John 17:1
Notes
Transcript
v 1a) Introduction
v 1a) Introduction
Prayer is one of the foundations of the Christian life. There have been so many great prayers throughout Scripture: Solomon’s in 1 Kings 8, Abraham’s Genesis 18, Moses’ Exodus 32, yet by far this is the greatest prayer recorded in our Bible.
We call this prayer the High-Priestly prayer.
This would be Jesus’ final prayer with His disciples. Giving an account of His earthly mission to His Father. He starts with prayer for Himself (vv. 1-5), then for His disciples (vv. 6-19), finishing with later believers (vv. 20-26).
“The whole prayer is a beautiful illustration of our blessed Lord’s intercession at the right hand of God. Not a word against His people; no reference to their failings, or their shortcomings… No. He speaks of them only as they were in the Father’s purpose, as in association with Himself, and as the recipients of the fulness He came down from heaven to bestow upon them… All the Lord’s particular petitions for His people relate to spiritual things; all have reference to heavenly blessings. The Lord does not ask riches for them, or honours, or worldly influence, or great preferments, but He does most earnestly pray that they may be kept from evil, separated from the world, qualified for duty, and brought home safely to heaven. Soul prosperity is the best prosperity; it is the index of true prosperity” -Marcus Rainsford
Have you heard a true man or woman of God deep in prayer?
There is something holy, wholesome, and awesome about it. That is what we find here in this prayer, between Jesus Christ and the Father.
This is the only long, continuous prayer of Jesus recorded in the Gospels. The sentences and words are simple, but the ideas are incredibly deep, moving, and meaningful.
“There is no voice which has ever been heard, either in heaven or in earth, more exalted, more holy, more fruitful, more sublime, than the prayer offered up by the Son of God Himself.” - Melanchthon a collaborator with Martin Luther
True and genuine prayer reveals a person’s innermost being.
What we get here, again, is an unique opportunity to see the nature and heart of Jesus.
There are many of the same concerns found in the Lord’s Prayer in this prayer also.
9 In this manner, therefore, pray:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
10 Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
13 And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
What are some of the correlations you guys see?
Prayer is repeatedly directed to God the Father.
There is recognition of the concern for God’s name.
There is concern for the work of the kingdom of God.
There is concern for keeping from evil.
What are some differences you notice?
This is not a prayer of an inferior to a superior. In this prayer, constantly there is seen a co-equality of the Speaker with the Father.
Do you really want to have your mind blown?
The Two have but one mind… Where the Son speaks He is not seeking to bend the Father to Him: rather He is voicing the purpose of the Godhead.
The NT tells us that Jesus has an ongoing, present work of intercession for His people:
34 Who is to condemn? 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.
25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
“lifting His eyes to heaven:” This posture is not what we usually associate with deep prayer. Here in the west we often bow our head and close our eyes. this is striking a customary posture of prayer:
1 To you I lift up my eyes,
O you who are enthroned in the heavens!
34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.”
13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’
This really is beautiful. After finishing up supper, Jesus’ public ministry is coming to an end, and nothing remaining for him to do but die. Jesus gave himself wholly unto prayer. He was not going to instruct the multitude, or heal the sick, and in the interval which was left to Him, before dying of the cross, He prepared himself for a special time of intercession. He poured out His soul in life before He poured it out unto death.
One more point about this posture it also indicated that Jesus looked up in a hopeful sense and was not gloomy or downcast in this prayer. This is actually a prayer of faith and confidence, even victory- all the while acknowledging the reality of the conflict.
He had just uttered these words:
33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Jesus made no mention of his problems of the decisions He must make. His heart and mind were fixed on the highest things, pledging Himself to the absolute fulfillment of God the Father’s will no matter what the cost, so that eternal life could come to others.