JESUS PRAYS

“After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:
"Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.  
For you granted him authority over all people
that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him.  
Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God,
and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.  
I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.  
And now, Father, glorify me in your presence
with the glory I had with you before the world began.”
John 17: 1-5

Jesus concluded his teaching with the most extensive and profound prayer

for himself, his disciples and all believers in John 17.  Also known as the

High Priestly Prayer, it gathers many of the key themes found throughout

the gospel plus ends with a summary of His past and future work.  It is also

another example for His disciples’ benefit of the Father’s grace and provision.

Jesus prays for himself from an eternal perspective with focus on the Father,

as the one worthy of all praise and worship, and that Jesus has been given

authority to reveal the Father to the world.  He pauses to reflect on eternal

life at the heart of which is a timeless intimate relationship with the Father

and the Son and then is confident of the eternal outcome of the completion

of the Father’s will for Him.  Finally, He concludes from creation to new

creation with the mystery of the unity of the Trinity.

Jesus prayed for himself and so as our example, we should too!

Joyce