory

because he would take our sin upon himself and the glory of his unblemished character would be extinguished.

 

Did the Father answer this prayer?

Yes he did.

Stephen saw it at his martyrdom.

John saw it his revelation on Patmos.

They saw Jesus on the Father’s right hand radiating the glory of God.

 

How does this petition affect us?

We share Christ’s invisible glory.

To the degree that we embody Christ’s character we possess his glory. That is what Jesus means when he says, “Glory has come to me through them.” (v 10) 

He adds, “I have given them the glory that you gave me.” (v 22)

 

The wonderful truth is that we are being changed from one degree of glory to another.

Not only that but we shall one day see and share in Christ’s visible glory.

For Jesus goes on to pray, “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.” (v 24)

 

Just think of it. We shall behold Christ’s visible glory.

And we can be filled with invisible glory now as we draw near to him and allow our lives to reflect his character.

 

As we continue to listen to Jesus pray we discover that He is the Lord of Life.

“You granted your Son authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him.”

(v 2)

 

Jesus came to give life to dead people.  

The next verse tells us how.

“This is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” (v 3)

Jesus has authority to give this life to all who believe in him.

 

Second, JESUS PRAYS FOR HIS DISCIPLES. (vs 6-19)

He tells his Father, “You gave them to me.” (v 6)

This phrase is repeated six times in the chapter.

We belong to the Lord Jesus by creation, by redemption, and by donation.

 

This may surprise us. Perhaps we think of giving ourselves to God rather than the other way around.

But the wonder is that before we found God, God found us.

While we were yet sinners Christ died for us.

Before we gave ourselves to Christ the Father gave us to the Son.

 

Because his disciples are precious to Jesus he asks his Father to bless them in three specific ways.

First, he prays for their protection.

“Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name.”

(v 11)

 

His followers need to be protected because they face spiritual opposition.

The desertion of Judas makes it clear they are in a real battle.

Jesus acknowledges, “While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that scripture would be fulfilled.” (v 12)

There is both the mystery of election and reprobation contained in that statement.

 

It is lovely to remember that we are protected by the power of God’s name and even now Jesus is interceding at his Father’s right hand for us.

 

Next, Jesus asks for their joy.

“I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.”

(v 13)

 

The Old Testament prophets understood that joy is a mark of the kingdom. This joy is essential for Jesus is not taking us out of the

world but rather sending us into the world.

“As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.” (v 18)

Our Christian witness won’t amount to much if we joyless people.

 

Then, Jesus prays for their sanctity.

“Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” (v 17)

To sanctify means to make holy or to set aside for some sacred and special use.

 

Sometimes we struggle with God’s will for our life.

But God’s will is very simple.

Paul tells us, “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified.” (1 Thessalonians 4:3)

 

But how do we become sanctified? Through the word of God.

As we read it, it changes us. The Bible not only gives inspiration but transformation for it is a living book inspired by a living Lord.

 

When you go to your small group Bible study or the women’s Bible study, or Top Gun or Precepts, or the medical spouses Bible study, or community Bible study then Jesus’ prayer is being answered in your life.  You are being sanctified by the truth.

 

Third, JESUS PRAYS FOR US. (vs 20-26)

He intercedes for all who in every age will believe in him.

“My prayer is not for them alone (that is the disciples). I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message (that’s us). (v 20)

So what does Jesus want for us?

 

Jesus prays for our unity.

Listen to this, “I pray .  . . that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you . . . .

I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one:  I in them and you in me.

May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” (21-23)

 

What does this mean?

It does not mean that all Christians are the same or that we will agree on every issue.

God has placed us in various cultural settings.

Therefore the way we express our faith will differ.

 

God does not call us to a unity of style but to a unity of purpose and that purpose is expressed in his prayer.

“May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” (v 20)

 

Some have understood Jesus’ prayer for unity as a call to end all Christian denominations.  But that would be unwise.

God can and does use those differences. 

 

The Salvation Army Church in Rochester can reach people that we may not.  The Pentecostals will appeal to a different group than the Presbyterians.

The important thing is that every church reaches its full redemptive potential. It takes everybody to reach everybody.

 

Now I don’t want to minimize the doctrinal differences that do exist between some churches. However, it is important that we recognize that the members of those churches who belong to Christ are on our brothers and sisters.

I give thanks for the wonderful spirit of unity that does exist among the Christ-honoring churches of Rochester.

 

In the Evangelical Pastors Fellowship we often say there is only one church in Rochester. It is the church of Jesus Christ and in fundamental issues we are united.

 

Then Jesus prays for our usefulness.

“Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me.

I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

(v 25-26)

 

Here is what it means to be spiritually useful.

Jesus has made himself known to us that we may make him known to others.

The Father’s love for his Son is extended to us in order that we may be a living illustration of the love of Christ to the world.

May Jesus prayer be answered in our lives this week.

 

 

PRAYER

Heavenly Father we are so grateful that your Son prayed for us before he went to the cross. We rejoice that he now sits on your right hand and continues his intercession for his people.

We are thankful that he desires that we should be protected with power, filled with joy and sanctified with truth.

 

In the strength of your spirit we are united and useful.

We thank you for the measure of unity we enjoy in our church and we pray that it may deepen and increase.