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Christ’s Prayer
March 7, 1999
John 17
Many have said that the Lord’s Prayer is the prayer that is found in Matthew 6:9-13. This is a very short prayer and a model for his disciples but the real prayer of Jesus is found in John 17. This prayer is the longest recorded prayer of Jesus and gives us a picture of his prayer life as he entered the final stages of his life here on earth.
This prayer is divided into 3 parts. Jesus praying for himself, Jesus praying for his disciples and Jesus praying for the world.
Jesus looked toward heaven and prayed this prayer. Jesus was having an intimate talk with God, his Father and it was as though he was looking at Him as he talked.
Jesus’ first request was that the Father would glorify him so that he could give glory to God. God wants to bless us spiritually and materially but He wants to receive the glory for this. Jesus says the he gives God glory by doing the work which was given to Him to do. Jesus knew his purpose here on earth and set out to do it. Paul knew his purpose here on earth and in II Timothy 4:7,8 says that he had done what he was on this earth to accomplish. “I have fought the good fight , I hav finishe dthe race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day - and not only to mem but also toall who have longed for his appearing.”
Do you know why you are here on earth?? What is the purpose for which God placed you here on the earth? Why did God bring you to Canada? Why are you here in Leamington? God has a purpose for everything and everyone he has created. Our responsibility is to get to know God and learn what our purpose is and then do whatever we can to fulfill that purpose.
Jesus knew that his time to die on the cross was coming and he was ready to become the lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world. Jesus was able to bring glory to God by saving the world through his death. Jesus has authority over all peoples, not just Christians because Jesus created mankind. Jesus wanted to die for people so that they could have eternal life.
Jesus says in verse 3. “ Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” Do you know God and Jesus Christ? Do you have eternal life? What will happen to you after you die? Are you absolutely positive that you will go to heaven when you die or when Jesus will come back to get those who believe that He died for their sins. I John 5:20
Jesus prays for His Disciples
Jesus does not here pray for all people of the world but he prays only for the disciples who have been faithful and obedient. This has brought glory to Jesus. Is the Son of Man glorified in your life? What have you done to make God proud of you?
Would you qualify to be protected by God? Jesus is praying for all believers. Jesus prays that God take care of the disciples as he is going to the cross.
In verses 11 - 19 Jesus makes three requests for his disciples.
In verse 11 Jesus prays for their protection in a hostile world. It is interesting to note that Jesus says he kept his disciples by the power of God’s name. We need to realize that it is God who keeps us and protects us. This happens at a spiritual realm which we cannot see but we know exists. Just like we cannot see electricity but we know it is there.
Jesus knew that He was going to go to be with the Father in Heaven soon so he was praying for the future when he would be gone. He is praying that they would be protected from the world so that they may have the full measure of His joy. Jesus wanted his disciples to be happy. Happiness comes when there is freedom. Freedom from sin, lust, guilt. When people become Christians, if they have been under spiritual bondage, they have a real sense of relief. A sense of freedom that is inexpressible. Joy fills their heart and they have a new confidence and sense of worth.
This is not a temporary euphoria which worldly pleasures give but a permanent happiness and freedom knowing that the most important question of life has been answered that is - Knowing where you would go after this life is over.
There are many thing which the evil one tries to present as bringing happiness and pleasure which is not lasting. That is why Jesus prays in verse 15 that his disciples might be protected from the evil one. There are many things in the world that would seek to rob us of our money, our purity and morality. The world promotes standards which destroy our sense of right and wrong. They seek to change God’s standards so that they can indulge in evil without feeling guilty. Jesus says that we are not to be thinking only of the worldly pleasures but that we are to be sanctified by the truth.
The world is saying that there is no absolute moral standard. This is absolutely the opposite of what God says. God has given us the ten commandments. He has given us the whole Bible as an explanation of the ten commandments and how to live a godly and righteous life.
Jesus did not just cleanse his disciples and leave them on their own. He gave them the proper teaching and left us with the bible so that we would know how to serve the world. We are set apart for service to seek and save the lost. We are not to withdraw from the world but to go into the world and to help people come to know Jesus as the only one who can save them from their sins.
Jesus prays for future believers. We are included in the people which Jesus is praying for. In fact Jesus is still praying for us. Isn’t that wonderful? Romans 8:34, 35. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesu, who died - more than that , who was raised to life - is sitting at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? ... we are more than conquerors.! PTL.
Jesus is praying that there will be unity between those who believe so that the world will see that unity and be attracted to the love shown between believers. Unity is not just getting together for a meeting. It is having one purpose together - to reach the lost for Jesus Christ. Also we need to be careful that we do not silence people who have a different opinion as being a person who is contrary to God’s concern that his body is united. Many times the majority is wrong and God is raising up prophets to tell people that there is something wrong in the body. We read in the Old Testament that the prophets were persecuted. Even Christ was killed by the religious leaders for pointing out that they were not living according to God’s standard.
Jesus compared the love we are to have for each other like the love which he shared with his Father. Jesus loved the Father and showed his disciples that it was only because of the power which the Father gave him that he was able to minister and perform the miracles of healing and forgiveness.
Jesus not only prays that the bond between him and the Father would be strengthened but that the bond between believers and himself would also be strong. Jesus wants to be in your life. He wants to be your Lord. Have you let him do that?
Pray that God will bind us together and we will be kept from the world. Pray that the world will not influence us but that we will influence the world. Pray that the church will love everyone so that the world will believe and experience complete joy.
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