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We now begin the study of the very last hours of Jesus’ life, as the time of his crucifixion approaches. Having just completed a long period of teaching in the Upper Room, Jesus closes with a prayer; and then leads the disciples across the Kidron valley to the Garden of Gethsemane. There, he will be arrested and eventually turned over to Pilate (who will find no fault with him); and yet later that day, he will be crucified.

Let’s read through John Chapter 17 and consider the following:

1. Many refer to the prayer in John 17 as the Lord’s Prayer, because, as we will see, he prays for God to glorify him, and he prays for both his disciples and for us; and most importantly he prays to do God’s will, not his own. It is a great prayer, and one that we can learn much from. Read John 17:1-5. What does Jesus mention that God has given him, and how long does he say that he has had the glory with God? (See also John 14:6, John 1:1-5, and Colossians 1:15-16.)
   1. ANSWER 1: Jesus tells us through this prayer that God has given him authority over "all flesh" to give eternal life. Truly, Jesus is the only way to the Father. (John 14:6)
   2. ANSWER 2: Jesus also states that the glory he has with God existed "before the world existed." Jesus existed as a part of the triune God before anything was created, and indeed all things were created through him. (John 1:1-5 and Colossians 1:15-16)
2. In John 16:6-19, we observe Jesus turning the focus of his prayer to that of praying for his disciples. What can we learn about the disciples from this portion of prayer? List each thing that you can identify about the disciples from this text.
   1. ANSWER 1: They received the word of God and have come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah.
   2. ANSWER 2: While Jesus was with them, he protected them from Satan and the world.
   3. ANSWER 3: Jesus prayed that when he departed them, they would have his joy "fulfilled in them."
   4. ANSWER 4: They are described as not "of this world."
   5. ANSWER 5: They are being sent into the world by Jesus himself, just as God had sent Jesus into the world.
3. Jesus completes his prayer in John 17:20-26. Who is he praying for in this section of his prayer?
   1. ANSWER: He is praying now for those "who will believe." He knows that many will believe as a result of his death and resurrection, and as a result of the church he will begin to build through the Apostles. Clearly, Jesus knew he was about to die and be sacrificed for us and all believers who would come literally thousands of years later—and he knew all of this before he created the world. Jesus did indeed die for each of us, and he knew this the night before his death as he prayed for each of us.
4. Finally, in these last verses of John Chapter 17, what do we note specifically that Jesus prays for regarding all those "who will believe?"
   1. ANSWER 1: He prays that all believers would be "one," i.e., united in spirit and service, as we serve the Lord who saved us.
   2. ANSWER 2: He desires that we be where he is, "to see my glory." His desire is for us to be with him—and, for certain, that day is coming.
   3. ANSWER 3: He prays that we may be full of the love of Jesus.

Jesus’ prayer in John 17 is profound and offers us many insights into his relationship with God, his relationship with the Apostles, and his relationship with us today. Jesus has an eternal plan—a plan that existed before he created the world.

Furthermore, in spite of our sin, through his great grace he included we who follow Christ in it. It is also evident that Jesus knew that more would come seeking him long after his death, resurrection, and ascension into heaven. He knew that you and I would be among those people, and he prayed for us that fateful evening just prior to his betrayal and arrest. He loved us even unto death, and continues to love us to this day. What a Savior we serve! How great should be our love for him, just as his love is abundant for us.

As you live your life, let the love of Christ shine through you in everything that you do; doing it as unto the Lord, so that more will come to know Jesus as their personal savior, just as we do today.

Thanks for studying with us.

In Christ,

Wes

[2018]

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