New Life In Christ Pt. 26 What we learn about prayer from Jesus' longest prayer.

John 17:1-5  These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: 2) As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 3) And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. 4) I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. 5) And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. 

John 17 is the longest prayer of Christ recorded in the Bible. Most people are much more familiar with the Lord's Prayer but this was Jesus' last prayer right before He was betrayed and arrested. Jesus prayed about glory 7 times in this prayer. 

Praying for the Father's Glory. 

Jesus looked toward heaven and prayed to His Father. His hour had now come, the hour when Jesus would die on the cross and fulfill all scripture concerning the suffering Savior. Jesus asked His Father to glorify the Son that the Son might glorify the Father.

John 12:27-28  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. 28)  Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.

Jesus was speaking about the Son of Man being lifted up (crucified) meaning that the hour for Christ to die for our sins on the cross was very close. Jesus prayed "Father glorify thy name" and there was an immediate response from heaven. The Father declared that He already glorified His name and that He would do so again. Thus, it is in keeping with the ministry of Jesus to seek to glorify the Father in all things. 

Praying about future Judgment and Rewards. 

John 5:22-24  For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: 23) That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. 24) Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. 

John 5:28-29  Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29) And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. 

Next Jesus prayed about the power that the Father gave to the Son to exercise over all flesh. This connects back to John 5 where Jesus taught about the resurrection of life and the resurrection of damnation (John 5:19-29).  Jesus has the power to grant eternal life to all who will believe on Him with repentant faith. 

Jesus is the final Judge of mankind. Those who are born again will be judged at the Bema seat of Christ to receive rewards or loss of rewards for our love, work and worship of our God and Savior. He will also be the King of kings who presides over the Great White Throne judgment where all souls who died in their sins will be judged and condemned to Hell for eternity. 

Praying to the Father for the Son's glory to be restored. 

Philippians 2:5-11  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6) Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7) But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8) And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9) Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10) That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11)  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 

Jesus prayed to the Father for the restoration of His glory that was set aside when Jesus humbled Himself to be born as a man. Paul communicated this truth to us in his letter to the church at Philippi. Here is the mind of Jesus Christ. He was God (John 1:1-3) but He willingly made Himself of no reputation which means that He emptied Himself of His glory that He shared with the Godhead. Jesus poured out His glory in order to become a man and die as a man on the cross in our place. 

Jesus always does the Father's will.

John 8:28-30  Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. 29) And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. 30) As he spake these words, many believed on him.

John 10:17-18  Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.18) No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

Next, Jesus took upon Him the form of a servant. The word "took" means that Jesus took possession of this lowly position. The word "servant" is used more often to describe a slave in the Roman empire, where up to 50% of the total population were slaves. The word means a slave who has  given himself up to another's  will. The word "form" is found in the word metamorphosis which refers to the process of a caterpillar weaving a cocoon and emerging as a butterfly. 

The texts from John 8 & 10 demonstrate clearly that Jesus sought to please the Father in all things. The words that Christ spoke were the Father's words. The works that Christ performed were the Father's works. The Father's will was for Christ to die in our place on the cross.

Jesus humility results in glory from the Father. 

Paul also tells us this truth Jesus humbled Himself and became obedient not just to death, but to the most humiliating and devastating death possible, death on a cross. 

Acts 4:12  Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. 

What is the result of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Son of Man and Son of God? The Father gave Him a name that is above every name and every knee will bow in submission to this glorious name, Jesus Christ. We see this truth in Peter's sermon where he declared that there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. Do you want to spend eternity in heaven with God? You must be born again through repentant faith in Jesus Christ. There is no other way to be saved and no other name to call upon. Born again believers bow to Christ with joy and confess His name among men. All unbelievers will also bow their knee and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord of lords and king of kings before they are sentenced to eternal condemnation. When this happens, it will give glory to the Father because His Son is being glorified. 

Thus, the beginning of Jesus' prayer finds glory mentioned five times in five verses. 

What does this mean for how we pray?

First, I think that we can pray thanking the Father for the future glorification that is promised to each born again believer. 

Second, I think we can pray for strength to live in the light of His glory so all that we think, say and do will bring Him honor and glory. 

Third, I think we need to be more aware of the future judgments at the resurrection of life and the resurrection of damnation. We will appear at the resurrection of life if we are born again. What about our loved ones, family members and friends who do not yet know Christ? Don't we want them to hear about Jesus and be born again? They will stand in the resurrection of damnation unless we share the gospel of Christ with them. 

Fourth, I think we can pray for strength and help to live each day according to our Father's will. 

Last, I think we need to pray for the strength to glorify Jesus Christ through the way that we live, the way that we worship, the way that we study His word and the way that we witness for Him. 

May the God of all glory help us in each of these endeavors in prayer and may we be counted as vessels our Lord will use to advance His kingdom purposes. 

Bob