This week, we are looking at the prayer that Jesus prayed shortly before He went to the cross. Some call it, “The High-Priestly Prayer.” It’s found in John chapter 17.

There are three parts of this prayer. He prayed first for Himself, then for His apostles (vv. 6–19), and finally for future believers (vv. 20–26).

First, we looked at Jesus’ prayer regarding Himself (John 17:1–5).

Next, we look at Jesus’ prayer for His apostles (John 17:6-19).

And now, we look at Jesus’ prayer for the future believers..

John 17:20–26 (ESV)

20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. 24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. 26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

So here, Jesus the High Priest extended His prayer beyond the apostles. He prayed for generations yet unborn. “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word.” (verse 20) In fact, every believer reading this verse can say, “Jesus prayed for me over 1900 years ago.”

What follows is Jesus’ prayer for the Church that would be established through the apostles.

Again, I’m going to break this section down in an outline form and let the Scriptures speak for themselves.

1..He asks that the Father unify the Church (17:20–21a, 22).

20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us,… 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one,..”

2. He asks that the Church honor the Son (17:21b).

21 … so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

3. He asks that the Church display God’s love (17:23).

23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.

4. He asks that the Church experience God’s love (17:25–26).

25 O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. 26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

5. He asks that the Church enjoy Christ’s glory in heaven forever (17:24).

24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.

Some comments on this passage from some old theologians add deeper meaning for me to the passage.

“The love of God which, before the creation of the physical world, had its adequate object in the person of the Son (v. 24), finds it, since the creation of the new spiritual world, in all those who are united with the Son.”  “What God desired in sending His Son here on earth was precisely that He might form for Himself in the midst of humanity a family of children like Him.” ~ F. L. Godet, Commentary on the Gospel of John, II:345

“It is because the Lord Jesus is in the believer that God can love him as He loves Christ.”

So dear, so very dear to God,

I cannot dearer be;

The love wherewith He loves the Son,

Such is His love for me!

(Poem by Catesby Paget)

“The petitions made by Christ for His people refer to spiritual things, to heavenly blessings. Not for riches, or honor, or worldly influence, but deliverance from evil, separation from the world, qualification for duty, and a safe arrival in heaven.” ~ Rainsford, Our Lord Prays, p. 173