Jesus Prays for Us (John 17:1-26)
Do you find it hard to pray? For some of us, praying consistently can be a real challenge. Our daily lives are often so busy and distracted that it’s easy to neglect prayer. From the morning rush till we collapse exhausted into bed at night, we struggle to set aside the time and energy to pray. And even if we manage to do so, our prayers might be rambling, and repetitive. We do not always know how to pray or what to pray for. Some of us might not even want to pray.
Last week, Ryan spoke of the language of pain we all know. In our trials and afflictions, we might struggle to speak with God. Some of us might be too discouraged, depressed, or downcast to even desire to draw near to God. And even if we do pray, we might struggle to find the words. Overburdened and overwhelmed by suffering, we might not even know where to begin in our prayers.
What do we do when even prayer is difficult?
We have been hearing from John 13-16, which record Jesus’ final words to His disciples before He goes to the cross. Through this farewell discourse, Jesus has been preparing His disciples for His departure. He has exemplified servant-mindedness by washing their feet. He has promised to send the Spirit to be with them. He has urged them to abide in Him, that they might bear fruit. Jesus has also assured His disciples that they have free access to God the Father in his name. Therefore, they can pray and not lose heart.
But even as Jesus exhorts His disciples to ask of God, He knows they will struggle to pray. The other Gospels tell of how the disciples failed to watch and pray in the garden of Gethsemane. The spirit may be willing, but the flesh is weak. Despite His disciples’ failure, however, Jesus perseveres in prayer.
This is also the case in John 17. As Jesus prepares Himself for the agony of the cross, He selflessly remembers His own and prays for them. Jesus’ words of comfort to His disciples culminate with Him interceding for them before his Heavenly Father. For this reason, this prayer has been known as Jesus’ high priestly prayer, because He represents us to God. This is Jesus’ longest recorded prayer in all four Gospels. We have the privilege of eavesdropping on Jesus’ words to His Father. His prayer reveals the intimate relationship Jesus has with the Father, and the great love He has for His people.
Be encouraged, for Jesus prays for us.
The prayer has been written down to encourage us, especially in tough times when we might struggle to pray. When we feel as though our faith may fail, Jesus remains faithful. Do we find it hard to pray? Be encouraged, for Jesus prays for us. This is the big idea. Jesus’ prayer can be divided into three main parts: In John 17:1-5, He prays for Himself. In John 17:6-19, He prays for His original disciples. In John 17:20-26, Jesus prays for others who will believe in Him through the testimony of these original disciples. We will study Jesus’ prayer in two points: Jesus prays for His own glory (John 17:1-5) and Jesus prays for the glory of his own (John 17:6-26).
Jesus prays for His own glory (Jn 17:1-5)
What does Jesus pray for Himself? His main request is in John 17:1: — “Father... glorify your son that the Son may glorify you.” Is Jesus self-centred to seek His own glory? Not at all. I hope to show us how Jesus’ glory is for our good. We are most blessed through the Father glorifying His Son. How so? Jesus’ request reveals who He is and what He has come to do. The fact that Jesus begins His prayer by calling God His “Father” tells us he is the Son. Jesus is no ordinary man. As we have heard from John 1, He is the Word who was with God in the beginning. The Word was God. The Word became flesh and lived among us. The Word is the Father’s only Son. And, as the only Son, He makes known to us the Father’s glory in a way that no one else can. Jesus is the Son come in the flesh. He is fully God and fully man.
Look at John 17:5. Jesus says He had glory with the Father, before the world existed. The eternal Son was always glorious. Yet the Son did not selfishly cling on to glory. He humbled himself. He laid His glory aside and took the form of a servant. God the Son came as a man, not to be served but to serve. The Son came in obedience to His Father’s will.
Jesus was sent by the Father to accomplish the work given Him to do (John 17:3-4). Throughout His earthly ministry, Jesus glorified God through His perfect life and teaching. Now the time has arrived for Jesus to finish the work. Look again at John 17:1. Jesus prays because the hour has come. In the Gospel of John, the hour refers to the appointed time of Jesus’ death, according to the Father’s plan. To the world, the cross is a symbol of cruelty and shame. But in God’s purposes, the cross is the Son’s victory. By being lifted up on a cross, Jesus is being lifted up in glory. Through the cross, the Son is glorified and the Father is glorified through His Son. So, when Jesus asks the Father to glorify Him, He is seeking to obey His Father’s will by completing the work of saving sinners.
We need saving because we have all sinned against God. He made us for His glory, but we have rebelliously turned away from our Creator to live for ourselves. We deserve God’s righteous judgement against us. But God, who is rich in grace and mercy, sent His Son to save sinners like us. At the cross. Jesus took on Himself the punishment for our sins, if we trust in Him. By repenting of our sins and believing in Jesus, we can be forgiven and made right with God.
Look at John 17:2. Because Jesus lays down His life, the Father has given the Son authority to give eternal life to all whom (the Father) has given Him. Our sins deserve death — not only physical death, but also spiritual death and eternal separation from the holy God who is the Giver of life. Therefore, the only way we can have eternal life is by believing in the Son, whom the Father has sent for us and for our salvation. Eternal life is a gift from God through the Son. So, Jesus prays in John 17:3 — “This is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”
We understand how the quality of life matters at least as much as the length of life. We do not just want to live a long life; we want to live a life that is full and fulfilled. As we grow older, we hope to remain in relatively good health, so that we can enjoy our later years. In a similar way, eternal life is more about quality than quantity. It is not simply about living forever. More than that, it is about the joy of having an abiding relationship with the Triune God — Father, Son, and Spirit — who made us for Himself. As Augustine famously said, “Our hearts are restless until they find their rest in God.” We were made to know God. What is the chief end of man? The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. To know God means to have God as the wellspring of our life and joy.
To have eternal life is to enjoy God forever and to delight in the overflow of His abundant goodness to us.
Therefore, to have eternal life is to enjoy God forever and to delight in the overflow of His abundant goodness to us. There is no life unless we know the Father. And, if we are to know the Father, we must know the Son whom He has sent to reveal Himself to us. The only way we can come to the Father is through Jesus. Whoever believes in the Son will not perish but have eternal life. Do you know Jesus? How are you trusting in Him to save you from your sins?
The crucifixion is not the end of the story. Jesus also prays He will be glorified through His resurrection and ascension (John 17:5). Jesus prays for the crown after the cross. After His death, the Son will be exalted as King forever at the Father’s right hand. The Son who laid His glory aside, will return to the glory He had before the beginning. Jesus, for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
In praying for His own glory, Jesus is praying for His death and exaltation. He is praying to accomplish the work His Father gave Him to do to save sinners like us. Beloved, we have the privilege of looking back on Christ’s finished work. Jesus is the glorified Son.
We can rest in what he has already done for us. So, be encouraged. Jesus has opened up the way for us to come to the Father. So, He prays for us, that we too might share in His glory.
Jesus prays for the glory of his own (Jn 17:6-26)
Before we look at what Jesus prays for, let us consider who Jesus prays for. Who are “his own”? In John 17:6-10, Jesus describes those whom He prays for. In the context, this refers to Jesus’ original disciples, but much of what is said can apply to us also, if we are Jesus’ followers. Two characteristics of Jesus’ disciples stand out: They belong to the Father and the Son, and they believe in the Father and the Son.
The Father has chosen them out of the world and given them to the Son, who has made the Father known to them (John 17:6). Jesus prays specifically for these whom the Father has elected and entrusted to Him. He makes a distinction in John 17:9 between the world and His disciples. He is not praying for the world, but only for those who belong to the Father.
To belong to God is to have the awesome privilege of having Jesus pray for us. Jesus’ disciples cannot take any credit for their salvation. God chose them entirely by His grace, not because of anything good in them or anything good that they have done.
We are saved by God’s grace alone. This ought to humble us, and fill us with grateful praise. God has called us out of the darkness of our sins and into His marvellous light. If we belong to the Father, we also belong to the Son, for the Father and the Son are one. Jesus says to the Father in John 17:10, “All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them.” In Christ, we are secure because Jesus has staked His glory on us. For the sake of His name, He will hold us fast. Our good is His glory.
Those whom Jesus prays for belong to the Father and the Son. A second characteristic is that they believe in the Father and the Son. Jesus’ disciples have kept (God’s) word (Jn 17:6). In John 17:7-8, Jesus says they have believed in Him, trusting that He is the only Son sent by the Father. They have received Jesus’ words as God’s words. This is a key mark of a disciple: believing in Jesus and His word. Does this describe you?
Jesus prays for His disciples, who belong to Him and believe in Him.
Jesus prays for His disciples, who belong to Him and believe in Him. In John 17:11-19, He prays two things for them: their protection and their purity. First, He prays for their protection (John 17:11). The Son will soon return to the Father, but his disciples will remain in the world. Jesus guarded them while He was with them. None was lost except for Judas, which was to fulfil God’s word. Now that Jesus is about to depart, He prays His disciples will continue to be kept safe amid the dangers of the world. See Jesus’ heart for us!
This fallen world is not a friendly place for Jesus’ followers. Have we gotten too comfortable and complacent here? Do our lifestyles, pursuits, ambitions and goals look very similar to those of the culture around us? The world’s idols of pleasure, power, money, sex, and self are opposed to Jesus and His gospel. To follow Jesus, we must swim against the tide of the world’s values. We cannot blindly accept whatever the world approves of. We have to wrestle against worldliness in our lives and in our hearts.
And, the world will despise us for being different (John 17:14). Doing the right thing is no guarantee that things will go well for us. In fact, we should expect opposition and trouble if we live faithfully as Christians. We also need protection from a deadlier enemy, the devil. Jesus prays in John 17:15, “Keep them from the evil one.” Make no mistake. The devil is committed to destroy Jesus’ followers through persecution, temptation, suffering, sin, and strife. And, if He cannot ruin us, He will distract us from discipleship through comfort, prosperity and pleasure. “The devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (1 Pet. 5:8b)”
Jesus’ disciples face great dangers, but He does not ask for them to be taken out of the world. They have a mission to do. Just as the Father has sent the Son, so the Son sends His disciples to make disciples of the nations. The Son is returning to the Father, but His disciples are to go and do greater works in His name. They are to continue the work Jesus has begun. So, they must remain in the world as salt and light. As eyewitnesses of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, they are to proclaim the good news.
Following in the footsteps of these original disciples, we too are to make Jesus known by making disciples of the nations.
How will Jesus’ disciples persevere in the face of such daunting dangers? The Holy Father, who is both high and lifted up, as well as near to His beloved children, must guard us (Jn 17:11). He must keep us in his name. The Father’s name refers to the power and perfections of his Person. The Father keeps us in His love, grace, mercy, truth, faithfulness, and strength. We need God’s help, if we are to press on and not give up. In His prayer, Jesus models for us what it looks like to humbly depend on God. He shows us how we can draw near to the Father. To be kept in the Father’s name means to keep following Jesus. The Father has given his name to the Son, that the Son might reveal the Father to us. So, to continue in the Father’s name, we must continue to hold on to the truth about His Son, Jesus Christ.
The purpose of remaining in the truth of the gospel is so that (we) may be one. True unity is always founded on the truth, never at the expense of the truth. Sadly, some are willing to sacrifice the truth just to maintain some form of institutional or organisational unity. Sound doctrine is diminished as “non-essential” just so that people can be kept together, despite their denial of the fundamentals of the faith. But such superficial “unity” is not what Jesus is praying for. If the disciples are to be one, they must be kept in the Father’s name. Jesus is praying for a unity based on God’s truth. Such unity is genuine, spiritual and deep. It goes beyond institutional lines. It is anchored in one God, one Lord, one gospel, one faith. Jesus’ prayer emphasises the importance of true unity. So, we should guard against a proud and critical spirit that causes divisions. At the same time, we must also guard the truth and not sacrifice it for the sake of a shallow togetherness. God help us and grant us wisdom!
Another purpose of being kept in the Father’s name is for our joy. Jesus says in John 17:13, “These things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.” Such joy is deep for it is founded on the hope of Jesus’ resurrection. It does not finally depend on our circumstances in this life. It is joy that only Jesus can give. As Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before him, so the Father holds us fast through troubles and trials for our joy. This joy flows from our confidence in Christ, knowing he has overcome the world.
Jesus prays two things for his disciples. As we have heard, the first is their protection. The second is their purity. He asks the Father in John 17:17 , “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” What does “sanctify” mean? The previous verse (John 17:16) is helpful. Jesus says His disciples are not of the world. They are not to be conformed to the views, values, loves, and lifestyles of this fallen world, which is in rebellion against God. To be sanctified means to be separate, set apart from the world.
Set apart for what? Listen to what Jesus says in John 17:19: “And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.” Jesus sanctifies Himself to sanctify us. He sets himself apart to serve, devoting Himself to do His Father’s will. Jesus gives Himself to the sacrifice of the cross in order to make us holy. It is the truth of this gospel that sets us apart for God. To be sanctified is to be devoted to God through believing in His Son. So, how do we grow in holiness? It is by knowing Jesus more through His word, so that we trust and obey Him. To grow in holiness means to grow in Christ and Christ-likeness. The more we know Jesus, the more we become like Him.
Jesus’ disciples are sanctified to be sent. Jesus prays, “As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. (John 17:18)” The Father sends the Son, the Son sends His disciples. Jesus makes us holy that we might be His witnesses in the world. Our witness depends on being distinct from the world. How else can we speak of Jesus unless our lives reflect Him? If the salt loses its saltiness, or if the light does not shine, what use will we be? Therefore, the community of God’s people, the church, must be holy as God is holy. Our ability to obey the great commission to make disciples depends on our holiness. For this reason, we must take church membership seriously.
As a member of Christ’s body, we bear his name. So, being a church member means pursuing Christ-likeness alongside other believers in a life of ongoing repentance and faith. If Jesus prays for the holiness of his people, should not we also care about the holiness of His church? Beloved, be encouraged that Jesus is committed to our sanctification. Pursuing holiness is not legalistic. It is living out what Jesus has done for us by His grace. He has made us holy. Therefore, we should be who are already are in Christ. This is how we glorify Him.
Having prayed for His original disciples in John 17:6-19, Jesus widens the scope of His prayer in John 17:20-26. Through the witness of His original disciples, many others will also become followers of Jesus. So, Jesus prays for all these subsequent disciples. He says in John 17:20, “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word.” Beloved, Jesus means us! He is praying for us. Through many generations of faithful Christians, the apostolic gospel has been passed down to us. We are the answer to Jesus’ prayer!
Jesus prays two things for us: our unity and our glory.
Jesus prays two things for us: our unity and our glory. Our unity is the result of believing in Jesus through his word. The gospel is the glue that holds us together. Our unity with one another flows from our common union with the Father and the Son. A few weeks ago, I attended the Nicea conference in Istanbul. It was so encouraging meeting with believers from nearly every continent, except Antarctica. What on earth would a Russian who grew up in Siberia, a Chinese national who lives in Central Asia, a Kenyan from Nairobi, an Arab-speaking Lebanese living in Beirut, an Australian from Sydney, an Iraqi from Kurdistan, a Portuguese-speaker from Lisbon, a Brazilian from Sao Paolo, an Indian from the state of Uttar Pradesh, and an American grandfather living in Kentucky have in common? Only Jesus. We are so different in so many ways, yet we share in what truly matters. The gospel unites us, cutting across the world’s fault lines. For example, there were Russian and Ukrainian believers at the conference, praying for one another. Such unity can only be the work of a gracious God. It is His gift to us. Only He can unite us to Christ and to one another, which is why Jesus prays for unity.
Our oneness in Christ is meant to reflect the unity between the Persons of the Trinity (John 17:21-22). Just as how our sanctification serves our mission to make Jesus known, so the purpose of our unity is also to testify to the gospel. Jesus says it is so that the world may believe that (the Father) has sent (him). Our love for one another is meant to reflect the Father’s love for us and for His Son (John 17:23). Beloved, our relationships with one another matter. Sadly, I know many who have turned away from Christianity because of unresolved and unreconciled conflicts in the church. So, let’s love one another. Be patient, compassionate, and kind towards one another. Show understanding, be quick to listen and slow to speak. Do this to maintain our unity. But more so, do this for the sake of the gospel and the glory of God. To this end, commit to knowing and being known by others in the church. Build spiritual friendships with one another, especially with those who are different from us. Seek to do spiritual good to one another by reading God’s word together, praying for one another, and speaking the truth in love to one another for our mutual encouragement. Beloved, do not just hang out with others who are similar to yourself, whether by age, season of life, or common interests. If that is all we do at church, we miss out on a wonderful opportunity to display the gospel.
Our unity in diversity is a powerful witness. Our unity with other believers also goes beyond our local church. We should seek to pray for and partner with other churches for the sake of the gospel. Let us continue to be generous in helping to strengthen other local churches. This is why we host the Weekender for leaders from other churches throughout Asia. Our hope is to foster deeper cooperation for the growth of the gospel in our region. We cultivate gospel partnerships in missions, to plant and strengthen other churches. All this is possible because Jesus has made us one.
Jesus also prays for our glory (John 17:22). Jesus has made us one by revealing the Father’s glory to us. Yet, this is only a foretaste of an even greater glory that awaits us. Jesus prays for the glory of His own, that we might share in his glory. He says in John 17:24, “Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.” Jesus prays that we might be with Him forever in the new creation. He desires it; it is Jesus’ will that we should be with forever! What comfort and encouragement to the weak and weary! In this world, we will have trouble and trials. We will wrestle with weakness and sin. We will find it hard to pray. But be encouraged, for Jesus prays for us. Meditate on this wonderful assurance from Romans 8: “Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.” He prays for our protection and purity. As we journey through the wilderness of this world, we long to arrive at our happy heavenly home, where our sorrows will end. Jesus prays for our perseverance, that we might see Him in His glory. Many years later, perhaps as he was reflecting on Jesus’ prayer, the apostle John wrote of this hope of glory: “Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. (1 Jn. 3:2)”
Amen. We will be glorified with Jesus when He returns. Till that day, may Jesus continue to make known to us the Father’s name, so that the Father’s love for the Son might be in us always.