The Love of God: The High Priestly Prayer

John 17 is the longest recorded prayer of Jesus.

It is intimate. It is powerful. It is revelatory.

And the love of God shines through every word.

Jesus prays for Himself

Jesus begins:

"Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you."

Jesus does not pray for escape.

He prays for glory through the cross.

The love of God seeks the Father's glory, even through suffering.

Jesus prays for His disciples

Jesus prays:

"Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one."

He does not pray that they be removed from the world.

He prays that they be protected in the world.

The love of God does not take us out of the world. It keeps us safe in the world.

Sanctify them in the truth

Jesus prays:

"Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth."

The disciples need more than protection.

They need transformation.

And that transformation comes through truth.

The love of God sanctifies through the Word.

Jesus prays for all believers

Jesus prays:

"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message."

This includes us.

Two thousand years later, we are prayed for by Jesus.

The love of God reaches across time to intercede for all who will believe.

That they may be one

Jesus prays:

"...that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you."

Unity is not uniformity.

It is a deep, spiritual oneness rooted in our union with Christ.

The love of God calls His people to unity that reflects the Trinity.

Final exhortation

The love of God in John 17 is this:

Christ prays for His own.

He intercedes for their protection, their sanctification, and their unity.

And He prays that they would be with Him to see His glory.

You are prayed for by Jesus.

You are kept by the Father.

You are sanctified by the truth.

Because the love of God intercedes for you, and that prayer is always heard.

Closing prayer

Father, thank You that Your Son prays for us. Thank You for protection, sanctification, and the promise of seeing His glory. Make us one as You are one, and keep us faithful to the end. In Jesus' name, amen.