Study the Bible
      with Pastor Gregory
      ByronBible Home

      Would you like to ask Pastor Gregory a question?



      "The Anticipation of Success"
      John 17:4-5
      Theme: Success in the sight of the Lord is the result of obedience.

        1. The Basis of His Success – 17:4

          1. The Commitment to Obedience

            1. We find ourselves continuing the discussion on the passion of the Lord Jesus to bring glory to the Father.
            2. Here summarizes his whole purpose for life – "I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do."
            3. It is quite clear that the specific reference in the mind of christ is the redemptive act that was the occasion for Christ’s coming – cp. Luke 19:10
            4. However, the Son of God has brought glory to the Father in every event by which He is connected to this world:
              1. … by means of Creation – the work of the Son of God – cp. John 1:3
              2. … by means of the display of the Father’s perfections – cp. John 1:14, 18
              3. … by means of the miracles He performed – cp. John 3:2; 9:3, 30-33
              4. … by means of His words (teaching) – cp. John 12:44-50
              5. … by means of His obedience & holy life – cp. John 5:30
            5. But, the greatest means by which Jesus Christ would bring glory to the Father is through the atonement by which sinner are reconciled to God.
            6. He demonstrates here that He is completely committed to obedience – so much so, that He uses the aorist tense to describe something still future – it is so certain to Him that He can refer to it as already accomplished.

          2. The Comprehension of Obedience

            1. This shows us the marvelous degree of Jesus submission to the Father – He completely knew the cost of His obedience but was willing to suffer "according to the will of God."
            2. Jesus Christ realized that the Cross lay before Him, but in His own mind the decision to go was so certain, He anticipates it as already done.
            3. God had given Him the responsibility of rescuing men from their sin – everything that Jesus did on earth was focused on this project so that He might bring glory to God through them.
            4. When Jesus opened the door for sinners to come before the Father, He repeats this declaration of accomplishment – at the very moment when it is actualized – cp. John 19:30.
            5. This commitment to obedience is the basis for the Lord’s request in this prayer for the approval of God.
            6. Likewise, we ought never to seek the approval of God when we are aware that disobedient heart prevails in our lives.

        2. The Benefit of HIS Success – 17:5

          1. The Approval of the Father

            1. When the commitment to obedience is so high, a corresponding desire for approval exists – "Now, Father, glorify Me together with yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was."
            2. In effect, Jesus – praying according to knowledge – says: "Father, if You approve and I have done what You wanted Me to do, bring me back to the glory I had before the humiliation of the incarnation began."
            3. This approval and glorification has been the goal of history – the fruit of the redemption planned by God – cp. Psalm 21:1-6; 110:1
            4. This approval is anticipated not only by Jesus, but by the Father on several occasions – cp. Matthew 3:17

          2. The Authentication by the Father

            1. The unique request by Jesus is explained by understanding the events of the incarnation – cp. Philippians 2:5-8
            2. You may ask – Did the Father approve of Jesus obedience?
            3. He did so with great glory!
              1. The resurrection is the great exclamation mark on His approval – cp. Acts 2:29-36; 10:39-43; 17:30-31
              2. The ascension and subsequent exaltation demonstrate God’s approval as well – cp. Philippians 2:9-10a
            4. Thus Jesus is indeed exalted to great glory – and as we have seen will take that glory received by means of redemption and turn it back to the Father to His glory.

        BCBC Home Page