Andrew Fountain - The Great Prayer of Jesus

Sermon notes - The Great Prayer of Jesus

• Just before Jesus went to the cross, we read the last prayer of Jesus recorded in John’s gospel.
  • It is also the longest and most intimate of all his prayers
  • (The other gospels contain a few words spoken by Jesus in the Garden and on the cross, but this is the last full prayer).

1. What Jesus is most passionate about

John 17:18-26

18. Just as you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world.
19. And I dedicate myself on their behalf, so that they too may be totally dedicated
20. I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,
21. that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you.
    I ask that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
22. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one,
23. I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.
     
24. Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, so that they can see my glory that you gave me because you loved me before the creation of the world.
25. O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you sent me.
26. I made known your name to them, and I will continue to make it known, so that the love you have loved me with may be in them, and I may be in them.

John 13

34. A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
35. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

based on NET Bible

2. The reason for this

• But something cosmic is going on here
  • Before mankind sinned, there was no shame

• What is going on here? Why are they ashamed?
  • They are married to each other! and if anyone had perfect bodies it was them
  • So why shame?
• Something bigger is going on
  • Not merely wanting to cover themselves physically
• What if all your deepest thoughts were easily visible to everyone?
• Here is the foundation of my message today:

• He is then going to hold out this new-creation to the world and say
  • “See, this is what is coming. You can be part of it!”
• Similar passage in 1 John that makes the connection with the New Creation

1 John 4:7-13

7. Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.
8. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
9. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.
10. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
11. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
12. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
13. By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.
    …
16. So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

based on NET Bible

• Example of early church archeology comparing Christian meeting place with that of other religions of the time.
• It’s interesting to follow the theme of shame through the Bible
  • Jesus did this by taking our shame on himself

• How Jesus has taken our shame
  • Has he taken yours?
• Notice reference to the Holy Spirit—this brings us to the third point:
• But are we only to love other Christians?
  • Of course we are to love all, as Jesus loved all
  • But we cannot have the deep and intimate love that comes from the unity of the Holy Spirit if they don’t share in the Spirit

3. How we get there: The Spirit

• Not time to look at all the verses but Jesus’s promise of the Spirit is closely connected with the new commandment—to love one another

• In Galatians this is very practical:

Galatians 4&5

22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23. gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.
24. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
26. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
1. Brothers and sisters, if a person is discovered in some sin, you who are spiritual restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness. Pay close attention to yourselves, so that you are not tempted too.
2. Carry one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

based on NET Bible

• Example: My family effectively homeless 30 yrs ago
• Example: J.G. Machen bearing the burden of the alchoholic
• You can read a great article on these verses by Don Garlington
• Is Christianity known for unity and close-knit love
  • Does this grieve you?
  • I believe God is doing a work in these days
  • Before he returns, we will see maturity, through the Spirit
• Why has this not happened?
  • One of the reasons is that it is not preached. It is not given high prominence
    • We need to see it as #1 on Jesus’ agenda!
  • A second reason is that it’s not very ‘sexy’
    • But Jesus told us to take up our cross and follow him?
    • The Old Testament said “love your neighbour as yourself”
      • But Jesus said “love like I have loved”
  • None of us naturally want to devote our lives to dying to ourselves and lifting others up
    • We want an exciting call to be powerful men and women of valour!

• You can’t do it, but the power within you can!
  • Ask God that you might walk in his Spirit!
  • Ask what you can do to build unity

Updated on 2017-08-01 by Andrew Fountain