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      "Christ's Ultimate End"
      John 17:1
      Theme: Everything accomplished by Christ was done to the glory of the Father.

        1. The Plan: Construct of Redemption

          1. The Announcement of the Truth – "Jesus spoke these things;"

            1. This phrase looks back to the things Jesus taught during this "Upper Room Discourse" – most of which centers on the promise of the Holy Spirit.
            2. Jesus’ teaching provides the fullness of what He wanted the disciples to know prior to the atonement that He was about the make.
            3. He had provided everything they needed to know – and now He was about to accomplish the work itself.
            4. This serves a pivotal role – transitioning from what He said to equip and encourage the disciples to what He says to the Father in His prayer.
            5. There is a priority placed on the truths delivered by Christ Jesus – as the groundwork for the work of redemption that He came here to accomplish.
            6. He taught about:
              1. The Lord’s Table
              2. His Death and Ascension
              3. The Rapture
              4. The Unity between the Father and the Son
              5. The Role of the Holy Spirit
              6. The Hatred & Persecution by the World
              7. The Peace provided by Christ
              8. The Keys to Fruitfulness
              9. The Traumas Surrounding the Death of Christ
            7. All of these subjects demonstrate that the plan of God includes the sacrifice of Christ, His resurrection, ascension and the provision of the Holy Spirit.

          2. The Appointment of the Time – "… and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, ‘Father, the hour has come;"

            1. The phrase "the hour has come" refers to the hour serving as the central point in all of history.
            2. This is the seventh and last time that Jesus refers to this momentous hour – cp. 2:4; 7:30; 8:20; 12:23; 12:27; 16:32
            3. The "hour" refers to the events essential to the redemption that He came into the world to accomplish – the suffering, death, burial, resurrection, and finally the ascension into glory.
            4. This is the hour that fulfills the prophecies, types, and symbols provided for thousands of years throughout the OT Scriptures.
            5. Thus, it is the climax of the plan of God to redeem men – cp. Acts 2:23-24
            6. Thus, this refers to the fullness of time – when everything had been sovereignly arranged for the provision of victory over sin and death.

        2. The Plea: Consideration for the Redeemer

          1. The Grounds for His Appeal – "Father, … glorify Your Son"

            1. Jesus is clearly aware that the process by which He would be murdered was already underway – Judas had already sold out and was in the process of leading men to arrest Jesus.
            2. With the pressures of His agony pressing upon Him, Jesus continues to think of the need that the disciples had for courage – so He prays in their hearing.
            3. The essential basis for His appeal to the Father is the relationship that exists between the Father and the Son.
            4. Truly the assurance needed by the disciples is provided in the observation of the special and essential bond that exists between the Father and the Son
            5. Jesus had just stated that despite the abandonment of all of His followers, the Father would be with Him – there is a perfect faithfulness that exists between them.
            6. This special & essential intimacy that exists between the Father and the Son serves as the basis for confidence that the Father would indeed answer the request of the Son.

          2. The Goal of His Appeal – "… glorify Your Son"

            1. Jesus calls upon the Father to honor the promises that have been provided that He will deliver the Son through the work that He must accomplish.
            2. There is a clear promise made that the Father would not allow the Son to see corruption (decay physically) – cp. Psalm 16; Acts 2:25-28
            3. Thus, Jesus is once again allowing Himself to recite in prayer what He knows to be the will of the Father – the deliver Him through the fires of atonement and elevate Him to glory as a result -–cp. Philippians 2:8-11; Hebrews 12:2
            4. Thus, in this context Jesus is calling on the Father to fulfill His promises to deliver Him safely through the ordeal of Calvary and bring Him to a place of honor on the other side – John 12:23-28.

        3. The Purpose: Consummation of Redemption

          1. The Proof of God’s Glory Being the Ultimate End

            1. Jesus indicates that His glorification was not the end toward which He was pressing – rather, it was the glory of God – "… that the Son may glorify You."
            2. Christ’s conduct and priorities did not focus on His elevation or glorification – rather, it is the glory of the "One who sent Him" – cp. John 7:18
            3. If the glory of God is the chief responsibility of mankind, then it must be the ultimate goal of the perfect man – cp. 1 Corinthians 10:31; 1 Peter 4:11; Leviticus 10:3
            4. Thus, the glory of the Father is what Christ exulted in – cp. John 13:31-32
            5. Thus, our salvation is not the end for which Christ Jesus died – but the ability to make the name of God great – cp. Isaiah 44:23; Isaiah 49:3; Ephesians 1:12, 14; 1 Corinthians 15:22-28; .

          2. The Propriety of God’s Glory Being the Ultimate End

            1. When Jesus arrived on earth in Bethlehem, the angels who must have been aware of the ultimate end for which Christ came confirm that the glory of God is that end – cp. Luke 2:14
            2. If the glory of the Father is the ultimate end for Christ, then it is only appropriate that it be our ultimate end as well – that we give our lives for that very purpose.
            3. If indeed God does what He does for His own name’s sake, then it is incumbent upon us to seek His glory as well – Isaiah 48:11; Romans 11:36; 2 Thessalonians 1:10-12
            4. Everything that Jesus Christ has done or ever will do is all designed to bring glory to God – even as should our purpose be.

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