John 17:20-26

Just focus in on the last part of Christ's prayer in John 17.

This particular chapter has meant a lot to me over the years as I've been at death's doorstep multiple times with my physical illnesses I've had.

And it's one of the few passages that kind of give us a direction to look at life beyond this life.

And it's raised my mind to God and eternity.

It's commonly referred to as the high priestly prayer of Christ.

And indeed, it is the true Lord's Prayer.

The one we're familiar with, the one in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, tend to be more known as the Disciples' Prayer, where He teaches His disciples to pray.

So this truly is the Lord's Prayer.

It's a, what does Jesus pray?

What is He like when He speaks to the Father?

It's only about 650 words.

It just takes a couple minutes to read.

But it is deep and profound.

Every single word of it, you could exhaust.

Many years ago, on a commentary on John 17, Calvin wrote,

This prayer of Christ is a safe harbor.

And whoever retreats into it is safe from all danger of shipwreck.

For it has, Christ has solemnly sworn that He will devote His care and diligence to our salvation.

Let the world then condemn us a thousand times.

This alone ought to satisfy us.

That Christ acknowledges us to be His heritage and pleas with the Father for us.

So this prayer is just one of a kind.

You don't find anything like this anywhere else in the Scripture.

It kind of looks like Moses' prayer, sort of, at the end of Deuteronomy, before Moses departs this world.

And so think about what's on Jesus' mind, just the context.

He's spending time with His disciples.

He's finished the Last Supper with them.

And they're getting ready to kind of go towards Gethsemane.

And during this time, He lifts up His voice to the Father.

And He prays and pours out His voice to the Father.

I'll give you a quick outline of the prayer.

But we're only going to focus on the last part of it.

There's three parts that we've typically divided this prayer up into.

The first part is in verses 1 through 5.

And this is Jesus' praise for Himself.

And the focus is the Father's glory.

And in turn, His own glory.

Second part, Jesus prays for His disciples.

We see that in verse 6 through 19.

And the focus of the Christ prayer during that time is preservation and mission.

And then thirdly, what we'll be focusing on today is Jesus' praise for the present and future believers.

The key is their oneness and unity.

So that's what we're focusing in on today.

But you see in verse 20, Jesus says,

I do not ask for these only, but also those who will believe in Me through their word.

And so Jesus is confident that His disciples, after all that's about to happen, are going to return.

And they're going to go out.

And they're going to preach the good news.

And start the church.

Read in Acts chapter 2, verse 42.

Acts 2:42

This happened.

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, the breaking of bread and to prayers.

So Jesus in this time prays for us.

And it's known, this whole prayer, John 17, reveals to us one of the very unique and specific roles,

I don't think a lot of us think about maybe on a daily basis,

but a role that Christ plays in our lives.

A significant role.

He is our great high priest.

As sinners that are unclean and unable to go into the holy presence of God,

Jesus paid the final sacrifice for our sins and gave us His righteousness so that we could stand clean before God.

And now He intercedes on our behalf.

700 years ago, before Christ, Isaiah actually gave us a glimpse of this role

in prophesying about the work of Christ and the Messiah, the suffering servant, in Isaiah 53.

Starting in verse 11.

You don't have to turn there.

There's one other place for you to look at today outside this.

But we get a glimpse of His priestly work on our behalf.

But Isaiah spoke 700 years before Christ.

Out of the anguish of his soul, he shall see and be satisfied.

By his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous.

And he shall bear their iniquities.

There's like the salvific part of this.

Christ died on our behalf.

Verse 12.

Therefore, I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoiled with the strong,

because he poured out his soul to death, and he was numbered with the transgressors.

Yet he bore the sins of many and makes intercession for the transgressors.

He stands before the Father, right?

Making intercession on our behalf.

And that's what the writer of Hebrews says in Hebrews 8, 1 and 2.

He expresses Christ's priestly care for us.

So think about this.

We're about to read the passage together.

But some of you may have someone in your life who has a very deep walk with Christ,

who enjoys such deep fellowship with God.

And when, if you said, if I would like to just pray with one person before I face this trial,

who would that person be?

Right?

What friend would you think of?

But a cool thought, as we begin to read this, is Robert Murray McShane,

young Scottish pastor in the 1800s, preached a sermon on John 17.

And he said this, really profound.

If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million enemies.

Yet distance makes no difference.

He is praying for me.

It's amazing.

So let's read the passage together.

We're just going to focus on the last part of this.

John 17, look at verse 20.

Jesus praying.

He says,

I do not ask for these only,

but also for those who will believe in me through their word,

that they may all be one,

just as you, Father, are in me,

and I in you,

that they also may be in us,

so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

The glory that you have given me,

I have given to them.

That they may all be one,

even as we are one.

I in them,

and you in me,

that they may become perfectly one,

so that the world may also know that you have sent me,

and love them even as you love me.

Father,

I desire that they also,

whom you have given me,

may be with me where I am,

to see my glory,

the glory of the Father,

even though,

I'm sorry,

because,

forgive me,

typo here,

they may see my glory,

that you have given me,

because you love me,

before the foundation of the world.

Oh,

righteous Father,

even though the world does not know you,

I know you,

and these know you,

that you have sent me.

I have made known to them your name,

and I will continue to make it known,

that the love with which you have loved me,

may be in them,

and I in them.

Join me in a quick word of prayer.

Father,

we just looked up this time to you,

please work in our hearts,

through your Holy Spirit,

apply,

apply your word,

to our hearts,

that we would not walk away,

from this place,

unchanged,

that you would give us,

a picture of what,

you prayed for us,

long ago,

you give us deep insight,

into your word,

Lord,

in Christ's name,

Amen.

So,

we're going to break this up,

into a few different pieces,

but,

point number one,

as we're walking through this passage,

point number one,

is Jesus prays,

for true unity,

among believers.

Jesus prays,

for true unity,

among believers.

And so,

under number one,

we see,

there's a few sub points,

but the sub point,

A,

underneath this,

is he has,

a request,

for true unity.

Look at verse 21,

that they may all,

be one.

Alright?

And,

a good,

way to kind of,

get to the heart of this,

about what true unity means,

is to kind of expose,

what false unity,

actually is.

Many in the church today,

and most people,

well meaning,

will make remarks like,

Christians just seem so divided,

how come there's so many different,

churches,

how come there's different,

denominations,

after all,

like isn't just Jesus,

all that matters,

and they'll kind of like,

simplify,

the Christian life,

with phrases like that,

and they'll say like,

we need to do something,

to create unity,

among believers.

And again,

I know,

like well meeting people,

who have said such things,

but often,

thoughts like that,

are kind of misguided,

and,

and ignorant.

false,

superficial unity,

sometimes,

is created,

at the expense,

of truth,

and doctrine.

Churches may avoid,

hard,

Bible topics,

just so they can,

make people feel,

better,

about,

themselves.

But let me give you,

a couple of diagnostic questions,

when it comes to this idea,

of unity.

A couple of diagnostic questions.

What are the first things,

that people talk about,

when they ask you about,

when you ask them,

about their church?

That's when it goes,

Christ's family,

tell me about that church.

Like what's the first thing you say?

Or somebody else,

like what comes out of their mouth?

Like what do you enjoy,

about that church?

The second question,

is us asking ourselves,

is what is the gathering component,

of a local church?

Like why do people come there?

Like what's the purpose?

What's the goal?

What brings them together?

And often in today's,

contemporary,

evangelicalism,

local churches have a large,

range of gathering components.

Alright?

There's many demographics.

There's the age demographic.

I like going to this church,

because it has a youth program,

or teenagers,

or older people,

or young adults.

Singles.

That's why we like going there.

Another demographic.

Some sort of effemnity, right?

That church has a lot of families.

I like going to that church.

Or a lot of children.

Or these people seem,

richer upper class,

or middle class,

or whatever it may be.

A big one,

among today's denominations,

are music.

Do you have contemporary cool music,

or do you have the old people,

organ,

you know,

piano music?

Like they'll go,

I've heard people say,

that's why they go where they go.

Programs.

This is probably the biggest one.

This church has a place for me,

and my family to plug in.

We have all these different things.

We have children's ministries,

youth ministries,

college ministries,

single ministries,

on and on and on.

We have a drama team,

whatever it may be, right?

So,

we don't have a drama team here.

So,

also facilities.

That's a really nice building.

That's a beautiful church building,

and a great parking lot,

you know,

on and on.

They have good coffee,

whatever it may be.

So,

there's all sorts of things

that people say

is the gathering component

of their church.

Right?

I heard on a local Christian radio station

a while back,

they were allowing people to call in,

and I said,

this was the question,

how do you do church?

And you got all kind of crazy answers on that.

But here's the deal.

One of the big problems

with focusing on demographics

as a point of unity

is that something happens

to that component?

Your church is gone.

If that component was removed,

would that church divide?

Would it break up?

What would happen?

The gathering component,

for any other reason

than the Lord Jesus Christ,

that church will fail.

That church won't stand.

But isn't it sad, though,

that the church

of the Lord Jesus Christ,

that He bought with His own blood,

usually,

or sometimes,

is not the gathering component

for why a church gathers.

It's all kind of

other things

other than His life,

His death,

and His resurrection.

That's the main event

for which we gather.

But many churches do not.

It is that bother you

that many people ask the question,

how do you do church

when really,

the only thing that matters

is what would Christ

have us do

when we gather?

What is His opinion?

He is the head of the church.

It is His church,

His bride.

He has told us

what we ought to be doing

when we gather.

And it is heartbreaking

that thousands of people

have flocked to local churches

even this morning

to get a quick fix,

to have a real quick shot

of feel-goodism,

a pop psychology talk

that has nothing to do

with God's Word.

Or isn't it sad

that the first thing

that people think of

of their church

is a pastor

or a program,

something that enhances

their life

instead of the Son of God?

Right?

So please,

I'm not saying

that it's okay

to mention some of the good things

about our church,

but I pray that Christ

is the gathering component.

I pray He is why we gather.

Period.

And I tremble to think

how Christ would see

some churches

when you look at

Revelation chapter,

the early chapters

when He addresses

the churches.

And He commends them

for good things

and He condemns them

for bad things.

Right?

Underneath this first point

about Jesus praying

for unity

is another point.

Point B.

What is the source

of true unity?

What is the source

of true unity?

Look at verse 21 and 22.

That they may all be one

just as you, Father,

are in me

and I in you.

that they also

may be in us.

Look at verse 22.

The glory

that you have given me,

I have given to them

that they may be one

even as we are one.

I in them

and you in me

that they may be

perfectly one.

Alright?

So,

based on this text,

very clearly,

we see that unity

is not something

that we create.

It's something

that exists

already.

It's not of human origin.

It's something

that exists

in the nature

of God Himself.

The unity of all believers

is grounded

in the love

and unity

that exists

in the Godhead.

Okay?

Father,

Son,

and Holy Spirit.

They are united

completely,

perfectly one

in their motive,

in their glory,

in their mission,

in their redemptive purpose.

They are perfectly one,

unified.

So,

spiritual unity

comes to us

from the reality

of His redemptive activity

in our lives.

Okay?

Unity,

we should be concerned about,

is not a physical,

visible unity

in our lives,

but a unity

that is

not outward

and physical

but one that's

spiritual

and invisible.

Unseen.

Spiritual unity.

That they would be

perfectly one.

Alright?

Really quickly,

this is the only place

you have to turn

outside of our main passage,

but hold your hand,

John 17.

Look at Ephesians

Ephesians 4 · chapter mention

chapter 4.

Paul writing

to the church

at Ephesus

and he kind of

clears the air

on what unity

actually is.

Ephesians 4,

Ephesians 4:1

verse 1,

and he's addressing

the church,

and he says

in verse 1,

I therefore,

a prisoner of the Lord,

urge you

to walk in a manner

worthy of the calling

to which you have been called,

with all humility

and gentleness,

with patience,

bearing with one another

in love,

eager to maintain

that there it is,

the unity of the Spirit

in the bond of peace.

There is one body

and one Spirit,

just as you were called

to the one hope

that belongs to your call.

One Lord,

one faith,

one baptism,

one God and Father of all,

who is over all

and through all

and in all.

So there's a lot

to talk about right there.

Just think about two things

if you notice.

Unity is completely

a spiritual matter

and not physical.

Alright?

Our passage,

the Scripture,

doesn't define unity

in a physical,

fluctuating,

visible way.

Rather,

it's this constant unity

that is invisible.

Christ's prayer

is answered

every time a dead sinner

is raised from death

and brought

into His kingdom.

But secondly,

notice this

about this passage,

that unity

is maintained

and preserved,

not created.

Okay?

It already exists

because of Christ

and His Spirit

that dwells within us.

So we're called

to preserve it,

protect it,

right?

Not create it.

Not to find

some outward thing

that brings us

unity.

Very clear passage.

So let me just

give you a quick

example of this.

For many years,

they no longer

have this conference,

but in Louisville,

every other year,

they had a conference

called

Together for the Gospel.

And at this conference,

you had guys

from different

denominational backgrounds,

primarily

Southern Baptists,

Presbyterian guys,

Baptists like

Mark Dever,

and John Piper,

John MacArthur,

Al Mohler.

Then you had

PCA guys,

Presbyterian guys

like Spurl,

Ligon Duncan,

Kevin DeYoung,

and they were all

just really good

buddies,

all just really

good friends.

They disagree

like on certain

issues like baptism

or like church

government,

but they are all

really close.

They're saying

we are united

in Christ.

We are united

in the Gospel,

right?

And such

close friends.

So it can go

across denominational

lines.

In fact,

I'm okay with

denominations

because it actually

means that people

have convictions

about things,

right?

We actually believe

something that

the Scripture

teaches.

But there is

unity that exists

in those who

have been born

again and who

have believed

in the Gospel,

right?

There is spiritual

unity.

The last little

part underneath

point number one

is this,

the result of

true unity.

The result of

true unity.

Verse 21,

the second part,

he says,

so that the world

may believe

that you have

sent me.

look at verse

23,

so that the

world may

know that

you have

sent me

and love

them even

as you

have loved

me.

And so,

the result of

true unity,

one of those

is evangelistic.

Sin causes

division and

hatred.

Sin causes

people to

separate,

go their own

ways.

the church

is meant

to be one

of the

greatest

ways that

we display

to a

dying

world

who God

actually

is and

what was

meant

before the

fall,

right?

By loving

one another

well,

loving in

the grace

of God,

living in

community

with one

another.

I've heard

it said

a long time

ago that

the church

is the

Gospel

made

visible.

Like,

the world

is to see

the unity

that we

have because

of Christ

and because

of the

indwelling

Spirit.

Right?

Beautiful.

Jesus says

that that

unity,

that oneness

that He

prayed for

is attractive

to those

that God

is working

in,

right?

To the

outside

world.

We are

to be

the light

of the

world.

Jesus said

that you

are the

light of

the world.

A city

on a hill

cannot be

hidden,

right?

Let your

light shine

before men

that they

may see

your good

works

and glorify

your Father

who is in

heaven.

Right?

So that's

one goal,

one result

of true

unity is

it's evangelistic.

Jesus says

that,

that they

would,

a world

may see

and know

me,

right?

And then

underneath

this also,

another result

of true

unity.

I love

this part.

In Christ

we have

all things

in common.

Alright?

Many of you

can give

testimony to

this,

that Christ

has a

tendency

to bring

together

people who

otherwise would

never be

around each

other.

Like,

very different

types of

people.

All kind

of categories

of people.

It doesn't

matter what

social background

you have,

what ethnic

background you

have,

Christ brings

us together

into his

church,

his family.

And that

thought of

like whenever

you encounter

another believer,

some of you

have traveled

far outside

the U.S.

and it

feels a little

isolating and

you don't

really feel

like people,

anybody around

you knows

that you're

a Christian

and you're

kind of

alone.

And then

you bump

into somebody

else who

is and you

just immediately

have this

like,

yes,

they are

in the

faith.

They are

a brother

or a

sister.

And you

immediately

have this

connection

with them.

But God

brings together

all types

of different

people that

otherwise would

not spend

any time

together,

probably.

Growing up,

I was a

part of

like the

good old

boy country

crowd that

drove trucks,

deer hunted,

and fished.

And I

love to see

just that

over the

years,

that kind

of means

less and

less to

me.

It's more

as I've

seen people

that have

been saved

by Christ

and I have

more in

common with

them than

even my own

family sometimes.

And we

have,

I have a

good buddy

of mine who

is sort

of a punk

rocker

background.

Right?

And I

would have

never hung

out with

that guy

outside of

Christ.

And brothers

and sisters

from every

nation,

every tribe,

every tongue,

Christ brings

us together

and we have

all things

in common.

Right?

That's the

answer to all

the stuff you

see in our

world right

now.

The gospel.

Christ.

The church.

This brings

us to point

number two.

Point number

two.

Jesus

prays

for the

future

glory

of

believers.

He

prays

for the

future

glory

of

believers.

And then

two parts

underneath

that.

In one

way,

part A,

the fellowship

and focus

of our

future

glory.

Look at

verse 24.

He says,

Father,

I desire

that they

also,

whom you

have given

me,

may be

with me

where I

am,

to see

my glory

that you

have given

me because

you loved

me before

the foundation

of the

world.

Such a

beautiful

picture here.

At the

outset of

Christ's

prayer,

right,

he asked

the Father

to restore

him to

the place

of glory

that he

enjoyed with

the Father

before

creation.

So you

get this

glimpse of

what happened

before the

world was

created.

Christ

dwelt in

perfect joy

and satisfaction

with the

Father,

right,

before anything

ever was

created.

That's a

beautiful picture

of what

existed.

If you look

at verse 5

of chapter 17,

just kind of

looking back a

little bit,

he kind of

says the

same thing.

He says,

Now,

Father,

glorify me

in your

own presence

with the

glory that

I had

with you

before the

world

existed.

It's an

amazing

thought.

Think and

ponder that.

Right?

Something I

want you

to think

of just

right now,

think about

one of the

most beautiful

scenes that

you've ever

seen with

your eyes,

or one of

the most

beautiful

noises you

ever heard

with your

ears.

It might

be like a

sunset over

the mountains

or the

ocean.

It might

be hearing

a great

musical

performance

or a

monumental

sporting

event.

And notice

that in

those moments,

things that

just sort

of take

your breath

away,

you're not

thinking about

yourself at

all.

You're carried

outside of

yourself.

Right?

Two things

kind of

happened during

that time.

Something in

us longs for

another person to

be there with

us to share

that rich

experience.

You ever

thought that?

Like,

man,

I wish that

person was

here to see

this.

And typically,

the ones that

we love the

most,

typically the

people that are

closest to us,

who want

them to be

there to

behold this

beautiful thing

with us.

This,

in a small

way,

is what I

believe Christ

is saying,

a small way,

that He

desires for

us to be

with Him

where He is

so that we

may behold

His glory,

the glory that

existed before

the world

was created.

Not because

He needs

us,

just because

He's gracious,

just because

He wants us

to be in

His presence.

He chose

to set

His love

upon us.

Right?

So that's

one thing.

We want

for other

people to

be there.

Secondly,

we want

to not

just look

at something

that's

magnificent.

We actually

want to

dive into it.

We don't

want to

just stare

at it

from a

distance.

We want

to go

and actually

be a part

of what

we see.

We want

to be in

the middle

of it.

I remember

the first

time I

ever saw

the Scottish

Highlands

in 2009.

I was

on a

bus.

As soon

as I

saw it,

I was

like,

oh my

gosh,

that is

beautiful.

I was

like,

I wanted

to jump

through the

window to

go out

and get

into it.

I want

to drop

me off

right here

and I

will go

backpacking

all day

by myself.

I didn't

just want

to look

at it

from a

distance.

I remember

in 1995

a little

boy listening

to the

radio about

the Braves

World Series

and it

made me

go to bed.

I couldn't

stay up

and watch

it.

So,

the whole

like,

Braves

win,

Braves

win.

I wanted

to be

a part

of that

celebration.

I wanted

to be

in the

middle

of it.

C.S.

Lewis

wrote,

we do

not want

merely

to see

beauty,

though God

knows even

that is

bounty enough.

We want

something else

which we can

hardly put

into words,

to be

united with

the beauty

that we

see,

to pass

into it,

to receive

it into

ourselves

and to

bathe in

it and

to become

a part

of it.

And so,

when we

leave this

world and

go and

behold God's

glory and

the glory

of Christ,

we want

to see it

and be a

part of it.

We want

to be in

the middle

of that

glory.

There's no

better thing

in this

world.

Nothing can

compare to

the glory

that we

will behold

one day.

Paul wrote,

quoting Isaiah,

what no

eye has

seen,

nor ear

has heard,

nor the

heart of

man

imagined,

what God

has prepared

for those

who love

him.

Amazing

thing.

So,

a focus

of fellowship

and future

glory is what

we see

in these

verses.

And secondly,

underneath

this part,

is we

will enjoy

unhindered

fellowship

with God.

Unhindered

fellowship

with God.

Think about

the times

where you

have just

enjoyed

being in

the presence

of God.

Like some

of the sweetest

moments of

fellowship,

when you

were in

prayer,

when you

were in

God's

word,

when you

were just

alone

somewhere,

or in

the presence

of his

people.

And it

just seemed

like in

that moment

you just

had a

real sense

of God's

presence

with you.

In an

abnormal

way,

almost.

You felt

his nearness

to you,

thinking about

how he

saved you

from your

sin,

giving you

life,

enjoying

gratitude,

or just

filling

your soul.

You just

want to

say,

pause.

I just

want to

stay

right here,

right?

But then

something

happens.

Interference

usually steps

in.

You get

hungry,

you get

tired,

hangry for

some of

you.

Somebody

knocks on

your door,

you get

an annoying

text message.

Whatever it

may be,

there's moments

that just

interrupt us.

They pull

us away

from those

depths of

fellowship.

We're kind

of dragged

down from

heaven,

as it were,

back to

earth,

back to

just being

here.

And it

feels like

we only

can get

so close

in this

life.

But,

when we

die,

when we

shed this

weak,

mortal

flesh,

and it

passes

away,

we

will

have

uninterrupted,

unhindered

fellowship

with Christ

and the

Father.

Right?

Eternity

will not

be spent

with human

beings

paying back

the debt

that we

owe God,

because that

is impossible.

The grace

that we

have been

saved,

we can

never pay

it back.

But for

all eternity,

we will be

the beneficiaries

of God's

kindness.

Right?

Christ

has done

this,

Ephesians

2,

7,

that in

the coming

ages,

He might

show us

the

immeasurable

riches of

His grace

and kindness

towards us

in Christ

Jesus.

Some of

you,

many of

you,

who have

children or

grandchildren,

know that at

a certain

age,

you do

something

goofy or

fun,

and they

like it,

and then

what do

they tell

you?

Do it

again.

Do it

again.

Even like

for an

hour,

you just

do the

same thing,

over and

over again,

and they

never get

tired of

it.

Boredom

is something

that fallen

creatures

experience.

Right?

But the

newness of

standing in

Christ's

presence

forever will

never get

old.

We will

enjoy that

unhindered

fellowship with

God,

on and

on.

Debating

whether to

read this

to you or

not,

I'm not

usually a

fan of

long quotes

during

sermons,

but I'm

going to

read this

one to

you really

quickly.

Spurgeon

wrote a

sermon on

John 17

and he

says,

I doubt

not that

there are

many joys

in heaven

which will

amplify the

grand joy

with which

we will

have.

I feel

confident

that meeting

of departed

friends,

the society

of apostles,

priests,

and prophets,

and martyrs

will amplify

the joy of

the redeemed.

So in

other words,

I'm sure

there are

many things

in heaven

that are

going to

help bring

us joy.

Good things.

But still,

the Son

that will

give them

the greatest

light to

their joy

will be

the fact

that they

are with

Jesus

Christ.

And behold

his face.

And now,

there may be

other employments

in heaven,

but that

mentioned in

this text

is the chief

one,

John 17,

that they

may behold

my glory.

Let us

pass in

a panorama

before your

eyes with

great scenes

of this

glory that

you will

behold after

death.

The moment

the soul

departs from

this body,

it will

behold the

glory of

Christ.

The glory

of his

person will

be the

first thing

that will

arrest your

attention.

There he

will sit

in the midst

of the

throne,

and our

eyes will

be first

caught with

his glory

of his

appearance.

Oh,

how will

the Christian

stop at

the foot

of his

master's

throne and

look upward?

And if

there could

be tears

in heaven,

tears of

rich delight

would roll

down his

cheeks when

he looks

and sees

the man

enthroned

and says

to him,

how often

I used

to sing

about you

on the

earth.

Crown him

with many

crowns.

King of

kings and

lord of

lords.

This

version ends

like by

writing this

poem.

Millions of

years are

wandering

eyes.

Shall our

savior's

beauties

rove.

And

myriads of

ages will

adore the

wonders of

his love.

So it'll

be a joy

that is

unceasing

in heaven.

We'll never

be bored

beholding the

glory of the

father and

the son.

And

then lastly,

landing the

plane here

is part

B.

There will

be a

foretaste

of future

glory.

Look at

verse 25.

Oh,

righteous

father,

even though

the world

does not

know you,

I know

you,

and these

know that

you have

sent me.

I have

made known

to them

your name,

and I will

continue to

make it

known,

that the

love which

you have

loved me

may be

in them,

and I

in them.

So beautiful

words.

Jesus says,

righteous

father,

expresses this

great

confidence

that his

father hears

his prayer,

and he

will fulfill

his request.

He says

about this

righteous

God,

a fallen

world does

not know

Christ,

it does

not know

God,

but the

son knows

God,

and the

son has

made him

known to

us.

Jesus has

shown us

who the

father is.

The moment

that we

are born

again,

we have

fellowship

with God,

and we

continue to

throughout

the duration

of our

lives,

and

sanctification,

but knowing

Christ,

experiencing

his glory,

and his

fellowship,

starts now.

We get

glimpses,

we get

tastes,

but it

starts now.

Jesus said,

I have

come that

they may

have life

and have

it abundantly.

Having

this life

that is

rooted in

fellowship

with Christ.

So even

now,

with all the

distractions,

and all the

stuff,

even in

this moment,

right,