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Sunday School Special : Lesson 144

Text: John 17:20-26
29 January 2023

SUNDAY SCHOOL SPECIAL 29 JANUARY 2023
Text: John 17:20-26
Subject: A Special Prayer of the Lord Jesus Christ V
INTRODUCTION

20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;

21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.

22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one:

23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

24 “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.

25 O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me.

26 And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”

John 17:20-26

1. Prayer for other Disciples

a) The immediate set of Disciples were already prayed for (John 17:1-19)
b) The subsequent Disciples that would be made were also prayed for
i) Disciples through evangelism
ii) Through faith in the Lord Jesus
iii) Through the ministry of the Word
iv) The key word is “disciples” (and not just “believers”)

2. Foci of this special prayer for the Future Disciples

a) The Foci are the same as that of the original disciples
b) The Lord’s prayer was for both:
i) The original Disciples
ii) The future Disciples

3. The specifics:

a) Oneness/ Unity
That they may be one (John 17:21)
i) As the Father and the Son are one
ii) That the world may believe through their oneness
b) Intrinsic Glory
i) There is a glory that comes with oneness
ii) This glory would be given to the future Disciples too
iii) Made perfect in one (John 17:23)
c) The future glory
i) To be in heaven with the Lord Jesus
ii) This is fullness of Glory in Heaven
d) Love
i) The Father’s love for the Son
ii) This would be declared to the future Disciples
iii) This special love would be experienced by the future Disciples too

4. The Relationship of the Lord Jesus with God

a) Father- Son relationship
“Righteous Father” (John 17:24, 25)
b) The closeness of relationship was carefully sustained throughout
c) The Lord Jesus was committed to declaring:
i) The Father’s glory
ii) The Father’s name
iii) The Father’s love