Jesus’ Intercessory Prayer

GOLDEN TEXT: “And whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” —John 14:13

JOHN 17:9-23

CONCLUDING his admonitions, instructions, and words of comfort to his disciples in the “upper room,” Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven” in prayer. This prayer may be divided into three parts. He began with a petition on his own behalf, that the Father’s name might be glorified through him. (vss. 1-8) Then he prayed for his immediate disciples (vss. 9-19), concluding with a petition on behalf of those who would believe on him through the ministry of his apostles—a prayer, in fact, for his entire church.—vss. 20-23

“I pray not for the world,” Jesus sad. This does not mean that he lacked interest in the world of mankind, for previously he had instructed his disciples to pray, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” (Matt. 6:10) This is a prayer on behalf of all mankind, a prayer for the reconciliation of humanity to God, that his will might reign supreme throughout the entire earth.

At the moment, however, Jesus’ concern was the spiritual welfare of those who were to be associated with him in the establishment of God’s will in the earth. Indirectly, of course, this was a petition looking to the ultimate blessing of the world; for toward the conclusion he adds, “that the world may know that thou hast sent me.” (vs. 23) When the people of the world know this fact, they will be in a position to be reconciled to God and blessed with life.

Jesus asked his Heavenly Father to “keep” his disciples. He realized full well the difficulties they would encounter in the world—its hate and persecution, and its many allurements. Jesus had jealously guarded the welfare of those whom the Father had given to him, but now he was to leave them, and he felt a special concern for them, so unburdened his heart to God on their behalf.

All followers of the Master, even now, should be able to take great comfort in the thought that this prayer was on their behalf. Since the “effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much,” we can surely be glad that the “holy, harmless, undefiled” One so earnestly prayed for us. (Jas. 5:16; Heb. 7:26) And we can depend upon God’s keeping power in our lives. If we keep ourselves in the love of God, we need have no fear concerning his willingness to help us in our every time of need.

Jesus also prayed that his disciples might be sanctified. In this connection he said, “I sanctify myself.” This indicates that sanctification does not mean a turning from sin to righteousness, for Jesus had never been a sinner. At the age of thirty, however, the perfect man, Jesus, presented himself to God, to be used in his service. Sanctification, then, in the strictest sense means a setting apart to the doing of God’s will, thus being made holy.

Jesus prayed that his disciples might be sanctified by the truth. This was the manner in which he was sanctified. “Lo I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me) to do thy will, O God,” are the prophetic words which Jesus fulfilled in his devotion to God. (Ps. 40:7,8; Heb. 10:7) God’s will for him had been recorded in the Old Testament Scriptures, and in being guided by the Scriptures he was sanctified by the truth. It is thus that we also are sanctified by the truth. It is not a mysterious matter, but simply a following of the instructions of the Word.

In the case of Jesus, this resulted in his being made one with his Heavenly Father. God’s will was his will, so he could say, as he did on another occasion, “I and my Father are one.” (John 10:30) He did not mean that he and the Father were one in person, and equal, for at another time he said, “My Father is greater than I.”—John 14:28; 10:29

If this point needs further elucidation, it is found in Jesus’ prayer that his disciples be made one with him in the same way that he was one with the Father. It is strange that so many students of the Bible have failed to realize the force of this statement, and that it so beautifully clarifies the manner in which Jesus and his Heavenly Father are at one with each other.

Jesus’ prayer for the oneness of his church will have its full answer when all its members are triumphantly in glory with him. There have been many influences which have tended to disunite the Lord’s people while still in the flesh. However, despite the obstacles in the way, all the consecrated should keep this ultimate goal of unity before them. All such can rejoice that to the extent they are united with their Head, and the truth is a sanctifying power in their lives, they are at one with fellow, members of Christ’s body.

QUESTIONS

What are the three main divisions in Jesus’ intercessory prayer?

What two things did Jesus especially request on behalf of his disciples?

How do we know that when Jesus said, “I and my Father are one,” he did not mean a personal, or bodily oneness?

When will the church be fully at one?

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