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morning and a warm welcome to any visitors that are amongst us. Just a couple of announcements. The usual, we will be having our evening service at 5:00 here. Uh Pastor Butler's preaching morning and evening. Uh this week, Pastor Porter is actually in Suriri, so we'll remember him in our prayers. He's preaching morning and evening there today. Our Wednesday night Bible study as usual at 7:30 p.m. And then the conference that's coming up, we're only two weeks away now from the conference. Um so far, we have around 166 people registered to attend in person and there may be some registering last minute. We definitely have room for more people to attend, lots more. So if you have family or friends or relatives or acquaintances that might be interested, invite them for sure. They don't have to belong to any particular church or any particular confession of faith. We're studying the basics of the Christian gospel and they're all welcome to come. So for with that in mind, we're now going to turn to worship by turning to Psalm 47 for our call to worship. Psalm 47. To the chief musician, a psalm of the sons of Kora. Oh, clap your hands all you peoples. Shout to God with the voice of triumph. For the Lord most high is awesome. He is a great king over all the earth. He will subdue the peoples under us and the nations under our feet. He will choose our inheritance for us. The excellence of Jacob whom he loves. Sa God has gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet. Sing praises to God. Sing praises. Sing praises to our king. Sing praises. For God is the king of all the earth. Sing praises with understanding. God reigns over the nations. God sits on his holy throne. The princes of the people have gathered together. The people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God. He is greatly exalted. Amen. Let's turn in our himynel to Psalm 24B. We're going to sing Psalm 24B as in Bravo. And stand with me as we sing this psalm of worship. The earth is races. The world and his brothers belong to the Lord. For he of the season nations has laid and burn on the waters his pillars have seen. [Music] the head of your heart and the hand with who to [Music] serless receive. The God of salvation shall righteousness give us looking to him is a whole blessed race. All those who like Jacob are seeking your praise. Oh, lift your hands. Ancient doors lift them high. The great king of glory to enter draw. Oh, who is the king that in glory draws near? The Lord mighty Lord of the battle is here. Oh, lift your head. Lord, lift them high. The great king of glory to enter. This great king of glory. Oh, who can he be? The Lord God of host, how glory is he? Seated. Let's turn to the Lord in prayer. Our gracious heavenly father, we come before you on this glorious day, a glorious day where we can enjoy the beauty of your creation surrounding us. Thank you for the sunshine. Thank you for the fresh air. Thank you for the the promise of spring just around the corner. And Lord, on this glorious day, we thank you that we can express our joy and our gladness before you, having this privilege of coming into your presence as your people to worship you. And Lord, it is not because we've always had this desire and always been your people. In your mercy and in your grace, you have put this desire in our hearts because you have drawn us out of the kingdom of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the son of your love. And we thank you for the privilege that we have of being adopted into the family of God and being called your children. We thank you that we can call you Abba Father. And Lord, we pray this day that as a great many Christians around the world gather, have gathered earlier today and will yet gather today, we pray that the worship that is brought before your throne would be pleasing in your sight. Even the worship from our congregation this day, I pray, oh God, that it would be a blessing to us and to you. And Lord, we pray that you would cleanse us, cause our our hearts to be renewed, cause us, Lord, to focus on the things of heaven this day. Thank you for the privilege of coming out of the world to spend our time in your presence. Lord, we do pray that all across this land of Canada where the gospel is preached today, it would take effect that the Holy Spirit would attend the word and that hearts would be drawn to believe that word and we'd be brought out of darkness into marvelous light. Lord, we know that our nation is in a crisis. It may be a silent crisis in many ways because we are so used to all of the wickedness that goes on all around us every day and many of it behind hidden hidden behind closed doors. Lord, we do live in a wicked and perverse generation. But we pray for your mercy. We pray that in your wrath you would remember mercy. And Lord, we pray that the Christian church would have a preserving effect even as the gospel goes forth. We thank you for the good that you are doing in drawing churches together. Thank you for the conference that is coming up in the next two weeks. We pray God that it would be a tremendous blessing to all those who gather. We pray that many more would would uh be drawn in and and register in the next two weeks. Thank you for the churches that will be uh there and that will be pre pastors that will be present. We pray oh God that you would encourage each and every believer not only pastors and leaders but congregants from various denomination various uh churches that are represented. Lord we do pray for those in our association. We pray oh God that you would bless the churches in Suri in Armstrong in Dryen in Reginaina in Pinoa in Medicine Hat. Lord we pray as these pastors come together it would be a great time of fellowship. And I pray Lord that year after year we would see growth not only in the number of churches represented but growth in our relationships one to another and in our understanding of the truth. Bless the brethren that are coming up to teach as well. We pray oh God that they would be anointed to speak clearly the word of God to us. Lord we pray that this day you would also be with your people across the world that are being persecuted. Again, we pray for those who are who are in meeting in private, in secret, those that are churches that are um under even the ban of their their local governments or other religions. Lord, we pray that you'd be merciful to your people and to those that are in prison for the sake of the gospel. Encourage them this day. Lord, we pray that you be gracious to those in our congregation today who are not able to be with us due to sickness, whether acute or chronic, uh those who are traveling. Be merciful to them. And Lord, we pray that you'd continue to cause the families of this church to prosper. Thank you for the little ones recently born and the little ones in the womb. We pray, oh God, that as our children are reared in the fear and admonition of the Lord, you would put that faith that they need in order to believe on Christ in their hearts, oh God, and draw them to yourself. Lord, continue with us as we worship this morning. I pray in Jesus name. Amen. Amen. We're going to stand again to sing hymn number 256 from our himnil 256. God moves in a mysterious way. [Music] way his wonders to perform. He plants his foot in the sea and rides upon the [Music] storm of all minds of never heur and worth his sovereign will be fearful saints in the cloud so much are with mercy and shall break in blessings on your hand. Touch not the Lord my evil sense but trust him for his grace behind a crowning proidence. He hides a smiling face. His purposes will brighten fast unfolding every hour. What may have taste sweet and scing. God is his own inter and he will make it. [Music] You may be seated. Please turn with me in your Bibles to Luke chapter 2 for our morning scripture reading. Luke chapter 2, beginning of verse one. And we'll read through verse 24 this morning. And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the city of Nazareth into Judea to the city of David which is called Bethlehem because he was of the house and lineage of David to be registered with Mary his betroth's wife who was with child. So it was that while they were there the days were completed for her to be delivered. and she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them,"D" not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you. You will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." So it was when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing which that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us." And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen as it was told them. And when 8 days were completed for the circumcision of the child, his name was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. As it is written in the law of the Lord, every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord. a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons. Amen. Well, this is the birth of Christ, the incarnation of our savior. And it is remarkable how he came to earth in such a humble manner. Born to a virgin who was also humble, born in very humble circumstances. We all know the story very, very well. Also amazing that when God chose to announce this, he chose simple shepherds. You can imagine how upside down their lives were turned in a matter of minutes. I mean, just doing your everyday thing out on the fields watching over your sheep in the night and all of a sudden an angel appears. Why were they chosen? Why these shepherds? And then the whole heavenly host. I mean that would be a a a happening that you would never ever forget. And of course, not only that, they went they found the Christ child and Mary and Joseph. They told them what had they had seen and they went and broadcast this far and wide and everyone that heard it was amazed. Well, those shepherds were definitely changed for a lifetime. And the incarnation of course is most central to the Christian faith because we need a savior and we need need a savior that could not come from among common men. We are all tainted with sin. Everyone since Adam bell in the garden of Eden. Everyone is tainted and we are unable to rescue ourselves. We needed this savior who was perfect, who was undefiled, who was actually God and man. So let's pray. Gracious father in heaven, we thank you for Christ, the mediator. Thank you that he came in such a humble fashion into this world, not just as an example to us, but to be our redeemer, to be our substitute, to live a perfect life for us and to die that sacrificial death on the cross that we needed in order to have our sins taken away, to have them covered, to have them washed. and the the penalty paid for by another. Thank you that we can rejoice in this salvation this day. We pray, oh God, that you would continue with us as we worship this morning in Jesus name. Amen. For our final hymn this morning, we're going to turn to 471. Stand with me as we sing 471. [Music] of time are [Music] sing dark at In the mid tings at hand and glory, glory in the land. [Music] There is beauty [Music] without it. [Music] Oh sness may be [Music] dreaming the stand and glory glory in land. Oh Christ, he is the mountain that [Music] rely on earth. I tasted deep. [Music] And to the ocean his mercy and glory, glory fel in Ly. [Music] I will not at glory but on my king of [Music] gra all the glory. Bring the land. [Music] Well, you can turn with me in your Bibles to John's Gospel as we finish the high priestly prayer this morning. John chap 17. Our focus will be verses 24- 26. Remember in this high priestly prayer, Jesus had given the last discourse, the farewell discourse in the upper room to the disciples in chapters 13- 16. He offers up this prayer for himself, for the apostles, and then for all believers. And that's the section we're in. So I'll read beginning in verse 20 to the end of the chapter. So John 17:20 I do not pray for these alone but also for those who will believe in me through their word 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 and the glory which you gave me I have given them that they may be one just as we are one 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. 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. Oh righteous father, the world has not known you, but I have known you. And these have known that you sent me. 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. Amen. Well, let us pray. Our father in heaven, we thank you for your word. We thank you that all scripture is given by inspiration of God. We thank you that it's profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness. And may you need now send your Holy Spirit who gave us the word to guide us in our understanding of the word. And may our hearts be drawn out in adoration and praise and worship to you. And may we have the hope that this text affords to us that one day we will see Jesus Christ as he is. that one day we will behold his glory in that eternal state. And we certainly have uh foreshadowing of that now or down payments of that now. Each and every Lord's day, each and every time we take up our Bibles and learn of Christ, we look forward to that consummation of the age. We look forward to that that realization, that fulfillment of all promises wherein we will be in the presence of the most high, world without end. Amen. God, may these things be a blessing to us and may they indeed cause us to to bring glory and honor and praise to you. Forgive us for all sin and unrighteousness. And we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Well, as we have seen, the great high priest here, our Lord Jesus Christ, is praying for himself, his apostles, his disciples, and specifically for the believers that would believe that word. In fact, he mentions that specifically in verse 20. Father, I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in me through their word. And then the two specific petitions that he prays for is unity and future glory. He's already mentioned a glory that he has given to his disciples. Notice in verse 22, and the glory which you gave me, I have given them that they may be one just as we are one. So the church, the believer, the people of God does possess a glory uh that knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, that reflection of his work in us in terms of redemption. But here specifically in verses 24 and following, he's praying for that future glory. He's praying for our time in heaven. He's praying for what we just sang. The bride eyes not her garment, but her dear bridegroom's face. I will not gaze at glory but on my king of grace. Not at the crown he gifteth but on his pierced hand. The lamb is all the glory of Emmanuel's land. So Jesus is praying for the church. He is praying for those whom the father had given him that one day they will be where he is such that they can worship him world without end. Amen. Well, I want to look first at the prayer of the son in verse 24 and then secondly the knowledge of the son in verses 25 to 26. Now with reference to this prayer we see the petition itself. Verse 24, father he is praying Jesus according to his humanity. As God he has prayed unto as man he prays. Notice the specific content of this petition. I desire. Again, language that is suited to the humanity of our Lord. It's reminiscent of this time in Gethsemane. He says that that I I desire or I I would that you would take this cup from me, but not my will, but thine be done. So Jesus here desires that they also whom you gave me may be with me where I am. Now, with reference to this particular where I am, I think he's speaking as if it's as good as accomplished. Remember that hour is as good as accomplished in terms of our Lord's ministry. He knows that it's going to come to fruition. Verse one in chapter 17, Jesus spoke these words, lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, "Father, the hour has come. Glorify your son that your son also may glorify you." So when he says in verse 24, he is not physically located in heaven at that particular time. According to his divinity, he never left heaven. He says as much in John 3:13, you cannot contain divinity. He's always always omnipresent. He's always immense. So he is praying according to his humanity with this uh understanding that the death of his uh uh the the redemptive work that he's about to engage in is going to result in his place in glory. So Luke 24 in verse 26 in fact turn there for just a moment. Luke 24 when Jesus has been raised from the dead and he is speaking to those men in Luke 24 at verse 25. Then he said to them, "Oh foolish ones and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken. Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into his glory?" And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. So when Jesus says what he says in terms of his high priestly prayer that where I am, he understands that that is imminent. He's going to be arrested in Gethsemane. He's going to be delivered up to the Sanhedrin. He's going to be delivered up to Pontius Pilate. He's going to be crucified as a malifactor. He's going to be raised again. And he's going to be ascended to the right hand of the throne of God. So, he's praying for that reality that he wants the people of God to be where I am. But notice here specifically when he says this in Luke's gospel, u not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into his glory? And he says that this is all that the prophets had spoken. The Old Testament is a message about the reality that Christ must suffer and be raised to glory. Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into his glory is the subject matter of the prophets. And then in verse 27, the beginning at beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. Can you learn of the suffering of the Messiah and the entrance into the glory of the Messiah in the Old Testament? Well, Jesus assumes so. Jesus in fact calls these men uh uh slow of heart because they didn't get it. He calls them foolish because they didn't understand it. The Old Testament is a messianic document. It's all about the Lord Jesus Christ and the suffering and the death and the resurrection and the entering into glory. So as he prays this prayer with reference to the people of God with can I remind us with reference to us those who believe the apostolic testimony through the preaching of Christ's word we have come to know him. So he says I desire that they also whom you gave me may be where uh be with me where I am. In 1 Timothy chapter 3 at verse 16, it says he's he's received up into glory, whatever issues, whatever trials, whatever travails, whatever afflictions, whatever hardships the people of God have in this present evil age, it's ultimately going to end in the glory of being where Jesus Christ is. That's the emphasis in terms of his prayer. Notice back in 17:24, I desire that they also whom you gave me may be with me where I am. The ones given by the father to the son for salvation. This is not a unique theme in John's gospel. John 6:37, all that the father gives me will come to me and the one who comes to me I will not cast out. John 6:44, "No one can come to me unless the father who sent me draws him in this high priestly prayer. He has authority over all flesh but to give eternal life to those whom you have given me." This is a prayer for his elect. It's a prayer for his people. It's a recognition that one day those people will be with him where he is. It is the future glory for the people of God that is in view in the mind of the savior and the heart of the savior. with reference to this petition. It's a beautiful thing. He's already warned the disciples in John's gospel in John 15:18-16:4 that they were going to suffer. They were going to be cast out of synagogues. They were going to be executed. They were going to be treated like criminals and and like the scum of the earth. All that was true and all that wasn't going to change. But here in the hearing of his disciples, he is praying specifically thus I desire that they also whom you gave me these men and all those who will believe the testimony of these men that they may be with me where I am. This does confirm or rather shows from a different vantage point what Paul writes in Romans chapter 8. You can turn there. Romans chapter 8. So Jesus highlights the reality that there is this group of people given by the father to the son. And that group of people given by the father to the son the bible calls the elect, calls believers, calls Christians, calls saints, calls disciples, whatever your particular, you know, desire is to be known as. The Bible envisages that all those whom Jesus died for and rose again for will be in the presence of that lamb and behold him world without end. Amen. It's a beautiful, wonderful petition and one that should catch our attention that he's praying thus just prior to going to Gethsemane. Notice in Romans chapter 8 and verse 28, we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to his purpose. Another descriptor, those who are the called according to his purpose, the ones given by the father to the son. But then notice Paul can say what he says in verse 28 because of what he says in verses 29 to 30. He says, "For whom he forneew, he also predestined." Now this fornowledge isn't like what you might have heard. God kind of looks down the tunnel of time and sees that a person's going to perform well or he's going to believe properly. So God then predestines him. No, this is a foreign knowledge of intimacy. This is a foreign knowledge of setting the affection upon one. This is according to God's good pleasure whom he forneew. These also he predestinated to adoption or I'm sorry back to 29. I got other text in my head. uh he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his son that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom he predestined these he also called and whom he called these he also justified and whom he justified. Note the language these he also glorified. Now if we constructed an order of salvation we could locate sanctification in between justification and glorification. It's that sort of continuum period that we find ourselves in presently. Right? The good that I wish to do, I don't always do. The evil that I don't want to do, I find myself doing. Wretched man that I am, who will deliver me from this body of death? Sanctification is a reality. But in this particular order of salvation, Paul goes from justification to glorification. Paul says that those justified freely by God's grace can bank on the reality of a future glory in the presence of Jesus Christ, the Lord. That is your purpose. That is your destiny. That is what God has predestined for those whom he is conforming to the image of his beloved son. And our blessed savior at the high priestly prayer. The last petition proper is that these ones whom you've given to me will be with me ultimately in glory so that they can behold my glory. What a wonderful prayer. What a wonderful petition. He's not petitioning the father in the way of, "Oh, these guys are going to treat me poorly in Gethsemane. These wretched unbelieving Jews at the Sanhedrin are going to treat me poorly. Pilate's going to condemn me to death with the authority that you've given him." He doesn't do that. And he could legitimately, and it would be according to true humanity, but he's praying for us. He's praying for our glorification. He's praying for the reality of a Romans 8:30. These he also justified and whom he justified, these he also glorified. Going back to the high priestly prayer, these are the ones given by the father to the son in redemption according to God's free grace. just as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blame in love having predestined us unto adoption as sons by Christ Jesus our Lord. So the Lord Jesus Christ is praying for our future glory. the ones given to the f uh given by the father to the son who had been protected from the evil one verse 15 sanctified for the holy one verse 17 will be glorified in the presence of the holy one in the day of judgment and then note the purpose of his petition specifically back to 24 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 and me. Now the the glory given by the father to the son is not predicated on the second person of the trinity sunship. It's the mediatorial glory of the god man. It's the John 1:14 emphasis. The word described in 1:1 became flesh and dwelt among us. When Jesus accomplishes all that the father had given him, the father confers upon him glory. The father confers upon him a name which is above every name. Incidentally, we're going to look at that passage tonight in Philippians chapter 2. He gives him that position at his right hand of supreme authority. Again, that's not because Jesus is the second person of the Trinity, but it's because Jesus as the second person of the Trinity took our humanity to himself came into this wretched world, lived for sinners, died for sinners, and was raised again for sinners. And so that glory given by the father to the son. Jesus prays that we will go to heaven that we will enter into where Christ is and that we will behold his glory. If you ask the question, what are we going to do in heaven? We're going to behold the glory of God. We're going to stand or kneel or fall down, however it goes, in the presence of the glory of God. Notice specifically with reference to this, the glory of the believer is to behold the glory of the savior. Again, the hymn that we just sang, not at the crown he gifteth, but on his pierced hand. The lamb is all, the glory of Emmanuel's land. I would suggest that the glory of the savior is what makes heaven heaven. It's what makes heaven heaven. Remember Moses in Exodus 33, he says to God most high, "If you don't go with us into the promised land," we don't want to go. What makes the promised land good? It's the presence of Yahweh with his people. What makes heaven heaven? It's the presence of Jesus with his people. Listen to the book of Revelation, a pen, a book penned by our author here, Revelation 21:22 and 23. But I saw no temple in it. For the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it. For the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. Again, conceptually, we can't even imagine what it's like. In fact, there's a text I'm going to end with this this morning that says that 1 Corinthians 2:9, the Apostle invoking Isaiah 64 and Isaiah 65. eye has not seen nor ear heard nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love him. Jesus speaks of it. The Bible promises it. The Bible uh demonstrates or rather illustrates it in the book of Revelation. But what it is to be in the presence of almighty God to behold the glory of Jesus Christ, the one who loved us and the one who gave himself for us. Again, conceptually, I think we understand it. But in terms of experientially, no, not yet. We've already tasted the blessings to be sure. I would argue that church and corporate worship, where Christ is walking in the midst of the lampstand, is a foretaste of that, but it's not the completed state of that. We've already received, but it's not yet been fully consummated. So Christ is praying for the elect that it'll be fully consummated that they'll be protected by God, sanctified by God, unified with one another such that one day they'll enter into the glory of the Savior. And that purpose for or the purpose for that is to behold his glory, to stand in amazement, to marvel, to not look at, you know, the the the the streets of gold and the pearly gates. Oh, there's John. There's Bill. There's Frank. I don't know. Maybe we will do that. But the focus of heaven is Jesus. He's the crown. He's the jewel. He's the summon substance. That's what John tells us in the revelation. The glory of the Savior was given by the father to the son. When Jesus fulfills all that the father gives him, when Jesus effectively accomplishes redemption, God was well pleased and God put him at the right hand. God gave him that mediatorial kingdom to rule and to reign. And he will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead. He will offer up that kingdom to the father and then we will be in the presence of the most high to stand in awe. In 17:24 he says, "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." And then he gives this bit of a reason, not a reason for us entering into heaven, but the reason why the father gives glory to the son, for you loved me before the foundation of the world. Now I would suggest that the predestination of Christ by the father for his redemptive work is what is in view here. In fact in first Peter 1 and:es 20 and 21 we read he indeed was for ordained before the foundation of the world but was manifest in these last times for you who through him believe in God who raised him from the dead and gave him glory so that your faith and hope are in God. So the reason why the father confers this glory upon the son is the latter part of verse 24. For you loved me before the foundation of the world. In the mind of God most high. It would be the word who assumed our humanity who would live for us who would die for us and who would be raised again for us. That word is the object of the father's love. That word is the object of the father's approbation. That word is the the the object of the father's delight. And so the father confers glory upon him. Again, not the intrinsic glory that is essential to God, but to the god man who takes on our humanity and does all that the father had given him. The father confers glory, positions him at his right hand, gives him the reigns of the universe and to or uh orchestrate all things until he comes again in glory to judge the living and the dead. This highlights predestination of Christ as mediator and of the people of God in Christ as mediator. this from the foundation of the world. Jesus took on our humanity according to 114 not from the foundation of the world. He took on our humanity in you know AD0 that's a rough estimate there or BC whatever it is there was a point in time in history the fullness of the time Galatians 4:4 God sent forth his son born of a woman well that born of a womanness and that born under the lawess did not happen from eternity so when Jesus says before the foundation of the world. It is as it were an appeal to the decree of God. What God had purposed in eternity past to accomplish in history in the sending of the son of his love. You love me from the foundation of the world. That language again, if it does anything, it should not promote in us, oh, I don't like this doctrine of God's absolute sovereignty. It should promote just the opposite. I love this doctrine of God's absolute sovereignty. I love the fact that there's somebody in charge and that somebody is infinite wisdom that that that somebody is infinitely glorious. That somebody is infinitely good and that somebody governs all his creatures and all their actions such that when the time was come, he sends forth his son. Herod couldn't stop it. The devil couldn't stop it. No one could stop that. Why? Because God's in charge. When Christ is in his earthly ministry, he's purposed to do the will of him who sent him. And why does he do this? He does this to please and to glorify the father. He does this to save his people from their sins. He does this for you and I. And then he prays that that salvation that they have, justification by God's grace through faith in Jesus, that sanctification, that day in dayout battle with the flesh, it's going to result in glorification. That's not haphazard. There's no short circuiting to be had. Why? Because God determined this before the foundation of the world. in so far as the persons that were going to be benefited by that just as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world. That decree of God means certain objective salvation for all those who were given by the father to the son. And so Jesus says, "You will confer this glory on me because you loved me from before the foundation of the world." Again, if we think of God in himself, the love of the father and the love of the son and the love of the spirit, there was never a time when it wasn't. There was never a time when it began. Father, son, holy spirit are from everlasting to everlasting. They live in a in a beautiful harmony of love. He's talking about his finished work is the mediator. He's finished his is finishing of the hour as the God man who has accomplished what the father has given him and in his mind in his prayer is that you and I will be in glory. It it it really is glorious. Now notice then after the prayer of the sun we see the the knowledge of the sun in verses 25 and 26. He does this in this prayer on a few occasions. Notice what he says in verse 25. Oh righteous father. Interesting there. Prior it's father. It's now righteous father. I don't think I could prove this beyond a shadow of a doubt but it seems to make sense that oh righteous father goes along with what he says next. The world has not known you. There's this kind of righteous unrighteous motif going on in the scripture or in the gospel of John. The world hates Jesus and he acknowledges it right here. The world has not known you. Maybe the righteous father reference has as its backdrop the righteous God punishing that unbelieving world. Anyways, look at what he says. Oh righteous father, the world has not known you, but I have known you and these have known that you sent me. And I have declared to them your name and will declare it that the the love with which you love me may be in them and I in them. So he first excludes the world. Again, there's different ways that the Bible uses the word world. It doesn't always mean the exact same thing. There's obvious connection, but that it's not always the same. He was in the world. John 1:10. That means Earth. He wasn't on Pluto, which is not even a planet anymore. Sorry to say. He wasn't on Neptune. He was in the world. That's the Earth. And the world was made by him or through him. That means the entirety of the cosmos. Even that declassified Pluto, whatever galaxies, whatever, you know, things are out there, he made it all. It's the cosmos. And the world did not know him. Three times word is uh world is used in verse 10 of John 1 in different ways. Again not completely utterly different. Here it means dog. Here it means cat that you know there's obvious connection in terms of the the range the semantic range. Jesus has been using world in this particular prayer to indicate the unbelievers those not given by the father to the son. those enemies of Jesus and those enemies of the disciples. In fact, in verse 9, he says, I don't I don't pray for the world, but again, I pray for those whom you have given me out of the world. He has made that distinction between the apostles and those who believe their testimony from the world. John does this in first John as well. In fact, we use that. Oh, well, don't be worldly. What do we mean by that? We don't mean don't live on earth. Of course, we mean live on earth. we couldn't live anywhere else. We mean don't be wicked. Don't be wretched. Don't be godless. And so notice that that in the high priestly prayer, and you should really pay attention to this if you're not a believer in Christ, because if you're a believer in Christ, I just pointed out that Christ prays for you to be where he is, heaven, to behold his glory. Now for the unbeliever, notice what he says. Oh righteous father, the world has not known you. I think that if you're listening and you're not in Christ, you're not a believer in Christ, you should believe. You should look and live. And if you go back a few minutes in the sermon and you say, "Wait a minute, Pastor Butler, I heard you talking about predestination. I heard you talking about election. I don't know how these things jive. If it's all about predestined and all about elect, then how can you possibly tell me to believe? Because the Bible tells me to tell you to believe. The Bible puts that emphasis in the apostolic preaching of the cross. Sir, what must I do to be saved? Well, figure out if you're predestined. figure out if you're elect. Figure it out and then come back. No. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. The apostolic preaching of the cross, those men knew predestination. Those men knew election. Those men lived in light of those glorious truths. But it never mitigated preaching belief on the Lord Jesus Christ and repentance unto life. Never stopped. Then believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved. I think it's the devil's logic that gets into the minds of people that get you on this sort of sidetrack wondering if you're predestined when you should be believing the gospel. Wondering how do I know if I'm elect when you should look and live. Anything that keeps you from looking to Christ is not of the Holy Spirit. The the the spirit's emphasis in the pages of the book of Acts for one instance and and throughout the New Testament isn't don't believe, don't look, continue impenitent, continue happily on your way to hell. That's not the the thrust of the New Testament documents. It's not the thrust of the Old Testament documents either. What does Yahweh say? Look to me all ye ends of the earth and be ye saved for I am God and there is no other. Isaiah 55:1. Oh everyone who thirsts, let him come. The emphasis in scripture is not on don't ever look to Jesus, but try and figure out read AW Pink and see if you're elect. No, you can read AW Pink. That's great endeavor, but look to the Lord Jesus Christ and live. That's the emphasis in the apostolic preaching backed by the glorious truths of predestination and election. I think this is Jesus pattern, isn't it? I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that says, "Thou did hide these things from the wise and prudent, but you did reveal them unto babes. For even so, Father, it was well pleasing in your sight. That's Matthew 11:25-27. You know what happens in Matthew 11:28? Well, you all just figure that out. You sit in a room and try and figure that out. I praised my father for hiding gospel truth from some and revealing gospel truth to others. I I hope you have fun trying to figure that out. No, that's not how it ends. Come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will rest thee. Beautiful. See, an understanding of absolute sovereignty, not only does it not or should it not kill evangelism, it's the very foundation and groundwork for evangelism. Why do I go out or why do we go out and tell sinners to believe the gospel? Because we believe that God in his mercy and in his grace has purpose to save a great multitude that no man can number. And they happen to be from every tribe and every tongue and every people and every nation. The very foundation of the missionary enterprise, the very foundation of evangelism is the doctrines of sovereign grace. that those doctrines of sovereign grace should never keep a man or men or persons from telling others believe the gospel. Again, it's the devil's logic that gets you wondering whether or not you're predestined before you can ever think about coming to Jesus. How about you come to Jesus? That's the better place to then look at that question. It's the better perspective, the better vantage point. It's almost a condition placed on gospel preaching. You You need to make sure that you're qualified. Do you know what your qualification for coming to Jesus is? You're a wretched, horrible, helldeserving sinner. You're like, "That's it?" Yeah, that's it. He came sinners to save. You're sinners. He came to save. Wherein lies the problem? Look to him and be ye saved all the ends of the earth. For I am God and there is no other. It's beautiful. This doctrine of God's absolute sovereignty is somehow killing gospel preaching is thoroughly unbiblical. It is thoroughly unbiblical. So as you look at the text now, note the distinction between those whom the father has given to Christ and then the world. Oh righteous father, the world has not known you. And if that parallel ex does exist, if he's invoking righteous father in terms of righteous judgment to come upon an unrighteous world, again, I'll say to you, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Look to him in faith and live. Don't include yourselves or conclude yourself that perpetually you're going to just be in the world and I'm going to hate and despise this. Stop. Wave the white flag. Come to the Lord Jesus. Look to him in faith. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved. So Jesus says, "Oh righteous father, the world has not known you, but I have known you and these have known that you sent me." The knowledge of Christ contra the unbelieving Jews. This comes out in John's gospel. If I say I don't know him, I'll be a liar. If I say that I don't know him, I would be a liar. Jesus knows the father. And he speaks of that knowledge in this particular passage. But I have known you and these have known that you sent me. Now when you think about this, the knowledge of the son in terms of I have known you, it cannot be according to his divinity. There it just can't. There's never a time when God doesn't know God. I have known you in my humanity as my father. How? magic. No scripture. Remember that text in in Luke's gospel in Luke chapter 2. Jesus is behind. The parents of Jesus want to go find him out. And it says, "He increased in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and men." How do we think he did that? Through scripture. I mean, and through life and experience and doing what Jesus did prior to embarking on his earthly ministry. If Psalm 1 is about Jesus, as I believe that it is, Psalm 1 tells us of that man that his delight is in the law of the Lord and in his law he meditates day and night. When Jesus says,"I have known you," he's not speaking here as the second person of the Trinity, the eternally begotten son of the father who's always been in the presence of the father in terms of being the second person of the Trinity. He's the mediator. He's the man or the man uh the God man who assumed our humanity. I have known you. I have communed with you. This was prophesied in the prophet Isaiah in chapter 11. Chapter 11 1 and two. There shall come forth a rod from the stem of Jesse, conspicuously language according to his humanity, and a branch shall grow up uh grow out of his roots. The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. So when Christ speaks or prays in this particular section, I have known you and these have known that you sent me. These have known that because of the Old Testament scriptures, because of their interpretation and the life and the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. The disciples had learned based on their understanding of the scriptures as well, based on what they had observed in our Lord's conduct that he was in fact the one sent by the father on this mission to save his people from their sins. Again, as he summarizes this prayer, it's going to end on love. It's beautiful. Verse 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. You know, as I've thought through this prayer and as we're working our way through this prayer, I I can't imagine how it could be better. I I just I can't must be infinite wisdom behind the text. Yeah, exactly. Infinite wisdom behind the text. The spirit of God that that produced the text. Yeah. John took the pen to the paper, but it's the spirit who communicates that word. Think about where he's at relative to his humanity. He's about to go into Gethsemane and he's about to enter in to horrifying treatment. Just disgusting treatment. I think one of the lessons of the passion is that we should see what man unchecked really looks like. Oh, we would have never done that. Really? You sure about that? And yet when it comes to his concern for us, he wants us to be unified. He wants us to be glorified and he just wants us to experience the love of God and the presence of God in our lives. Isn't that wonderful? So this this this prayer that they be where I am, he knows that's future. We know that's future. So what about that interim period? What about the the not yet? Well, you get to experience God's love and you get to experience God's presence. Beautiful. Again, can't imagine how this could be better calculated to promote help, encouragement, and comfort to the people of God. I have declared to them your name and will declare it that the love with which you love me may be in them and I in you. Interesting future tense and will declare it. I think that's a reference to the day of Pentecost when he sends the ministry of the Holy Spirit. It's a reference to Jesus or the spirit inspiring the disciples or apostles to write the holy scripture and then the presence of the spirit and the age of the church to illumin the minds and the hearts of people such that we have the mind of Christ according to Paul in 1 Corinthians chapter 2. So, not only has Jesus declared the father in his earthly ministry visav 18, not only has he underscored and shown what the father had sent him to do in terms of his earthly ministry, but he speaks in terms of him being glorified, being where he is, and communicating revelation about the father to the people of God. So on that high note, he ends the prayer. They want he wants us to be in glory. beholding his glory. And in that interim period, he wants us to just know that love and that communion with almighty God. 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 says elsewhere, and we have known and believe the love that God has for us. God is love and he who abides in love abides in God and God in him. Communion with our triune God. The revelation the uh the recognition rather of God's love for us. Look at Ephesians chapter 3. A passage we looked at when we went through Ephesians that I think underscores this reality. In Ephesians 3, the Apostle Paul prays specific things for the church in Ephesus. He prays that they would be spiritually strengthened, that they would be spiritually knowledgeable, and that they would be spiritually filled with all the fullness of God. And those three petitions are found in chapter 3 in verses 16 to 19. Notice for this reason verse 14 I bow my knees to the father of our Lord Jesus Christ from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named that he would grant you according to the riches of his glory to be strengthened with might through his spirit in the inner man prayer for spiritual strength. Notice then secondly in terms of petition that you verse 17 about the middle being rooted and grounded in love may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge. Do do you see what Paul is not doing? God, I want them to meditate upon how much they love you. No, we should love God. We should love him a lot. But wherein are you encouraged when you go to prayer and ponder how much you love God? Or are you encouraged when you ponder how much he loves you? Paul wants you to be a scholar in the school of Christ's love. Where does he get that concept? I I'm actually believing that there's a lot more in terms of the epistles dependent on John 17. And maybe it's just I don't want to say lucky. Uh what's the word? Providential. I wasn't actually going to say lucky, but providentially being in Philippians 2 and the high priestly prayer, there's a lot of parallels going on. They got this from Jesus. Jesus is about to depart. And what does he want the people of God to know? That there's a future glory where they get to behold his glory. But in the present they know the love of God. They know the presence of God. They know the abiding of God. In fact, that's how Paul ends this particular petition at verse 20 or in verse 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. So in Paul's prayer, he wants you to be strong. He wants you to be knowledgeable and he wants you to be full. Kind of like Jesus' prayer wants you to be strong, protected from the evil one, sanctified unto the holy one. He wants you to be uh knowledgeable. They may know your love, father. And he wants you to be filled that they may know that you are in them or I am am in them. It's really a beautiful prayer and I think from it we learn the prayer of Christ expresses the mind of Christ. This prayer of Christ again according to his humanity. What occupies him prior to his arrest and his horrible treatment. What occupies him is his people. What occupies him are their spiritual needs. Make them all healthy, wealthy, and prosperous. No, he doesn't pray that. I'm not suggesting that's necessarily a wicked prayer. It is by Benny Hinn. But by, you know, normal, thriving, decent human people, yeah, health is a good thing. I mean, if you're working hard, you know, do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings. That's built into the proverbs. Those aren't necessarily bad things. You you go ahead, pray for your health. But when it comes to the high priestly prayer, Jesus is about the spiritual things. Jesus is about that protection, that sanctification, that unity, and that that future glory. It reveals his mind toward his disciples. And the prayer of Christ expresses ultimately, I think, the glory of the incarnation. He speaks concerning his task as already having been completed. He speaks as one who has accomplished all that the father has given him. He speaks as one who has done this not just simply as a grand example for others to follow but in a redemptive sense that those whom you have given me will be where I am that they may behold my glory. I would suggest this prayer as well provides security for the disciples. It provides security and stability for the disciples. Again listen to how he prays here. What's his concern? His concern is that you make it from point A to point B. His concern is that those justified are also glorified. And if that's the concern of the of the Savior, you know, it is secure. He's not going to lose any for whom he died. He's not going to lose any for whom he lived. He's not going to lose any for whom or of whom the father had given him. There is security built into this high priestly prayer for the people of God as well. The revelation of God is communicated to us through prayers like this and his love is known by us based on what Christ has done. Then I want to end right here in terms of just a an observation a two-fold one. There is an exhortation I think based on the hope of verse 24. So again look at verse 24. I want to make two quick observations and then we'll close. Verse 24. Father, I desire that they also whom you gave me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory which you have given me. So the prayer there is for future glory. The prayer there is for us to go to heaven. Well, John gives an exhortation based on this in his first epistle. And that exhortation is thus. Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us that we should be called children of God. Therefore, the world does not know us because it did not know him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it is and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be. But we know that when he is revealed, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. And then the exhortation follows. And everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself just as he is pure. It's good encourage or a good exhortation, right? You have the hope of future glory. You've been justified freely by God's grace. You've been promised glorification. Don't forget there is that that sanctification in the here and now. And I think that sanctification is best fueled and best prospered and best engaged in when you remember and ponder often the love of God for you, the presence of God in you. Other words, sanctification isn't just a matter of, I'm going to move my alarm clock farther from the room so I get up early and read my Bible. Part of the sanctification process is to muse on, to contemplate on, and to consider and reckon often the glorious truths of the gospel. Right? You you're not just called to to do well to to be better. Not do well. be better but do it in the context of Christ and him crucified and resurrected. So everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself even as he is pure. So the exhortation based on our future glory is holiness conformity to Jesus being faithful living in a manner that is consistent. But again do all that in the context of God's love for you and God's presence with you. But the encouragement based on this text is obvious as well. Listen to Augustine commenting on this. He says, "The Lord Jesus in verse 24, 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." Augustine comments, the Lord Jesus raises up his people to a great hope. He does. That's exactly what he does. He says, "Than which there could not possibly be a greater." Right? Doesn't get any better than that. There is nothing ever that this world has to offer, any world, any universe, any galaxy, any whatever that can exceed being with Jesus and beholding his glory. Just not. That's the lie of the devil in this present evil age. Oh, this is going to make you happy. This is going to make you secure. This is going to make you complete. Usually, it's sinful, wicked stuff. It's not. There's one that does. The Lord Jesus raises up his people to a great hope than which there could not possibly be a greater. Listen and rejoice in hope. That since the present life is not a life to be loved but to be tolerated, you may have the power of patient endurance amid all its tribulation. So if the exhortation is living in light of that future glory, conduct yourself in the fear of God, the encouragement has to be living in light of that future glory. Smile, rejoice, delight, triumph. You're blessed immeasurably. As the kids sang in the Sunday school, this train is bound for glory, whatever this evil age throws at you, whatever discouragement comes your way, whatever trial, whatever hardship, whatever affliction, we have to put things in proper perspective. Listen to the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:1 16-18. Therefore, we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day for our light affliction. Now, brethren, remember that Paul is writing this. He's not an ivory tower theologian that that's unhe hurt by the common evils of the day. He writes this in 2 Corinthians 4. If you look at his life in 2 Corinthians 11, you will realize that the man who says, "Our light affliction was afflicted more heavily and more severely than all of us combined will probably see in a 100 lifetimes." But comparatively, he says, "Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal." So, I guess I want to end with this encouragement. We're going to glory. We're going to heaven. We're going to be where the lamb is. We're going to know Revelation 21 3 and4. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people. God himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. Every bad and terrible thing that happens on this side of heaven, it is giving way to that exceeding weight of glory. Jesus prays that we will be where he is that we may behold his glory. I for one need to ponder this verse a whole lot more. I for one need to consider this a whole lot more. And if you're like me at all, and I hope you're not, you also need to ponder these things. We're headed to heaven. If there ain't there there's nothing more encouraging than that. Not based on our works, not based on our deeds, not based on our righteousness, not based on our sanctification, but based on the fact that this Lord Jesus accomplished the hour. He lived, he died, he was raised again for us men and for our salvation. Well, let us pray. Our father in heaven, we thank you for your word. We thank you for this priestly prayer of our blessed savior and the various emphases that we see here. And we know they're calculated to bring security and comfort and encourage to the people of God. And we bless you for that. We thank you that we are justified freely by grace, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. And we have this promise of glorification in the age to come. May these things encourage us and may they help us as we deal with the the the momentary light affliction. May we see that exceeding weight of glory that does wait for us. And we ask this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Well, we'll stand and sing 572 to close our worship this morning. 572. Please stand with me as we sing. [Music] Glory be to the Father and to the Son to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. world with the [Music] end. This is more of a doxology than a benediction, but it's from Revelation 7. After these things, I looked, and behold, a great multitude, which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb." Amen. Well, please be seated for a brief time of meditation.