Open your Bibles this morning
to John chapter 17. John 17. As a part of the funeral service
last Monday, Brother Rupert Reibenbach read from this 17th chapter of John. And when he read this 24th verse, it seemed like that I was struck
by something that I don't think that ever before I saw quite
so clearly. These are the words of the Son
of God. Sometimes I feel like that I
just have to remind you, this is not just an ordinary book. It's not a book among books. But it is the book. It is the
book of God. And it has stood all the tests,
all of time, all of the threats, all of the mighty powers that
sought to erase it. And we still have it. I believe it was the atheist
Voltaire who said in his day that in a hundred years nobody
would even hear or think about the Bible. But a hundred years later, in
the very place he said that or lived, there was a print shop. And guess what they were printing?
The Bible. Listen to the words of Christ
in John 17 and verse 24. Father, I will that they also
whom thou hast given me be with me where I am. that they may behold my glory,
which thou hast given me, for thou lovest me before the foundation
of the world." My message this morning is Christ's
eternal prayer for His people. And if you notice, these words
here are a part of Christ's prayer to the Father, and they are based
on a particular relationship. As a matter of fact, all prayer
to God is based on a relationship. But in this case, it is a particular
relationship. It is the relationship of God
the Father and God the Son. He begins in this verse, as he
does a number of times here, speaking to this one he describes
in verse 25 as, O righteous Father, Holy Father. And especially, He says, My Father. Father. And in them, Christ speaks
concerning His will. I will. And we have need to remember
that His will and the will of the Father, they are the same. There's no conflict. There's
no wonder. They are of one essence, and
therefore they are of one will. And we know in Scripture that
He speaks them as the one true and living God who works all
things after the counsel of His own will. I wonder, do we really believe
that? He says that he works all things
after the counsel of his own will. So when he prays here to
the Father and says, Father, I will, there can be no doubt
that what he says and what he prays for It is in a complete
harmony with the entire will of God, Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit. And we are reminded, as was just
prayed, that He does according to His will, not only in the
armies of heaven, but among the inhabitants of this earth, And
there is no one who can challenge Him. I mean, every sinner challenges
God's will, but they cannot challenge it successfully. He does His
will. And His will, in its central
being, if you will, has to do with the salvation of his elect. I will that they also whom thou
hast given me." When Christ came into this world, it was to do
the will of Him that sent Him. Hold your place right here and
turn back to John chapter 6. And look back up in verse 38,
in John 6, and hear him again. Well, let's go back to verse
37, because the thought is the same. "'All that the Father giveth
me shall come to me, and him that cometh to me I will in no
wise cast out. Four, because I came down from
heaven not to do mine own will, but the will of Him that sent
me, and this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that
of all which He hath given me I should lose nothing but should
raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of
Him that sent me, that everyone which seeth the Son, and believeth
on him, may have everlasting life, and I will raise him up
at the last day." That is His will. and his will
is one with the Father, and as such is the will of God Almighty. And he speaks of these that the
Father has given him, and if you look back here in John 7,
he distinguishes these that he speaks of. Verse 2 of John 17. as thou hast given him power
over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many
as thou hast given him." The glory of Christ, in part,
is that sovereign right, not only which he has by essence
and but by which he has been given by the Father in the flesh
to give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him." Look
down in verse 9. I pray for them. I pray not for
the world, but for them which thou hast given me for they are
thine." And then lest it should be said that he is only talking
about the apostles or the disciples that were present, look down
in verse 20. He says, "...neither pray I for
these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through
their words." He's talking about that people that he brings to
believe on him. And the Lord Jesus speaks these
words as the one who is described in this way. He is the same yesterday
and today and forever. He is shown in this book to be
what we call immutable. He said, I am the Lord, I change
not. Therefore ye sons of Jacob are
not consumed. And this being the case, this
is not his prayer for them simply on this occasion. No, it has been His prayer for
them for all eternity. And His words in this prayer,
and most especially in this verse, His words express both a desire
and a command. Father, I will. that they also, whom thou hast
given me, be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory
which thou hast given me, for thou lovest me before the foundation
of the world." Now, there are two things that
I want you to think about as we look at this. And number one
is this, am I one of those that he's praying for? And if so, secondly, if so, how
long has he been doing this for me? You see, this is his glory by
what God reveals in his gospel, we see the glory of Christ. Turn over to 2 Corinthians chapter
4, 2 Corinthians 4 and verse 4. Paul says, "...in whom the God
of this world hath blinded the minds of them
which believe not, lest the light of the glorious
gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto
them, For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and
ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who commanded the light
to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts to give
the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face
of Jesus Christ. But I want you to notice one
thing in particular in this prayer. And that is that the Lord Jesus
prays specifically, saying, Father, I will that they also whom thou
hast given me be with me where I am. He prays that these that the
Father has given him that they would be with Him, He says, where
I am. Now, the Lord Jesus Christ is
Himself the I Am. He is the Eternal Son and therefore
the ever-existing One, and as He says here, He was loved of
the Father in a specific way and for a specific thing before
the foundation of the world. And His people have been with
Him where He was before the foundation of the world. Where was Christ before the world
began? Well, He was where He was, and
is, and always shall be, in one sense. Listen to something that
he says in John 1. No man hath seen God at any time
the only begotten Son which is in the bosom of the Father, He
hath declared Him." He doesn't say, which was in
the bosom of the Father. He hath declared Him. He says,
the only begotten Son which is, or who is in the bosom of the
Father, He hath declared Him." So Christ as the eternal Son
and as the eternal Savior of His people, He has had His prayer
and desire answered from before time ever began. You see, when
Christ was set up as the covenant head of God's elect This was
his will then. He said, I will, that they also,
whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am. And when he was set up by God,
as we read in the book of Proverbs and other places, when he was
raised up in that hour as the covenant head of his people,
that desire was fulfilled and they were with him there and
then where he was. They were all with Christ. They were all loved in Him, and
given to Him, and chosen in Him, and blessed in Him. And God determined at that hour,
whenever it was, He determined not to impute their sins to them,
but laid them to the charge of His surety. And he assumed at
that hour the full responsibility of their sin. They were with
him in that great covenant sin. Turn over in your Bibles to Ephesians
chapter 1. In Ephesians chapter 1, these
verses, they declare just exactly that, beginning in Ephesians
1 and verse 3. He says, Bless be the God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all
spiritual blessings in heavenly places Where? In Christ. According as he hath chosen us
in him before the foundation of the world, that we should
be holy and without blame before him in love, having predestinated
us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself according
to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of
His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the Beloved."
In other words, the desire of Christ in that hour, whenever
it was, far beyond our ability to comprehend in eternity past,
whenever that was, His desire as the covenant head of that
everlasting covenant of grace was that this people be with
Him where He was. Look down also in verse 9. He says, having made known unto
us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure which he
hath purposed in himself. that in the dispensation of the
fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in
Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth, even
in him in whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated
according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after
the counsel of His will." Now, what does that next verse say?
That we should be to the praise of His glory who first trusted
in Christ. And the one that's spoken of
here as having first trusted in Christ is the Father Himself. And in that hour, He made all
this people to be to the praise of the glory of His grace when
He loved them and He chose them and He put them in Jesus Christ
as His covenant people and made Christ the head, the messenger,
the angel of that covenant. And the psalmist says this, God says, I have made a covenant
with my chosen. I have sworn unto David my servant. And that settled it. That settled
it right then. Because that made every one of
those that he chose in that covenant to be in the one, included in
the one with whom he had made the covenant, the Lord Jesus
Christ. In Isaiah 42, he says, I the
Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and
will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people,
for a light of the Gentiles." And Christ entered into that
everlasting covenant. And in it he pledged to do everything
that was necessary to save his people, which was to shed his
blood and give his life and to die for their sins. But God in that hour fulfilled
that very desire of his Son because it was his desire also that they
be with him where he was. In Hebrews 13, we have just exactly
this concerning that covenant. He says, Now the God of peace that brought again from the dead
our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood
of the everlasting covenant. Make you perfect in every good
work to do His will, working in you that which is well-pleasing
in His sight through Jesus Christ to whom be glory forever and
ever." In other words, everything done Everything done concerning the
Lord's people that make them pleasing in His sight is done by the Lord Jesus Christ
Himself. And there's not a greater example
of that in all of Scripture than the man David himself. And this
is what he said. He said, although my house be
not so with God. He was just given this instruction
that a king, that one who rules a house, everything he does is
to be done according to what God declares. But he said, that's
not the way it is in my house. Although my house be not so with
God yet, he hath made with me an everlasting covenant. ordered in all things, and sure,
and this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he
make it not to grow." This is it. This prayer of Christ for His
people was a prayer that was answered long before they ever
came into this world, ever before we took flesh and blood, It was
His prayer for them throughout the ages, and this was His will
then, and even though they fell in Adam. Do you think that changed
Christ's prayer? Oh, no. This was His will as
it was pictured in all the types and the sacrifices and ceremonies
of the law that was given to Moses which showed the way that
they would be with Him where He is, the one way, the God-provided
way. Now, what was all those sacrifices
showing? What was that tabernacle in the
wilderness showing? That they in themselves were
shut out. That they were like every descendant
of Adam and Eve. They were such that they could
not approach this Holy God. No man in Israel, with the exception
of the high priest, ever went beyond those veils into that
Holy of Holies. But he said, this is my will
and desire that these whom you've given me be with me where I am. And so that's what every sacrifice
and every priestly work showed, that this priest who represented
the people would take the sacrifice which God had appointed, and
he would take that sacrifice, take that blood as the one who
was appointed of God, the representative of his people, and he could go
that once a year into that Holy of Holies where God dwells. and sprinkle that blood and show
the one way that the people could be with Him where He was. That was always the message,
always the desire. As a matter of fact, let me read
you just exactly what Christ says in John 14 and verse 3. He said, And if I go and prepare a place
for you, I will come again and receive you unto Myself, that
where I am there you may be also." That's why He came. That's how
He is called the way. And this is His prayer for them
as He went as they went with Him to the cross. They were in
an inseparable union with Christ even as He suffered the agonies
of divine justice. They've never been separated
from Christ. In other words, what I'm saying
is this, that if you are one of His, There never has been
a time that you were not in this great sense with Him where He
was, brought into such a union and joined to the Lord Jesus
Christ by the infinite grace and power and will of God so
that His prayer has always been answered concerning you. Turn over to Romans chapter 6. Romans 6, this chapter it seems
like may be above all others, shows exactly what I am talking
about. He says in verse 3, Know ye not
that so many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized
into His death? Therefore, we are buried with
him by baptism into death, that like as Christ was raised up
from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should
walk in newness of life." Now, if there is one thing that these
verses and this chapter show, it is how that when Christ went
to that cross, when He died and suffered the agony and death
of that cross, when He was buried after He died on that cross and
rose again, all His people, as an answer to this very prayer
and thought, they were with Him where He was. Somebody recently asked me what
I thought about baptism. And it came, I thought about
it, you know, usually when people come and visit a church or what
have you, they ask questions and preachers are so eager to
have them, whatever it means, that they will answer in some
way favorable. But the question arose about
baptism and the baptism of children or the sprinkling of infants
and such as that. And I just had to say, no, we
don't believe that. For several reasons, but one
reason being the fact that sprinkling with water is not baptism. Because whenever one confesses
Christ in baptism, what they are confessing is their union
with Him, and their confidence in the fact that when He died
on that cross, and when He was buried, and when He rose again,
that's their hope, that's their salvation, and that's what this
is all about. And that's what Paul says here
in verse 4, therefore we are buried, We are buried. That doesn't mean a little sprinkling
of dirt on your head when you're buried, does it? No, he said we're buried with
Him in baptism into death, that like as Christ was raised up
from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should
walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together
in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness
of his resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified
with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth
we should not serve sin, for he that is dead is freed from
sin." Now, if we be dead with Christ, Now, if we died with
Christ, it's what that says. We believe that we shall also
live with him knowing that Christ being raised from the dead doth
no more death hath no more dominion over him, for in that he died,
he died unto sin once, but in that he liveth, he liveth unto
God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves
to have died indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus
Christ our Lord. You see, when he went to suffer
that agony, when he went to stand before the justice of Almighty
God, this very desire was answered, and they were with him where
he was. You see, that's our hope. Our
hope is not simply that we were chosen in Him in a covenant and
were with Him in that covenant, or that we were with Him that
is under His care all the times of our life, but also then especially
that we were with Him and therefore endured all that He endured in
Him. And it says, and therefore He is.
not under any dominion of sin. And neither are we. You see, you couldn't die the
death of the cross yourself, which is what God requires. That's
the only thing that will settle the matter of sin. And you and
I, of ourselves and by ourselves, we could never die that death. But our Lord had prayed, Father, I will. that they be
with me where I am." In that cross, yes. In that grave, yes. But resurrected, yes. That they be with Him where He
was. This came to my mind. I used
to hear people sing a song. It's just like so many I just
as soon forget. But this came to my mind, that
old song that people used to sing, Were You There When They
Crucified My Lord? You ever heard that song? I know
you have. Well, in one sense, it's an utterly
foolish song. But in a greater spiritual sense,
every believer could say, absolutely. We were there. We were in Him
when they crucified our Lord. And for that reason, the law,
which could demand only one thing, which was death, and a death
that satisfied God, That's exactly what He died, and we die in Him. And not only that, but this was
also His prayer when He raised from the dead victorious. As
a matter of fact, it keeps getting better and better. This was His
prayer when He was raised from the dead, and God accepted His
sacrifice and His victory was our victory. When He ascended to the throne,
they were there and are there with Him where He is. Let me read you some verses out
of Ephesians 2. Paul says, who is rich in mercy,
for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were
dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, by grace
ye are saved, and hath raised us up together, and made us sit
together in heavenly places in Christ." If he's talking about regeneration
here, he's talking about regeneration of God's people in Christ before
Christ himself rose from the dead. But he's talking I think
here most especially about how he has quickened us or raised
us from this death whenever he raised up Jesus Christ from the
dead and seated Him on high. Paul says there, and he seated
them in the heavenlies in Christ. And that means, that means that
they are right now in Him where He is. He's described as the
Head, and the Head is wherever the body is. The body is safe
in Him, and He is there seated at the right hand of the Majesty
on high, God having already accepted His sacrifice on our behalf. So when he sat down on that throne, it was still the same. Father,
I will that these that you've given me be with me where I am. He says, "...he hath raised us
up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in
Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding
riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves,
it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should bow." He said, I will, that these that you've given
me be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory. Can you see? That's what that
word behold means. Can you see the glory of Christ? It is more than simply acknowledging
the fact that He is God, because this is described as a glory
which thou hast given me. What is that? That's His glory
as the mediator. as the Savior, as the Lord our
righteousness, as our only hope and peace, as the One in whom
God is enabled to be just and yet justify this people. And the truth is, as He says
there in Ephesians 2, we behold Him, we see Him when He gives
us faith. And when He gives us faith, we
are enabled to see that really, we've always been with Him where
He was. We see Him in that covenant and
ourselves with Him. We see Him on that cross and
ourselves with Him. We see Him in that grave and
ourselves with Him. We see Him raised up all the
way up from the dead right hand of God, and we see ourselves
in Him. And then is when we behold His
glory. And one day, in answer to His
prayer, in accordance with His will, they will be with Him where
He is for all eternity. Remember what Paul says there
in Philippians 1? He said, I'm in a strain and
a betwixt. He said, whether to stay with
you or to go and to be with Christ, which is far better. They will everyone be with Him
and be like Him, and they will behold His glory forever. They'll behold His glory as God,
His glory as the one mediator between God and men, His glory
as the Sovereign, but most especially, His glory as their Savior. You see, you and I can't behold
His glory in its totality, and we never will, and we very slimly
do in this hour. And one reason being is because
we have no real sense, nor do I think it's possible for us
really to have such a sense of what we have been saved from. But when we find out what He
saved us from, then He'll appear glorious, absolutely, infinitely glorious. Paul writing to the Thessalonians,
he says, concerning that resurrection and that coming of Christ. He
said, then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up
together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air,
and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Why? Father, I will. that these which you've given
me be with me. Be with me. Me is heaven. Not simply a place like a posh
resort somewhere in fairytale land. Me, Christ Himself is heaven. Be with me where I am. That they may behold
my glory which thou hast given me for thou lovest me. before the foundation of the
world. And you know what else he says
in this chapter? He says, Father, you've loved them as you've loved
me. What a glorious, unmistakably wonderful thought. Father, I will. that they also,
whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am." Now, let me ask
you this. Is that your will, too? By the grace of God. That's my will. I want to be with Him where He
is to behold His glory. Worlds without end. That's Christ's eternal prayer
for His people. Will it be answered? Absolutely. Absolutely. all His people, for every reason,
including this one, that He will bring all of them to believe
on Him, and to see themselves as with
Him where He is, wherever He was, wherever He is, and wherever
He will be. There was one glorious thing
to me especially about the high priest's garments. The names of the tribes of Israel,
which are simply representations of God's spiritual Israel, His
people, they were on the one hand engraved
in gold And they were placed on the shoulders of the high
priest's garment. He carries them. But also, they
were represented in precious stones, twelve of them, that
were set in this, I can only imagine what it looked like,
golden breastplate. Big twelve precious stones. Twelve to show the complete number. Twelve to show none missing.
Twelve to show all loved alike. And when He went into that Holy
of Holies, there they were. Christ is a priest forever. His people will always be with
Him and in Him. Our Father, this day we pray that You would take Your Word
and by Your Spirit bring someone to see themselves
in Christ, in that covenant, in that cross,
in that resurrection, in that throne and for all eternity. May we praise the glory of your
grace in him. Cause this sight of faith, this
understanding and knowledge of faith, to stir up consolation
and comfort in our hearts. the knowledge of forgiveness,
the knowledge of our sin debt paid, our sins put away by the
blood of our Lord. Help us to know the security
and the safety and the glory of being in Christ Jesus and
with Him where He is. For we ask all things in Christ's
name. Amen.