Title: Prayer to Glorify God
Contents
Jesus finished his farewell sermon to his disciples in John 13-16 and now he prayed. In today's text, John 17, the high priestly prayer of Jesus is recorded at length. On the night that Jesus was arrested by the Roman soldiers, at the end of his public ministry, he prayed to God the Father, and this prayer is called the high priest's prayer.
Question 1: When did Jesus glorify God? (verse 1)
Answer: It is when Jesus died on the cross.
(1) Prayer can only be done by those who respect and be humble at the same time. All of us cannot do anything without God's help and care. God gives grace to the humble (James 4:6).
The object of prayer is God. Jesus prays now, calling him “Father.” When we pray, the most important posture is to pray by calling our Father first. It is wrong to pray without calling the person to whom the prayer is being received. The name that can be called only when there is a life relationship is ‘Father’. No one who was not born of the father can call the father. You cannot call God Father without being born again. Also, the name that can be called only when there is a personal relationship is Father. When you call your father, you should not call him as the one who can do whatever your children want you to do. If you worship God like an idol, your personal relationship will be destroyed.
(2) The 'time' when Jesus glorifies the Father refers to the time when he took up the cross for redemption. This is because, on the cross, we humans are born again from sinners who cannot avoid judgment into the glorious children of God. Therefore, if we want to glorify God now, our lives depend on how we spread the grace of Jesus on the cross to save souls. As Christians, we glorify God when we live a life of carrying the cross like Jesus.
Question 2: For what does Jesus intercede? (verses 2-3)
Answer: (1) God gave Jesus the authority to rule over all people (verse 2). This authority is the authority for salvation. He was given the authority for the purpose of gaining eternal life. Who are all the people the Father gave to the Son? Those who are destined to be saved (verse 6).
(2) What is eternal life? (verse 3). We must believe that 'God' and 'Jesus Christ' are one personal in order to receive eternal life.
⑶ Do you remember the words of John 3:16? These words about salvation are familiar and touching to any believer. However, it can be said that the ultimate purpose and goal of salvation are not yet explained. So, if you do not properly understand the explanation of eternal life in verse 3, you will not have the assurance of salvation. God is the Creator. And he is the self-existent who reveals God through Jesus Christ. Eternal life requires believing that God is unique. Moreover, we must know the Son Jesus Christ, whom God has sent. The condition of eternal life is to believe that there is no other name by which we can be saved but Jesus.
Question 3: How is Jesus sure of how to glorify God? (Verses 4-8)
Answer: (1) Jesus was convinced that carrying out the mission God commanded was to glorify God (verse 4).
(2) Jesus was convinced that when he was with God, he glorified God (v. 5).
⑶ Jesus was convinced that it was the Father's job to reveal the Father's name (verses 6-8).
Question 4: For whom did Jesus pray (verses 9-10)
Answer: (1) Jesus offers his intercession for those who believe in him (verse 9).
(2) God prayed to be glorified through His children (verse 10).
Decision message:
Prayer has the power to glorify God. Because prayer has the power to make God's work. We need to pray when our country is in trouble. Our nation is in a difficult situation right now. We must remember that this land was polluted because we did not repent of the sins of Japanese imperial worship. Even though it has become a land full of a spirit of division, it is because of our unrepentant sins of idolatry.