John 17:25-26 - Homiletics

An appeal to God's righteousness.

Our Lord approaches the climax of his prayer.

I. MARK THE MODE OF ADDRESS . "Righteous Father." Six times in this prayer has Christ addressed God as Father; but the name here used implies that Christ insists upon the reward of his service and. his sufferings. Justice pleads on behalf of the disciples. The thought of a "righteous Father" is:

1. Comforting to the righteous and the oppressed .

2. Terrible to the ungodly .

II. MARK THE CONTRAST BETWEEN THE UNBELIEVING WORLD AND THE FAITHFUL SON AND SERVANT OF GOD .

1. Consider the world ' s ignorance of God . "The world hath not known thee."

2. Consider Christ ' s knowledge of God . "But I have known thee, and these have believed that thou hast sent me."

3. Christ will make still fuller declarations of My Father ' s Name to the world ' s end . "And I have made known unto them thy Name, and I will make it known."

(a) his Word,

(b) his Spirit,

(c) and his ministers.

(a) God's love ought to dwell in believers as an habitual experience.

(b) It is the safety and the glory of believers.

(c) It is the means of our growing conformity to God's image.

(d) Wherever love is Christ is, "dwelling' in believers.

(e) They who have Christ in them have

( α ) safety,

( β ) access to him at all times,

( γ ) peace in their souls.