(A) Introduction. (Read the reference)

I am going to look at three other things that Jesus wanted his disciples to have and for which he prayed.

(B) Joy

Jesus prayed: "So that they may have the full measure of my joy within them." Jesus' joy was more akin to a deep and settled satisfaction than the intense, but short-lived, euphoria that Kelly Holmes experienced on winning the 800 and 1500 metres gold medals in the Olympic Games.

Jesus had deep satisfaction in:

(1) Pleasing God. Jesus knew that his Father approved of him because he told him. Peter, James and John heard these words at the Transfiguration of Jesus: "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." Mt17v5.

(2) Serving others. Peter said to Cornelius: "You know .... how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good." Acts10v38.

(3) Completing the task God gave him to do. Jesus said in anticipation of his sacrificial death: "I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do." v4.

For the Christian:

(1) It is wonderfully satisfying to help others and know it. Some months ago I conducted the funeral service of the mother of my friend Dean. A few days later I came home from a ramble in the countryside and on my doorstep was a bottle of port and a card. I enjoyed the port but I enjoyed what was written in the card even more. Dean expressed appreciation for my funeral address and concluded with these words: On a personal note it meant a great deal to me to have a true friend help me through such a difficult time. It gave me joy to read that.

(2) It is even more wonderful to help others spiritually and to know it. Too often we don't know. I talked recently to my fellow elder, Edward, about old Dick Clarke who used to be a Methodist lay preacher during my boyhood. Edward said in the course of our conversation, "Poor old Dick - it was his chief regret that he never brought anyone to Christ." Not long after this I took two brothers - Gerald and Eric - for a ride. As we travelled along Gerald said, "You know it was old Dick Clarke who brought me to the Lord." Dick never knew. We rob Christians of their joy if we do not tell them when they have brought us a blessing from the Lord. It gives me the greatest satisfaction when I receive an email from a person who has been helped by one of my expositions.

(3) It will be wonderful to complete the work God has given us to do and to know we have pleased God.

'Lifting the Latch' by Sheila Stewart is the fascinating story of Old Mont (Montague Abbott) who kept sheep for Old Taffy (Jack Hughes) for 30 years. Not long after Old Mont retired Taffy died. The elderly shepherd was invited to stay behind for refreshments after the funeral. Before he left he was introduced to Jack Hughes' sister. She said, "So you're Mont! My brother used to talk so much about you. He thought the world of you." Old Mont thought: "He'd a b***** funny way of showing it." In all the 30 years he had shepherded for Old Taffy, Mont never received one word of appreciation. It robbed him of some of the satisfaction of a job well done.

What joy it will be for the Christian to hear at the end of the age: "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!" Mt25v23.

(C) Sanctification.

Jesus mentions two things in his prayer that produce sanctification - make us different from the world:

(a) His sacrificial work
Jesus said, "For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified." v19.

Jesus was set apart. He was the sacrificial lamb without blemish - the scapegoat upon which men's sins were laid. Jesus was set apart to atone for sin.

It is Christ's shed blood that cleanses from sin and sets the believer aside for service. This is what Paul affirms writing to the Corinthians: And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 2Cor5v15.

There are many remarkable examples of Christians who have taken to heart those words of Paul - "That those who live should no longer live for themselves."

One evening Joseph Stalin listened to a broadcast of Marya Yudina the famous Russian pianist playing the Mozart Concerto No28. Soon afterwards Yudina received an envelope containing 20,000 roubles. She was told it came by order of Stalin. Marya Yudina wrote to him: 'I thank you Josif Vissarionovich, for your aid. I will pray for you day and night and ask the Lord to forgive your great sins before the people and the country. The Lord is merciful and He'll forgive you. I gave the money to the church that I attend.' D.M. Thomas notes in his biography of Alexander Solzhenitsen: Surprisingly, nothing bad happened to Marya Yudina. Stalin may have thought she had acted so crazily she must be a holy fool to be left well alone. Let her go on playing for him, praying for him.

At the end of his biography of Catherine and William Booth Roy Hattersley mentions another holy fool, Harry Andrews, the adopted son of Emma and Leonard Booth-Tucker. Harry took a medical degree at London University medical school. He first became Superintendent of the Army's Punjab hospital in India and then on the outbreak of the First World War, volunteered for military service. Captain Harry Andrews was awarded the posthumous Victoria Cross for 'devotedly attending the wounded under heavy fire' and showing 'the utmost disregard for danger'. He was a true Salvationist. Roy Hattersley sees this as one of those incidents that illustrate the extent of William and Catherine Booth's achievements. I see it as abiding testimony to the power, power, wonder-working power in the precious blood of the lamb.

(b) The word of God.
Jesus prayed for his disciples: "Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth." v17. Jesus wants believers to be set apart from the world as God's word of truth informs, directs and controls their lives.

If we take the ethical teaching of Jesus seriously it will undoubtedly make us different. I read a good example of this in the Daily Telegraph on May 13th 2004. The headline of the article was: 'Pregnancy came as a shock. Now I'm happy to give up the Olympics.' Tasha Danvers-Smith was Britain's bright hope for an Olympic medal in the 400 metres hurdles. In spite of being in the shape of her life she began to feel tired. A pregnancy test proved positive! This was a terrible blow. Athletics was Tasha's living. She and her husband were not well off but if she did well in the Olympics it would give them financial security. So Tasha considered an abortion. But this is what she said: "This line from the Scriptures kept coming into my head: 'For what shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?' So then I knew. For me abortion was not going to be an option. And as soon as I decided that, I felt so happy even though I know it is going to be a struggle financially and that I am sacrificing my medal hopes." That is a fine testimony to the sanctifying power of God's word.

(D) Glory.

To be glorified involves two things: (a) Display or testimony of worth. (b) Recognition of worth. So Van Goth is glorified by: (a) His paintings. They display his worth and are testimony to his artistic genius. (b) The fact that his paintings are recognised as being of outstanding value and hung in the world's finest galleries.

A teacher is glorified by his pupils. Their aptitude and accomplishments are testimony to his skill and the appreciation they show is recognition of his worth.

If we bear this in mind it will help us to understand what Jesus said about:

(1) The glory he asked for himself.

(a) Jesus wanted God to glorify him. "Father the time has come. Glorify your son." v1. Jesus wanted his cross to be a testimony to his obedience and to display his love for the Father. He also strongly desired his Father and others to recognise this. God did recognise the Son's perfect compliance with his will when he raised him from the dead.

(b) Jesus wanted to glorify his Father. He said, "That your son may glorify you." v1. "I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do." v4. Jesus wanted his crucifixion to be a wonderful display of God's compassion, an incontrovertible testimony to his grace and for all the world to be aware of God's love in accepting his sacrifice as a payment for man's sin. In nothing is God more glorified than in the cross of Christ.

The highest heavens are short of this;
'Tis deeper than the vast abyss;
'Tis more than thought can e'er conceive,
Or hope expect, or faith believe.

Almighty God sighed human breath!
The Lord of life experienced death!
How it was done we can't discuss,
But this we know, 'twas done for us.

(2) The glory he asked for his followers.

(a) Jesus wanted his disciples to glorify him and to be glorified as he was. He prayed: "And glory has come to me through them." v10. "I have given them the glory that you gave me." v22. We shall glorify and be glorified if we are like Jesus.

(I) The cross was Christ's glory. When we make sacrifices and undertake hard tasks for Jesus that is our glory and that is the way to glorify him.

(II) Perfect obedience to the Father's will was Christ's glory. That is the Christian's glory too. John wrote in his first epistle: But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. 1John2v5.

(III) The harmonious relationship Jesus enjoyed with his Father was his glory. When men and women are aware of our devotion to God, when they see Christ in us, that is our glory and that brings glory to our Saviour.

No-one wanted to go back. The quarrel was bitter but eventually Major Brookes' family gave way and traipsed back to the dying man. Stephen was asked to pour water from the flask he was carrying into its metal lid. His Father held up the soldier's head and let him drink. Then he put the man's discarded bag under his head so that he was more comfortable. As the other members of the family turned away to retrace their steps Stephen became aware of his Father squatting beside the soldier saying something to him. The dying man watched him with dark, tired eyes. His face was relaxed, almost serene. Major Brookes was praying: 'The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want .... he maketh me to lie down in green pastures .... yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for Thou art with me ... .' Somehow the unintelligible foreign words spoken with such feeling and compassion brought peace to the soldier.

Stephen Brookes concludes his account by writing: As for me, I realised that I had misjudged my father, for he was a bigger man that I could ever have imagined. Even in his darkest hour he struggled to keep faith with his God and his Christian beliefs. He made a sacrifice; he was obedient; his relationship with Jesus was incontestable; so he glorified the One he served and was given the glory that God gave his Son. There is no higher honour.

(b) Jesus wants his disciples to share the glory given to him by the Father. He said: "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. v24. John makes clear what this entails in his first epistle: Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 1John3v2.

When by the gift of His infinite grace
I am accorded in heaven a place
Just to be there and to look on his face
Will through the ages be glory for me.

Jesus still prays for us. Wherefore HE IS ABLE to save to the uttermost ALL that come unto GOD by him. Seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. Heb7v25. AV.

Jesus is praying that his people will be given: knowledge, protection, unity, joy, sanctification and glory. These are the dominant desires of the Son's heart of love.