Jesus prayed (and is praying now) without ceasing. While on the earth, He was in constant communion with the Father. As He came to the end of His life, the Bible records one of His final and most important moments of intercession.
And in that prayer, recorded in John 17, He prayed specifically for you if you are a follower of Christ. As He was praying for the followers of His day, He included us in this prayer, those who would come to believe in Christ through the witness of His first disciples.
“I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word” (vs. 20).
So, what is Christ’s greatest desire for His followers, as expressed in His prayer? His prayer should give us a very practical way for us to pray for ourselves and for those who know Him.
THAT WE MAY EXPERIENTIALLY KNOW THE FATHER AND THE SON AND HAVE LIFE!
“This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (vs. 3).
THAT WE WOULD BE PROTECTED IN HIS NAME
“Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given me” (vs. 11b).
THAT WE WOULD BE ONE WITH HIM
“That they may be one, even as We are … that they may all be one; even 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 sent Me … that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected into one, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me” (vs. 11c, 20-23).
THAT WE WOULD HAVE CHRIST’S JOY MADE FULL IN US
“But now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves” (vs. 13).
THAT WE MAY BE KEPT FROM THE EVIL ONE
“I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one (vs. 15).
THAT WE MAY BE SET APART THROUGH THE TRUTH
“They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.” (vs. 16-19).
THAT THE WORLD MIGHT BELIEVE IN CHRIST THROUGH US
“That they may be one, even as We are … that they may all be one; even 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 sent Me … that they may be perfected into one, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me” (vs. 11c, 20-21, 23).
THAT WE WOULD BE WHERE HE IS AND SEE HIS GLORY
Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world” (vs. 24).
THAT WE WOULD EXPERIENCE THE FULLNESS OF CHRIST’S LOVE IN US AND THROUGH US AS HE IS IN US
“I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known, so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them” (vs. 26)
This is Christ’s desire for you! If you are a believer, it is your birthright. Pause and thank God for these things right now! Then pray that other believers you know—and future believers—would know and experience all that Christ has for them. Pray these prayers over your spiritual family often, for it is exactly what Christ desires for them.
Father, we are overwhelmed by what You have designed for us. Words fail us when we think of the depth of our sin and the height of Your salvation. Give us eyes to see so that we will experience the fullness of our union with You and the Father. And may the world see You in us and us in You, and believe.
