During the 3.5 year public ministry of Jesus, His disciples heard His teaching on prayer, especially when He taught THEM how to pray (in Matthew 6 and Luke 11). They also heard Him praying brief prayers (such as the one recorded in Matthew 11:25-26). But, it is not until the night before He goes to the Cross that we hear the full, rich prayer that we call “The High Priestly Prayer of Jesus”, found in John 17. It is, without debate, the greatest prayer ever prayed. Why do I say that ?
- The person praying is the greatest person – It is Jesus the God-Man !
- The occasion for the prayer – Jesus says (in John 17:1) that “The hour has come”. He is speaking, of course, of His appointment with the Cross, when He will make atonement for the sins of His people.
- The content of the prayer – It reaches clear back into eternity past, it deals with glory, it discusses love (the Father’s love for believers and the Father’s love for Jesus). The prayer has amazing petitions: “Glorify Me”, “Keep them”, “Sanctify Them”, “That they all might be one,” and more.
Beginning this Wednesday Night (January 6) we will begin to slowly study this prayer during our regular Congregational Prayer Meeting, and then we’ll seek to implement what we hear during our prayer time. Join us!
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