I. Knowing the Father Is Supremely Glorified in Saving Us (John 17:1-5)
A. Jesus asks that He enjoy the glory of pre-creation (vv. 1, 5)
B. Jesus has accomplished all that He was given to do (v. 4)
John 17:4 - I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do.
C. Resulting in people being saved (vv. 2-3)
John 17:2-3 - …even as You gave Him authority over all flesh, that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life. This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
II. Knowing the Father Protects Our Faith (John 17:6-16)
A. Jesus explains why His request should be answered (vv. 6-11)
John 17:6b - …and they have kept Your word.
John 17:7-8 - Now they have come to know…and truly understood that I came forth from You, and they believed that You sent Me.
John 17:9 - I ask on their behalf…for they are Yours.
John 17:10 - I have been glorified in them.
John 17:11-12 - I am no longer in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I come to You…While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name which You have given Me; and I guarded them.
B. Jesus fulfilled the Scripture (v. 12b)
John 6:64 - “But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him.
Psalm 41:9-10 - Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me. But You, O Lord, be gracious to me and raise me up, that I may repay them.
C. Jesus prays for their spiritual protection (vv. 13-16)
“What is now made clear is that Jesus’ concern in such a prayer is not that the statistics on faithfulness be preserved, but that his disciples might share his joy.” (D. A. Carson, The Gospel according to John, The Pillar New Testament Commentary, Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; W.B. Eerdmans, 1991, 564)
“Doubtless Christians in John’s day were forced to ponder the implications of this prayer. So also were those who were contemplating the possibility of becoming Christians. The cosmic, spiritual nature of the conflict is laid bare. The followers of Jesus are permitted neither the luxury of compromise with a ‘world’ that is intrinsically evil and under the devil’s power, nor the safety of disengagement. But if the Christian pilgrimage is inherently perilous, the safety that only God himself can provide is assured, as certainly as the prayers of God’s own dear Son will be answered.” (D. A. Carson, The Gospel according to John, The Pillar New Testament Commentary Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; W.B. Eerdmans, 1991, 565)
III. Knowing the Father Grows Us Through His Word (John 17:17-19)
John 17:17 - Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.
“In practical terms, no-one can be ‘sanctified’ or set apart for the Lord’s use without learning to think God’s thoughts after him, without learning to live in conformity with the ‘word’ he has graciously given.” (D. A. Carson, The Gospel according to John, The Pillar New Testament Commentary Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; W.B. Eerdmans, 1991, 566)
IV. Knowing Jesus Calls Us to Spiritual Unity Resulting in Evangelism (John 17:20-23)
A. For unity
John 17:20-21a - I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one…
B. Resulting in evangelism
John 17:21b - …so that the world may believe that You sent Me.
“As the display of genuine love amongst the believers attests that they are Jesus’ disciples (13:34-35), so this display of unity is so compelling, so un-worldly, that their witness as to who Jesus is becomes explainable only if Jesus truly is the revealer whom the Father has sent.” (D. A. Carson, The Gospel according to John, The Pillar New Testament Commentary. Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; W.B. Eerdmans, 1991, 568)
V. Knowing Jesus Will One Day Take Us to Our Heavenly Home with Him (John 17:24-26)
John 17:24 - Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am.
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