Jesus Prays for Believers

u003c!u002du002d wp:heading u002du002du003enu003ch2 class=u0022wp-block-headingu0022u003eIntroductionu003c/h2u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennThis week’s lesson is the last lesson of the quarter.  u003ca href=u0022https://newfoundfaith.org/tag/spring-quarter-23/u0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eIn this quarteru003c/au003e we have seen the works that Christ did and taught and how He gave His life for us so that we can be in fellowship with Christ and have eternal life.  In our lesson today, we take a look at Jesus’ prayer for believers. Why did Jesus pray for believers and what did He pray about? u003cemu003eWho u003c/emu003edid Jesus pray to u003cemu003eif u003c/emu003eHe is God in the flesh?nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:heading u002du002du003enu003ch2 class=u0022wp-block-headingu0022u003eJesus Pray for His Disciplesu003c/h2u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennThroughout scripture, we find where Jesus prays to the Father.  Most of us know the u003cemu003eLord’s Prayeru003c/emu003e (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matt.+6%3A5-13u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eMatt. 6:5-13u003c/au003e); when Jesus taught the disciples u003cemu003ehow u003c/emu003eto pray.  Of course we will remember u003ca href=u0022https://newfoundfaith.org/submitting-to-the-fathers-will/u0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022 data-type=u0022postu0022 data-id=u002210483u0022u003eJesus’ prayer in the gardenu003c/au003e where Jesus prayed about the bitter cup.  Even when Jesus hung on the cross, we will recall that Jesus spoke to and prayed to the Father for the forgiving of those that mocked and scoffed Him.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennThe prayer recorded in John 17 is certainly Jesus’ longest prayer.  This prayer, though it was one of Jesus’ final prayers, is different from the prayer in the garden.  In this prayer, we will see where Jesus first prayed for Himself.  Jesus prayed to be glorified with the Father because His hour had come (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+17%3A1-5u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eJohn 17:1-5u003c/au003e); we don’t see a mention of the bitter cup.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:heading {u0022levelu0022:3} u002du002du003enu003ch3 class=u0022wp-block-headingu0022u003ePrayer for protection and harmonyu003c/h3u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennAfter praying for Himself, we will see where Jesus turns His attention to His closest followers.  Jesus speaks to having given them the Word and how because they had believed, they were no longer of the world (vss.6-8).  This information sets up u003cemu003ewhy u003c/emu003eJesus moved to pray for His disciples.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennBecause the disciples were no longer of the world because of their faith in Christ, Jesus knew that what He went through, His disciples would share in going through.  Let us remember what Jesus said to the disciples about the world’s hatred.  Jesus said to the disciples, “because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+15%3A19u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eJohn 15:19u003c/au003e).”nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennThe disciples would face persecution because of their faith in Christ.  The disciples, like Peter and John, would be u003cemu003earrested u003c/emu003efor preaching and teaching the Word of God after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension.  The religious leaders also greatly despised them and desired to shut them down so they sent people like Saul, who would later go by Paul, to u003cemu003epersecute u003c/emu003ethem as well.  So, the disciples definitely stood in the need of prayer!nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennJesus prayed, “Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We u003cemu003eare u003c/emu003e(v.11).”  There are two things that we see being prayed for at this moment:  Jesus prayed that the Father keep – or protect – the disciples u003cemu003efrom u003c/emu003ethe world; He also prayed that the disciples would be as one as He and the Father are.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennSome of us may ask, what did Jesus mean when He asked the Father for the disciples to be as one as He and the Father were?  We should understand that the Father and Son worked in harmony – in fellowship – with one another.  As Jesus would often say, “the Father and I are one.”  So, Jesus was praying to the Father that the disciples would work together in harmony rather than divided.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennThe apostles, I would say, worked in harmony, for the most part, when it came to sharing the good news.  There were moments of debate between the apostles, for example, when Paul disagreed with how Peter treated the Gentile believers when in the presence of Jews (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Gal.+2%3A11-14u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eGal. 2:11-14u003c/au003e).  Disagreements and rebukes like that should be commonplace to keep each on the right trace.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennSomething we see happening today is that there are u003cemu003emany u003c/emu003edivisions when it comes to the ministering of the gospel.  The problem with the many divisions within the faith is that it can cause a great amount of confusion over the Word when there should be u003cemu003eno u003c/emu003econfusion.  When we work in harmony with each other, all of the confusion would go away which would be helpful for those who are of little faith.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:heading {u0022levelu0022:3} u002du002du003enu003ch3 class=u0022wp-block-headingu0022u003ePrayer for joyu003c/h3u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennWith the prayer for protection and harmony, we will see that Jesus prayed so that u003cemu003eHis joyu003c/emu003e would be fulfilled in the disciples (v.13).  Again, the disciples, because they would be ministering the good news, would face much adversity from the world.  When we face adversity, it can dampen us in our soul which would be harmful to us ministering the good news.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennMany of us, if we are hurt and depressed in our soul, won’t move.  In fact, a few weeks ago, I preached about how we should be testifying of the Lord and u003ca href=u0022https://newfoundfaith.org/let-the-world-know/u0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022 data-type=u0022postu0022 data-id=u002210635u0022u003eletting the world knowu003c/au003e that He is good.  However, many shy away from testifying of God because of the world’s persecution.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennJesus, again, understood very well what the disciples would face in ministering the Word of God because He faced it Himself.  The antagonizing and the hatred that Jesus faced from the religious leaders was vicious and it would have crushed others, but Jesus, in His joy, was not defeated.  So, praying for us to have His joy, is essentially praying for us to be strengthened to keep moving forward.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:heading {u0022levelu0022:3} u002du002du003enu003ch3 class=u0022wp-block-headingu0022u003ePrayer for sanctificationu003c/h3u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennWe will then see Jesus pray to the Father, “Sanctify them by Your truth (v.17).”  The truth, Jesus said, is the Father’s word.  Let us remember, we are not supposed to live by bread alone (the riches of the world), but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matt.+4%3A4u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eMatt. 4:4u003c/au003e).nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennThe world, I want you to understand, has a word of its own and it will preach its doctrine.  As we preach our gospel to convince those who are of the world to follow Christ, the world will preach its doctrine to convince those to live in its way.  You should understand that you aren’t exempt from the convincing of the world as it will also try to convince you to live in its way.  What this means is that the world will try to corrupt you and move you away from the Lord.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennSo, in this prayer for sanctification by the truth, we see Jesus praying for us to remain u003cemu003eseparated u003c/emu003efrom the world.  As Paul said, when we are of faith we become new creatures.  As new creatures, Paul said, “do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Rom.+12%3A2u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eRom. 12:2u003c/au003e).”nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennYou see, it is hard for many of us to remain separated from the world’s doctrine because we are constantly hounded and tempted.  Now, weu003cemu003e know u003c/emu003ethat we should not give in to temptation but some who are weak of faith do give in.  So, I would tell you all that this prayer of sanctification by the truth is another prayer for strengthening and uplifting while we are trying to live by faith in the world.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:heading {u0022levelu0022:3} u002du002du003enu003ch3 class=u0022wp-block-headingu0022u003ePraying for us as wellu003c/h3u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennAs our lesson comes to a close, we will see that Jesus prayed, “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, u003cemu003eareu003c/emu003e in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me (vss.20-21).”nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennSo, let’s be clear, as you have heard me say before, all of us who genuinely believe today are also Jesus’ disciples.  How so?  Well, a disciple is one who u003cemu003ecloselyu003c/emu003e follows another’s teachings (doctrine).  The twelve, or it would have been eleven by that point, certainly followed Jesus and His teachings closely.  The eleven would eventually be known as the apostles because they were personally taught and trained by Christ to go out and minister the good news.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennThat said, this prayer was not just for Jesus’ closest disciples but also for us as well.  Though we may have not been personally taught and trained by Christ, all of us who adhere to His doctrine are His disciples.  We live in this world as His followers and we end up being u003cemu003epersecuted u003c/emu003eby Satan and the world because we have believed.  So, Jesus’ prayer for protection, harmony, sanctification, and joy is also for all of us believers today, and I tell you, His prayer for us is greatly needed.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennSome often wonder why Jesus would pray u003cemu003eif u003c/emu003eHe was/is God in the flesh.  To answer that question, I want to speak to something we haven’t spoken about since earlier in this quarter.  Jesus dwelt in this world just u003cemu003eas u003c/emu003ewe do; He lived in the flesh and it was a means to connect the Lord with us.  We will also recall that the Holy Spirit rested upon Christ as well which was another means of connecting Christ with all of us who are of faith.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennWe often say that Jesus prayed because it would set the example for us in how we should pray.  Yet, at the same time, we must remember that with the Holy Spirit resting upon Him, Christ was driven to pray.  Let us remember that God is the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  So, in essence, with Jesus praying, it was like a son going into his dad’s room to talk to him; the Son was communicating with the Father.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennDid Jesus u003cemu003eneed u003c/emu003eto pray?  No.  Was just like us and u003cemu003efelt u003c/emu003ethe need to pray?  Absolutely.  The human nature in Christ felt the need to talk to the Father for us and for our comfort.  So, yes, Jesus prayed for u003cemu003eall u003c/emu003eof us that believe and we should be very thankful that He prayed for us.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e