Joy. Purpose. Protection.

All right, well, if you have your Bible with you, you can open it up to the Gospel of John.

We're continuing on.

We're in John chapter 17, and we're looking at Jesus' prayer right before he leads his

John 17 · chapter mention

disciples into the Garden of Gethsemane.

Jesus has just begun to pray to the Father with his disciples there with him, and we

first heard Jesus speaking about his relationship with the Father and his longing to be restored

to the glory that he had with the Father before the world began.

Then we heard Jesus begin to reflect and report to the Father on how things have gone well

with his disciples, how he has given them the Father's word, and they have responded in faith.

And then we heard Jesus praying for their protection.

And so we're picking up this prayer today, continuing it in verse 13 of chapter 17.

Jesus praying to the Father says,

I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they

may have the full measure of my joy within them.

So Jesus again tells his Father that he's coming to him.

And then he goes on to say this.

He says, I say these things in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy.

Now there's some different ideas here about what Jesus means.

This is a more literal rendering of it.

These things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy.

When Jesus says, these things I say, what is he referring to?

Is he referring to his prayer?

Like these things that I'm praying to you right now, saying to you.

Or is he talking about these things that he's just been speaking to his disciples?

These words of warning and comfort and promises.

Without getting into a lengthy treatment of this, it seems most likely to be the second one.

In other words, I don't think Jesus is stating the purpose of his prayer.

Rather, just like before, it seems that Jesus is kind of reporting back to the Father what he has been doing.

What the aim and the goal and the purpose of it is.

He's saying, I'm saying these things to them.

These things that I've just said, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.

And this really does fit with all that we've heard before.

If we look back to verse 22 and what Jesus said to them there.

He said, now is your time of grief.

But I will see you again.

And you will rejoice.

And no one will take away your joy.

Or, just a few verses down.

In verse 27.

He says, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.

Or, again, in verse 33.

He said, I've told you these things so that in me you may have peace.

Take heart.

I have overcome the world.

So, these are the things that have to do with the disciples having joy.

Their promises to hold on to.

Their truths about the Father's love for them.

And Jesus speaks about how he will soon have the victory.

All of this that Jesus has been saying to them has a purpose.

In verse 33, as we see on the screen there.

It was so that they might have peace.

But now here, in verse 13.

As Jesus tells the Father about it.

It's also joy.

Jesus wants his disciples to have joy.

And this is not the first time that Jesus has expressed this.

If we think back to when he was teaching about using that metaphor of the vine and the branches.

Back in John chapter 15, verse 11.

John 15:11

He said something similar.

He said, I've told you this.

All this.

So that my joy may be in you.

And that your joy may be complete.

I think it's basically the same statement made to the disciples there.

But here in this prayer, he's speaking to the Father.

These things I speak in the world so that they may have my joy made full in themselves.

Now, I know I said it back when we were in chapter 15.

But I do want to say it again one more time.

Do you know that Jesus desires for his followers to be happy?

To have joy.

Jesus says to the Father, this has been my aim.

This has been my goal.

In saying all these things to them.

So that they may have joy.

And here Jesus describes that joy in three ways.

It's not just any old joy.

It's my joy, says Jesus.

That they may have my joy.

So Jesus has joy.

This is where so many of those Jesus films that have been made fall flat.

You probably know the ones I'm talking about.

They cast Jesus as always so serious and so stoic.

Almost unable to smile.

But Jesus had joy.

It says it right here.

There was a joy that was his.

And his desire expressed here to the Father.

His prayer is that we, his followers, might come to have that same joy.

To share in that joy that he has.

Doesn't that sound great?

Now we might be thinking.

Well, Jesus was the perfect son of God.

I can't ever have a joy like his.

Because I'm a broken sinner.

Living in a broken world.

I don't know.

Maybe I'll come to know just a small part of Jesus' joy.

But in his prayer here, Jesus doesn't leave us room for sharing only a part of his joy.

He says,

These things I speak in the world

So that they may have my joy made full.

Or as another translation says,

The full measure of my joy.

The full measure.

Jesus doesn't just want you to be happy.

He wants you to be happy as he is happy.

With the full measure of his happiness.

Again, don't believe the lie of the devil.

He's trying to convince you that God wants you to be miserable.

But it's a lie.

Truly, it's the devil who wants you to be miserable.

Jesus wants you to be happy.

He wants you to have joy.

And not just a little bit, but the full measure of his joy.

And he and the Father know best where to get that.

How to have that.

Do we believe that?

Sometimes we struggle to see that.

Maybe there's something that we value.

Or desire.

Or crave.

And we want it so bad that we'll do almost anything together.

Forget it.

Even compromise.

Even disregard.

Or ignore.

The clear teaching of Jesus.

The commands of Jesus.

We think that thing will make us most happy.

But the truth is.

We aren't seeing things clearly.

Sin has a way of blinding us.

Pride has a way of clouding our judgment.

Greed.

And envy.

Make it so that we just can't truly appreciate and see what's going on.

And this is where faith has to come into play.

We have to trust that God really does know best.

And that he's not just for our holiness.

For our moral purity.

But he's also for our happiness.

Along with that.

Our greatest happiness.

The full measure.

That's what Jesus was saying here.

My aim.

My purpose.

In teaching all that I've been saying to them this night.

It is so that they may have my joy made full within themselves.

That's the last descriptor there.

Within themselves.

This is not an external happiness.

This is not circumstantial happiness.

This is not pretending to be happy.

Have you ever been in a situation where everything is going really good.

And you feel like I should be happy.

I have no reason not to be happy.

Everybody around me is really happy.

Why am I?

It's just not in here.

Why am I not able to participate?

To celebrate?

To just be happy in this moment.

And enjoy the good things.

Jesus doesn't want for his followers.

A faked joy.

Or a pretend joy.

A do your best to feel joy.

He wants that joy to be within us.

Within them.

Deep inside of us.

That we really feel it.

So that's the first thing we see this morning in Jesus' prayer.

We see that Jesus is for our joy.

He himself has joy.

And the goal and the aim is for them.

For his disciples and for us.

To have his joy.

Joy made full.

Joy within them.

Joy within us.

Jesus goes on.

Verse 14.

He says,

I have given them.

Referring to the disciples.

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.

We won't linger long here.

Jesus has said most of this already.

He has spoken for God to the disciples.

Even more.

He has entrusted them with his words.

To go out and give to places.

He sent them out.

They have participated.

And Jesus sees what has happened.

Just as people have hated him.

That same hatred has been directed to Jesus' followers.

And Jesus explains the reason.

As he's praying.

He reflects on it.

It's because they're not of the world.

Just like he is not of the world.

And we've talked about this already.

Jesus offers new birth.

He gives us a new life.

A change in who we belong to.

When we repent.

And we put our trust in him.

He changes our citizenship.

Our status.

So drastically.

That we no longer belong to the world.

We belong to heaven.

And the God of heaven.

Just as Jesus.

Belongs to heaven.

And comes from heaven.

So like the disciples.

We too can find ourselves.

Quite at odds with the world.

Under fire.

Under attack.

Because we've become like foreigners to them.

Perhaps in the minds of some people.

Even traitors.

We no longer celebrate the darkness.

We love the light.

We no longer eagerly participate in those things.

That we know are wrong.

We see them for what they are.

And so we hate those things.

We see the damage that they do in our lives.

Think about this in the lives of Jesus' disciples.

There were whole towns.

Where the disciples of Jesus were not welcomed.

In the same way today.

It's not easy being a Christian in our world.

It can be very difficult.

But the truth is.

God wants you and me here.

In this world.

In this world.

He has a purpose for you and me.

Right now.

Here in this world.

Listen to what Jesus says next.

He says,

My prayer is not that you take them out of the world.

But that you protect them from the evil one.

These words really struck a chord in my heart.

As I was meditating on this.

This week.

My prayer is not that you take them out of the world.

Think about this.

Jesus knows that the world hates his disciples.

He's watched it.

He's seen it with these 11 men.

They've hated them too.

He knows what the world will do to them after he leaves.

He's just warned them about that.

This very night.

And yet.

He prays this.

My prayer is not that you take them out of the world.

Jesus wanted them to stay in the world.

Because he had a purpose for them.

To fulfill.

In the world.

Glance down to verse 18.

Verse 18.

Jesus said.

As you sent me into the world.

I have sent them.

Into the world.

God could take us out of this world at any moment.

I used to wonder that as a kid.

I used to think about that.

You know.

Why doesn't he?

Why doesn't.

We believe in him.

And he'd just take us right up to heaven.

Right up to glory.

We all.

Those of us who believe.

We know.

That that's how good this gift of salvation is.

That once we accept it and receive it.

It's a done deal.

And we belong to God.

so why doesn't he just take us out right now he's got the power and the authority to do it

he could just snap his fingers and say the word and we'd be there with jesus in heaven

in fact jesus wants us to be with him where he is this is what jesus says just a couple verses

later in 24 verse 24 he says father i want those you have given me to be with me where i am and to see

my glory and yet

jesus says i'm not asking that you take them out of the world i have sent them into the world

when it comes to our faith in jesus sometimes we lose sight of this don't we

why doesn't he just take us now

jesus says i'm not asking you to do that father no it's the opposite i've sent them into the world

he has a purpose for them being there he has a purpose for us being here and sometimes we lose

sight of that in a different way we maybe we just get distracted by the things of this world

we get engrossed in things of this world

i don't know maybe you're glad that god doesn't take you up to heaven right now maybe there's still

some stuff you want to do and get or things you want to experience here in this world and sometimes

we can get so wrapped up in these things and yet the truth is these things are things that won't last

and in that way we can lose sight of the fact that god has us here for a purpose he has sent us to do

something here are we doing it are we focused on it jesus taught a lot about this this tendency we have

to get sidetracked remember the parable of the sower in the soils farmer goes out and scatters his

seeds some of it falls along uh amongst soil that has weeds in it and these weeds they spring up beside

the plant that's growing there and choke it out and jesus gave the explanation to his disciples he says

it represents people who hear the word of god but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of

wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word making it unfruitful

we can easily get distracted from that great purpose for which god has us here in the world by the stuff

of the world jesus taught about how the stuff of this world the treasures of earth don't last

the sermon on the mount moth and rust destroy thieves break in and steal

things wear out and fall apart they break down you get that brand new vehicle and bam there's a moose

that comes out of nowhere as you're driving at night and not enough damage to write it off but enough

damage that the vehicle will never be the same and it's not worth nearly as much as it was

or i think of our family's recent vacation in mexico we had a wonderful time there we were gifted a week's

day at a beautiful resort there and we just enjoyed it so much but then the week was up and we had to

leave it was paradise but it it was temporary now don't get me wrong there's good stuff here on earth

we all know that god has put it here in this world for our enjoyment first timothy chapter four first

timothy chapter six but jesus hasn't left us here just for that just to enjoy it heaven will be far

better the new earth that god creates at the very end of our world story will have far better stuff far

better experiences things that will last forever

but god has us here in the world now for a purpose

now for the disciples it's it's easy for us to see that purpose because we have their whole story

written out for us here we see how they were sent they were chosen to be apostles they were given a job

and a mission to go forth and proclaim the good news of jesus to bear witness to tell of all they saw and

heard and experienced with jesus and do signs and wonders that pointed to jesus and see churches established

but i think we all know that these words here apply to us as well two thousand years later my prayer is

not that you take them out of the world

i have sent them into the world

he could take us now but no

there's a little corner of the world

named davidson

with its surrounding community and the people here

matter deeply

to god

my prayer is not that you take them out of the world

i have sent them into the world

where i got thinking of how we pack shoe boxes as a church

there are other little known corners of the world where kids have it difficult right from birth

they hardly have anything

and the odds of them hearing about jesus are slim

if god were to take us all out of this world right now where would that leave them

we aren't the apostles

we have different roles to play

but the bible tells us that each of us has unique gifts

we each have unique abilities

we each have a role

a responsibility

in his body

in his church

to our neighbors

to the poor

the orphan

the widow

the people around us

we're not the apostles

but we have inherited the same great commission

that they did

the same overall mission

god gave the early church

we're to continue it

to pick it up where they left off

to go on making disciples of all nations

baptizing them in the name of the father

and the son and the holy spirit

teaching them to obey everything that christ commanded

bringing that news of his salvation

to those who are lost

in fact this was god's plan

all along

not that we would be taken out of the world

but that we would remain in it

that we would be sent by christ to it

that the good news of jesus salvation

would be proclaimed

all over the earth

and only then

said jesus

will the end come

and so i want to ask you this morning

are you on mission

with jesus

are you living

soberly

aware and conscious

of this great purpose

if you belong to jesus christ

he has you

here

in this world

in this community

for a reason

he gives you another day's provision

and breath

for a reason

and this is a big part of what it means

to be the church of jesus christ

it's about carrying out this purpose

together

it's about making our glorious savior

known

in every corner of the earth together

starting with our own corner

may we not squander

or waste our time in this world

may we be found faithful

doing the things that

we've been made to do

and gifted to do

while we're here

so here in jesus prayer

first we see that jesus

is for our joy

then we see that

jesus wants us to remain here

for a purpose

and finally we hear jesus pray once again

for our protection

this comes to us in verse 15

as well

my prayer is not that you take them out of the world

but that you protect them

from the evil one

it's the second time jesus has prayed for their protection

but this time very specifically

it's protection

from the evil one

the devil is on the prowl

he is real

and it would be his greatest delight

to trip you up

to distract you

to turn you off of the path

to hurt you

to do damage to you

to your family

to tempt you

and so jesus prays

for his people

protect them

from the evil one

let me ask you

do you think the father

will answer this request of jesus

do you think he will give him what he asked

absolutely

now that doesn't mean that we'll never be tempted

it doesn't mean the devil will never be permitted to come after us

but it does mean that he will not prevail

over us

jesus has prayed for our protection

from him

and this

is our confidence

as john wrote

later on in his letter

first john 4 verse 4

1 John 4:4

you dear children are from god

and have overcome them

because the one who is in you

is greater

than the one who is in

the world

that being the devil

so we've heard and seen

three things in jesus prayer

this morning

number one

jesus is for your

joy

he himself is full of joy

and he desires for his people

his followers

to have that same joy

in the fullest measure

deep down in our hearts

will you give your trust to jesus

will you surrender your life to him

knowing that he has

your best in mind

not just holiness

but happiness

we've seen that god has a purpose

for all of us

who believe

remaining here

in this world

let me encourage you

with these words

don't let your heart

and your

your aims

be captive

to the

to the lesser things of earth

as the church of jesus christ

we have a great mission

and purpose

for being here

are you living that

are you seeking first

and above all

christ's kingdom

god's will to be done

jesus name

to be glorified

and known

that's why we're still here

and finally

the devil is on the prowl

but don't worry about him

don't be afraid of him

our great high priest

jesus has asked the father

for our protection from him

and if we belong to christ

our good shepherd

then we have

this confidence

we will overcome him

and he cannot stand against us

so let's

give thanks now

together

for god's

grace

and mercy

father in heaven

we thank you

for these things

that we see

in the prayer

of your son

and i pray

that these truths

would leak

and seep

deep down

into our hearts

that we would

surrender ourselves

completely to you

to your plan

for our lives

to your commands

we want

that full

joy

that you offer

we also pray

and ask

that you would

give us wisdom

and understanding

about why you've

put each one of us

here

in this world

in this community

what it is

you would have us

be doing

what unique role

we have to play

show us lord

and give us strength

and energy

and passion

for it

and we thank you

too lord

that you protect us

from the evil one

that we are safe

that we are secure

that nobody

not even the devil

can snatch us

from your hand

we give you praise

we give you glory

in jesus name

amen