Jesus Intercedes for Us

John 16:29–17:19

²⁹His disciples said to Him, “See, now You are speaking plainly, and using no figure of speech! ³⁰Now we are sure that You know all things, and have no need that anyone should question You. By this we believe that You came forth from God.”

³¹Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? ³²Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. ³³These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Jesus Prays for Himself

¹Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, ²as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. ³And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. ⁴I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. ⁵And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.

Jesus Prays for His Disciples

⁶“I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. ⁷Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. ⁸For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me.

⁹“I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. ¹⁰And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. ¹¹Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. ¹²While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. ¹³But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. ¹⁴I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. ¹⁵I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. ¹⁶They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. ¹⁷Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. ¹⁸As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. ¹⁹And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.”

Devotional

“How can I pray for you?” It’s one of the kindest questions one person can ask another.

The night before He was crucified, the Lord Jesus prayed what has been called the greatest prayer recorded in Scripture. This “High Priestly Prayer” of Christ in John 17 is one of intercession, as the Lord prayed first for Himself and then for His current and future disciples.

At the heart of this prayer, we can see several ways that Jesus prayed for His followers. He prayed for our unity, asking the Father that His disciples would be “one” as He and the Father are one (John 17:11). While the world often tells us we must compromise convictions in order to achieve unity, the Father and Son share a unity based on perfect truth. So should our unity be based on the truth of Jesus and His Word.

Jesus also prayed for our joy, asking for His joy to be fulfilled in us (John 17:13). The language the Lord used here suggests the beautiful image of a cup being filled to its very brim with spiritual and heavenly bliss.

Whatever happens, we can have an overflowing joy through Jesus.

Next, Jesus prayed for our protection “from the evil one” (John 17:15). The Lord asked not for His followers to be evacuated from the dangers of Satan and his schemes, but rather that the Father would guard us and keep us from harm as we live for Christ.

Finally, Jesus prayed for our holiness. He asked the Father to sanctify His followers through His Word, which is truth (John 17:17).

Today, you can live with the confidence that Jesus never stops interceding for you in the presence of the Father.

—Dr. Stephen Rummage (Bell Shoals Baptist Church, Brandon, FL)

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Your Turn

Have you ever considered that Jesus intercedes specifically for you? Unity, joy, protection from evil, and holiness — those are the essentials. What else do you think Jesus prays for? How do you intercede for others? For whom do you pray? Join the conversation on our blog! We would love to hear your thoughts about intercession! ~ Devotionals Daily