IX. The Sermon: The Prayer of Jesus – Rev. Kyle McClellan, Senior Minister, Grace Presbyterian Church, The Sermon Passage: John 17:1-5

The Big Idea: Jesus accomplished His Father’s eternal plan, reversing the effects of the Fall and calling a people who will belong to him forever.

Exposition

I. The punchline (v. 1).
THE hour has come. All through John we see that Jesus’ hour had not yet come, and yet in this passage the hour does come.

This is the fulfillment of God’s eternal plan. Everything since Gensis 3 will be reversed and restored in and through Christ.

Christ has been given authority over ALL flesh. Where do I stand in relationship to the one who has all authority over all flesh including me? Do we shake our fist at God? Does God have to answer to us? Is that how we live?

II. A perfect reflection (vv. 1, 5; cf: Philippians 2:8-11).
Jesus is the perfect miror un-muddied by sin reflecting back to God the greatness of his character. This is why we were made – to bear his image and reflect his glory. Jesus does this perfectly!

Philippians says Jesus’ glory is so magnificent that EVERY knee will bow to him one day. How did he get there? How does Jesus get glory? Through humility and obedience.

One of the things it means that we are sons of Adam and daughters of Eve, we are not humble and obedient. Satan’s lie to Eve was not to submit to God but to be his equal instead. Whereas Adam believed this lie too that God can’t be trusted, Jesus perfectly believed the Love of his father and perfectly, humbly obeys!

III. Know the source of eternal life (vv. 2, 4).
“Given or give” are two repeated words in this passage.

A. It’s a gift of the God the Father (v. 2).
Eternal life comes as a gift – you don’t earn it. There is work to be done to receive eternal life. However, even that work is not yours – it is Christ’s work on your behalf – see verse 4.

B. Accomplished via Christ’s work (v. 4).
The source of eternal life is God giving you to Christ. At this point, Christianity is different from every other religion in the world. Hinduism, Budhism, and religion in general says if we do these things, then God will find us acceptable. But the gospel says it is not about our work ethic but our resting – resting in Christ and his perfect work counting instead of our lousy, never measuring up works.

IV. Know the nature of eternal life (v. 3).
What is eternal life? Is it harps on a cloud? No. Eternal life IS KNOWING God!! This is not knowing simply about him nor knowing him as a means to an end – there is no greater end! It is knowing Him!

The passage
1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.