Jesus’ Prayer for His Church

Having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them to the end.—John 13:1

Contributed

The prayer recorded in the seventeenth chapter of John was offered by our Lord on the way from the Memorial Supper to the Garden of Gethsemane. It was indelibly etched in the mind of the apostle John, who faithfully recorded its powerful lessons. The message he relayed is as vibrant and vital today as it was in the day in which it was given.

Before the prayer was given a number of events and lessons recorded in the thirteenth through sixteenth chapters of John unfolded. Christ celebrated the Passover with the apostles and was betrayed by Judas, who then departed from the rest of the group. In the cool of the evening and on the way to the garden, Jesus offered a discourse to the remaining eleven. We can only imagine the impression his thoughts had on the minds of the apostles as they walked in the moonlight in the coolness of a spring evening. His words were designed to fortify the apostles and other followers for the trials which lay ahead. Jesus consoled them with the fact that he was going to prepare a place for them, and that he would send them a comforter. He illustrated their new position with the picture of the vine and the branches, and warned them of impending persecution. Perhaps as they crossed the Kidron valley, they paused while he offered this prayer of intercession for the footstep followers.

Jesus knew that the apostles and other followers were at a critical stage. To this point they had been protected from the adversary by his presence. But the Lord knew that like children, they would soon have to stand on their own. They would not be left defenseless, for he promised to send them another comforter. They would, however, have to make progress in the way, this time using the eyes of faith. The Lord knew that this transition would be especially difficult and trying. Not only would they be stunned by the manner of his death, but they would be disoriented by the absence of his leadership. Yet the master knew that Jehovah God had done the selection and that those given to him by the Father would continue in the way and would flourish, the seed which he called his bride.

The prayer of John 17 is broken into three major parts. In the first section, the Lord addresses very directly the Heavenly Father. Secondly, Jesus prays on behalf of the eleven remaining apostles. Finally, the scope of the prayer is expanded to encompass all of the footstep followers, who numbered at least five hundred. As stated in the ninth verse, the prayer was not for the world, but directed at his followers. "I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine" (John 17:9). The Lord focused this particular prayer specifically on those whom God had given him (verse 6).

The prayer was an open prayer in a solitary place on behalf of the eleven apostles, our Lord’s spiritual family. As we look at its details, we realize that its focus was on the footstep followers who were still in the early stages of their consecrated walks. As such, it is especially appropriate for examination and study by the footstep followers at this end of the Gospel age.

Jesus undoubtedly knew that the prayer would be a valuable aid to the church primarily after the events which would soon transpire. He knew that his statements and lessons could only be fully appreciated in retrospect of the crucifixion and resurrection.

The first section of the prayer is a tribute to the wisdom and power of Jehovah. Just as we desire to glorify God, our Lord and Master in his final hour desired to be raised up that he might also glorify the Heavenly Father. "Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee" (John 17:1). Jesus acknowledged the point that his hour had come, and that his work was finished. "I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do" (John 17:4). Soon the ransom price would be paid, and redemption for ALL would be a reality. What a wonderful prospect, God’s plan of redemption was approaching a major milestone.

Now his attentions were focused on his disciples who had just begun their walks in the narrow way. "As thou hast given him [Christ] power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him" (John 17:2). The Lord’s focus was now to prepare the way for those whom God had selected and who would be privileged to share with him in glory, honor, and immortality. These apostles would soon be privileged to fully comprehend the mysteries of God and ultimately to share a place with him in his Father’s mansion.

Jesus realized that his own glorification would in turn glorify the heavenly Father. Soon he would be privileged to sit on the right hand of God. "O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was" (John 17:5).

When we read the first section carefully, we see that at this point Jesus acknowledged his pre-human existence as the Logos. This insight is understood by the footstep followers who realize that it was the Logos who responded when Jehovah said; "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I [Logos], Here am I; send me" (Isa. 6:8). Soon the apostles would begin to fully understand the import of this on the plan of God. Jesus desired to return to the glory that he had enjoyed with the Father before the foundations of the world. In the not too distant future, the Church, his bride would also be joining him in his Father’s home.

Jesus acknowledged that Jehovah had personally selected and given him his followers. "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" (John 17:6). Those mentioned were apostles and other footstep followers at the time. This was a valuable lesson to them that God does the choosing and determines the office, a lesson that would later be driven home when the apostle Paul replaced their choice of Matthias (see Acts 1:26).

These selected by God were receptive to the message. They accepted the word and made it a part of their lives and characters. "For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them" (John 17:8). The words of life given by our Lord had a transforming effect on the lives and characters of the footstep followers. The intellects of these dear ones were now totally convinced that Jesus was the son of God. "They have believed that thou didst send me" (John 17:8).

Jesus Prays for His Disciples

Jesus now focused the intent of this very special prayer, not on the world, but specifically on those whom God had given him, those who in the days and weeks to come would be undergoing the severe trials necessary to crystalize their characters. "I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine" (John 17:9). This shows that the focus of this prayer is as important to us as to these dear ones so many years ago. The church was really at a fragile embryonic stage and our Lord was focusing his message to their particular vulnerabilities. This is equally applicable in our day.

The Lord was letting his followers know that continuing in the way would glorify him in the same way that his actions had glorified the Heavenly Father. "And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them" (John 17:10). What a wonderful tribute to the character of God.

Jesus knew that his time in the world was short, his mission was almost complete. His focus, however, fell on those who remained behind to carry on the good fight of faith. "But these are in the world, and I come to thee . . . those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are" (John 17:11). Jesus knew that the sanctifying work of their Christian walks would mold these dear ones in the image and likeness of Jehovah God, and this was his ardent desire, a desire for the growth of the spiritual family of Jehovah.

The oneness expressed in these verses is not the mistaken oneness of person expressed in the error called the Trinity. It is a oneness of character, intent, purpose, and of the love of God. Here the scriptures clearly reveal the separateness of the Father and son, but with a oneness of purpose. This is a lesson that has not fallen on deaf ears but is fundamental within the true church. Its comprehension is absolutely essential to a proper appreciation of the ransom; without it a full appreciation of the crucifixion and resurrection cannot be attained.

Our Lord knew that he soon would be leaving the scene. During his walk, he had protected his followers from the wicked one, except for Judas whose heart had turned. "Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are" (John 17:11). This illustrates the free moral agency which is inherent in God’s human creation. Let us be admonished not to venture outside the protective covering of Christ lest we also fall.

The Lord now prayed for intercession for his followers that they too might enjoy the peace and joy that he had experienced in the Father’s grand plan. "These things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves" (John 17:13). He prayed not only for the peace that passeth all understanding which is only possible through a comprehension and belief in the plan of God, but also the joy that they too would have a place beside him in God’s throne, as sons of God!

He knew that this would require that they continue to separate themselves from the things of the world. "Because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world" (John 17:14). This is the separation that makes the followers of Jesus pilgrims and strangers in a strange land. As such, he knew that they would receive persecution along the way. The darkness hateth the light, and so trials along these lines were to be expected.

It was our Lord’s fervent desire that his little ones be protected from evil and the evil one. "I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil" (John 17:15). He knew that especially in their present state, the footstep followers would be susceptible to the corruption of the world. We feel that special protection from the adversary had to be given them until the holy spirit was bestowed upon them at Pentecost. God is not slack in his promise to protect his family.

The Lord revealed perhaps the central theme of this prayer in the seventeenth verse when he stated, "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." The sanctifying effect of his word would have a transforming effect on the lives of the body members. Sanctification, or making right, is the continuing work of every consecration. Only new creatures in Christ can experience the crystalization of character necessary to fulfill this verse and then only through the grace of God. This is a progressive work that continues even unto death.

Jesus was about to give himself for this cause, first on behalf of the church and later on behalf of the whole world of mankind. "For their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth" (John 17:19). He knew that his church, likewise, would soon be laying down their lives on behalf of others just as he was doing.

Jesus Prays for Us

In the twentieth verse, the scope of the prayer broadens beyond those immediately present to include all who had faithfully followed after him. "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word" (John 17:20). The scope of the prayer now extended to those who would be footstep followers in the years to come. This applies in a very personal sense to each of us at this end of the age.

Jesus’ desire for intercession was the same for the broader body as the first footstep followers. "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" (John 17:21). Once again, our Lord acknowledged that all of the footstep followers must achieve this oneness that he desired for his entire bride. Furthermore, he desired equally for these dear ones that they also attain the promised glory proclaimed before in the fifth and tenth verses. "And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one" (John 17:22).

This will be the privilege of those who would be called his own, to know the true and living God and to have communion with him. "O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me" (John 17:25). What a beautiful way to express his love. But it doesn’t end there. Jesus’ final words were on behalf of his bride—that the love of the Father be manifest in them. "I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it; that thy love wherewith thou has loved me may be in them, and I in them" (John 17:26).

Just as the Lord’s prayer was given as a model of prayer in the beginning, the prayer of John 17 was directed to the footstep followers as his last desire on their behalf. It is filled with thoughts that are applicable to the church today as they were so many years ago. Let each of us take it to heart.