Jesus’ prayer in John 17 begins with a focus on the glory of God. Jesus prays that His impending death will ultimately glorify the Father and that this would come about through the granting (gifting) of eternal life to His elect. What Jesus’ crucifixion puts on display is the glory of God’s grace in salvation.

Jesus concludes His message to His disciples with the salvation promise of peace. This is a peace that is found in Christ, it withstands tribulation of the world, and it is grounded in the victory of Christ over the world. This peace is for all who join themselves to Christ and abide in Him.

In Jesus’ explanation of prayer, He shows us that what we experience as those who are one with Him is the love of the Father and the joy which Jesus Himself experienced as He lived daily dependent on Him. May the Lord grant to us all a prayer life that overflows with these blessings of salvation.

What does it mean to pray in Jesus’ name? Jesus speaks on this new approach to prayer for the new covenant people of God. This is indeed the prayer that the Father answers for our joy. In this sermon, we look at what this prayer is and what it isn’t. Hear to learn more.

Jesus ends His long discourse on the night of His betrayal with the encouragement of three blessings of salvation for His disciples. The first of these is spiritual understanding. Once sin is paid for and the New Covenant established, the spiritual blessings of salvation became a reality for the disciples. They were behind the veil that kept them from the spiritual reality of this salvation. But once atonement was definitely accomplished, spiritual understanding was given to them. What can keep someone from living in the reality of these spiritual blessings when they sincerely believe? In this sermon, we explore what can get in the way of the spiritual understanding that Jesus promised.

Jesus speaks of an otherworldly joy that cannot be taken away from us. This is unlike the joy or the happiness common in our world which is a stealable joy, a joy that can be taken away. What is this joy that Jesus speaks of that is unstealable? In this sermon, we explore the meaning of this joy from this text. A joy that is exceeding, redemptive, and secure,

Jesus promises the Spirit who will guide His people into all the truth. This is all the truth we need for life and godliness in this, the church age, and it is given to us in the teachings of the apostles in the New Testament. We have this treasure trove of wisdom given to us in the Bible. But Jesus tells us more. The truth given to us for faith and practice comes from the overflow of the goodness of the triune God who forever exists in a community of unity, harmony, communication, and love. The truth we possess in our hands is the product of a heavenly conversation and cooperation.

The Holy Spirit’s conviction is not only about sin but also about righteousness of Christ and the judgment of Satan. With each of these additional convictions, the Holy Spirit draws the sinner to faith in Christ and to salvation in His name. It is the grace of God that brings a deep sense of guilt and need in the sight of God. This is how God draws repentant sinners to Christ and saves them from their sins.