The fourth in a series of 6 sermons
Series Theme
What is the Church?
Many speak of the church as the building in which the congregation of God’s people meet. Yet this is not the Church that is the Bride of Christ, His body.
The Church is a community that derives its sense of fellowship from God who Himself lives in the community of the trinity; Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
In His High Priestly prayer, Jesus reveals much as to that fellowship enjoyed by the Trinity. He also reveals how that fellowship within the Trinity is to lived out in the community of those whom the Father had given to Him, the elect, His body,the Church.
Readings reproduced on this page:
The Holy Bible: New International Version. 1996, 1984. Grand Rapids: Zondervan
Readings
John 19:16–30 (NIV84)
16Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took charge of Jesus.
17Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha).
18Here they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle.
19Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: jesus of nazareth, the king of the jews.
20Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek.
21The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.”
22Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”
23When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.
24“Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.” This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled which said, “They divided my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.” So this is what the soldiers did.
25Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.
26When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son,”
27and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.
28Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.”
29A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips.
30When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
Text
John 17:1–4 (NIV84)
1After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.
2For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him.
3Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
4I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.
