Jesus' High Priestly Prayer: Love, Unity, and Glory
Summary
In John 17, we find the profound prayer of Jesus, often referred to as the High Priestly Prayer. This prayer marks a pivotal moment in Jesus' ministry, as He stands on the brink of His crucifixion. It is a prayer that encapsulates His mission, His relationship with the Father, and His love for His disciples and future believers. Jesus begins by praying for Himself, asking the Father to glorify Him so that He may glorify the Father. This glorification is not about earthly honor but about fulfilling the divine purpose through the cross, which is the ultimate act of love and obedience. The cross, though a symbol of suffering, is also a symbol of victory and reconciliation, drawing humanity back to God.
Jesus then shifts His focus to His disciples, praying for their protection and sanctification. He acknowledges the challenges they will face in the world but assures them of His continued presence through the Holy Spirit. His prayer is a reminder that while they are in the world, they are not of it, and their mission is to reflect God's love and truth.
Finally, Jesus prays for all future believers, expressing His desire for unity among them. This unity is not just a superficial agreement but a deep, spiritual oneness that mirrors the relationship between the Father and the Son. It is through this unity that the world will come to know the love of God.
The prayer concludes with Jesus expressing His longing to return to the Father, to the glory He shared before the world began. This longing is not just for personal relief but for the completion of His mission, which is to bring eternal life to those who believe. Eternal life, as Jesus defines it, is not merely about duration but about a quality of life that is rooted in knowing God intimately.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Cross as Glory: The cross is the ultimate expression of God's love and justice. It is through the cross that Jesus glorifies the Father, fulfilling His divine purpose. This act of obedience and sacrifice is the pinnacle of Jesus' mission, demonstrating that true glory often comes through suffering and selflessness. [44:02]
2. Eternal Life Defined: Eternal life is not just about living forever; it is about knowing God intimately. This relationship with God is characterized by peace, joy, and holiness, and it begins here and now. It is a life that reflects the nature and character of God, transforming us into His likeness. [01:03:51]
3. Unity Among Believers: Jesus prays for unity among His followers, a unity that reflects the oneness of the Father and the Son. This spiritual unity is essential for the world to recognize the truth of the Gospel. It calls us to love one another deeply and to work together for the kingdom of God. [01:05:33]
4. The Role of Prayer: Jesus' prayer in John 17 is a model for us. It teaches us to seek God's glory above all else, to pray for the protection and sanctification of believers, and to desire unity within the body of Christ. Prayer is a powerful tool that aligns our will with God's and empowers us to fulfill His purposes. [01:11:38]
5. The Father's Love: The cross is the ultimate demonstration of the Father's boundless love for humanity. Jesus' willingness to go to the cross shows that there is no limit to God's love. This love is available to all who believe, offering reconciliation and eternal life. [53:41]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [35:53] - Introduction and Context
- [37:34] - Gratitude and Acknowledgments
- [44:02] - The True Lord's Prayer
- [48:22] - The Hour of the Cross
- [53:41] - Demonstrating the Father's Love
- [55:34] - Sacrifice and Glory
- [01:00:40] - Reconciliation Through Christ
- [01:02:08] - Power and Purpose
- [01:03:51] - Understanding Eternal Life
- [01:05:33] - Relationship with God
- [01:06:57] - Jesus' Teachings on God
- [01:07:55] - Jesus' Mission Accomplished
- [01:09:20] - Longing for Home
- [01:11:38] - Prayer and Glorifying God
- [01:12:51] - Submission to God's Will
- [01:13:58] - Closing Prayer and Invitation
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: John 17 - The High Priestly Prayer
Bible Reading:
- John 17:1-5
- John 17:20-23
Observation Questions:
1. What does Jesus ask the Father to do for Him in John 17:1, and what is the purpose of this request? [44:02]
2. How does Jesus describe eternal life in John 17:3, and what does this imply about the nature of our relationship with God? [01:03:51]
3. In John 17:20-23, what is Jesus' prayer for future believers, and how does He relate this to His relationship with the Father? [01:05:33]
4. What does Jesus express a desire for in John 17:5, and how does this relate to His mission on earth? [01:09:20]
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Jesus' request for glorification through the cross redefine our understanding of glory and suffering? [44:02]
2. What does Jesus' definition of eternal life in John 17:3 suggest about the importance of knowing God personally and intimately? [01:03:51]
3. How does the unity Jesus prays for among believers in John 17:20-23 serve as a testimony to the world about the truth of the Gospel? [01:05:33]
4. In what ways does Jesus' longing to return to the Father in John 17:5 reflect His fulfillment of His earthly mission and His divine nature? [01:09:20]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you experienced suffering or sacrifice. How can you see God's glory in that situation, similar to how Jesus saw the cross as His glory? [44:02]
2. Jesus defines eternal life as knowing God intimately. What steps can you take this week to deepen your personal relationship with God? [01:03:51]
3. Consider the unity Jesus desires for His followers. How can you contribute to unity within your church or community, especially when disagreements arise? [01:05:33]
4. Jesus' prayer emphasizes the importance of glorifying God. In what specific ways can your daily actions and decisions reflect God's glory? [01:11:38]
5. Jesus demonstrated the Father's boundless love through the cross. How can you show this kind of selfless love to someone in your life this week? [53:41]
6. Reflect on your prayer life. How can you align your prayers more closely with seeking God's will and glorifying Him, as Jesus did in John 17? [01:11:38]
7. Jesus longed to return to the Father after completing His mission. What mission or purpose do you feel God has given you, and how can you pursue it with the same dedication? [01:09:20]
Devotional
Day 1: The Cross as the Pinnacle of Glory
The cross is the ultimate expression of God's love and justice. It is through the cross that Jesus glorifies the Father, fulfilling His divine purpose. This act of obedience and sacrifice is the pinnacle of Jesus' mission, demonstrating that true glory often comes through suffering and selflessness. Jesus' prayer in John 17 highlights this profound truth, as He asks the Father to glorify Him so that He may glorify the Father. The cross, though a symbol of suffering, is also a symbol of victory and reconciliation, drawing humanity back to God. In this act, Jesus shows that the path to true glory is not through earthly honor but through fulfilling God's purpose, even when it involves sacrifice. [44:02]
Galatians 6:14 (ESV): "But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself seeking earthly glory? How can you shift your focus to glorifying God through selflessness and sacrifice today?
Day 2: Eternal Life as Intimate Knowledge of God
Eternal life is not just about living forever; it is about knowing God intimately. This relationship with God is characterized by peace, joy, and holiness, and it begins here and now. Jesus defines eternal life in His prayer as knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent. This knowledge is not merely intellectual but relational, transforming us into His likeness. It is a life that reflects the nature and character of God, offering a foretaste of the eternal joy and peace that await believers. As we grow in our relationship with God, we experience the fullness of life that He desires for us. [01:03:51]
Jeremiah 9:23-24 (ESV): "Thus says the Lord: 'Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.'"
Reflection: How can you deepen your relationship with God today to experience the fullness of eternal life? What specific steps can you take to know Him more intimately?
Day 3: Unity Among Believers Reflects Divine Oneness
Jesus prays for unity among His followers, a unity that reflects the oneness of the Father and the Son. This spiritual unity is essential for the world to recognize the truth of the Gospel. It calls us to love one another deeply and to work together for the kingdom of God. This unity is not just a superficial agreement but a deep, spiritual oneness that mirrors the relationship between the Father and the Son. Through this unity, the world will come to know the love of God, as believers demonstrate His love and truth in their relationships with one another. [01:05:33]
Ephesians 4:3-6 (ESV): "Eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."
Reflection: Think of a fellow believer with whom you have had disagreements or misunderstandings. How can you take a step towards unity and reconciliation with them today?
Day 4: The Role of Prayer in Aligning with God's Will
Jesus' prayer in John 17 is a model for us. It teaches us to seek God's glory above all else, to pray for the protection and sanctification of believers, and to desire unity within the body of Christ. Prayer is a powerful tool that aligns our will with God's and empowers us to fulfill His purposes. Through prayer, we invite God's presence and guidance into our lives, allowing Him to shape our desires and actions according to His will. As we pray, we are reminded of our dependence on God and our need for His strength and wisdom in every aspect of our lives. [01:11:38]
Colossians 4:2 (ESV): "Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving."
Reflection: How can you incorporate more intentional prayer into your daily routine to align your will with God's? What specific area of your life do you need to bring before God in prayer today?
Day 5: The Father's Boundless Love Demonstrated Through the Cross
The cross is the ultimate demonstration of the Father's boundless love for humanity. Jesus' willingness to go to the cross shows that there is no limit to God's love. This love is available to all who believe, offering reconciliation and eternal life. In His prayer, Jesus expresses His desire for believers to experience the fullness of the Father's love, a love that surpasses all understanding. As we reflect on the cross, we are reminded of the depth of God's love for us and His desire for us to be reconciled to Him and to one another. [53:41]
1 John 4:9-10 (ESV): "In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."
Reflection: How can you share the love of God with someone in your life today? What practical steps can you take to demonstrate His love and offer reconciliation to those around you?
Quotes
This is eternal life that they may know thee the only true god and jesus christ whom thou has sent i have glorified thee on the earth i have finished the work which thou gavest me to do and now oh father glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which i had with thee before the world was. [00:44:02] (23 seconds)
This is the longest prayer recorded in the bible not only by christ or of christ this is the longest prayer that that you will read in the bible this is the longest prayer that you will read in the bible this is the longest christ praying in the bible but this is the longest prayer in scripture of any body in the bible in the first five verses he prays regarding himself then there's a section where he prays regarding the disciples then he prays for you and i the future church. [00:45:43] (33 seconds)
It's the hour of suffering, but it's the hour of exaltation. It's the hour that is the darkest hour, but it's the hour of greatest light. It is the hour of betrayal, but it is the hour of victory. It is the hour of shame, but it is the hour of honor. It is the hour of reconciling all things back to God. [00:47:46] (30 seconds)
see there would be no glory for Christ without the cross and you know what there would be no glory for you and I without the cross as well let me read what Spurgeon said in truth our Lord's lowest stoop was his highest glory he was never more resplendent than when he hung upon the cross that was his true spiritual throne so he prayed glorify thy son enable him to bear the agony and to pass through it to the glory amen this was his greatest hour this was the hour that he was going to glorify his father in heaven. [00:48:22] (45 seconds)
He that has seen me hath seen the Father. How sayest thou then, show us the Father. Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father in me? The words that I speak, they are not myself, but it is the Father that dwelleth in me. He does the works. And John wrote, no man has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him. [00:52:55] (23 seconds)
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man would lay down his life for his friends. And so Christ, going to the cross, what was he doing? He was glorifying. He was praising. He was honoring. He was clothing in splendor. His Father, His Father was doing that. for him but in so doing the father was receiving the same and he was pointing us to the father's love. [00:56:32] (30 seconds)
the cross it was as though god said that's what mankind thinks of my son but in the resurrection the father said that's what i think of my son and he ascended to the right hand of the father where he is today hallelujah clothed with majesty sitting at the right hand of the father standing before his son and seeing him falling down seeing him standing against his enemies his footstool it was the worst that humankind could do to christ but christ could not be conquered could not be destroyed his resurrection was a vindication and victory over all that man and satan could do unto him. [01:00:40] (44 seconds)
Jesus is the one that teaches us that God is merciful, that God is kind, that God is caring, that God is a God of grace and redemption, that God isn't remote, that God isn't distant, that God isn't cold and uncaring, that God isn't unapproachable. But Jesus teaches us that God is very real and a very present help. [01:07:55] (28 seconds)
I have glorified Thee on earth. I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Me. Glorify Thou Me with Thine own self, with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was. Jesus. Jesus laid aside His glory and His splendor when He stepped out of eternity and entered into this life. [01:09:20] (33 seconds)
And I just want to close with encouraging you and challenging you that when you pray, that we would pray and seek to glorify the Father and to fulfill God's will. In our lives. Because in fulfilling God's will in our lives, we glorify the Father. And if Jesus sought to glorify the Father, what should be our focus and our goal to glorify the Father? [01:12:51] (37 seconds)
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