What Jesus prays for us John 17 v 20-26
How do you feel when someone says they are praying for you? I guess it depends on what they are praying, and whether you think God will answer them! Today we listen in to a prayer for us that God will most certainly answer, because
of the One who prays it. So let’s rejoice in what He prays.
Prayed for by Jesus
Read John 17:20
• Who is Jesus now praying for?
• Why is this amazing for us today?
Notice that these people don’t just believe in some vague notion of “Jesus”. They believe in the real, historical Jesus through the message of the apostles, which is the Bible. Jesus is not praying here for anyone who might call themselves
a Christian; He is praying for people who believe the Bible message about the real Jesus.
Unity in the gospel
Read John 17:21
• From these verses, what is “Christian unity”?
Christians are brought into fellowship with the Father and the Son, and reflect their unity. So they don’t need to try to create an outward institutional religious unity; they are given an inner spiritual unity.
In fact, outward unity is of no value, and can be dangerous, if there is no underlying unity brought by a shared fellowship in Christ and commitment to the gospel.
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TIME OUT
Have you known Jesus-centred, Bible-based unity with unlikely people, perhaps in different cultures? Rejoice if you have!
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Prospect of glory
Read John 17:24
• What does Jesus ask here?
• Why is it so brilliant to hear Jesus praying this for you and me?
It will be wonderful to see Jesus as He is, and to see the love the Father has for Him in all its fullness.
Wonder of gospel love
Read John 17:25
Jesus “will continue to make” the Father known. He does this by the Holy Spirit today. Look at the end of verse 26. What happens when men and women come to know the Father? The love within the Trinity overflows to us!
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PRAY THRU
This love is the only force that can remake a broken world. Pray that it will be seen in your local church.
What do you get most excited about? Compare this with seeing the Son in glory, and pray that your heart will be thrilled by that glorious prospect.
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This devotional is taken from Explore—a daily Bible-reading devotional from the good book company which enables you to engage with Scripture and which will encourage, equip and inspire you to live for Christ. Explore features contributions from pastors such as Dr Timothy Keller, Mike McKinley and Tim Chester.
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