Day 49
Today’s reading: John 17:1-26
The Priestly Prayer
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The Priestly Prayer 〰️
Reflections
There are few instances in the Bible where Jesus' words in prayer are recorded, making those that are documented especially significant for deep study. Genuine prayer often reveals where a person’s heart is and so in examining Jesus’ prayer, we can learn about His heart and nature.
The first thing we notice is Jesus' awareness of His identity as the Son. Effective prayer begins with understanding identity—who is making the request? This matters greatly when seeking answers to prayer. Are you fully aware of your position in Christ? Romans 8:15 reminds us that we have been adopted as sons, enabling us to cry out, "Abba, Father." When you pray, approach God with the consciousness that you are speaking to your loving Heavenly Father.
Another key aspect of this prayer is Jesus' kingdom-centered focus. He first prayed for Himself, then for His disciples, and finally for all believers. Yet, in every part of His prayer, the ultimate goal was the advancement of God’s kingdom. Even when He prayed for Himself, it was always with the glory of the Father in view. We can learn to pattern our prayers according to these key elements of Jesus’ prayer.
Study Questions
How does this prayer compare to what is commonly known as the Lord’s Prayer? What recurring themes do they share? Are there any notable differences?
In John 17:9, why did Jesus emphasize that He was praying specifically for His followers and not for the world? What is the significance of this distinction?
Identify and list the specific requests Jesus made for His disciples. Then, list the prayer points He made for all believers everywhere.
What did you learn about God’s nature, His ways and His will from today’s reading?
Highlight
“that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” John 17:21 ESV
