Jesus prays for us
Notes
Transcript
Difficult Times
Difficult Times
We all go through difficult time
It has been very difficult coming out to Fallon after deployment
It can be hard personally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually
Have you ever had anyone come up to you and say they were praying for you
Encouragement
Blessed
Today we are going to look at a portion of Scripture that has been described by some to be one the most important sections within the gospel of John
Besides the Cross, this portion of scripture that we are going to cover today I feel is one of the most encouraging portions of Scripture
Turn in your bible to John 17:9-21
9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. 20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
This section of John is known as the high priestly prayer of Christ
In his final hours before the cross, Jesus begins to pray for the Disciples and for all those who will come to know him even after he leaves this world
The first five verses of this prayer is between Jesus and God the Father.
Like any prayer Jesus demonstrates his close relationship between him and his father, and also describes relationship to the Father in terms of the Trinity
As we move into the next few verses, we immediately are hit with these words from Christ in verses 9-12
He is praying for you and me
How awesome is that, the son of God, the second person of the trinity is praying for God to look after us and protect us from the evil one.
He praying that God would keep us from the evil, one that we would not be overtaken by the world
31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”
This was just a few hours prior to this moment, and in a few hours Peter will deny Christ.
Notice Jesus’ prayer for Peter here in Luke
Even when his faith failed, he was still in the faith, and when he is restored, God has a work for him
Keep them
Watch over them, Guard them, protect them
Force protection (RP)
Why, because they will be left in the world
They have your word and they believe
The Word of God will be what they will come back to, because it is true
17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
Ps. 119:160 (NLT)
“The very essence of your words is truth; all your just regulations will stand forever.”
God’s word is true and faithful
When life becomes hard, know Christ is making intercession for you and He has given us his word to remind us of these truths
Set us apart by your truth
We are different from the world because we are not a part of the world
13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.
We have a home that we are going to, in the midst of our sojourning, Christ prays for our faith to remain strong
He prays for God to watch over our souls and to keep us safe in him
Lastly he prays for us so that we can be a witness to the rest of the world of Who God is and what he is doing in the world.