Dear God, Part 6: The Prayer of Jesus

Grant Fishbook, Lead Teaching Pastor

There is power in the words “Can I ?”

Within days of his crucifixion, in John 17, Jesus prays:

For (as the conduit for our salvation)

After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. ² For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. ³ Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. ⁴ I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.” – John 17:1–4

For his

¹⁵ “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. ¹⁶ They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. ¹⁷ Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. ¹⁸ As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.” – John 17:15–18

For

“I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message…” – John 17:20b

Right now, in this very moment, Jesus—the King of Kings—is praying !

²¹ “…that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. ²² I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— ²³ I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. – John 17:21–23

Unity is not

Identify the

Celebrate the wins of

Pray for the

In essentials, unity;
in non-essentials, liberty;
in all things, charity.
– Rupertus Meldenius (1582–1651)

Small Group Questions

1. Did you ever pray a child’s prayer before meals or bedtime? What was the prayer? If you didn’t have one of those prayers, when were you introduced to the idea of talking to God?
2. How is your prayer life as of today? Regular and exciting? Sporadic but passionate? Infrequent and shallow? What could take your prayer life to the next level?
3. Read the entire chapter of John 17. What does Jesus say to you about prayer through his prayer?
4. How can you be an answer to the prayer of Jesus this coming week?
5. What’s your response to the quote from Rupertus Meldenius?
6. How can we pray for you right now and throughout the week?