May 16, 1999... The Lord's Prayer... John 17

By Ronald E. George Jr.

This message is to show that all Jesus did was done in obedience to the Father, and he did this in our place. He did for us what we couldn't do for ourselves. He was our substitute. What does the Lord's Prayer say to us. This is Jesus' prayer in the garden before his betrayal and arrest. This would be his final prayer in the garden before his crucifixion.

Scripture Text: John 17:1-11

John 17:1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: 2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. 4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. 5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. 6 I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. 7 Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. 8 For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received [them], and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. 9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. 10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. 11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we [are]. crucifixion.

    There is a fantasy story that recounts the return of Jesus to glory after his time on earth. He bore the marks of his cruel cross and shameful death. The angel Gabriel approached him and asked, "Master, do they know all about how you loved them and what you did for them?"
"No," replied Jesus, "not yet. Right now only a handful of people in Palestine know."
Gabriel was perplexed. "Then what have you done to let everyone know about your love for them?"
Jesus said, "I've asked Peter, James, John, and a few others to tell people about me. Those who are told will tell others, and my story will be spread throughout the earth. Ultimately, all mankind will know about my love."
Gabriel frowned, "But what if they fail? Do you have another plan?"
Jesus answered, "No. I'm counting on them."

This is what he prayed…he prayed, lived, and died in our place.

1. That he would glorify/honor God. He honored God by his obedience to the Father's Will.

So that we might be honored by God.

John 17:1 (KJS) These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:

A few hours before Dwight L. Moody died, he caught a glimpse of the glory awaiting him. Awakening from a sleep, he said, "Earth recedes, heaven opens before me. If this is death, it is sweet! There is no valley here. God is calling me, and I must go!" His son who was standing by his bedside said, "No, no father, you are dreaming."

"No," said Mr. Moody, "I am not dreaming; I have been within the gates; I have seen the children's faces." A short time elapsed and then, following what seemed to the family to be the death struggle, he spoke again: "This is my triumph; this my coronation day! It is glorious!"
  1. He had power over all flesh so that he could give eternal life to all who believe.

    2. So that we might have eternal life and hope beyond. He gave power to the powerless.

    2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.

    Man can give medicine when sickness comes,
    Food when hunger comes,
    Help when weakness comes,
    Love when loneliness comes.
    But when death comes, man can give
    Only sympathy, only compassion,
    Never the gift of life.
    Only God can do that.
  2. He came that we might know the one true God and Jesus who thou hast sent.

    3. So that we may know the true God and have opportunity to have him.

    3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent

  3. He had glorified the Father and finished the work that he was sent to accomplish.

    4. So that we may have salvation which is something we can't do for ourselves.

    4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

  4. He asked the father to glorify him with the glory that he had before he created the world. God glorified him by raising him from the dead.

So that we may be glorified and raised from the dead to heaven. .

5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was

6. I have manifested thy name. He made God known to the people.

So that we may be his own people that come to him for salvation.

6. I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word

  1. I gave the word of God to them.

    2. So that we may opportunity to opportunity to believe in God and receive Him.

    7 Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. 8 For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received [them], and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.

  2. He prayed for us because we are his.

    3. So that we may glorify/honor him in this world the way he honored the Father.

    9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. 10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.

  3. He asked the Father to keep us through his own name and the authority that it commands.

So that we may be one as he and the Father are one. In that way he is glorified.

11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we [are].

In one of my favorite Peanuts cartoons, Lucy demands that Linus change TV channels and then threatens him with her fist if he doesn't. "What makes you think you can walk right in here and take over?" asks Linus.

"These five fingers," says Lucy. "Individually they're nothing but when I curl them together like this into a single unit, they form a weapon that is terrible to behold."

"Which channel do you want?" asks Linus.

Turning away, he looks at his fingers and says, "Why can't you guys get organized like that?"

We can through him.

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