THE PRAYER OF JESUS (1)

Our Lord prayed often. He was God and equal with God the Father. As Man on earth, He depended on prayer to maintain His relationship with God. He prayed when He was alone (Matt 14:23), when He was in public (Jn 11:41,42), before meals (Mk 8:6), before making important decisions – like choosing His disciples (Lk 6:12), before healing men (Mk 7:34), after healing men (Lk 5:16), after declaring judgment on unbelieving cities (Matt 11:25,26), before feeding the 5000 and the 4000 (Jn 6:11; Mk 8:6,7), before walking on water (Matt 14:23), before Peter calls Him “the Christ” (Lk 9:18), at the Transfiguration (Lk 9:28,29), at the return of the seventy who were successful in ministry (Lk 10:21), Before teaching His disciples how to pray (Lk 11:1), before raising Lazarus from the dead (Lk 11:41,42), when laying His hands on children (Matt 19:13-15), at the Lord’s supper (Lk 22:19), prayed for Peter when Satan asked to sift him like wheat (Lk 22:31,32). He prayed for Himself, His disciples and all believers just before He went to the Garden of Gethsemane (Jn 17:1-26). He prayed three times in the Garden of Gethsemane to do the Father’s will, to become sin on behalf of the believers and to die for them (Matt 26:36-46). He prayed right after being nailed to the cross “Father forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Lk 23:34). While on the Cross He prayed: “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matt 27:46). As He was dying Jesus prayed: “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit” (Lk 23:46). The resurrected Christ prayed a blessing on the bread He ate with some disciples (Lk 24:30). He blessed His disciples before His ascension to heaven (Lk 24:50-53). He is now praying and interceding as our great High Priest in Heaven (Heb 7:20-28; 8:1,2). Hallelujah! If prayer is essential to Jesus, how much more we need to pray?

By God’s Grace, led by the Holy Spirit, we shall study this prayer of Jesus in John 17:1-26. We shall learn more about His Person. Most Christians call the prayer found in Matthew 6:9-13 “The Lord’s prayer”. But that prayer is a pattern of prayer for the disciples to learn how to pray. Jesus could not have prayed that prayer because it contained the words: “And forgive us our sins…” Jesus did not sin and did not need forgiveness. In John 17 we have the actual prayer of Jesus. Jesus prayed but with few exceptions, we are not told the exact words He used in His prayers. But here we listen to His very words of prayer. Many pastors avoid preaching about this prayer. They say that the words between God the Son and God the Father are too holy for men to preach. But the words are recorded here in the Bible. By praying audibly, Jesus wanted the words to be recorded by John and that we should study them. We see how Jesus prays! In this prayer the word “Father” appears 6 times; “the world” appears 17 times; “Glory”, 9 times; “Love”, 4 times; the word “given”, 14 times; and the word “sent”, 7 times.

This prayer is called the Holy of holies of the Bible. John 17 is the holiest chapter in the Bible. We are invited into the Throne Room of God. The secret place of the Most High God is open to us.  Many Bible Commentators say that this is the greatest prayer on earth following the greatest sermon preached on earth (John, chapters 14-16). These chapters include the Last Supper, Judas betrayal, Jesus’ teachings on love and the coming of the Holy Spirit, and His prayer for unity among His followers. Jesus is preparing His disciples for what comes ahead. He will be betrayed by one of them and die on a cross. Jesus is telling them that it is better for Him to die and leave them. The Holy Spirit will come in His name and fill them. Jesus will live in them by the Holy Spirit. That is a closer relationship with Him than the one they have right now. This is called the High Priestly Prayer of our Lord. He prayed to God the Father just before going to the Garden of Gethsemane and to the Cross. This prayer is a pattern of His intercession ministry in heaven. As the Great High Priest and Advocate, Jesus sustains us from heaven and gives great encouragement and joy to all believers, to continue to run the race to the end. Amen!

“Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You” (Jn 17:1). Jesus lifted His eyes to heaven… This is the classical position of prayer in the Jewish culture. It shows humility, reverence, total openness to God and expectation for an answer to the prayer. The first word Jesus speaks is “Father”. It shows the intimate relationship and unity between Him and God. He then says: “The hour has come”. This hour is the time for crucifixion, resurrection and glorification. It is God’s perfect timing. This is a reminder that Jesus was always aware of the plan of salvation. Everything in His life was done according to God’s will and plan.

He then prays: “Glorify Your Son”. He tells the Father that He should reveal His glory and authority thru the events that will soon happen. The time of Jesus’ humiliation, hiding in a body of flesh is over. From this moment on, the glory of God the Son manifest. To the world, the Cross may look like a tragedy. But the glory of God will forever shine thru it, revealing the Love that never fails. The Father will be glorified too. The mutual glorification of both the Father and the Son shows the unity of purpose in the plan of salvation. Jesus prays for strength to fulfill God’s plan to the end. He will become Sin on behalf of the sinners. He asks for God’s glory to be revealed thru His greatest humility and shame at the Cross, demonstrating The Father’s perfect Justice and perfect Love.

God’s glory is defined as the beauty and power of His Spirit. This beauty is not visible or material. It is spiritual. Glory is not an attribute of God. Glory is part of God. It is the beauty of His character. Man’s beauty and glory (honor) passes away. God’s glory never fades. The glory of God is revealed best in His Son Jesus Christ. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (Jn 1:14). Praise the Lord!

Jesus is very confident of His relationship with God. He calls God “Father” six times in this prayer. He also calls God “Holy Father” and “Righteous Father”. God is Holy. He hates sin. He is different than His creation. God is righteous. He never makes mistakes. Everything He does is good, right and perfect. God is always faithful. This is the confidence of Jesus as He prays. It should be our confidence too.

The prayer has three parts: Jesus prays for Himself (Jn17:1-5); for His disciples (Jn17:6-19); and for the future believers, including us (Jn 17:20-26). Most of the prayer is dedicated to intercession for His disciples. In the prayer we see that the plan of salvation was made before the foundation of the World. God the Father designed the plan. Jesus Christ executed it. The Holy Spirit applies it to our hearts so that we may believe it and obey it. The revelation that we are included in this mighty salvation is a great source of peace, joy, and confidence. We are not ordinary random people. We are elected and chosen by God to become children of God and live eternally. The very idea that Jesus Christ is praying for us right now, is the greatest source of hope for the future and gives us the assurance of salvation!

We have the four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John to tell us the many wonderful things Jesus was doing on earth. But we have only one chapter to tell us what Jesus has been doing for the past 2000 years, and what He is doing right now. That is why the study of this chapter is so important. Here we see Christ glorified doing intercession for us right now. It is basically a prayer for Glory, He asks the Father to give Him His glory, and to give His disciples His glory. Jesus did not ask for the glory that was not His. He asks the Father to give Him back the glory that was always His. The relationship between Jesus and the Father is that of a total Trust and Loving care. Jesus prays for God’s glory to be revealed. He prays that God the Father will fulfill all His promises and seal all the work Jesus has done on earth. In this prayer we see the Humility of Jesus in a new way. Jesus is God. He has all powers. He has created everything. But in this prayer, we see Him as Man. He has suffered rejection and soon, He will die on the Cross. He prays to God the Father to seal His work done on earth and to glorify His Person. Jesus totally depends on God the Father now. How much we need God to bless our work too!

LESSONS:

*DO ALL FOR THE GLORY OF GOD! “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1Cor 10:31).

*PRAY THAT GOD ESTABLISHES THE WORK OF YOUR HANDS

“Return, O Lord! How long? And have compassion on Your servants. 14 Oh, satisfy us early with Your mercy, That we may rejoice and be glad all our days! 15 Make us glad according to the days in which You have afflicted us, The years in which we have seen evil. 16 Let Your work appear to Your servants, And Your glory to their children. 17 And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us and establish the work of our hands for us; Yes, establish the work of our hands” (Ps 90:13-17).

Believers know that God’s presence makes the difference. We always need God’s mercy. We remember that God is merciful and loving. We pray for revival. The world may give pleasures, but it can never satisfy our hearts. Only God can satisfy. We need God early. This is the call for a fresh hope. Like the Israelites waited each morning for manna to come from heaven, we wait for God’s new mercies daily. Satisfaction in God manifests as joy and peace. God is sovereign. He has allowed us to suffer for a time. The pain was to help us, to humble us. But that pain is not forever. Like Job, who suffered but God blessed him at last, we too depend on God who can change the circumstances in a second. Pray not only that God removes the pain, but that thru pain you may gain wisdom and mature spiritually, to the glory of God.

God’s works are seen in creation, in salvation, provision, deliverance, and healing. God’s works reveal His glory. We pray to witness God’s miracle works that our children may know the power and glory of God. May God’s Grace, His unmerited Favor be revealed to us. We need God to bless the work of our hands. We may work but only God gives increase and godly success. Without God, all our efforts are in vain. True fulfilment and satisfaction in our work is done only when our work aligns with God’s will for us. Christ prayed that God glorifies Himself in His work for man’s salvation on earth. Grace is essential for any form of success, spiritual or material. The work of our hands is not just about productivity but about fulfilling God’s purpose for our lives. We are called to align our efforts with His will, ensuring that our work has eternal significance. Just as the Israelites depended on God in the wilderness, we must rely on Him to guide and establish our paths. This dependence fosters a deeper relationship with God and a greater understanding of His plans for us. The establishment of our work by God ensures that it has a lasting impact. We should strive to leave a legacy that reflects God’s glory and advances His kingdom.

*LEAVE A GOOD NAME AS INHERITANCE

“The memory of the righteous [person] is a blessing, But the name of the wicked will [be forgotten and] rot [like a corpse]” (PV10:7; AMP). “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry. 16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth” (Ps 34:15,16).

The righteous are God’s children who obey His Commands and use their resources to do good to people. The wicked are the unbelievers. They are selfish and morally corrupt. They oppose God and His people.

God is actively opposed to evil. His justice is not passive. In Ancient times, a good name, a godly testimony left behind was the best treasure your descendants can inherit. The righteous men leave behind a good name, a godly memory that will continue to influence generations of come. People like Apostle Paul continue to influence people through his writings and godly life.

The worse punishment is that God destroys your memory. Sin leads to separation from God and to eternal death. People will forget the wicked man. The name of the unbeliever will rot like a corpse; it will be “cut off”. It will bring shame to the family. The wicked are forgotten or remembered for bad, because they did not do good deeds, they did not use their resources to help others, to the glory of God. The name of Judas Iscariot will always be associated with wickedness, betrayal and eternal death. This reflects the punishment given to the wicked at the last judgment. This is the revelation of the holiness and justice of God.

At the Cross, Jesus died on behalf of sinners. Those who have faith in Christ Crucified, shall be saved. Those who reject the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross, must bear their own punishment. One way for that punishment to be revealed is that God will totally eradicate that person’s name. This is also a warning to the believers to avoid evil and the company of wicked men. “Bad company corrupts good manners” (1Cor 15:33). Be sure to surround yourself with godly people. Protect your testimony as a Christian. Invest in eternal treasures. Worship the Lord!