Jesus Prays For The Believer

Title: “Jesus Prays for His Disciples” Script: John 17:9-26

Type: Series on Prayer Where: GNBC 7-18-21

Intro: Five Williams College students met in August of 1806, in a grove of trees near the Hoosack River, near what is today, Williamstown, MA, and debated the theology of missionary service. Their meeting was suddenly interrupted by a thunderstorm and the students: Samuel J. Mills, James Richards, Francis L. Robbins, Harvey Loomis, and Byram Green took shelter under a haystack until the sky cleared. “The brevity of the shower, the strangeness of the place of refuge, and the peculiarity of their topic of prayer and conference all took hold of their imaginations and their memories.” From this humble beginning, the American Commissioners for Foreign Missions was created and in 1808 the first American missionary to Asia was sent out. In the next 50 years, 1250 missionaries would be sent out from America to Asia. Since that time over 5000 missionaries have gone out, 1000’s converted, hospitals, schools built, famine relief, all because five young men were inconvenienced by a storm and chose to pray.! Friends there is unbelievable power in prayer! Today, I want us to notice that Jesus has prayed for you!

Prop: Ex. Jn. 17:9-26 we’ll see 4 items Christ prayed for His disciples.

BG: 1. Continuing great prayers of the Bible. This is Christ’s High Priestly Prayer.

2. Shortly before arrest and subsequent crucifixion. Prayed for both disciples then and believers today.

Prop: Look w/me in Jn 17 to notice 4 items Christ prayed for His disciples.

I. Christ Prayed for Your Security vv.9-11

A. This Prayer was Prompted by Jesus’ Upcoming Departure.

1. Christ Prays for His disciples in light of this traumatic event.

a. “I am no more in the world.” Jesus states what the disciples are in denial of. Jesus is leaving. Won’t be the same relationship. Change is always hard but it can be good. Relationship to Christ is changing, but Christ is putting the disciples into the Father’s care. (Illust: In the last few years our family has experienced a lot of change. Kids marrying and moving away. Yet, blessing of two wonderful daughters in law, son in law, grandchildren…)

b. Why does Christ pray this prayer? “yet they themselves are in the world…” There’s the sticking point. Christ is returning to heaven but we have to stay here.

2. Notice the Implication of this Passage.

a. Vv9-10 Jesus is praying for the disciples because they are believers. Notice this, He says He is praying for those who belonged to the Father and now belong to Christ. He is praying for those whom He and the Father possess together.

b. Illust: When kids were growing up tried to teach them to put “stuff” back where got it from. Easier to find and locate. Why? Don’t lose and have to purchase again only to find later. Why? I am cheap and I want to take care of my stuff. Know a lot of believers who struggle with concept of the security of the believer. In these verses, Jesus states that disciples belonged to the Father before in the care of the Son and now returning to the care of the Father. Friend, you are secure!

B. Jesus Prays that the Father Will “Keep” His disciples.

1. What does Christ mean by this prayer?

a. “keep” – tayreo – from teros- to watch, implying either a fortress or a full military line. Like a warden or a guard who “keeps watch” of the prisoners in his charge. Implication is to observe attentively. Illust: Couple of years ago had a good friend who was in prison in Illinois. Every few months would go to visit him. Visiting area – before you are searched. Take nothing in. Allowed one place under the guard’s seat where can hug. Then sit while separated. Never allowed to touch or pass anything. Observe attentively.

b. In this pray, Jesus is praying that the Father would attentively keep an eye on the disciples.

2. Be encouraged, Christian, Christ has prayed for your and my safe keeping.

a. The Lord’s petition on behalf of His disciples was that the Father keep them: “Holy Father, keep them in Thy name …” (John 17:11b). This keeping was done by the Lord while He was with His disciples (verse 12), but now He is returning to the Father.

b. Illust: Some may ask, “What about Judas?” The keeping for which Jesus prayed involved the eternal security of His followers. Our Lord had already spoken to His disciples concerning the frailty of their faith under fire (John 13:38; 16:31-32). Our security does not rest upon the strength of our faith, but in the Object of it. Keeping is God’s work, not ours. It is ours to abide (chapter 15), and His to keep. Judas was not an exception to the rule. Our Lord did not fail to keep Him. He was the ‘son of perdition’. He was never saved (John 13:10,11), so he was not lost out of the keeping hand of God. His destruction was a fulfillment of his character and destiny, as well as of prophecy (verse 12).