Jesus Prays For US

Jesus Prays for Us

John 17:6-19

     All of us have had someone say, “ I will pray for you.”  Now usually we are happy about that.  Sometimes though when we share our trials, our difficulties, and our problems we hear,  “ I will pray for you.”  And we wonder if the person we share these things with prays for us at all.  They may mean to .  They probably have the best intentions , but somehow the day overcomes them and they do not remember.  Unfortunately even in Christian circles this can be a way to say , “ yes, I feel your pain.” But that is it. The individual has no intention of praying for you at all.  It is just an expression of concern or faith. 

    In John’s Gospel today we hear of Jesus praying for His children .  That prayer is one that takes.  When Jesus says He prays for us, He is not just using an expression or trying to make us feel better. He truly does pray for us.  The little Greek word used here eroto is used of when 2 equals make a request.  It is used in Luke 14:32 where a king makes  a request of another king.  Here is Jesus making a request of God the Father. But they are on equal footing!  That request is effective. And God hears that prayer.

    We celebrated the Day of Ascension last week and because of the Ascension our prayers in the name of Jesus get through as well.  “ Wherein consisteth Christ’s exaltation?” A. “ Christ’s exaltation consists in his rising again from the dead on the third day, in ascending up into heaven, in sitting at the right hand of God the Father, and in coming to judge the world at the last day.” ( SC. 28)

    Jesus has risen. Jesus has ascended, and now He sits at the right hand of the Father where He is acclaimed Lord of Lords and King of Kings.  There is no earthly power that can withstand His Word.

     Satan tries to have his way in our situations.  It was so in the NT.  It is so now.  In Luke 22:31-32, Jesus says to Peter.  “ Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for you, that your faith fail not…”

A pastor Cecil Sirwardene writes in the “Banner of Truth”, Oct 2001, :

 “ What exactly did Jesus pray for?  He did not pray that Peter would be kept from being tested.  He did not pray that Peter would be kept from denying him. Jesus prayed concerning this man that his faith might not be ….’eclipsed.’  Peter fell, but because  of our Saviour’s intercession his faith did not fail.”

     In the prayer of Jesus we read today He in these farewell words tells us , “ I pray not that you should take them out of the world, but that you should keep them from the evil.” 17:15  He is praying that we would not fall so that we would lose our faith.  There is no greater prayer than that.  So today we ask that Jesus would continue to pray for us that our faith may not fail .

     In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.