Intro. We often wonder what others think of us.
A. Especially true of adolescents, when they see a 13 years old, cute girl, wonder, What does she think?
B. When I first saw Beverly, wondered what she thought of me
1. In such circumstances we tend to exaggerate defects: pimple, out of date clothes etc.
C. Ever wonder, What does Jesus think of me?
1. I'm Christian, want to go to heaven, yet have areas of needed growth.
D. Two extremes when thinking of this question:
1. Think that Jesus doesn't care about our sins and weaknesses:
2. Imagine him waiting for us to make one mistake, to cut us off from kingdom, heaven
E. Both extremes unhealthy
1. The first leads to a lacksadaisical outlook on sin, evil
2. The second leads to nervousness, uncertainty, unhappiness
F. How can we know?
G. I believe that Jesus looks at those of us who are growing Christians, yet with defects, just as he looked at his apostles:
1. They wanted to do what was right
2. Yet had many areas of needed growth
a. Who is greatest in Kingdom?
b. Peter slipped beneath waves
c. three tabernacles
d. How often Jesus said, "Oh ye of little faith"
H. In spite of these defects, John 17 gives us a good idea of how he looked at them, by extension us.
I. What he are going to read in John 17 applies mainly to Christians: struggling to grow
1. If you're not a Christian, listen anyway, need to know this, direct applications later
I. Considered obedient in spite of faults (read vs. 6)
A. He said, "They have kept your word" (vs. 6)
B. How could He say it of men who had stumbled so much?
1. Many get in trouble with theological theories trying to explain how.
C. Best answer is no theological theory: Simply accept that Jesus looks at us as we look at our children
1. If you ask, "Are Rebecca and Leah obedient?" I may think of occasions when they disobey
a. yet generally they want to obey, generally do, so I say, "yes obedient"
2. Sure that's how Jesus could say what he did here.
D. Comforting fact to me: If he could call apostles obedient, can call me obedient
1. How would I feel if my girls, shaking, trembling fear: I'm going to throw them out of the house onto the street?
2. How does God feel when Christians, trembling, shaking, feel that any stumble: throw them out of kingdom into everlasting darkness?
3. Yes my girls need to know that if they rebel completely, they may be asked to leave the home.
a. If we rebel against God, we will fall from grace! (Gal. 5:4)
4. But while striving to grow in Him, He is patient: calls us obedient, just as he called the apostles obedient
II. Thankful, Glorified in them (read vs. 9, 10) Notice attitude of thankfulness!
A. Did Jesus really say, "I am glorified in them?"
1. "Glorified" definition:to cause the dignity and worth of another to become manifest and acknowledged"
B. Christ was glorified in the apostles not because they were so intelligent, cultured, wise in and of themselves: (Paul called themselves earthen vessels in II Cor. 4:7)
1. But Though humble, they allowed themselves to be molded into His image.
C. Jesus is glorified in us (Eph. 3:10,11)
1. Not in religious movement, alliance of local churches. That's not the church!
2. But rather in saved individuals: Bob, Mary, Jack, Rick, ec.
3. As they allow themselves to be molded
4. Ilustration: Potter and clay
a. Matt Gerber showed me an $800 vase. Was I interested in clay? no, in artist!
D. As we allow ourselves to be molded into Christ's image, we glorify Him (cause his dignity and worth to become manifested)
1. All glory is his
E. As Jesus looks at you he is happy, glorified in you
III. Concerned for spiritual dangers (vs. 11,12)
A. Had been with the apostles: protected them. No longer would be possible (vs. 11,12)
1. Knew impossible to take them out of the world (vs. 15)
2. Solution: that they be sanctified in the truth (vs. 17)
B. Jesus is concerned with spiritual dangers facing you: they can kill (deals with extreme of homosexual mentioned in the introduction)
1. We all have them: Spiritual challenges that threaten us in a special way
a. Peter - impulsiveness, others pride, self control, temper, worldly entertainment
materialism
b. What is yours?
2. Jesus Christ is very concerned about it!
C. We often try to reassure ourselves by talking of "weaknesses"
1. "You've got your weaknesses, I've got mine, everybody's got weaknesses"
a. feel reassured, don't worry
D. You'd better worry! They can kill!
1. Imagine at hospital: got heart disease, diabetes, cancer , "nothing to worry about"
a.We must worry! must treat those diseases, or they will kill!
E. Spiritual weaknesses must be treated!
1. Repentance, Bible study, prayer, service to others,
IV. Wants a closer relationship with us:
A. Read 20-23 Notice a little word
B. Word is "in": Look who is "in" who
1. Father in Christ 3. We in them
2. Christ in Father 4. Christ in us
C. What does it mean? A ghost, a phantom comes in us?
D. Thayer p. 211(will have to "translate") "Of a person to whom another is wholly joined and to whose power and influence he is subject, so that the former may be said to be likened to the place in which the latter lives and moves."
1. "Translation": "A is closely linked with B, under power influence, runs his life" Can be said that B lives in A and even vice versa.
E. Terminology used in English as well:
1. "Baseball in his bones," "Football in his blood," "I see Gandhi in him,"
2. Not referring to ghostly influsion but simply to a close relationship
F. When Jesus says, may they be in us, May I be in them: He is asking that there be a close relationship: As Jesus looks at you, he wants there to be a close relationship?
1. So much so, that it can be said, "Jesus is in Him," her, vice versa.
G. Has done all he can so that that relationship can be established
1. Sanctified self (19), declared truth (26)
2. Died on the cross, penatly could be paid for sins, could be washed have fellowship with Him and Father
3. Rest is up to us!
H. Do you have that close relationship with Jesus?
1. Not, do you attend Sunday? Wednesday night? That's easy but not quesiton!
I. Let's Work for that closer relationship that he prayed for!
1. prayer 2. Bible study
3. rededicate to serving others
J. We'll find ourselves drawing closer to Him, being more like Him.
Concl. How does Christ look at Christian? 1,2,3,4
A. If you're not Xtian, 1 and 2 apply in now way, 3 and 4 in a way
B. Accept His grace: don't reject Him longer
1. Mark. 16:16