My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. (John 17:15-21)

The high priestly prayer of Jesus before they went to Gethsemane is Jesus’ prayer for the church which He would build. He had already taught the disciples about the importance of their abiding in Him and how this would affect their prayer life. “If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” (John 15:7) Jesus is expressing their need to be united with Him in prayer, then God’s will and their wish will be that same. It is God’s transformation which empowers their prayer life. In the priestly prayer of Jesus, He gives us direction for the content of our prayer, thus joining Jesus in the prayer for the church before our Heavenly Father.

Jesus prayed for their protection from the evil one. From experience Peter reminds us of the importance of this prayer. Jesus had told Peter that the evil one wanted “to sift all of you as wheat.” (Luke 22:31) Jesus also said to Peter, “I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:32) Peter would boldly say, “I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” (Luke 22:33) Jesus would tell of his coming failure, that he would deny Him three time before morning. Peter failed but his faith did not, as he would strengthen his brothers and us, when he wrote,

“All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.’ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 5:5-11)

Let us join Jesus in praying for our protection.

Jesus prayed for their Sanctification. Our sanctification comes because Jesus was sanctified. The basic meaning of sanctify is to be dedicated to or consecrated to God. Jesus is the Anointed One who is dedicated to and consecrated to God. He is the promised Messiah. Yet, He would also be sanctified. The meaning of sanctify is also to clean or purify. Jesus, who is sinless, will take our sin on the cross and then sanctify Himself or purify Himself by His sacrifice for us in order that He can sanctify us. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21) When we put our faith in Christ, we are forgiven of all sin. However, we still struggle with our sin nature which we still have on this earth, God is sanctifying us as we follow Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit who has come to dwell with us. John would encourage us about God’s sanctifying us by writing,

“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:5-9)

Let us join Jesus in praying for our sanctification.

Jesus prayed for their being sent out to the world with His message.

Jesus came to bring redemption to a world which was and is consumed by its own sin. The curse from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil is death, not just physical death, but spiritual death by separation from God. Jesus came to bridge the gap and build a bridge for man to return to God. Jesus, the Son of God, had come to man. He came to defeat sin and death. He did this by His sacrifice of the cross and through the power of His resurrection. All who will come by faith and receive Him will experience this redemption. Out of redemption the believers in Jesus have a task to take this message to the world. The task is now given to His disciples and all who believe this message and follow Him.

The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. (John 20:20-22)

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

Let us join Jesus in praying for His message being spread throughout the world.

Jesus prayed for their unity with Him, the Father and each other.

Jesus came to build His Church and proclaim the Kingdom of God. He began His ministry by telling people to “repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17) He would instruct them “seek first his (God’s) kingdom and his (God’s) righteousness,” (Matthew 6:33) He would also tell them, that upon their confession of faith that He would “build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” (Matthew 16:18) We as believers are a part of His church. He is the head of the church, “And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” (Ephesians 1:22-23) Jesus prays that all the body would be united, it would be one just as Jesus and the Father are One. The challenge of unity has always been present, so Paul wrote to the church,

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:1-6)

Let us join Jesus in praying for the unity of His Church.

In the Love of Jesus,

Michael Block