"THE GOSPEL OF JOHN"

Father...Glorify Your Son (17:1-5)

INTRODUCTION
  1. In a previous lesson we stated that the prayer of Jesus in John 17 is "The Greatest Prayer Ever Prayed", noting four reasons...
    1. The Person who prayed the prayer
    2. The occasion that demanded the prayer
    3. The contents of the prayer
    4. The victory in Jesus that it reveals
  2. We now begin to take a closer look at this prayer, beginning with the petition Jesus makes for Himself in verses 1-5 and asking...
    1. What is Jesus asking for?
    2. Why should God grant His request?
    3. Was Jesus' prayer answered?

[In regards to the first question...]

  1. WHAT IS JESUS ASKING FOR?
    1. THE PETITION EXPRESSED...
      1. "Father...glorify Your Son" - Jn 17:1
      2. "Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was." - Jn 17:5
    2. THE PETITION EXAMINED...
      1. glorify - "to exalt to a glorious rank or condition" - Thayer
      2. Jesus asks to be restored to His state of glory He had before the world existed - Jn 17:5
      3. His request implies two great truths concerning Jesus:
        1. His pre-existence, as foretold in prophecy- cf. Mic 5:2
        2. His Deity, for God shares His glory with no one - cf. Isa 42:8
      4. Overhearing this prayer, we appreciate why John began his gospel with these words:
        1. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God... He was in the beginning with God." - Jn 1:1a,2
        2. "...and the Word was God." - Jn 1:1b
      5. Thus Jesus asks the Father to reinstate Him to the glorious position He had before coming to earth

      [This leads us to our second question...]

  2. WHY SHOULD GOD GRANT HIS REQUEST?
    1. "THAT YOUR SON ALSO MAY GLORIFY YOU..."
      1. Jesus desires to glorify His Father - Jn 17:1
        1. Thus His prayer is not purely personal
        2. He wants to reciprocate by utilizing His glory to honor the Father
      2. Jesus provides an important example in regards to our own prayers
        1. Do we ask for blessings that we might better serve God and do His will?
        2. Many prayers go unanswered because they are for selfish reasons - cf. Jm 4:3
        3. Our requests should always be with the Father's will in mind - cf. 1Jn 5:14
    2. "AS YOU HAVE GIVEN HIM AUTHORITY OVER ALL FLESH..."
      1. The Father had already given Jesus 'authority' - Jn 17:2
        1. Authority to give eternal life - Jn 17:2 (more in our next study)
        2. Authority to forgive sins - cf. Mt 9:6
        3. Authority to execute judgment - cf. Jn 5:26-27
        4. Indeed, all authority in heaven and on earth - cf. Mt 28:18
      2. In view of such authority, it is only proper to receive glory to accompany it
    3. "I HAVE GLORIFIED YOU ON EARTH..."
      1. Jesus had glorified His Father on earth - Jn 17:4
        1. By making His Father's will and work His chief delight - cf. Jn 4:34
        2. He came from heaven for this very purpose - cf. Jn 6:38
        3. By His life and His words Jesus always glorified His Father
      2. Again, Jesus provides an example regarding our own prayers
        1. Do we base our requests solely on promises of what we will do?
        2. Or do we seek to do His will first, and then ask God to fulfill what He has promised?
    4. "I HAVE FINISHED THE WORK..."
      1. He had finished the work given to Him by His Father - Jn 17:4
        1. True, His greatest work (dying for our sins) had not yet been done - cf. Jn 19:30
        2. But its accomplishment was so certain, Jesus could speak of it as done
      2. Jesus illustrates the proper place prayer should occupy in our lives
        1. Not something used only in the case of emergency
        2. But complementing a life of devotion and service dedicated to glorify God!

        [We now come to our third and final question...]

  3. WAS JESUS' PRAYER ANSWERED?
    1. YES, BY MAKING HIS DEATH SIGNIFICANT...!
      1. The significance of Jesus' death gives Him great honor
      2. As expressed in the book of Revelation - cf. Re 5:9-14
    2. YES, BY RAISING HIM FROM THE DEAD...!
      1. God declared Jesus to be the Son of God with power - Ro 1:4
      2. And then gave Him glory - 1Pe 1:21
    3. YES, BY EXALTING HIM TO THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD...!
      1. God seated Him at His right hand, far above all things - Ep 1:20-22; 1Pe 3:22
      2. Jesus now reigns with authority over the nations - Re 2:26-27; 3:21
    4. YES, THOUGH MORE GLORY IS TO COME...
      1. When Jesus returns, He will be glorified in His saints - 2 Th 1:10
      2. He will sit on His throne of glory, as He judges the world - Mt 25:31-32
CONCLUSION
  1. The words of Paul confirm that God has glorified His Son - cf. Php 2:9-11
    1. Having highly exalted Him, giving Him the name which is above every name
    2. At which every knee will bow, and every tongue confess that He is Lord
  2. But we do well to also remember...
    1. Jesus not only prayed "Father...Glorify Your Son" - Jn 17:1,5
    2. Jesus also prayed that we might behold His glory! - Jn 17:24
    3. Jesus desires that we share in His glory! - cf. Re 2:26-27; 3:21
  3. From these two passages in the book of Revelation...
    1. We know that God has answered Jesus' prayer to be glorified
    2. We know that God will answer Jesus' prayer that we may behold His glory!

Do you want to participate in that glory? Confess and obey Jesus as Lord (cf. Ac 2:36-38), and then "hold fast" till He comes (cf. Re 2:25)...!