Sermons on John 17:5
The various sermons below interpret John 17:5 by focusing on the themes of Christ's eternal nature, His divine glory, and the culmination of His earthly mission. They commonly emphasize the pre-existence of Christ and His request to return to the glory He shared with the Father before the world began. This is illustrated through analogies such as a soldier receiving posthumous honor and a monarch traveling incognito, which highlight the temporary veiling of Christ's divine glory during His earthly ministry. The sermons also delve into the Greek terms "homoousius" and "doxa," underscoring the shared essence and divine radiance of Christ with the Father. These interpretations collectively underscore the profound theological significance of Christ's prayer, emphasizing His eternal relationship with the Father and the fulfillment of His redemptive mission through the cross.
While the sermons share common themes, they also present distinct theological nuances. One sermon emphasizes the cross as the ultimate expression of God's love and glory, portraying it as a moment of exaltation and victory rather than mere suffering. Another sermon introduces the theme of the hypostatic union, focusing on Jesus' dual nature as both God and man, which is crucial for His redemptive role. This perspective highlights how Jesus' request for glory is deeply rooted in His unique identity. In contrast, another sermon explores the mystery of the incarnation, emphasizing the coexistence of divine and human natures in Christ and the temporary nature of His earthly mission. This approach underscores the eternal relationship and equality between the Father and the Son, offering a different angle on the theological implications of Christ's prayer in John 17:5.
John 17:5 Interpretation:
Jesus' High Priestly Prayer: Love, Unity, and Glory (Crossroads Assembly of God Taylor Texas) interprets John 17:5 as a profound moment where Jesus acknowledges the culmination of His mission on Earth. The sermon emphasizes that Jesus is asking to be glorified with the Father, as He was before the world began, highlighting the eternal nature of Christ and His pre-existence. The sermon uses the analogy of a soldier receiving posthumous honor to illustrate the glory and honor Jesus seeks through His sacrifice on the cross.
The Mystery of Christ: God-Man and Redeemer (Chris McCombs) offers a unique perspective by discussing the pre-incarnate and incarnate nature of Christ. The sermon highlights the Greek term "homoousius" from the Nicene Creed, emphasizing that Jesus shares the same essence as God the Father. This interpretation underscores the eternal existence of Christ and His divine nature, which is consistent with His prayer in John 17:5 for the glory He shared with the Father before the world was made.
The Dual Nature of Christ: Humanity and Divinity Revealed (MLJTrust) interprets John 17:5 by emphasizing the concept of Christ's pre-incarnate glory and his request to return to that state. The sermon highlights the Greek term "doxa" (glory) and how it signifies the divine radiance and honor that Christ shared with the Father before the world began. The sermon uses the analogy of a monarch traveling incognito to explain how Christ, though always divine, veiled his glory during his earthly ministry and sought to reclaim it post-resurrection.
John 17:5 Theological Themes:
Jesus' High Priestly Prayer: Love, Unity, and Glory (Crossroads Assembly of God Taylor Texas) presents the theme of the cross as the ultimate expression of God's love and glory. The sermon suggests that the cross is not just a moment of suffering but a moment of exaltation and victory, where Jesus fulfills His divine purpose and glorifies the Father.
The Mystery of Christ: God-Man and Redeemer (Chris McCombs) introduces the theme of the hypostatic union, explaining how Jesus embodies both divine and human natures. This theme is linked to John 17:5 by emphasizing that Jesus' request for glory is rooted in His unique identity as both God and man, which allows Him to fulfill His redemptive role.
The Dual Nature of Christ: Humanity and Divinity Revealed (MLJTrust) presents the theme of Christ's dual nature, emphasizing the mystery of the incarnation where the divine and human natures coexist in one person. The sermon explores the theological implications of Christ's request in John 17:5, suggesting that it underscores the eternal relationship and equality between the Father and the Son, and the temporary nature of Christ's earthly mission.
John 17:5 Historical and Contextual Insights:
Jesus' High Priestly Prayer: Love, Unity, and Glory (Crossroads Assembly of God Taylor Texas) provides historical context by explaining the significance of the Passover meal and the events leading up to Jesus' prayer in John 17. The sermon situates the prayer within the broader narrative of Jesus' final hours, highlighting the gravity and significance of the moment.
John 17:5 Cross-References in the Bible:
The Mystery of Christ: God-Man and Redeemer (Chris McCombs) references several biblical passages to support the interpretation of John 17:5. These include Genesis 1:26, which speaks to the plurality of the Godhead, and John 1, which emphasizes the eternal nature of the Word. The sermon also references the Nicene Creed to affirm the consubstantial nature of Christ with the Father, reinforcing the idea of shared glory before the world began.
The Dual Nature of Christ: Humanity and Divinity Revealed (MLJTrust) references several passages to support the interpretation of John 17:5. It cites Philippians 2:9-11 to illustrate Christ's exaltation and return to glory, and Hebrews 1:3 to emphasize the Son's radiance and exact representation of God's being. The sermon also references 1 Corinthians 15:45 and 1 Timothy 3:16 to highlight the contrast between Christ's earthly and heavenly states, reinforcing the idea of his pre-incarnate glory and post-resurrection exaltation.
John 17:5 Christian References outside the Bible:
The Mystery of Christ: God-Man and Redeemer (Chris McCombs) explicitly references the Nicene Creed, a foundational Christian document, to explain the concept of "homoousius," meaning "of the same essence." This reference is used to affirm the theological understanding of Christ's divine nature and His eternal existence with the Father, as expressed in John 17:5.
The Dual Nature of Christ: Humanity and Divinity Revealed (MLJTrust) references Charles Wesley's hymn "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" to illustrate the concept of "veiled in flesh the Godhead see," emphasizing the incarnation and the veiling of Christ's divine glory during his earthly life.
John 17:5 Illustrations from Secular Sources:
Jesus' High Priestly Prayer: Love, Unity, and Glory (Crossroads Assembly of God Taylor Texas) uses the story of Pat Carter, a soldier who sacrificed his life by covering a grenade to save his fellow soldiers, as an analogy for Jesus' sacrificial act on the cross. This illustration is used to convey the idea of ultimate love and honor, paralleling Jesus' request for glory in John 17:5.
The Dual Nature of Christ: Humanity and Divinity Revealed (MLJTrust) uses the analogy of a monarch traveling incognito to explain Christ's veiled glory during his earthly ministry. The sermon describes how a king or prince might travel under a pseudonym to avoid recognition, paralleling how Christ, though divine, lived a humble human life without the visible signs of his divine majesty.