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John

John 
Day 
Day 266

John 17 : 1 - 26 "FOUR MOVEMENTS"

Day 266 – John 17

FOUR MOVEMENTS

As we read John 17, we are deeply moved by the way Jesus prayed. As we study it more carefully, we may detect four definite movements.

First Part: Personal Life and Ministry (John 17:1-5)

In this portion, Jesus communes with His Father concerning His own life and ministry. He speaks to His Father on the following matters:-

1. The Hour of His death.

2. The Glorifying of His Father.

3. A short review of his life and ministry.

4. A report that He had completed all the works that His Father had assigned Him.

Second Part: Prayer for The Inner Circle of Close Disciples (John 17:6-19)

1. A Review of His Ministry of the Word to His Disciples.

2. A Prayer for Safekeeping, especially from the Devil.

3. Oneness among the Disciples.

4. Joy that would fill the hearts of the Disciples.

5. The Word of God in their life and ministry.

Third Part: Prayer for Future Disciples (John 17:20-23)

In the third movement, Jesus prayed for future Disciples! This would have direct reference to those who would be won to faith through the efforts of the Disciples. However, this prayer would not be restricted to believers in the first century. We could say that Jesus actually prayed for us too!

1. Oneness among future believers.

2. The glory of God to be manifested to future believers.

3. That all who believes would spend their eternity with Jesus.

Fourth Part: Personal Prayer (John 17:24-26)

As Jesus concluded His Prayer, He returned to speaking to His Father in the most intimate of terms once again. Just as He began, so He ended His prayer, focusing on the following:

1. The Intimate Relationship between Father and Son.

2. The Glorious Name of The Father.

3. The Love of The Father.

How organized Jesus was, even in prayer! He did not break any of the rules that He taught His Disciples concerning prayer. He practised what He had taught His Disciples.

A PRAYER FOR FUTURE DISCIPLES!

What an amazing feature we see in this text. Jesus actually prayed for the people who would become believers, through the efforts of His Disciples. He had urged them to pray about bearing fruit. He had promised them that they would bear fruit even as they abide in Him (John 15). Even as He prayed for them, He believed that they would bear much fruit. He prayed for the next generation of Disciples.

“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those
who will believe in Me through their word;
that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me,
and I in You; that they also may be One in Us,
that the world may believe that You sent Me.”
John 17:20-21

What a heart-warming thought! Jesus prayed with absolute confidence that His Disciples would indeed be kept from the power of the evil one. He knew that there would be many trials and testing, but His Disciples would make it. They would be faithful and true, and they would preach that Word which He had given to them. And even as they proclaimed the Word of God, people would come to faith in His Name.

The Disciples would emulate the example of their Master. They would preach the same Word that they had been taught by Jesus. The Word of God was enough. The preaching of the Word in all His power would be the chief concern of the Disciples! They would have success in their ministry. There would be people who would come to faith because of the witness of the Disciples!

A SPECIAL CONCERN ABOUT ONENESS

Even as Jesus prayed for future believers, He foresaw that there would be problems. He knew that the evil one would sow tares among the wheat (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43). He anticipated that there would be many things that would threaten the sense of oneness in the Church community.

In solemn reality of the problems that could affect His Disciples adversely, Jesus prayed that future believers might have the same sense of Oneness that He had with His Father. How do we understand the significance of this prayer? How do we apply the relevance of these words into the world’s situation today? The Church at large today is anything but united! Let us take time to ponder over this prayer that Jesus offered on behalf of future believers.