Lesson 46

The Greatest Prayer Ever Prayed

An Overview of John 17

"Some pray by the yard. But true prayer is measured by its weight, not its length" (Charles Spurgeon). Herbert Lockyer, the author of the "Alls" of the Bible says that there are 650 prayers recorded in scripture. One of the 650 is the prayer of Jesus recorded by John in the Gospel of John chapter 17. It is not a long prayer. The twenty six verses which make up the prayer will take about six minutes to read aloud at a normal pace. It is not much in length, but it is great in depth and weight. It is perhaps the greatest prayer ever prayed. "If the gospel of John may be likened to a mountain range, this chapter represents one of its highest peaks. Here, we see breathtaking views of eternal beauty which cannot be viewed from any other place" (Ivor Powell).

Let's take the time to read through John 17 and to listen while Jesus is praying. The Holy Spirit wants us to hear Jesus pray. In John 17 we will discover four reasons why this is the greatest prayer every prayed.

Because Of The Person Who Prayed The Prayer.

Do you know who is speaking these words, who it its who is praying in John 17? It is Jesus Christ (v. 1) the son of God and God the Son. Each gospel account presents a unique portrait of Jesus. In Matthew, He is presented as the King, the long awaited Messiah, the rightful ruler. It Mark, He is pictured as a Servant who has come to meet the needs of mankind. In Luke, Jesus is portrayed as the Son of Man, with an emphasis on His humanity. But in the Gospel of John, Jesus Christ is presented to us as the Son of God. The emphasis is on His deity. Jesus is not an ordinary man. He is not even a super man. He is the God-man. He is God in human flesh. Or as I might say it to young people - Jesus is God in a body. Virtually every page of John's gospel is a reminder of the deity of Christ. John 20:30-31 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. John has selected those things in Jesus' life which best illustrate His deity. And this prayer is one of those things. So many things in this prayer let us know who Jesus is. For instance, (v. 1) Jesus prays of God as "Father". Not "our father" but "Father". John 20:17 makes this distinction. "My father and your father", not "our father." In v2, Jesus speaks of Everlasting Lordship, His "power over all flesh" and as the giver of eternal life. In v. 3, He claimed to be sent by God (see also vs. 18, 21, 23, 25). In verse 5, He claimed to exist before the foundation of the world. In verse 11, He claimed to be One with the Father, see also 21-22. In verse 9, 15, 20, when Jesus uses the word pray, He chooses a unique word. This word means "a request from an equal." That not the kind of prayer we pray. In v. 24, Jesus expresses His will, His authority.

The point is that even in a prayer, John presents the deity of Christ. If Jesus had all power, if Jesus was God in human flesh - why did He need to pray? When Jesus came as man He demonstrated His absolute and complete dependency and submission of His Heavenly Father. If Jesus saw a need to pray, how much more do we need to pray!

This is a great prayer because of the person who prayed it.

Because Of The Occasion Of The Prayer.

"That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." Those words of Neil Armstrong may not seem significant if they had been said at a hopscotch match. Until we understand the occasion at which they were spoken. What was the occasion of those words of Neil Armstrong? He was stepping on to the surface of the moon!

Another reason why this prayer is so great, has to do with the occasion at which it was being spoken. Are you ready for this? John 17 comes right after John 16 and right before John 18.

Actually, this prayer forms a kind of turning point in the gospel. John 2:4 Jesus saith unto her, mine hour is not yet come. John 7:30 Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come. John 8:20 These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come. John 12:27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.

John 13:1 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. This theme of the hour is repeated over and over. Notice 17:1. Jesus training of the twelve is over and He is now facing the cross. This is a great prayer because of the occasion at which it was prayed

Because Of The Petitions Of The Prayer.

This prayer can be divided into three sections.

1. Jesus prays for Himself, vs. 1-5.

2. Jesus prays for His disciples, vs. 6-19.

3. Jesus prays for us, vs. 20-26.

Think of it! Facing the cross, Jesus spent most of His prayer time praying for His disciples. His only request for himself was that He would give glory to the Father.

Notice, what He asked for regarding His disciples (present and future).

He prayed for their security, vs. 9-15. Jesus did not pray that they would be blessed with ease and comfort. He prayed that their strength would be equal to their struggle. He asked the Father to "keep" them. Verse 11 - Keep them through thine own name. Verse 15 - Keep them from evil. Men cannot keep themselves secure. Only God can secure men's soul's. There is a reference here to Judas who is often mentioned as someone who lost his salvation. However, it is clear from 6:66-71 and 13:11, 18 that Judas was never saved to begin with. Judas is a frightening example of how near one can be to the kingdom of God and still be lost.

He prayed for their purity, vs. 16-19. Jesus prayed here for His disciples sanctification. The word means to be set apart for consecrate, to make holy. For example, this building has been sanctified. It has been consecrated and set apart for exclusively sacred purposes. We would all cringe if we worshipped here on Sunday and then turned this place into a nightclub through the week. In like manner, we have been sanctified. Christ has prayed for our sanctification, that we would be set apart for exclusively sacred use. How is it that Christ's prayer is answered? We are sanctified through the word of God. God's inspired truth purifies us.

He prayed for their unity, vs. 21-23. His prayer was that His disciples may be one. There is positional unity here. We are all in the one family of God by faith in Jesus Christ. But there must also be practical unity. We must, in words of Ephesians 4:3 "Endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." For "how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity" (Psalm 133:1).

Perhaps Jesus prayed for our purity and for our unity because He knows how much we struggle in these particular areas. We all struggle with maintaining personal purity - pure hearts, pure thoughts, pure words, pure motives, pure deeds, pure emotions, pure relationships. Our purity is threatened constantly by the temptations of Satan the pressure of the world and the possession of the flesh. But Jesus has prayed for our purity. God help us to be sanctified through God's inspired truth.

And we also constantly struggle with maintaining unity. The unity of the people of God is under constant threat. We offend each other, we say things that shouldn't be said and do things to each other that shouldn't be done. We attack and hurt each other, we gossip about each other, we meddle in places where we have no business, we take up other people's offenses. Relationships are ruptured; worship is disrupted; other Christians are discouraged; our testimony to unbelievers is damaged; churches are destroyed. That's what happens when there is disunity among the people of God. But Jesus has prayed for our unity, that we may all be one, as God the Father and God the Son are one.

This is a great prayer because of the petitions which Jesus made on our behalf.

Because Of The Victory This Prayer Gives.

The "world" is mentioned 19 times in this prayer. Notice, verses 14-18, 21, 23, 24. The world is deceived. In Christ, there is reality. The world is disturbed; in Christ there is security. The world is defiled; in Christ there is purity. The world is divided but in Christ there is unity. Through Christ, we have victory over the world and a message to take to the world.

The prayer closes (vs. 24-26) with our Lord's final request. Set your eyes upon it. Read it for yourself. Christ wants us to be with Him. Ultimately, that prayer will be answered.

Our Lord's last words before the cross were not a cry of defeat and despair, but a prayer of victory and assurance.