Read John 17:11-19
Questions from the Scripture text: Where is Jesus not going to be when He goes to the Father (John 17:11)? Where are His disciples going to be? What does He call His Father here? What does He ask God to do to whom? Through what? With what result? Who has been doing this until now (John 17:12)? What does Jesus call them in verse 12? Who was lost? Why? Where does Jesus speak these words (John 17:13)? Why—so they can have what in themselves? What has Jesus given them (John 17:14)? What has the world done to them? Why? Who else is not of the world? What doesn’t Jesus pray according to John 17:15? What does He pray? What two things does He repeat in John 17:16? What does Jesus ask His Father to do in John 17:17? How? Who sent Whom into the world in John 17:18a? Who sent whom into the world in verse 18b? What does Jesus do to Himself in John 17:19? For whose sake? So that what would happen to them?Jesus is speaking prospectively here about when He comes to the Father. In John 16:16-28, He had described this departure as the occasion which would enable them to see Him better than ever, and to have joy that no one can take from them, and to have it fully. O the joy of those who see Jesus by faith through His words as given by His Spirit in the Scriptures, and applied by His Spirit to our hearts!
But His followers must remain in the world in which they will have trouble. And just as Jesus says that they will be praying for that joy in the midst of that trouble (John 16:23-26, John 16:33), so now in chapter 17, Jesus is giving us His own model of how He prays for us.
He prays for us based upon who His Father is: Holy Father.
He prays for us that which His Father alone can do: keep them through Your Name.
He prays for us based upon God’s choosing: those whom You have given Me.
He prays for us based upon His own power: I have kept, and none of them is lost.
He prays for us that we would hear His words: these things I speak in the world.
He prays for us that we would have His joy: that they may have My joy fulfilled.
He prays for us that we would have His word: I have given them Your word.
He prays that it would make us holy: Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
He prays for us that we would be kept from the evil one.
He prays for us based upon His own consecrating Himself unto death: for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.
God grant that we would learn to pray just God-devoted, joy-desiring, Scripture-driven, holiness-developing, Christ-dependent prayers! And God grant that He would answer not only us, but our Lord Jesus who perfectly prays in this way for us!
How have you been growing in your praying? How will you grow in your praying?Suggested songs: ARP1 “How Blessed the Man” or TPH412 “Lord, Keep Us Steadfast”
No comments:
Post a Comment