Jesus prays for us.
In John 17:1-11 The Apostle John captures a prayer that Jesus offered just before his arrest and crucifixion. This passage is often referred to as the "High Priestly Prayer" of Jesus because it expresses the deepest longings of his heart to the Father. Let's explore the meaning and significance of this powerful prayer.
The passage begins with Jesus looking up to heaven and praying, "Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you." (John 17:1) Jesus is acknowledging that the time has come for him to fulfill his mission on earth, which is to glorify God by saving humanity by becoming our sin upon the cross and overcoming death through His resurrection. He is asking his Father to give him the strength and power to accomplish these tasks. Jesus displays the need and profound power in the place of prayer, in this.
Jesus then selflessly prays for his disciples, speaking to the Father, "I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word." (John 17:6) Here, Jesus is acknowledging that his disciples were a gift from God, and that he had faithfully taught them everything that his Father had given him to share. He is asking God to protect and guide his disciples as they continue to spread his message of salvation throughout creation.
Jesus also prays for unity among his followers that will come later (disciples like you and I today), saying, "I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me." (John 17:20-21) This is a powerful plea for unity among all believers, both then and now. Jesus is asking God to help us all to be united in our faith, just as he and the Father are united in their love for one another. Unity will always be accomplished when people submit to God and seek His kingdom over their own.
One of the most striking things about this prayer is its intimacy and depth. Jesus is not just speaking to God as a distant, impersonal deity who is indifferent to the struggles of humanity. He is addressing his Father with love and reverence, expressing his deepest desires and longings. He is asking God to help him fulfill his mission, to protect his disciples, and to unite all believers in their faith. Jesus is submitting to the will of the Father and is asking for all who follow and will follow His teachings to be found in the infinite depth and beauty of the Trinitarian bond of love and truth.
This passage guides us to the importance of prayer in our own lives. Jesus prayed often and fervently, and he encourages us to do the same. This displays for us that when we pray, we can express our deepest longings and desires to God, just as Jesus did. We can ask for his guidance, protection, and strength to help us navigate the challenges of life and to fulfill our own missions on earth.
In conclusion, John 17:1-11 is a beautiful and powerful prayer that expresses the deepest longings of Jesus' heart to his Father in heaven. It is a reminder that God loves us deeply and desires to be intimately involved in our lives. When we pray, we can draw closer to God and experience his love and guidance in a profound way. I encourage you to take a few moments right now and pray for God to give you a deeper revelation of His love for you.
-Pastor Matt
The passage begins with Jesus looking up to heaven and praying, "Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you." (John 17:1) Jesus is acknowledging that the time has come for him to fulfill his mission on earth, which is to glorify God by saving humanity by becoming our sin upon the cross and overcoming death through His resurrection. He is asking his Father to give him the strength and power to accomplish these tasks. Jesus displays the need and profound power in the place of prayer, in this.
Jesus then selflessly prays for his disciples, speaking to the Father, "I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word." (John 17:6) Here, Jesus is acknowledging that his disciples were a gift from God, and that he had faithfully taught them everything that his Father had given him to share. He is asking God to protect and guide his disciples as they continue to spread his message of salvation throughout creation.
Jesus also prays for unity among his followers that will come later (disciples like you and I today), saying, "I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me." (John 17:20-21) This is a powerful plea for unity among all believers, both then and now. Jesus is asking God to help us all to be united in our faith, just as he and the Father are united in their love for one another. Unity will always be accomplished when people submit to God and seek His kingdom over their own.
One of the most striking things about this prayer is its intimacy and depth. Jesus is not just speaking to God as a distant, impersonal deity who is indifferent to the struggles of humanity. He is addressing his Father with love and reverence, expressing his deepest desires and longings. He is asking God to help him fulfill his mission, to protect his disciples, and to unite all believers in their faith. Jesus is submitting to the will of the Father and is asking for all who follow and will follow His teachings to be found in the infinite depth and beauty of the Trinitarian bond of love and truth.
This passage guides us to the importance of prayer in our own lives. Jesus prayed often and fervently, and he encourages us to do the same. This displays for us that when we pray, we can express our deepest longings and desires to God, just as Jesus did. We can ask for his guidance, protection, and strength to help us navigate the challenges of life and to fulfill our own missions on earth.
In conclusion, John 17:1-11 is a beautiful and powerful prayer that expresses the deepest longings of Jesus' heart to his Father in heaven. It is a reminder that God loves us deeply and desires to be intimately involved in our lives. When we pray, we can draw closer to God and experience his love and guidance in a profound way. I encourage you to take a few moments right now and pray for God to give you a deeper revelation of His love for you.
-Pastor Matt
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