A Fisherman's Story

A Study in the Gospel of John John 17   by Samuel E. Ward April 22, 2012   Introduction: Review   Part One:  "The Beginning of the Fisherman's Story", John 1:1-18 Part Two:  "The Telling of the Fisherman's Story", John 1:18-12:50 Part Three:  "The Climactic Events of the Fisherman's Story", John 13:1-20:31   I. The Final Meal John, 13:1-17:26 II. The Final Prayer with His Disciples, John 17:1-26   (John 17:1a NIV)  After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:   A. Prayer for Jesus to Be Glorified by the Father, John 17b-5   (John 17b-5 NIV) "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. {2} For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him.  {3} Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. {4} I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. {5} And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.   B. Prayer for the Disciples, John 17:6-19   1. To be saved from that which might cause them to give up on their calling, John 17:6-12   (John 17:6-12 NIV)  "I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word.  {7} Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. {8} For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. {9} I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. {10} All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them.  {11} I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name--the name you gave me--so that they may be one as we are one. {12} 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.   2. To experience the fullness of Christ's joy within them, John 17:13   (John 17:13 NIV)  "I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.   3. To be protected from the evil one, John 17:14-16   (John 17:14-16 NIV)  I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. {15} My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. {16} They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.   4. To be set apart and purified by the word (or Word) for their work in an evil world, John 17:17-19.   (John 17:17-19 NIV)  Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. {18} As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. {19} For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.   C. For All Future Believers, John 17:20-24   1. To experience the same unity with each other and God as  the Father and Son do, John 17:20-23   (John 17:20-24 NIV)  "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, {21} that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. {22} I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: {23} I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.   2. To be with Christ in heaven and see His glory, John 17:24.   (John 17:24 NIV)  "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.   D. A Prayer of Commitment to Continue to Reveal the Father to His disciples, John 17:25-26.   (John 17:25-26 NIV)  "Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. {26} 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."   Conclusion   1. We should appreciate that the ultimate purpose of Jesus' life and ministry was to glorify the Father by completing the task of bringing eternal life to those who had been entrusted to His care.  We should also understand His desire to be released from the limitations that had been placed upon Him when He came to earth.  He was homesick for His Father and the glory they shared together since eternity past.   2. We should appreciate the prayer Jesus made on behalf of His disciples that the Father protect them from that which might cause them to give up their calling.  He also asked for their protection against the forces of Satan which would form against them and the hatred of the world which would seek to destroy them. 3. We should appreciate Christ's prayer that the disciples might experience the full ministry of the Word to set them apart for the purpose of effective ministry in a world hostile toward God. 4. We should appreciate Christ's desire for His disciples to know that the outcome for all those who persevere in their trials to the end is complete and total joy 5. We should be moved by Christ's desire for all believers of every generation of the church is that they dwell in unity of love for each other and purpose in ministry.  6. We should be stirred by the desire of Jesus' heart to one day to reveal His fullness and glory to all who have trusted in Him throughout the ages and have them live with Him forever. 7. For Jesus, His ministry has been all about including His disciples in the love and fellowship that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have enjoyed for all eternity.