Message 18 in This Series -

Date:3/7/2010 a.m.
Speaker:Dr. Danny Wood
Title:Portrait of Christ:
Intercessor
Scripture:John 17
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Portrait of Christ

“Intercessor”

John 17

I.     Jesus Prays for Himself (vs. 1-5)

Jesus regarded his earthly life as a process of glorification and the cross as the supreme manifestation of His glory.

The source of eternal life is Jesus (vs. 2)

The nature of eternal life is a relationship: Knowing God and Jesus (vs. 3)

“Eternal life is not so much everlasting life as knowledge of the Everlasting One.”

– D. A. Carson.

II.     Jesus Prays for His Disciples (vs. 6-19)

A.     Jesus prays for their Protection (vs. 11-15)

Two formidable foes: the world (vs. 14) and the devil (vs. 15).

B.     Jesus prays for their Unity (vs. 11b)

The disciples’ unity binds them to Christ and at the same time separates them from the world.

C.     Jesus prays for their Joy (vs. 13)

D.     Jesus prays for their Dedication (vs. 17-19)

Their wills entirely devoted to God and His service.

III.     Jesus Prays for Future Believers (vs. 20-26)

A.     Jesus prays for the Unity of the Church (vs.21a, 23)

The unity implies both a horizontal dimension and a vertical dimension.

B.     Jesus prays for the Impact of a Unified Church (vs. 21b, 23)

The mission of the church has two hands: proclamation with words and proclamation of relationships.

Unity at the expense of truth is not supported by this passage!

C.     Jesus prays for the Glory of a Unified Church (vs. 22, 24)

“Glory” is the visible manifestation of all the divine attributes of God. It is what we see when we look at God.