You've got your Bible with you, you can raise it in the air.

Sometimes when I look at mine, I just know I love this book.

I love this book.

So we're going to read this morning from John 17,

and I've asked a friend of our Zach to read for us.

But before we do, I wanted to just set the stage for you so that you

understand the context of what it is we're going to read because I think the context really

gives it some significant meaning. We're going to read from John 17, which is a prayer that Jesus

prayed.

And I think it's important that we understand at what point in his ministry he prayed this

prayer.

John 17 happens in the presence of his disciples just after he's finished the last supper with

them.

He's just said, this is my body broken for you, this is my blood shed for you.

Jesus knows that a short walk from where they are sitting is the Garden of Githemeny

and he knows the agony that he'll face there and not far beyond that, the trial and the lashings and the crucifixion

that will come within hours. At a time like that you don't pray insignificant things. You

pray the things that are most weighty on your heart. And this is the last interaction we hear

between Jesus and the Father

besides what comes from the cross.

So I want you to hear these words of Jesus' prayer

in that context and understand

...