John 17:9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
In John 17, we find Jesus’ heartfelt prayer.
Here, He prays not just for Himself but also for His disciples and those who would believe in Him. His requests show His deep care and concern for the spiritual well-being and future of His followers.
As we break down His seven key prayer requests, we see the loving and protective heart of Jesus laid bare before the Father.
The 7 Prayer Requests of Jesus
1. Praise in Glorification (Verse 10): Jesus says, “And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.” Here, He prays that His followers will bring glory to God through their lives. Jesus praises the Father for the unity they share and asks that the lives of His disciples be a testament to His glory.
2. Peace in Unity (Verse 11): Jesus desires that His disciples be one, as He and the Father are one. This unity brings peace, allowing them to stand strong against division. The prayer for unity also shows His desire for them to live in harmony.
3. Prophecy Fulfilled (Verse 12): Jesus refers to the fulfillment of prophecy, mentioning that none of the disciples are lost except “the son of perdition.” This shows that God’s Word remains true and is always fulfilled, even when it involves difficult truths or things we wouldn’t have selected, like Judas betraying Jesus.
4. Pleasure through Joy (Verse 13): Jesus prays that His joy may be fulfilled in His disciples. This joy is not just happiness but a deep, lasting pleasure found in knowing and serving God.
5. Protection from Evil (Verses 14-15): Jesus asks the Father to protect His disciples from the evil in the world. This request highlights the dangers they would face and the need for divine protection to keep them safe as they continue His work.
6. Purification through Truth (Verse 17): Jesus prays for the sanctification of His disciples, asking that they be set apart and made holy through the truth of God’s Word. This purification is crucial for their mission and personal spiritual growth.
7. Purpose in Reaching New Believers (Verse 20): Jesus expands His prayer beyond His immediate disciples to all future believers, praying for those who will believe through their word. We are here today because of this prayer and it’s our duty to continue to fulfill this prayer request.
While all seven of these prayer requests show Jesus’ care for His disciples, most of them are areas where we can take action.
We can strive for Peace in Unity by loving and humbling ourselves with fellow believers.
Purification through Truth is something we can actively pursue by immersing ourselves in God’s Word and allowing it to change us.
We can also seek to bring Praise in Glorification, experience Pleasure through Joy, and live out our Purpose by reaching new believers.
However, the fulfillment of prophecy and protection from evil are in God’s hands alone.
By responding to the prayers we can act on, we become instruments in God’s plan, making a real difference in our own lives and the lives of others.
Let’s act on Jesus’ prayer request today.
