April 28, 2020

The Savior's Prayer for Every Saint

John 17

Connor Baxter
Tuesday's Devo

April 28, 2020

Tuesday's Devo

April 28, 2020

Central Truth

Jesus prayed for all future believers a prayer that would lead to two specific results: that people would know God's love for them, and that they would be assured Jesus was sent by God to rescue sinners like us. This is gospel living. This is evangelistic in nature. Jesus' prayer was for oneness. 

Key Verse | John 17:20

"I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word."

John 17

The High Priestly Prayer

When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 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. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 1 17:15 Or from evil 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them 2 17:17 Greek Set them apart (for holy service to God) in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, 3 17:19 Or I sanctify myself; or I set myself apart (for holy service to God) that they also may be sanctified 4 17:19 Greek may be set apart (for holy service to God) in truth.

20 I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. 24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. 26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

Footnotes

[1] 17:15 Or from evil
[2] 17:17 Greek Set them apart (for holy service to God)
[3] 17:19 Or I sanctify myself; or I set myself apart (for holy service to God)
[4] 17:19 Greek may be set apart (for holy service to God)

Dive Deeper | John 17

Jesus spends the first five verses in John 17 praying for Himself; the next fourteen praying for His disciples who were alive at the time; then the last seven praying for all of us—the future saints. These last seven are the verses I want to zoom in on today.

Have you ever noticed that "one thing leads to another"? That there are certain things in this world that have inevitable results? For example, if you buy a dog, you will scoop the yard. If you plant, you will have crops in the harvest. If you are lazy when it is plowing time, you will have voids in the harvest. If you pursue steadfast love and faithfulness, you will find favor from both God and man.

Jesus, in what is often referred to as "The High Priestly Prayer," prayed for something that would inevitably lead to the preaching of the gospel unlike anything else, something that would inevitably lead to the world knowing "that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me" (John 17:23b). This thing is ONENESS. Our Savior prays for us as His future disciples to have oneness with Himself, the Father, and each other.

Think about it. When social, cultural, and economic differences do not separate a group of people, it shows there is something that transcends these things. When a group of people extends grace and forgiveness to one another no matter the offensive action, it shows there is something that transcends being wronged. This something is a Someone, and our oneness despite any circumstance allows us to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is impossible to overstate the importance of unity among believers.

How valuable are the words of John 17! There are few places in Scripture that record the actual words Jesus used while praying. It is no accident that God preserved this specific prayer for us to read! We, and the world, see the heart of the Father. We grasp the gospel mission left by our Savior and the means of accomplishing it. Oneness.

Discussion Questions

1. Are there any relationships you currently have where oneness is not a reality? If so, what steps can you take to rebuild that relationship? See Matthew 5:23-24; Romans 12:14-15.

2. Was there anything Christ prayed for that you often don't pray about? How can you begin to pray more like Christ? See Matthew 6:6-13; Colossians 4:2; James 4:2-3.

3. Would you describe your relationship with God as oneness? If not, we are here to help! Just send an email or ask a question below.