Jesus’s Prayer To The Father

In John, chapter 17, Jesus prayed such an amazing prayer to His Father. And because of the magnitude of this prayer there is so much insight to take from it. Unfortunately, with this most beautiful prayer, there are some that have taken the Lord’s words out of context and twisted them, in order to go with their belief system. So for this reason, we will read each verse, by way of the Holy Spirit, in order to know what Jesus meant as He prayed. Starting with verses 1 and 2, we read…

John 17:1,2 (KJV)
1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.

In verses 1 and 2, Jesus called His Father, who is in heaven, and mentioned that his hour to be crucified was soon at hand. In saying this, He asked His Father to glorify Him, that He may glorify His Father also. Now, as Jesus and His Father are equal, all the glory goes to both of them and that is why Jesus glorifies His Father and then asks for the glory upon Himself. Now, we also learn that the Father gave Jesus power over all flesh. Even eternal life is in the hands of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Now in verses 3 through 5, we learn so much more about how Jesus glorified His Father in what He said…

John 17:3-5 (KJV)
3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

In verses 3 through 5, Jesus begins with giving His Father glory, by calling Him the one true God. Now this is not to say that Jesus is not God, as we will learn in the verses that proceed this. Right after Jesus said this he said that His life was lived to glorify His Father. It was His mission to bear our sins on the cross and Jesus finished the work that His Father gave Him. Now, the next verse helps us get to the next point in that Jesus is also asking His Father to glorify Him. Jesus said that since the beginning, He has glorified His Father. Now, as Jesus and His Father are one, the same glory is for Jesus as well. When Jesus asks for God’s glory, it is because they are quals and this is a give and take thing. Now in verses 6 through 11, we learn more about Jesus’s role with the Father and how they are one…

John 17:6-11 (KJV)
6 I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.
7 Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee.
8 For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.
9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.
11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.

In verses 6 through 11, Jesus said that His followers were given to Him by His Father and that they have kept His Word. Everything Jesus did was also through the Father, who was working inside of Him. What Jesus taught were the words of His Father. He was also sent to this earth to die for our sins by the direction of His Father God. Jesus then prayed over His disciples, whom the Father gave Him. Now, in verse 10, Jesus helps us understand why He said this. It is because Jesus’s life was to glorify the Father. However, in this verse, we learn that what is the Father’s is also the Son’s, of which Jesus is glorified in also. Verse 11 then puts things together as Jesus prays that His disciples would become one, as Jesus and the Father are one. Now in verses 12 through 18, we learn about the Jesus’s and the Father’s role of helping us not be of this world…

John 17:12-18 (KJV)
12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

In verses 12 through 18, we learn that Jesus keeps us safe, through the blessings of the Father. No one that is with Jesus is lost. With the Lord Jesus, we have true joy with Him and it is fulfilled in our lives. Jesus declared the words of His Father and those that followed Jesus and did what He said, were hated by those of this world. He also said that though we are in this world, the Father can keep us from evil. Therefore, His followers are no longer of this world, as Jesus is not either. We are sanctified through the truth, which is in the words of the Father. Jesus was sent by His Father and therefore, He sends His disciples into the world also. As we see here, the Father and the Son work harmoniously together. Now in verses 19 through 26, we learn more about our calling, to become one with Jesus, as Jesus and the Father are one…

John 17:19-26 (KJV)
19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
25 O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.
26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

In verses 19 through 26, we learn that Jesus is sanctified in Himself and that we are sanctified by the truth. He desires that people would come unto Him and believe in Him through their word. This meaning that they will believe in Jesus and not give up. They do this by becoming one with Jesus, as Jesus and the Father are one. This they will know that the Father sent the Son to die for their sins. In doing this, the Father gave glory to the Son also, which the Son gives to everyone that believes in Him. Then, they will become one also with Him. The love of God is made manifest when people come unto God and understand why Jesus was sent. Even before the foundation of this world, Jesus was loved by His Father. This same love pours out from Jesus to everyone that believes in His Name. That is when we have true joy in this world.

Let us pray:
Oh Lord, there is so much to learn and gain from Your own prayers, especially the one you gave in John, chapter 17. What you’ve taught me Lord is that as we ought to glorify You, as You glorify the Father and He in You. We ought to be one with You, Lord, as You are one with the Father in all words and actions. Everything that is good and joyful in this world comes from You Lord. The same love that Your Father gave You, You have manifested unto us all. You are so selfless and kind, always thinking of others before Yourself. I just pray that I will become like You, Lord and be as humble of a servant to You, as you are to Your Father. May I glorify Your Name in my words and actions, as You are so deserving of all our honor and respect. Lord, come into my life. Abide in me, that I may abide in You. Be one with me always and through the Father’s protection, lead me out of every sin. I no longer wish to disrespect You in any way by my sinful actions. Instead, cleanse me of every sin, that I may be used for Your good. Send me off as Your servant, that I may do whatever work You have for my life. My life is Yours, my God. I love You Jesus. All the glory, all the honor, and all the praise go to You Lord and our Father. For in You both is the One True God. I love You God. Amen.

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