Jesus Prays for You

Introduction:

We say all of the time that we need people to pray for us. How often do you think people genuinely pour their heart out for you when you ask them for prayer? Most won’t even pray in that particular moment.

However, even if it feels like no one else is praying for you, know that Jesus prays for you. Jesus prays specifically for you and me in His prayer in the Garden and even now.

Isn’t it interesting that it was in a garden that fellowship with God was broken with Adam and Eve, and it is in a garden that fellowship is restored through Christ?

Tonight, we are going to take a look at what the content of Jesus’ prayers for us were and what we need to do about it.

John 17:9–19 ESV

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.

How does it make you feel to know that Jesus prayed for you in the Garden of Gethsemane? He didn’t just have the 11 Disciples that were left with Him on His mind. He was praying for all who would believe down the corridors of history in this high priestly prayer in the garden.

What Jesus prays is important. It shows us what matters most since this was one of the last prayers that Jesus would offer before going to the cross for us.

Tonight, let’s take a look at the topics of His prayer and see some of these themes.

1. Jesus Prays for You Specifically (v.9)

Illustration:

It is campaign season and all of us are getting junk mail from candidates wanting our vote. I know you’ve all seen the stuff that says “To Current Resident” on it. There is nothing special about that letter from your senator that was addressed to you, “or current resident,” even if it was on fancy paper and had a preprinted signature.

You are not invited to your congressman’s next barbecue because they sent that.

However, imagine if you got a handwritten letter from someone. That changes things.

My kids love an author of Christian kid’s books by the name of Susan Marlowe. They wrote to her and actually received a hand written letter back to them with her using their specific names. That meant the world to them and made them a bigger fan than they were.

God has also prayed for us, not as a person that will come to Him at some time in history, but specifically. We may not see every name written in this one prayer, but Jesus is interceeding for us now at the right hand of the Father.

There is a unique relationship that the child of God has with the Savior

Jesus is not praying for everyone. Jesus is not interceding for everyone.

John highlights the special and unique relationship that the believer has with the Father through Jesus in his gospel

The themes of election and God’s choosing us for Himself run all throughout the gospel

Unbelievers have no special relationship with God and will be judged by His righteous judgment on the last day

Psalm 5 is an Old Testament passage that helps us see this special relationship.

Psalm 5:4–8 ESV

4 For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you. 5 The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers. 6 You destroy those who speak lies; the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man. 7 But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house. I will bow down toward your holy temple in the fear of you. 8 Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make your way straight before me.

2. Jesus Prays for Our Security (v.10-12

John 17:10–12 ESV

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.

Jesus prays that God would keep us in His name. This is not a prayer that we will not have tribulation in the world. We know we are promised that we will have it.

In verse 15 John says,

John 17:15 ESV

15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.

This is what Jesus means by praying that the Father would keep us.

Now, let me ask you for a moment a question. Do you believe that Jesus prays in accordance with God’s will; and do you believe that God answers the prayers of His Son?

If you say yes to these questions, then you know that God will indeed keep us in Christ.

These are also doctrines of grace here in that they teach us eternal security, or the assurance of salvation.

We will never abandon Christ and forsake claiming to be His followers because we are being kept by the Father in His name.

Jesus also does not say “Father, help them hold on, but hold on to them.” Our security is not in our abilities, but in God’s.

Illustration: A Child Holding a Parent vs. a Parent Holding a Child If a child is holding onto their parent’s hand, they can let go. But if the parent is gripping the child’s hand, that child is secure.

3. Jesus Prays for Unity (v.11)

John 17:11 ESV

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.

The unity that Jesus prays for for us is a unity that is rooted in the unity that exists in the Godhead.

In other words, Jesus is praying that there be no divisions in us.

What are some areas of disunity that exist in your life with other believers?

Did you realize that one of the purposes of observing the Lord’s Supper is that we might have opportunities to examine that unity and get things corrected with one another?

Illustration:

I love football and I follow it year round. It’s a hobby, I suppose. That means I’m following the roster management to an extent. These days to have a great team, you have to pay the best players. That is so different from years ago when you developed talent and culture. However, if it were just that simple, then whoever had the highest paid roster would be the champ every year and that is not how it goes.

There is a team chemistry and execution that has to happen to win it all. You can have a team full of all stars, but if they fight each other and don’t play as a unit, they can be beaten easily.

4. Jesus Prays for Joy (v.14)

John 17:14 ESV

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.

The joy that Jesus had is doing the will of the Father and glorifying Him.

We can be joyful even when we aren’t happy.

Think about it this way:

Happiness is like a thermometer—it rises and falls with circumstances. Joy is like a thermostat—it sets the temperature regardless of what’s happening outside.

We have joy in Christ, not in our circumstances.

1 Peter 1:6–8 ESV

6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,

James said something similar in James 1.

James 1:2–4 ESV

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Illustration: A Soldier with a Mission A soldier in the field may not be comfortable, but there is a deep sense of purpose. That purpose produces a kind of joy that comfort never could.

Point: Joy comes from knowing why you’re here—not from how easy life is.

5. Jesus Prays for His Word to Be Received and Obeyed (vv. 17-19)

John 17:17–19 ESV

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.

Jesus prays that we would know the Word and that the word would be in us to sanctify us.

Remember that whatever is inside comes to the surface. It comes out of our mouths.

Conclusion

As we look at everything that Jesus prays for us about, we can know this. Jesus didn’t just pray one time for us, but is ever interceding for His own.

1 Tim. 2:5 says,

1 Timothy 2:5 ESV

5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

Hebrews 7:25 says,

Hebrews 7:25 ESV

25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

Jesus is mediating and He’s interceding. That is enough to give us that joy that we were speaking of.

Think about that night that Jesus was betrayed and what all He prayed for. He prayed:

That you would be kept. That you would be one. That you would have joy. That you would be sanctified by the truth.

If these are the things Jesus prayed for… are these the things you’re pursuing?

Are you resting in the security He prayed for—or still trying to hold yourself together? Are you fighting for unity with other believers—or holding onto division? Are you chasing temporary happiness—or walking in the joy of obedience? Are you filling your life with God’s Word—or starving your soul?

We cannot just admire what Jesus prayed for us, we have to be confronted by it and ask ourselves these questions.