Memory Verse:
3 “So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD.”
Deuteronomy 8:3 NKJV
As we continue our series on one-on-one conversations, we now come to a very special and sacred moment—Jesus’ one-on-one conversation with God the Father. Over the past few weeks, we’ve explored how these conversations share common themes and lessons, yet each is unique and personal. From the woman at the well, who uncovered the barriers in her life preventing true worship, to the confrontation with the devil, where we witnessed Jesus’ authority and commitment to glorify the Father, and Nicodemus’ encounter, where his soul was awakened to deeper truths about Jesus—each conversation reveals something profound.
Our Hearts Align with God’s Mission Through Sacred Conversations
Today, however, we are allowed to listen in on an extraordinary conversation. It’s like eavesdropping on a deeply intimate moment between two people. We’ve all been there, standing in line or sitting at a restaurant, overhearing bits of a conversation at the next table. No matter how hard we try, it can be difficult to tune it out. Sometimes, we even find ourselves joining in, like when I was at the OKC art museum a few weeks ago. Thaja and I were there on a Saturday when the noon sirens went off. Two ladies nearby were laughing, sharing stories about how out-of-towners react to the sirens, joking that it’s time for Oklahomans to take their medicine or head to the shelter. I couldn’t help but jump in and share a story of my own—about a Sicilian chef I worked with in Edmond who would run to the walk-in cooler every time he heard the sirens, no matter how many times we assured him nothing was falling from the sky.
In this passage from John 17, we have the privilege of overhearing Jesus’ longest recorded prayer. This is no ordinary moment—it’s a conversation filled with deep, rich theology, yet presented in such simple and sincere language. Jesus is preparing Himself for what is about to happen, and we are witnesses to this holy exchange.
This prayer, the culmination of Jesus’ mission on earth, is divided into five key themes, which will guide our sermon today: A Sacred Moment, Security in God, Sanctify for the Mission, Spiritual Unity, and Seeing Glorify.
The tension in this sermon lies in the contrast between the intimate, sacred conversation Jesus has with God the Father and our own prayer lives. While Jesus prays with full confidence, security, and focus on His mission, we often struggle to find the same connection, clarity, and understanding of our purpose. This conversation challenges us to reflect on how we approach our relationship with God and whether we are fully aligned with His mission and will.
1 Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, 2 “as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. 3 “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. 4 “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. 5 “And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was. 6 “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. 7 “Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. 8 “For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me. 9 “I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. 10 “And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 “Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. 12 “While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 “But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 16 “They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18 “As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 “And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth. 20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 “that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 “And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 “I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. 24 “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. 25 “O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. 26 “And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”
John 17:1-26 NKJV
A Sacred Moment
John 17:1-5
Jesus Lifts His Eyes to Heaven as He Faces The Last Hours
This Conversation Was Not for Relief from Suffering But Instead Glorification for the Father
Eternal Life is Offered because of Jesus Completing the Mission
Security in God
John 17:6-16
Knowing God’s Word Isn’t Knowing Facts; It’s Resting In the Security of the Lord’s Truths
True Security is Found in Who We Know, Not What We Avoid
Jesus Prays for Joy for Those in the World
Sanctify for the Mission
John 17:17-19
The Disciples are Set Apart to Carry On Christ’s Message of Redemption
Jesus spent His earthly ministry teaching the disciples about who God is, and the “I Am” statements in John’s Gospel reveal the depths of that truth:
“I am the bread of life” (John 6:35)
“I am the light of the world” (John 8:12)
“I am the door” (John 10:7)
“I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11, 14)
“I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25)
“I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6)
“I am the vine” (John 15:1, 5)
Jesus was Sanctified for the Cross
Spiritual Unity
John 17:20-23
Jesus Knows Your Name
Spiritual Unity is Revealed Through Kingdom Principles
See His Glory
John 17:24-26
We See Glimpses of His Glory, But His Glory is Yet To Be Revealed
I want to leave you with five questions drawn from the one-on-one conversation we had the privilege to overhear this morning between Jesus and the Father:
When was the last time you lifted your eyes to heaven, acknowledging where your true help comes from?
Are you spending your days praising or complaining to God for His guidance, protection, and encouragement?
Are you living on a mission, set apart for our Lord?
Is the Word of God unifying your life and relationships?
To see the full glory of the Lord, we must believe in Him. Do you believe in Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world?