A prayer of Jesus for his apostles, and everyone
John 17:1-8 Honor and acknowledgements
In my studies recently, I was encouraged as I read through the Book of John once again. I was especially blessed to read and pick apart the prayer that Jesus had for His Apostles in John 17. Take a walk through it with me.
John 17:1-8. “These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: 2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. 4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. 5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. 6 I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. 7 Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. 8 For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.”
How wonderful is it that Jesus was headed for certain death, even death on the cross and He took time to pray for His closest followers, the Apostles. We can learn some principles of how to pray from Him:
- He lifted his eyes to heaven and addressed Almighty God as “Father”. It is intimate and shows that He knows He has a relationship with His Father. He acknowledges that His time is now and that the reason for His death is to glorify the Father (vs 1).
- He acknowledges this His power over “all flesh” comes from the Father and that power includes the power to give all of “His” people eternal life (vs 2).
- He acknowledges that the reason for eternal life is so that these men might know the only true God, and Jesus Christ (He shares the name of God and all power and authority). His work on earth is done (vs 3-4).
- He shares in the honor of God as He did before the world began (vs 5).
- He acknowledges that the Apostles understand that Jesus is from God and even Jesus is God (vs 6-8)
John 17:9-10 – They belong to me, so they belong to You
John 17:9-19. “I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. 10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. 11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. 12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. 13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. 18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.”
Jesus treasures these men and lifts them up to the Father. This is a very personal prayer:
- Jesus acknowledges that the Father gave these men to Him to teach and love. He is thankful that He gets the glory but also knows that this glory is shared with the Father (vs 9-10)
- Jesus specifically asks the Father to protect these men as He prepares to leave the world. He reminds us that He and the Father are one, just as we are one with one another when we are in the family of God (vs 11-12)
- Jesus knows of the evil in the world and as He prepares to return to the Father in heaven, He wants these precious ones to have His joy, even in the wicked world. He asked Almighty God to set them apart by the words of God. He is genuinely concerned that the world might capture them away from God (Vs 13-17)
- He asks the Father to treat then as He has treated Himself because they are following Him into the world to teach others about Him (vs 18-19)
John 17:20-26 – Not only the Apostles but for others too
John 17:20-26. “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. 24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. 26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
Jesus ends His prayer by praying for every believer. This is everyone since the 1st Century who would come to believe in Jesus through the words that many of the Apostles recorded in the Bible by inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
- Jesus prays for unity (vs 20-23)
- Jesus prays that the world may know that God sent Him and that He loves them (vs 23)
- Jesus prays that they would behold His glory which was given to Him by the Father. And the love of God which was given before the foundation of the world (vs 24)
- Jesus prays that the Father gives them the same love that has been given to Him (vs 25-26)
Final Thoughts
We see the prayers of Jesus all throughout the New Testament, but I especially love this one because it was prayed in His final hours. He could have prayed for anything, and He chose to pray for His beloved Apostles and us! It is a model for us to know that we need to remember to pray for others. God wants to hear from us because we have a relationship with Him. The model is simple:
- Honor and acknowledge that God is God, our Almighty Father
- Those for whom we pray are one with us as believers, so they are one with us and the Father
- We should pray for all believers, not just those whom are close to us.
Relationships need to be cultivated, prayer is how we talk to the Father and reading His Word is how He talks to us. Remember to be daily in the Word so that your relationship continues to grow and flourish.
Things to think about and do
- If you have not already done it, think about how you can pray for others on a regular basis. There is no right or wrong way, but plan on incorporating the simple model that Jesus gave.
- Look up the words Thanksgiving, Supplication, and Intercession. Jot down the meanings of each.
- Choose one of the following passages which are other prayers of Jesus and do as I have done here; pick it apart so that you understand it clearly. The Prayer of Thanksgiving (Matt 11:25-26); The Prayer for the Bread and the Cup (Matt 26:26-28); The Prayer for God’s Glorification (John 12:27-28)
Pamela Rose Williams, Founder of Christianity Every Day, is a wife, mother, and grandmother. She and her husband, Dr. Michael L. Williams have served in Christian ministry since 2001. She has Master of Ministry in Biblical Counseling and Bachelor’s in Christian Education degrees. Most of her time is spent as a professional editor and writer, working with many Christian authors and artists. She also uses her extensive experience in information technology providing Christ-centered teaching tools and resources for people all over the world. To learn more about Pamela visit her About page.
