My Master Prays For Me

Passover in Jesus’ time was celebrated by a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.  When the disciples were told to procure a room and the necessary ingredients for their meal it was not new or unexpected.  However they did not understand it would be the last meal all twelve disciples would share together.  He washed their feet and spoke of His broken body and shed blood but maybe they thought it was just an object lesson. Although Jesus had tried to prepare them for what would soon come, they did not understand.

 

After dinner they all sang a hymn and headed over to the Mount of Olives.  This was a familiar, quiet place for Jesus and the disciples to come and pray but tonight He warned not to fall asleep.  Three times He checked on them but they had fallen asleep, full from their meal and tired from a long day of  preparations. 

AGONY IN THE GARDEN

The full disclosure of what was going to happen next flashed before Jesus’eyes.  He understood His death was necessary to fulfill the Law and redeem mankind but still being in human flesh it was terrifying.  

Luke 22:41–45 
And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed,                                                                                  saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.  And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.  And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping…     

                                         

 

JESUS PRAYS FOR HIMSELF

All four gospels record the Passover meal and heading to the garden of Gethsemane to pray but John 17 records Jesus’ prayer in detail.  It is often called Jesus’ high priestly prayer, a prayer of intercession. His whole life Jesus sought to bring glory to the Father and not himself.  He knows it is time to finish the ultimate work He was sent to accomplish –  to bring eternal life to all who believe. Jesus is looking forward to being One with The Father again.

John 17:1–5 
When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

 

JESUS PRAYED FOR HIS DISCIPLES

John 17: 6-9, 17-18    
“I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.  Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you.  For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours….     Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.

 

JESUS PRAYED FOR US

John 17:20–21     I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

John 3:36    Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

1 John 4:14–15   And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.  Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.

 

Everyone and anyone in the world who chooses to believe that Jesus died for their sin, turns from sinful habits and follows Him is promised eternal life. His promises aren’t just for later but right now we can experience abundant life of hope and peace.  Dear Reader, if you have any questions about this post or how you can know that you have eternal life, please contact me for more information.

 

When You Prayed Beneath The Trees  byChristopher Idle

When you prayed beneath the trees, it was for me, O Lord;

when you cried upon your knees, how could it be, O Lord?

when in blood and sweat and tears, you dismissed your final fears,

when you faced the soldiers spears, you stood for me, O Lord.