Jesus' Final Prayers

Jesus had finished his discourse to the eleven. Time was very short. He was very near the climax of his ministry. But prior to the climactic episode of his life, he spends his time in prayer. Prayer is communication and exchange of thoughts and desires with GOD. Thus when we survey Jesus’ prayer, we are able to discover what was on his heart before the cross. Meaning these are important matters. My hope and prayer is that as we study these prayers, we will be motivated to pray, pursue the desires of Jesus’ heart, and consider how we’ve contributed to the weight of sin and wrath Jesus felt, to better appreciate his submission to the Father’s will!

The first of these prayers is in , which is a closing to his conversation from ch 13-16, which we studied the previous two weeks. Jesus first request is concerning himself, and in summary he requests glorification. This is really just a request to return to his heavenly home. He’s requesting glory so that he can further glorify his Father. Glory means bestow honor, clothe with splendor, and connotes representing ones character. Jesus glorified the father by his ministry and ultimately his death on the cross. The father glorified him by resurrecting him and his ascension. Jesus also glorified the father by revealing the father to those elected by GOD, and granting eternal life. Eternal life is a personal intimate relationship with the father and son. The father would honor Jesus by returning him to the splendor he had together with the father before they said “let there be...” Ultimately, Jesus is requesting his father to bring him home, resurrection and ascension!!

His second request is regarding the 11 disciples. The grounds for praying for them is that: they already belonged to GOD, kept his word, believe Jesus is the appointed Messiah of GOD. He makes it very clear that he’s not praying for the world, but those gifted to him. He makes emphasis of their identity not being in the world. But they will still be in the world. So his request is for their protection by his name (reputation, character, and power). He wants them protected so they will be unified like father and son. In particular, knowing the environment he’s leaving them in (the world), he requests protection from satan and evil. Additionally, he requests for their sanctification because they are being sent on a mission in the world just like Jesus was. Jesus desire is that they be dedicated to GOD, him, and their mission in accordance with the truth, which is the word of GOD!

His third request is regarding future believers, which means us and any who will believe after us. Notice the nature of the who! It is those who believe! But in what or who? Jesus doesn’t mention any objects or particular teachings, although teaching is important. But he mentions himself! He is the crux of this Christian identity!!! Furthermore, he confirms that our belief in him would be through the message of the apostles. What is his request? Unity!!! In what manner? As he and the father are unified!!!

Application: Before Jesus faced the cross, his heart was concerned about us and our unity in particular. Interestingly, in today’s world, unity is equated with uniformity. Meaning everybody must appear the same. In addition, we have defined unity by organizational identity and church designations (i.e. churches of christ, methodist, baptist, etc). These things are really based on human efforts and philosophies, with good intentions, but not the basis that Jesus prays for. Teaching, revelation, and interpretation are all very important, and are the grounds for our belief in Jesus!! But the unity comparison Jesus gives is himself and his father. Their unity is not organizational or a designation or label, but it is relational!!! They are distinguished, father and son, one invisible and the other visible, but they were unified in love, purpose, work, and power. Our authentic unity isn’t grounded in what we designate ourselves nor on doctrine opinions, rather what love? What are we aiming to accomplish? Are we working together and by the same power!!!

But then Jesus expands his request for us, that we be in the father and son. Jesus wants this unity to be purely associated and immersed in the vine and vineyard of the father and the son. For what purpose? As a continual testimony to the world that the Father truly sent Jesus to the world!!

Application: The first part is in what manner Jesus desires our unity, this defines who our unity is unified with! Again, this is about relationship! And we’ve already studied how we maintain an authentically strong relationship with the father and son, love and obedience! That’s how we showcase the reality of Christ to the entire world! Then he says our complete unity will testify to the world that GOD loves us!

This is Jesus first prayer, with lifted eyes toward heaven. It’s late at night and Jesus and the disciples make their way toward a garden they frequently visited. It is there where Jesus prays some more. But the nature of this prayer is different. It is here we see the human struggle of Jesus. He tells 8 of his disciples to stay awake at the gate, and takes his closest 3 further into the garden and asks them to do the same thing with him. He then expresses that his heart his extremely heavy, in pain, to the point he feels he’s about to die!!! His posture is entirely different because he falls to his face praying. He requests another way out!! Jesus isn’t just struggling with the thought of suffering and death. Cup is associated with the wrath of GOD upon sin (). Therefore Jesus is thinking about the full impact of GOD’s wrath being laid on him. Paul says in , that GOD made him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf. But I thank GOD he said “Not as I will, but as you will”. He returned to his disciples 2 times and found them sleeping because they were weak. They were ready to fight physically, but not spiritually. Jesus prayed three times, and realized that GOD said no all three times. He didn’t forge his own way, rather yielded and submitted to his father’s will for him and humanity.

Application: First, the principle of prayer is seen. We should pray for one another. But we also need to pray for strength because we are weakened by our human nature. Then we learn from Jesus how to still submit when the father says no!! Jesus knew the plan, but knowing the nature of his father’s wrath, wanted to see if there could be a plan B. Realizing it wasn’t, he didn’t recoil, but submitted. Do we still submit!!! Most of all, do we realize our sins contributed to Jesus’ heartfelt prayer in the garden. We deserved GOD’s wrath! But GOD decided to place it on his son instead!! How great is his love!