The Bible is filled with many great prayers, but the prayer of Jesus on the night before He was crucified is by far the most remarkable prayer ever recorded. The prayer in John 17 is the only long, continuous prayer of Jesus ever recorded. It is deeply multifaceted and moving—yet singular in purpose: the reconciliation and relationship of humanity with God. He is deeply concerned for His followers’ protection and wellbeing after He is no longer with them physically. The heart of Jesus is bared and ready to be silenced by death in order to purchase the redemption of the world. He is set in the great purpose of the Godhead. He prayed:
“Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I have glorified You on the earth.
I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.
I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.
Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me.
I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You.
Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.”
John 17:1-19 NKJV
So beautiful and moving!
I’d like to share few thoughts God gave me from this prayer with the intent to provoke a deeper sense of wonder and thankfulness for our Savior:
Jesus is nearing the end of his time on this earth and He knows it. After his closing supper with his disciples, there was nothing that remained to be done except to die. He was praying and preparing himself for pouring out his soul in death. His heart and mind were fixed on fulfilling the Father’s will. He knew the cost. He was the hero determined to save us.
Jesus asked the father to glorify the Son, which is interesting because crucifixion was a completely humiliating way to die. But He knew that God’s wisdom is foolishness to the world. While the cross was deemed an instrument of shame, to Christ it was an opportunity for glorification because in all its ugliness, it was a tool to purchase the most beautiful gift—our redemption. Because of Jesus, we don’t have to be afraid of painful circumstances that don’t make sense!
Even as Christ is facing unimaginable death, He prayed that the FATHER be glorified. HIS motive in prayer—should be our motivation—no matter what the circumstances. When we ask for anything—health, wealth, wisdom—it must be for God’s glory alone.
Not only is Jesus—God’s gift to us, but—we are God’s gift to Jesus.
Jesus never expressed His independence from the Father; but rather demonstrated dependence within the Trinity. When Eve took the fruit in the garden, it was the first human act of independence from God, and it plunged the entire race into sin. Throughout this prayer, Jesus demonstrates His complete dependence upon God, His Father. We become more like Him when we live in complete dependence upon God.
Oh, how much Jesus loves us. He lived to give so we could be born again and enter into sweet fellowship with Him!
Because of Jesus, we can LIVE to GIVE!
We would love to hear your thoughts about this devotional. Did God speak to you or challenge your daily walk with him? Or is there a topic that you would like Kimberly to cover or expound on? Please share with us in the comments below.
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