The Jesus Bible Reading PlanNäide

THE PRAYER OF CHRIST

One of the great blessings of being a follower of Jesus is to know that right now he is interceding for his people before the Father (Ro 8:34; Heb 7:25). While we do not know exactly what Jesus says to the Father, we do have an example of Jesus’ prayer here in John 17.

First, Jesus prays that the Father would protect his church. He not only prays for physical protection, but even more he prays for spiritual protection — that the church’s faith would stay strong after Jesus left them to return to his Father (17:11).

Second, Jesus prays for his church to be sanctified, that they would be made holy; that they would know the truth of God and reflect the glory of God on earth (17:17, 19).

Third, Jesus prays for those who will believe through the message of the disciples (17:20). Jesus prays that his church will grow and that many people in all the earth will come to know him through the faithful ministry of all his disciples. What an amazing gift to believers today to be able to read this prayer and know that Jesus was, and still is, going to God — directly and personally — on their behalf.

Jesus, I want what you want. Please protect your church, physically and spiritually. Sanctify us through your Word. Grow your church today. Amen.