Day 16
Week 3: The Greatest Prayer Ever Prayed
THE LORD'S PRAYER
Jesus’ prayer in John 17 falls into three sections…
- Jesus praying for Himself
- Jesus praying for His disciples
- Jesus praying for the church to come
But to look at the whole prayer those three things fall into the larger container of Jesus praying that God may be glorified. He prays that the Father continue to be glorified in all that Jesus had done and was about to do. That was always the motivation of Jesus, that the Father be glorified. Even when He prays that He (Jesus) be glorified in verse one it, the motivation is so that ultimately the Father be glorified.I also think that this prayer bridges Jesus’ earthly ministry with His heavenly ministry. In this prayer we hear Him interceding for His disciples and for His church and as Hebrews 7:25 tells us He is now in heaven interceding on our behalf. In essence we get a glimpse of what Jesus is praying for us even now.A paraphrase of John 17:13 says, "These are the prayers which in heaven I will never cease to make before God. but 1 make them now in the world in your hearing so that you will know that I am going to be always promoting your welfare in heaven. When you know this, you will be partakers of My joy."I think it is one of the reasons Jesus prayed this prayer out loud in the presence of His disciples. He didn’t need to but He prayed out loud to let the disciples in on the conversation between the Trinity.
- They caught a glimpse of the heart of God for us and how special we are to the Father and His Son.
- They heard that God called them His own.
- They heard how Jesus was praying for them regarding their mission and living in this world.
- They heard Him ask the Father that the disciples and the church would live in holiness and righteousness.
- They heard Him pray that they would live in love and unity – looking to always have a spirit of reconciliation rather than division.
- They heard His heart for the world to hear the good news of the Father and be returned to relationship with Him.
Father thank you for loving us so much you sent Your Son to reconcile us to you. Thank you Jesus that you came and that you completed the work the Father sent you to do. Thank you Jesus that your heart was always to bring honor and glory to the Father and now I ask that you would help us to do the same – may I glorify the Father by accomplishing the work that you have ordained for me. I pray that your people at DSC will have a heart to live holy lives and bring honor and glory to Your name. Father glorify us in order for us to bring even greater glory to your name.