John 17 contains the true “Lord’s prayer”. That is, it is not Jesus teaching His disciples how to pray (Matt 6:9-13). But it is actually a record of Jesus praying to the His Father. What a person prays about reveals the priorities of their heart. We have already covered the first 19 verses of this prayer and gained great insight.

In verses 1 through 5 Jesus prays for His and His Father’s glory. In verses 6 through 19 Jesus prays for His Apostles that The Father would preserve them and Keep them in unity. Now in verses 20 through 26 Jesus actually prays for all who would believe through the words of the Apostles. (That’s you and me)

“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, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. “And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: “I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. “O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. “And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.” John 17:20-26, NKJV.

In this portion of Jesus’ prayer we see our Lord’s heart and priority for us. It is His desire that we be “one” in unity of faith and that we be effective in demonstrating true Christianity to the world because of our love for Him and for one another. Finally, He prays that we be with Him forever in glory. What a wonderful Savior we have!

Pastor Mike