John 17:1-5

Big Picture: “In some respects, Jesus’ prayer is a summary of the entire Fourth Gospel to this point. Its principal themes include Jesus’ obedience to his Father, the glorification of his Father through his death/exaltation, the revelation of God in Christ Jesus, the choosing of the disciples out of the world, their mission to the world, their unity modelled on the unity of the Father and the Son, and their final destiny in the presence of the Father and the Son. Far from being gloomy and morose, the prayer adopts a long-range view which expects ultimate victory, even while presupposing conflict.”  (D.A. Carson)

1. The burden of Jesus’ prayer: his glorification (1b, 5) 

• “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.… And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began” (17:1b, 5).

2. The rationale for the prayer (2-4)

• The reason why Jesus is granted this sweeping authority over all people is that he may give eternal life to all those the Father has given him.
• The way in which sinners come to have eternal life is by coming to know God by coming to know Jesus.

*This sermon owes much to the book, “The Farewell Discourse and Final Prayer of Jesus” by D.A. Carson.