Does Jesus Pray for Us?
Do you wonder if Jesus is praying for us today? In a time when religious apathy, sin, blatant disregard and rejection of God has seemingly taken front seat, wouldn’t it be understandable (and just) if He threw up His arms and walked away? Thank goodness that is not the God we serve.
In the climax of the last discourse, John Chapter 17, our Lord raised His eyes to Heaven in strong prayer and petition for us — present and future disciples — for all time. This prayer has become known as the “priestly prayer.” The longest prayer recorded in the Gospels. In it, Jesus prays for us to have the courage to emulate Him; witness faithfully to freedom, joy, and peace; and to behold fortitude and vigilance of faith in order to persevere through every difficulty.
In this prayer, Jesus also prays for our protection. He prays for the protection from evil as well as other temptations connected with operating in the world (we live in the world but are not to be “of the world”), and wishes for our obedience — radiating light, happiness and unison with other believers (the Body of Christ) characteristic of His life and ministry on earth.
So then, does Jesus pray for us? The answer is unequivocally – Yes!
Although this Priestly Prayer is quite long, it is listed below in its entirety. Slowly and prayerfully read it over. Allow the Words to speak to you as they will. Meditating on the Words of Jesus — particularly a prayer He proclaimed over your life — is an incredibly powerful discipline. One in which is sure to give you much peace, comfort and freedom as you continue to pick up the cross and follow Him.
Does Jesus Pray for Us?
The Prayer of Jesus — John 17:1-26
He raised His eyes to Heaven and said…
“Father, the hour has come.
Give glory to Your Son, so that Your son may glorify You, just as You gave Him authority over all people, so that He may give eternal life to all You gave Him. Now this is eternal life, that they should know You, the only true God, and the One whom You sent, Jesus Christ. I glorified You on earth by accomplishing the work that You gave Me to do. Now glorify Me, Father, with You — with the glory that I had with You before the world began.
I revealed Your Name to those whom You gave me out of the world. They belonged to You, and You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your Word. Now they know that everything You gave Me is from You, because the Words You gave to Me I have given to them, and they accepted them and truly understood that I came from You, and they have believed that You sent Me.
I pray for them. I do not pray for the world – but for the ones You have given Me, because they are Yours, and everything of Mine is Yours and everything of Yours is Mine, and I have been glorified in them. And now I will no longer be in the world, but they are in the world, while I am coming to You.
Holy Father, keep them in Your Name that You have given Me, so that they may be one just as we are.
When I was with them I protected them in Your Name that You gave Me, and I guarded them, and none of them was lost except the son of destruction, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to You. I speak this in the world so that they may share My joy completely. I gave them Your Word, and the world hated them, because they do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. I do not ask that You take them out of the world but that You keep them from the evil one. They do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. Consecrate them in the truth. Your Word is truth. As You sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world. And I consecrate Myself for them, so that they also may be consecrated in truth.
I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that You sent me. And I have given them the glory You gave Me, so that they may be one, as we are one – I in them and You in Me – that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that You sent Me, and that You loved them even as You loved Me.
Father, they are Your gift to Me. I wish that where I am they also may be with Me, that they may see My glory that You gave Me, because You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
Righteous Father, the world also does not know You, but I know You, and they know that You sent Me. I made known to them Your Name and I will make it known, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them and I in them.”
Thank You, Lord Jesus, for praying for us. Thank You for this everlasting priestly prayer. Although we are not worthy, thank You for standing beside us – showering us with divine grace, courage and perseverance forevermore. Help us to always seek Your face in faith and humility; to feel Your presence surrounding us undeniably. Today and always, Lord, we praise Your good and Holy Name. Amen.
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