John 17 11-19 2006

Seventh Sunday of Easter

John 17:11-19

May 28, 2006

"PRAY FOR ME"

Introduction: The people of Christ's church take care of each other. As they do we often hear them saying things like this -- Pray for me. Keep me in your prayers. Remember me when you pray, Will you pray for me. And in turn we often here these words -- I will pray for you. We will pray for you in church. Our prayer chain will remember you. Or even let’s pray right now. These are tender words that Christians share with each other. In these words we share our needs with the people around us. And in these words we share the burdens of other people, especially our brothers and sisters in Christ. We approach the throne of God for the, sake of each other. When we speak these words to each other, and when we he hear these words, we are comforted knowing that we are not alone. It is comforting to know that other people are concerned about us and praying for us. It is even more comforting to know that our dear Lord is concerned about us, has prayed for us, and continues to pray for us.

            The Gospel lesson appointed for today records Jesus' words, His prayer, spoken to His Heavenly Father, on the night when He was betrayed. Jesus utters this prayer aloud because He wants His disciples to hear His communication with the Father. It was said for there benefit and they wrote it down for our benefit. The disciples see how Jesus enters His passion as a victor and they hear with their own ears the thoughts that rise to the Father, prayed for them, and for us. This prayer is often called Christ's High Priestly prayer. It is a prayer that Jesus speaks on behalf of the people that believed in Him and would come to believe in Him. As He prays for us He acts out His role as our mediator with God. He acts as our High Priest.

I.  Jesus Our High Priest

            In the Old Testament, high priests were mediators between God and humanity. Representing God, they proclaimed to the people God's law and the blessings of His gospel. They speak about the richness of God’s grace and favor towards His people. Representing sinful humanity the high priest poured on the alter of God the lifeblood of the animal sacrifices that atoned for sin. The High Priest would also offer up prayers on behalf of the people.

II. Jesus our High Priest Who Prays for sinners

            A. He prays for sinners. Jesus is the High Priest who offers prayers to the Father. As mediator and high priest between God and man, Jesus comes before God representing sinful humanity. He prays for all for sinners. In the book of Isaiah it is written -- 53:12 Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors. He prays for His enemies as Luke writes -- 3:34 Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." These words are also spoken to us for we all daily sin much and don't even know that we are doing it. In so doing we increase the burden that was placed on our Lord's shoulders.

            B. Jesus is the High Priest who prays for us. He prays for His disciples and He prays for you. He comes before God His Father for all those who believe in him. In our weakness of faith Jesus prays --as he spoke to the apostle Peter -22:32 "But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail." He prays for the Holy Spirit to come to you as He speaks, “And I will pray to the Father, and he shall give you another ‘Comforter that he may abide with you for ever.’”  Jesus prays for His church, for it's unity and witness. He desires that we be one with Him and the Father as He and His Father are one. This unity we find in Jesus Christ and His Word as He said, I have given them my Word…Sanctify them in the truth; Your Word is truth. The closer we follow His word the closer we are in the unity of faith. He prays that we will be one just as He and His Father are one. Our oneness comes through unity of confession that there…is one body and one Spirit ... one hope... 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. All these things for which Jesus Prays He can accomplish because He prays according to His Fathers perfect will.

III. Christ is the Sacrificing Priest and the Sacrifice.

            A. As the Priest of God. All His prayers are answered because He comes before the throne of God as High Priest. He comes before God representing sinful humanity, as priest offering the sacrifice for sin. As high priest He presents not just prayers, but He presents Himself as the sacrifice. He presents Himself as the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.

            B. As the Lamb of God. As the Sacrifice for humanities sins, Jesus' blood was poured out on the alter of the cross. In death His blood paid for the sins of humanity. His blood paid for your sins. From the cross His blood flowed giving the forgiveness of sin and salvation. He has filled the cups of men with salvation. Because of His blood poured out on the cross God hears His prayers as high priest. Because of Christ's blood poured out God hears our prayers.

            C. Jesus Christ is still our living High Priest. He still stands before God for us. Last Thursday we celebrated Ascension Day. We celebrated our ascended Lord that sits at the right hand of God the Father in power and glory, pleading His own blood on our behalf The Apostle Paul wrote, "We have a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens. See then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God. [He is a] High Priest who can sympathize with our weaknesses... Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, [where Jesus has gone before us and become a high priest forever] that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Heb. 4

            Conclusion: It is comforting to have out fellow Christians pray for us. It is even more comforting to know that Jesus prays for us. He prays for you as individuals. He comes before the throne of God pleading your innocence for the sake of His shed blood. He prays and it is His will that you are preserved and strengthened in the one true faith, a faith that trusts in Him alone. He is able to accomplish His will. Let this prayer, Christ's prayer, be a comfort to your hearts. For His Father hears His prayers and is pleased. For His sake He bids us to come to Him in prayer……That is why we can joyfully sing, “What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and grief’s to bear. What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer.” Amen.

Now may the peace of God keep your hearts and minds in the true faith through the prayer of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen