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This series ‘Pictures of Jesus’ has been like looking
through a photograph album. Though we looked at the Easter story in April the
story hasn’t finished - we’ve missed a lot on the way. But I hope we’ve got a
picture of a Jesus on a mission - a mission to save and change lives.
Jesus’ prayer in John 17, in the upper room with his
followers, reveals 3 concerns -
·
For
Himself - that He may be glorified - fulfil His work and be received back as
before.
·
For
His disciples - protection in the world He sends them into.
·
For
us - as we continue the ministry started by the disciples.
The essential point to his prayer is that the disciples -
and we - should be able to withstand the pressures and stresses of witnessing
in the world.
John 17:11 I will
remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming
to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name. 14 I have given
them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any
more than I am of the world.15 My prayer is not
that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.16 They are not
of the world, even as I am not of it..18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the
world.
He’d dearly like to keep them and us out of the problems of
the world, but He knows that isn’t the way for spreading the news of salvation
around the world and growing a family of his people in the world.
We must be in the world to tell the world - as Jesus had to
be in the world to save the world!
The disciples are now Apostles - sent ones - sent as Jesus
was, sent as angels are. Those who come after are no less sent into the world
with His message.
We’re sent to bear the message of hope in a hopeless world.
Sent to bear the message of t
Sent with the compassion of Christ
in a cold, hating world.
Sent with the healing power of
Christ in a sick and diseased world.
Sent with the light of Christ in a dark and blacked out
world.
Those who have been changed are sent to change the world.
However, He can see there are problems ahead. There’s a
difference between managing a group of 12 or even 500 in one city and leading a
flock of millions spread through the world!
The last part of His prayer encircles all of us now - this
is his heart’s desire for us.
There are 3 desires he has for us…
Glory & Light, Unity, Love
1. Glory
Jesus tells His Father that he has given us His Glory! It
was part of His mission!
Amazing! - To give sinful people His Glory! Do we deserve
it? - No! Might we deserve it? Never!
We lost the glory of true humanity when we sinned - rebelled
- we never lost the image of God but here Jesus tells us not only that he gives
us a human glory - that comes with the cleansing and forgiveness of the cross,
but more - Christ’s own Glory!
Why did he want to do that?
Jesus told us that He is the light of the world, a light
that the world can’t put out.
John
Jesus also tells us that we are the light of the world! Matt
If we are to be His light in the world the light has to
shine from inside, not with a light of our own, only as the glory of Jesus
shines in us, the Holy Spirit - Christ’s living presence filling us!
On the first day of our holiday I lost our car key. One
evening I cleaned the car. I was struck by the absurdity of cleaning a car that
was basically useless to us.
But I was also struck by the absurdity of spending a lot of
time projecting a nice clean image as a Christian without the glory of Jesus
inside!
Paul talks about those who have a form of godliness but
deny its power.
The glory of Jesus is absent! They look clean and shiny but
there’s no power, no reality to their faith.
They’re like people who’d sell you a ticket to the
The glory of Jesus is the key to living for Jesus in the
world! - at home, university, work. The glory of Jesus
within will shine and equip you to be his.
Jesus prays that we may see His glory and be full of the
glory, ‘I have given them the glory that you gave me… (v22) That’s why He is so
concerned that we should have the Holy Spirit, the counsellor indwelling - the
Spirit of Christ Himself, bringing the glory of Christ to shine out to the
world.
Try living as a Christian without the Spirit of Christ! It’s
like polishing up a car when you’ve lost the key!
2. Unity
The glory is given to equip us to shine with a light not our
own and to keep us united. Jn 17:22
We confuse unity with all kinds of other things, especially uniformity
and agreement. Jesus would have known that his followers are going to be
different, have different expressions of their worship and faith. They’d
also have different views – look at the 12!
Jesus prayed that we may be united - a sense of oneness
patterned on the close and intimate unity of the
Father, Son and Spirit - 22-23.
There are disagreements in this church and there is not uniformity! I
rejoice in that! Jesus wants to bring our diversity and gifts together for His
glory. Unity comes in acceptance of one another.
Unity is expressed in our moving forward instead of fighting
one another because we feel threatened!
Unity is expressed in us being of one mind that we
have in Christ Jesus, that expresses itself in love,
support and a desire to spread the Name of Christ! We disagree on many matters
- we wouldn’t be free human beings if we didn’t - but we also have one mind in
Christ Jesus! - “to let the world know that you sent
me and have loved them even as you loved me.”
I call on each one in this church to ‘embrace’ each other - the glory of Jesus being the
motivating force and the prime purpose!
There’s no need for defensiveness or pride. - Why? Because
of the Love of Christ within!
3. Love
Jesus prays that the love between Father and Son may be the
love experienced - and demonstrated - by us! John 17:26
It’s all part of the work of the Spirit. Bringing His
presence into our lives, - His glory that shines so clear and bright, His love that reaches out, uniting our hearts to Him and to
each other.
John discovered the heart of God’s love for us - His love
is the measure of our love for each other - 1 John
We didn’t just disagree we were in rebellion! But He loved
us and gave himself!
We weren’t just different we were alien! But He died for us!
If He did that then we can give ourselves for those we
disagree with.
When we clamour against each other we grieve the Holy Spirit
(and those around us!) Disagreement doesn’t do that, difference doesn’t do
that, but rancour and the seeds of division do!
How can the Holy Spirit, the presence of Christ Himself find
a lodging place in our hearts and in our Church when they can be so full of
what is so un Christ-like!?