John's Gospel chapter 17 is our Lord's high priestly prayer. Here Jesus was praying for His disciples. He began and ended the last supper with unity of disciples on His mind. Jesus prayed for Himself, for the immediate disciples and the future disciples or the entire church(1-5; 6-19; 20-26). Though Christians are born again by the blood of Jesus Christ, we have different taste and personalities. Christian unity is not uniformity. Our unity is based on what Christ has done for us. Christ wants us to have that essential unity. It is an organic unity and comes as a result of shared life. We are commanded to give diligence to this existing unity produced and maintained by the Holy Spirit. When we live in peace with God and with one another we can enjoy this unity together.
Jesus was in constant communion with His Father(Mark 1:35). He taught the disciples to pray on an intimate and personal term as "Our Father". Jewish rabbis used to teach their followers to pray but never addressed God in personal term.Jesus lifted up His eyes and prayed. He knew that the hour of crisis had come. He prayed reviewing Father's eternal plan for humanity to find salvation. The hour that Christ referred to was not only the hour of His death, but also His resurrection and exaltation. Knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ whom God has sent is eternal life. Christ came to glorify the Father by doing Father's will. He viewed His atoning death as having been completed. Christ had been given all authority to give eternal life to those who believe in Him. Christ set aside the glory once Had with the Father to save us. Now He prays for the return of that glory.
Jesus knew that His disciples are the treasured gift from the Father and the fruit of His labor(Jn 6:37; 17:6). Christ revealed the Father to them. They accepted His word and believed that Christ came from God. Jesus was confident of their salvation. Jesus prayed for the protection of the disciples from the wicked one. They are in the world and not of this world. The world system is under Satan and so powerful. While Christ was on earth, He protected them and none of them perish except Judas by his own choice. It was a fulfillment of divine prophecy(Ps 41:9). Christ was about to leave the earth and disciples are prone to Satan's deception. There is an unseen warfare going on between God and Satan. Satan is clever, subtle and powerful in his strategies. We are no match for Satan(Rev 12:10,11). He starts enticing us with friendship with the world system. Then we will be corrupted by this world.Then we start loving the world. This will conform us to this world. Finally we will be condemned with the world. Satan can sift us like wheat, but Christ our high priest intercedes for us(Lk 22:31).Jesus prayed that His joy would fill His disciples. The world hates them because they believed His word. Jesus did not want the disciples taken out of the world but His purpose would be fulfilled in their lives.
Jesus also prayed for the sanctification of the disciples through His word. This was to make then spiritually healthy and set them apart for His service. To make them vessels fit for His service(2 Tim 2:20,21). He commissioned us to become His witnesses. Christ is our example in commitment and sacrifice for serving God in this world. The process of becoming spiritually healthy is through His Word. This the incorruptible word of truth that accomplishes it purpose(1 Pet 1:23; Is 55:11). Jesus also prayed for the unity of the entire church. It is a purposeful unity whereby the world may see His glory and believe in Him. Also the world would see God's love revealed through the believers.Jesus wanted that disciples should share His glory and love. He prayed for Himself, for His disciples and for the entire church. He wants us to make Him known to this lost and dying world. To declare God's name is to declare His love. Is it possible? Scripture says, God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us(Eph 3:20). May His name be glorified!
Jesus was in constant communion with His Father(Mark 1:35). He taught the disciples to pray on an intimate and personal term as "Our Father". Jewish rabbis used to teach their followers to pray but never addressed God in personal term.Jesus lifted up His eyes and prayed. He knew that the hour of crisis had come. He prayed reviewing Father's eternal plan for humanity to find salvation. The hour that Christ referred to was not only the hour of His death, but also His resurrection and exaltation. Knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ whom God has sent is eternal life. Christ came to glorify the Father by doing Father's will. He viewed His atoning death as having been completed. Christ had been given all authority to give eternal life to those who believe in Him. Christ set aside the glory once Had with the Father to save us. Now He prays for the return of that glory.
Jesus knew that His disciples are the treasured gift from the Father and the fruit of His labor(Jn 6:37; 17:6). Christ revealed the Father to them. They accepted His word and believed that Christ came from God. Jesus was confident of their salvation. Jesus prayed for the protection of the disciples from the wicked one. They are in the world and not of this world. The world system is under Satan and so powerful. While Christ was on earth, He protected them and none of them perish except Judas by his own choice. It was a fulfillment of divine prophecy(Ps 41:9). Christ was about to leave the earth and disciples are prone to Satan's deception. There is an unseen warfare going on between God and Satan. Satan is clever, subtle and powerful in his strategies. We are no match for Satan(Rev 12:10,11). He starts enticing us with friendship with the world system. Then we will be corrupted by this world.Then we start loving the world. This will conform us to this world. Finally we will be condemned with the world. Satan can sift us like wheat, but Christ our high priest intercedes for us(Lk 22:31).Jesus prayed that His joy would fill His disciples. The world hates them because they believed His word. Jesus did not want the disciples taken out of the world but His purpose would be fulfilled in their lives.
Jesus also prayed for the sanctification of the disciples through His word. This was to make then spiritually healthy and set them apart for His service. To make them vessels fit for His service(2 Tim 2:20,21). He commissioned us to become His witnesses. Christ is our example in commitment and sacrifice for serving God in this world. The process of becoming spiritually healthy is through His Word. This the incorruptible word of truth that accomplishes it purpose(1 Pet 1:23; Is 55:11). Jesus also prayed for the unity of the entire church. It is a purposeful unity whereby the world may see His glory and believe in Him. Also the world would see God's love revealed through the believers.Jesus wanted that disciples should share His glory and love. He prayed for Himself, for His disciples and for the entire church. He wants us to make Him known to this lost and dying world. To declare God's name is to declare His love. Is it possible? Scripture says, God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us(Eph 3:20). May His name be glorified!
