Jesus Prays For Us

Please turn to John 17 where Jesus prays for us. or if you have a green sheet.

In fact, I invite the ushers to come forward and pass out these green sheets.

Before I read this, think about the prayer life of Jesus:

True or false: Scripture shows us Jesus praying a lot. True--Yes—in fact, do you know how many times the Bible records Jesus praying—25 times!

True or False: Scripture shows that Jesus would sometimes pray publicly and sometimes pray privately.

Answer true! he would pray publicly like when he was baptized, or teaching his disciples. but also privately.

Luke 5:16 says, “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” (such as before he called his 12 disciples)

True or false: Jesus prayed because he was mainly setting an example for us.

Answer: True or false. certainly it is true that he prayed partly as an example for us.

but also, he needed to pray. b/c not only is He fully God. but He is fully man. and as a man, He needed to pray b/c He was fully reliant on his Father and the Holy Spirit.

so yes he prayed to set an example for us—but also because He was absolutely dependent on his Father and the Holy Spirit.

True or false: John 17 is the longest recorded prayer of Jesus.

True!

True or false: Jesus prayed this prayer pretty much right before he would go to the cross.

True!

We are in our prayer awakening series—hoping to spur us on, awaken our prayers.

I want us to look at 4 requests…4 requests that Jesus prayed for. (btw—there is more.) that encourage us—that we model, but also encourage us.

Request #1 is found in verses 1-5.

John 17:1–5 NIV

1 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

What is the word that is repeated all throughout? It is—glory.

so this is request #1:

Request #1: Glorify Jesus. (vs. 1-5)

Jesus prays—that he himself would be glorified.

Now, time-out—think about how weird this is in some ways.

If you or I prayed, “God glorify me.” if you heard me pray that—what would you think?

You would think I am self-absorbed, selfish—that’s NOT the focus of prayer. we are not to model Jesus in praying that ourselves would be glorified.

but when Jesus prays it—it is different.

why? first of all---He is God, He is the Son of God, the 2nd member of the Trinity. He’s in a different category than us

second he prays it—vs. 1— “Glorify your son—THAT YOUR Son may glorify you.” his glorification is so that God the Father may be glorified. He is sharing the splendor of his glory with all of Trinity.

third, he prays it—because his prayer request is tied to what he is about to do. he is about to be arrested, beaten, on trial, hanging for the sins of the world on himself in our place on the cross, dying, rising again. he wants people to see in the events that were to happen on the cross—that He is being glorified—lifted up—b/c He and the Father and the Spirit are accomplishing the divine purposes—finishing the work God gave him to do. and though there is something hideous about the cross (it’s graphic) it’s beautiful and glorious b/c God is accomplishing salvation

fourth—even though Jesus had incredible glory on earth—He has always existed—so he is praying that his splendor would be restored when He returns to heaven—the same splendor that He had with the Father and the HS in heaven. it’s not that Jesus did not have glory on earth—it would just be more easily seen in its fullness in heaven.

fifth—(why Jesus can get away with it—and we can’t) since Jesus is God—He knows that what will help us best—what is best for us—what we need—is God’s glory—to see His glory in our lives.

so even though there is a uniqueness to what Jesus prayed—there is something that we learn from it.

We, too, just like Jesus—are to pray that He is glorified. what do we mean when we say that Jesus is glorified:

that we would see Jesus as He actually is (in his fullness) and that people would see that in us. (magnitude of all that!)

that we would value him (glory = weighty in the OT)

that we would see His beauty. (glory =beauty in the NT)

so the question this morning—is do you pray this? do you regularly pray that Jesus would be glorified…that people would see Him in his fulness in your life, that people would value him, (that you would), and that you would see his beauty), even in the cross.

Take a moment right now and pray that God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit would be glorified. (whatever you are going thru—good, bad, quarantine, whatever…)

and then pray it for our church

let me keep reading and then we will get to the 2nd request (stand if you are able).

Pay attention in these next few verses—Jesus talks about why he prays as he does.

John 17:6–10 NIV

6 “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them.

I am not going to completely unpack the verses we just read—but here we see some of the reasoning why Jesus prays as he does.

He points out that his disciples (we) belong to the Father.

that his disciples (we) bring him glory.

and that he is about to leave them.

so based on that, look at what he prays for next (where we see the 2nd request):

John 17:11–16 NIV

11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. 13 “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.

you may be seated.

so what is request #2 —

Request #2: Protect us. (vs. 11-16)

verse 11 — John 17:11

John 17:11 NIV

11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one.

the world represents all the people, and culture around us who do not believe in or follow God and His will. (the enemy around us)

since we are in the world and Jesus has left to the Father—we need protection, Jesus says. b/c there is a world around in rebellion against God. and doesn’t understand who God is.

verse 14—Jesus says “the world has hated them, for they are not of the world.”

some of you know what that’s like. especially if you are the only one in your family or friends who follows Christ. If you obey Christ, and cling to Christ, and treasure Christ, you will stick out. Your priorities will not always mesh with those around you, and it can bring some attention on you.

they may accuse you “who do you think you are? Are you better than us?”

I have talked with several who when they first come to Christ, they are filled with joy, it’s exciting but when reality sets in—in that—their family may not like it, their co-workers may not like, their friends…it’s hard.

so you need protection.

now Jesus is not just praying that you would be physically protected..or safe..although that’s probably included.

but look at verse 15.

John 17:15–16 NIV

15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.

Jesus wants us in the world—He wants us to go out and be salt and light in that world—be different for Him—to glorify Him. (if you are in the world, facing opposition — that’s often exactly where God wants you to shine)

But Jesus is praying that we would be protected from falling away from Christ. that we would be protected from being tempted by the evil one. that we would be protected from thinking it’s not worth it to follow Christ. that we would not be like Judas—verse 12—which we could spend an entire discussion free will, God’s sovereignty.

we need spiritual protection so that we are not swayed by the world, swayed by the evil one—tempted or accused. We need to be fortified, protected—it is worth it to follow Jesus—b/c He is the Son of God who prays for us and protects us.

so do you see the implications of this prayer—this prayer request means:

—life is not always easy—there is a world, and the devil

—but it means that Jesus is praying for us…we have protection by the power osfhis name

Would you take a moment right now and pray this prayer:

—for you

—and then for others--

That God would protect us from the world and the evil one

and that we would still be in the world.

for some of us who may be contemplating “is it worth it to follow Jesus?” or maybe you are on the edge of doing something you will regret—you can pray for spiritual protection right now.

maybe you are in a difficult spot in the world..pray for it...

the 3rd request is in vs. 17-19

Request #3: Sanctify us. (vs. 17-19)

John 17:17–19 NIV

17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

the word sanctify here—is where we get our word “holy” or “holiness.”

it means also “to set apart.”

God is set apart—He is absolutely in a category all by Himself. as part of that—He’s God.

but also He is perfect—no sins.

so when Jesus prays that we would be sanctified…He is praying that we would be set apart—that we would be set apart for God’s will, purposes, and follow Him.

That we would love what God loves.

and hate what God hates.

this is what it means to be holy as God is holy.

and he shows how we are sanctified.

verse 17.

John 17:17 NIV

17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.

we are set apart, renewed, made different, holy—by God’s Word—His Truth.

His Word is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword—penetrating to dividing soul and spirit.

When we are soaked in God’s Word, living on it, not by bread alone—we are set apart…not so that we are out of the world—no so that we are in the world on mission. Jesus even said “He sent us into the world.”

Part of the reason that Jesus prays for us to be protected and sanctified is so that

we would be effective on mission—sharing Jesus with people that need it!

so the question is—are you set apart—sanctified—by God’s Word? Is God’s Word living and active, making a difference in your life?

Would you take a moment right now and pray that for you—that you would be sanctified...

pray that for the church

BTW — GPS

Glorify Jesus

Protect us

Sanctify us

GPS prayer.

the last request is in verses 20-23

John 17:20–23 NIV

20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

John 17:24–26 NIV

24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. 25 “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26 I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

Request #4: Unite us. (vs. 20-23)

what does Jesus mean by one or unity?

let me tell you what he doesn’t mean:

he doesn’t mean uniformity—that we would all be the same…after all, we have different gifts, temperants.

nor does he mean what one person calls LCD theology. where we all lower the bar on what to believe…or we never challenge one another on our beliefs. no

nor does it mean that we never have conflict—that’s normal.

no when he speaks of unity—he is talking about believers who are in Christ.

that our love for one another—would truly show.

that we would truly care for one another, love one another, in word, and deed, and affection.

that they would have one purpose and one mission.

just as the Father and Son have one purpose and one mission and love and affection for one another...

that this is observable—the world will know that Jesus is sent by the Father.

that we would know truly what should unite us and divide us.

that we would truly need one another.

Would you take a moment and pray for that?

How can we marvel at Jesus:

We catch a glimpse into the inner-life of the Trinity—how united, how purposeful, how loving our God is within Himself.

Jesus prays for us!!

Jesus does this, knowing He is about to go to the Father! He is so obedient to the Father.

one theologian reminds us that the prayer life that matters most—is not yours—it’s Jesus. and He continues to intercede for us.

God’s power is displayed, His kingly power--

Jesus talks about how God gave him certain people.

Jesus talks about how God protects his people.

and eternal life is John 17:3

John 17:3 NIV

3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

eternal life is not just when we die, and are with Jesus face to face for eternity.

eternal life starts now—knowing Jesus and the Father.