A Prayer from Jesus

Posted on November 14, 2018 by Mike

After Jesus had his final meal with His disciples, He spent a good deal of time summarizing His teaching and promising them the Holy Spirit would join them after He departed. He then ended His teaching with a prayer which is recorded in John 17. Jesus praying to God the Father is a direct message to all believers. There is no question that the prayers of Jesus are always fulfilled as spoken. He begins by reestablishing our eternal existence.

“Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” John 17:3 (NIV)

A central theme in this prayer from Jesus is the understanding that God the Father and Jesus are one and that believers are one body united together with Jesus and the Father.

“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.” John 17:11 (NIV)

In this prayer, Jesus is about to leave this world, leaving all believers behind. Jesus has a mission for us here in this world, and He knows it will not be easy; therefore, He prayed for God to keep us safe from the devil and his demons.

“My prayer is not that you take them out of the world, but that you protect them from the evil one.” John 17:15 (NIV)

This prayer is delivered in the presence of the disciples and is extended to you and me and all believers in Jesus Christ. We are all together one with Jesus and the Father.

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 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.” John 17:20-21 (NIV)

Jesus finished His prayer by acknowledging the love of the Father as the fuel that powers everything we experience in our walk with Jesus.

“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.” John 17:26 (NIV)

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