By L Cherrett
Posted in Faith
Jesus’ prayer for Us: John 17
The Gospels tell us that Jesus often went away by himself to pray, but in this chapter, we get a rare chance to overhear one of his prayers. It’s an intimate prayer for the people who love him – the disciples gathered for his last Passover meal – but also for us, ‘those who will believe in me through their word’ (Jn 17 verse 20, NRSV).
Jesus’ prayer for us is wide-ranging. He wants us to experience joy, glory, holiness, truth and love, but his main concerns are that we should be kept close to him, protected from evil, and that we should remain in unity with our fellow believers.
These are big requests – especially when we reflect on the things he does not ask for. Most specifically, he stresses that he is not praying for God to take us ‘out of the world’ (verse 15). He does not expect our unity and protection to come from huddling together and pulling up the drawbridge against the world. Nor does he ask for us to have a privileged place at the centre of our society, calling the shots, setting the standards for other people’s behaviour. Instead, we are to remain fully involved in a world that will sometimes hate us.
When we look closely at this prayer, and when we take a close and honest look at ourselves, we might wonder how it could possibly be answered! It is very hard to live constantly in joy, glory, holiness, truth, love and perfect unity, protected from evil, while also refusing the temptation to retreat from the world. Perhaps that is why Paul urges the Ephesians, ‘Keep alert and never give up; pray always for all God’s people’ (Ephesians 6.18, GNB). It is wonderful to know that Jesus prayed for us (and still does – Romans 8.34), but we need to constantly join in his prayer on behalf of one another.
Lord Jesus, we pray for all of our fellow believers around the world and in our own local communities. Help us to support each other in maintaining our unity, our faith, our holiness, and our love. Please show us how to do this in very practical ways.
Reference source:
Cherrett, L 2020, Jesus’ Prayer for Us: John 17, Bible Society UK, <https://www.biblesociety.org.uk/explore-the-bible/daily-reflection/jesus-prayer-for-us-john-17-26-december-2020/>
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Paul tries to create some “audiovisual aids” for this big message, which he calls “churches” (a term Jesus used only twice, found in Matthew 16:18 and 18:17). Paul knows we need living, visible models of this new kind of life to make evident that Christ’s people really follow a way different from mass consciousness.
Paul tries to create some “audiovisual aids” for this big message, which he calls “churches” (a term Jesus used only twice, found in Matthew 16:18 and 18:17). Paul knows we need living, visible models of this new kind of life to make evident that Christ’s people really follow a way different from mass consciousness.
It is very important, friends, not to think of the soul as dark. We are conditioned to perceive only external light. We forget that there is such a thing as inner light, illuminating our soul.
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