#709 John 17 The Expanse of Jesus Prayer
It is amazing and endearing to the heart to see the expanse of Jesus prayer in John 17.
This is a brief summary:
He begins with his personal desire to glorify the Father through his personal faithfulness rendered apparent in his ministry and his last experiences of suffering unto his death according to the Divine will, and then his resurrection. He would forever use his resurrection glory and immortality for the glory of the Father.
“Father, the hour has come; glorify Thy Son, that the Son may glorify Thee.” John 17:1-5
He prays for the apostles, chosen and given to Him by the Father, prayers for their protection, oneness and sanctification. John 17:6-19
He prays for all who would believe as result of the apostle’s word and witness. He was praying for all of his followers throughout the Gospel Age, and for each of us, to endure and grow amid all the testings and challenges through the glory of the power of the holy Spirit. John 17:20-26
He prays for oneness of all of his followers—“even as Thou, Father art in me, and I in Thee, that they also may be in us; that the world may believe that Thou didst send me...that the world may know that Thou didst send me, and didst love them, even as Thou didst love me.” John 17:21,23 Some in the world now observe and appreciate the commitment and relationship of the consecrated with the Father, with Jesus and with one another. But in the future time of Kingdom Blessing the oneness and love in these relationships will be fully understood and appreciated by the World. Revelation 21:2, 22:17, 1-2; Isaiah 12:1-3
On the brink of deep suffering, the future of all life resting squarely on his shoulders, we see the broadness of his focus of attention, from his personal desire to be glorified so he could eternally glorify the Father, to heart-felt prayer for the apostles, and each one of his followers throughout the Gospel age, to the blessing of the world’s understanding in the Kingdom. Each area of prayer reflected parts of the joy set before him.
O may we exercise this broadness of focus of attention as we face our challenges, praying as he did in gratitude for the work of the apostles and those who have gone before, praying for each one of our precious Brethren, and praying for the Kingdom healing and opening of heart and mind of our weary human family. May we pray with this broadness of focus, especially in the moments and seasons of intense testing. Prayer modeled after our Precious Savior can fill and empower is with these joys that are set before us. John 15:10-11
It is amazing and endearing to the heart to see the expanse of Jesus prayer in John 17.
This is a brief summary:
He begins with his personal desire to glorify the Father through his personal faithfulness rendered apparent in his ministry and his last experiences of suffering unto his death according to the Divine will, and then his resurrection. He would forever use his resurrection glory and immortality for the glory of the Father.
“Father, the hour has come; glorify Thy Son, that the Son may glorify Thee.” John 17:1-5
He prays for the apostles, chosen and given to Him by the Father, prayers for their protection, oneness and sanctification. John 17:6-19
He prays for all who would believe as result of the apostle’s word and witness. He was praying for all of his followers throughout the Gospel Age, and for each of us, to endure and grow amid all the testings and challenges through the glory of the power of the holy Spirit. John 17:20-26
He prays for oneness of all of his followers—“even as Thou, Father art in me, and I in Thee, that they also may be in us; that the world may believe that Thou didst send me...that the world may know that Thou didst send me, and didst love them, even as Thou didst love me.” John 17:21,23 Some in the world now observe and appreciate the commitment and relationship of the consecrated with the Father, with Jesus and with one another. But in the future time of Kingdom Blessing the oneness and love in these relationships will be fully understood and appreciated by the World. Revelation 21:2, 22:17, 1-2; Isaiah 12:1-3
On the brink of deep suffering, the future of all life resting squarely on his shoulders, we see the broadness of his focus of attention, from his personal desire to be glorified so he could eternally glorify the Father, to heart-felt prayer for the apostles, and each one of his followers throughout the Gospel age, to the blessing of the world’s understanding in the Kingdom. Each area of prayer reflected parts of the joy set before him.
O may we exercise this broadness of focus of attention as we face our challenges, praying as he did in gratitude for the work of the apostles and those who have gone before, praying for each one of our precious Brethren, and praying for the Kingdom healing and opening of heart and mind of our weary human family. May we pray with this broadness of focus, especially in the moments and seasons of intense testing. Prayer modeled after our Precious Savior can fill and empower is with these joys that are set before us. John 15:10-11
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