He Prays Because He Loves

Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth

John 17:17

He is faithful to the Father and in being faithful, He gives the glory to God. This faithfulness and this glory is given through the prayer that He prays for Himself, for His disciples and His believers. John chapter seventeen are the words He spoke to His Father in asking that the disciples and the believers be given a space, a home, in Him. That they may come to know that He is the one sent from God. That it is through Him that they come to know God and be present with Him and the Father. The words He speaks in these verses (John 17:1-26) are words that signify the love that He has for us as His children and as His disciples. More so, they are the words that show a love for the Father.

Jesus Prays to Be Glorified

After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you gloryon earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. Jesus Prays for His Disciples 6 “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you.8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. 13 “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. Jesus Prays for All Believers 20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved themeven as you have loved me. 24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. 25 “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me.26 I have made you[e] known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them."

It is in this chapter that He speaks about the authority that is given to Him, from the Father, to give enteral life to those who believe. He then goes on to pray for those who believe. This message is stunning in that He prays for those who believe because He knows that they will need prayers and strength that the Father can give them. He has given them the chance of eternal life, and praying for them solidifies His love for them and desire for them to make it into eternal life with Him and the Father. Those experiencing depression and anxiety are in need of prayers constantly; whether or not they are believers; they are in need of prayer. This message from Him that praying over others and for others is essential to being in Him and with Him, and in being in Him and with Him we are in the Father and with the Father. John 17:21 states: May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. This is about not only the believers being prayed for and prayed over, but praying for others so that the world will know that they are believers and that they are with the Father and Him. Praying is one of the ways to show others where you stand with Him. And in doing this, it shows where He stands with you.

Depression and anxiety may at times limit the faith, and prayer requests. Depression and anxiety may at times be hidden experiences that others know little or nothing about. But still they are deserving of prayer. They are deserving of acknowledgement. The experiences of depression and anxiety are just as deserving of acknowledgment as illness that are more outward. And praying for the mental status of others, is still part of that stance as a believer to show where you stand with Him, and where He stands with you. These experiences no longer need to be hidden or made less than because someone else may have it worse. In this chapter of John, He does not differentiate the individuals who have it better or worse, He differentiates the praying for and the not praying for. And He modeled praying for. For the glory of Him, for the Glory of God, for the Glory of believers glorifying Him and God. Praying is that moment that changes the perception. It takes it off the world and puts it into His hands. A place that He has called you to be, with everything you have, and everything you are, and everything you experience. Depression and anxiety included. And His modeling shows you that it is not just for those experiencing depression and anxiety to pray, but for all believers to pray for other's circumstances, the same way that He prayed for yours.

His prayer over you is on that shows that He loves you and has a desire for you.

Scripture:

John 17

John 17:21

Questions:

Who in your life needs prayer right now?

How can you pray for them?

How can you use prayer?

What changes with the experiences of depression and anxiety because of His prayer that believers may be one with Him and the Father?

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I acknowledge the prayer that your son spoke. I recognize His love for us as believers to be prayed for and prayed over. Lord, I ask that the words of your son be filled in the hearts of others. I ask that it fill my heart today and all days. Lord, I pray that depression and anxiety do not keep others from your son. I pray that depression and anxiety encourage them to find that hands of the one who loves them most, as you love them. And as your son loves them when He took up their cross, took up my cross, to give us all the chance as eternal life. Lord, I ask that the doors that need to be opened for others to see this be opened, I ask that doors that need to be closed for others to see this be closed. And I ask that the words of your son become the endurance within all to keep praying and keep being present with Him and in Him. I pray this in your son's name. Amen.