Bible Text: John 17:1-8, 20-24 |  

“Good Night, Sleep Tight,” John 17

Introduction:  The high priestly prayer as time runs out—“Father, the hour has come.”

I.        Glorify

A.     (v1) “Glorify the Son so that the Son may glorify you.”

1.      John 1:14, the Shekinah, when the secret identity is unmasked

2.      (v5) “…glorify me in your presence with the glory I had…before the world existed.”

B.     (v4) “I glorified you by finishing the work you gave me.”

1.      The incarnation and cross?  Proclaiming the Kingdom?

2.      (v6) “I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world.”

3.      John 14:8, “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”

II.       Sanctify

A.     (v17) “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”

1.      (v18) “As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.”

2.      Sanctify means to set apart for God’s use—Missions (service to the world)

B.     Sanctified leads to vision

1.      The eye doctor’s impact on my world

2.      Matthew 28:18-20, “All authority has been given to me.  Therefore, go and make disciples.”

3.      What the Samaritan saw that others wouldn’t [Luke 10]

III.      Protect

A.     (v11) “Father, protect them in your name that you have given me.”

1.      Unity:  “So that they may be one as we are one.”

2.      United:  (v21) “AS YOU, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us.”

B.     (v15) “I am not asking you to take them out of the world…”

1.      (v15) “…I ask you to protect them from the evil one.”

2.      Lies, deception, accusation, judgment, temptation, and other tools in the Devil’s arsenal

3.      Let us not blame the Devil and the enemies of Christ.  We are the church vandals.

Conclusion:   (v3) Typical John insertion: “This is eternal life…”

Communion:  Glorified, sanctified and protected by the work of Jesus for the work of Jesus