Jesus Prayed For Us! Did You Know That?

John wrote about when Jesus prayed for his disciples, including us, who believe and follow Him. He didn’t simply pray a “bless them” prayer but one to help us in our everyday lives.

I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. John 17:20

With His time on the earth quickly ending, Jesus laid out some last-minute details. Even though they would scatter, leaving Jesus alone, He still wanted them to depend on Him.

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. John 16:33

After speaking those words to His disciples, Jesus prayed for them and us. First, He addressed His Father, assuring His followers of the only way they could receive eternal life.

Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you. For you have given him authority over everyone. He gives eternal life to each one you have given him. And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth. John 17:1-3

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How Jesus Prayed For Us

I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began. John 17:4-5

Some four thousand years earlier, God created the heavens and the earth. He put everything He wanted into His creation. Then, He added Adam and Eve. He made them in His image.

God enjoyed having fellowship with Adam as they walked together through the garden. Those intimate walks ended when Adam and Eve sinned by disobeying God.

Since then, God didn’t have that kind of fellowship with a man until after the birth of Jesus. When Jesus went alone to pray, I envision Him walking with God as God did with Adam.

When sinless Jesus, the second Adam, walked with His Father, He brought His glory back to the earth. With His Son, God walked with man again, you know, just like the good old days.

Jesus prayed not for the world but for those the Father gave Him, who again included us. Keep in mind that when we belong to Jesus, we also belong to His Father, who promises us eternal life.

My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you. John 17:9

So, the Lord said He was departing from this world to return to the Father. Because the disciples stayed behind, Jesus made four major requests when He prayed for them and us.

Jesus Prayed to Keep and Protect Us

Even though the Lord didn’t pray for the world, it doesn’t mean He gave up on it. No, He called us to reach out to the unsaved. And in doing so, Jesus prayed for protection over us.

All who are mine belong to you, and you have given them to me, so they bring me glory. Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, you have given me your name; now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are. John 17:10-11

Our definition of protection differs somewhat from the Lord’s. Saints through the years, have experienced persecution, torture, and death for the sake of the gospel.

God cares about the hardships we experience, and He rewards us accordingly in heaven. Jesus, though, prayed for God to protect us from the evil one who tries to separate us from God.

I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to this world any more than I do. John 17:15

Jesus Prayed that We Would have Joy

Many things come at us in this life known as joy suckers. But we can’t base our joy on our circumstances. Joy comes from within us, which comes straight from our relationship with Jesus.

Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy. John 17:13

Jesus Prayed to Make Us Holy

The Lord sent His disciples into an unholy world. Because of the sacrifice of Jesus, He made holiness available to us through His Word. Jesus is the Word and the Truth.

Therefore, the Word directs our lives away from worldliness and towards godliness. Sanctification, also called holiness, carries the definition of one set apart to God.

Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth. John 17:17-19

Jesus Prayed that We have Perfect Unity

Established through Jesus Christ the Son, our testimony of Him rests on our unity with one another. Our unity with each other connects with the unity of the Father and the Son.

I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. John 17:21, 23

Jesus also prayed for us to be with Him where He is. That could mean living with Him after this life in heaven. It could also mean that we see God’s glory in Jesus while living in this life.

Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began! John 17:25

Even though we never physically walked with Jesus, He prayed that His presence be revealed in us. Therefore, in my conclusion, I couldn’t pray any better than what Jesus prayed for us.

I have revealed you to them, and I will continue to do so. Then your love for me will be in them, and I will be in them. John 17:26