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. In Jesus’ Final Prayer, our Lord repeatedly refers to a group of specific individuals whom the Father has given to him (17:2, 6, 9, 12, 24; see also 6:37–39, 44). He prays only for present and future believers, not for the world. Jesus prays only for his disciples (not the world) for three reasons: (17: 6-11a)

• They belong to the Father.
• They bring him glory.
• He is about to leave them.

2. Jesus’ five petitions: (17:11b-26)

• That God would keep Jesus’ followers safe.
• That Jesus’ followers may be one.
• That God would sanctify Jesus’ followers.
• That Jesus’ followers would experience the full measure of his own joy.
• That Jesus’ followers will be with him forever.

This sermon owes a debt to “Love and the Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern World”; “The Farewell Discourse and Final Prayer of Jesus”, by D.A. Carson; and “Predestination”, by Andrew David Naselli