How Jesus Prays for US

• John 17 is a transcribed prayer Jesus prayed the night he was betrayed. We’re joining in about 1/3 of the way through…

John 17:11–19 (NLT)

^11b Holy Father, you have given me your name; now protect (keep) them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are.

• Jesus is praying for
• Jesus is asking Father to keep them in his name
  • To preserve them, to protect them
  • A castle’s  is the strongest portion of the castle and the last refuge in case of a siege or attack.
• Let THAT be what binds them in unity!

How effective do you think this prayer of Jesus was?

• He intercedes for us now
  • When we face trials
  • When times are hard

Hebrews 7:24-25 (NLT2) ²⁴  But because Jesus lives forever, his priesthood lasts forever. ²⁵  Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.

• Now Jesus intercedes for us at the Father’s throne

¹² During my time here, I protected (kept) them by the power of the name you gave me.

• Jesus kept revealing to the disciples

I guarded (kept) them so that not one was lost, except the one headed for destruction, as the Scriptures foretold.

• Obviously that refers to

• This implies that the disciples needed to be

¹³ “Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy. 

• Jesus wants us to be just as as he is

¹⁴ I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world.

• Jesus is telling us

¹⁵ I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. ¹⁶ They do not belong to this world any more than I do.

Matthew 6:9-13 (NIV) ⁹  “This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,

    ¹⁰  your kingdom come, your will be done

    on earth as it is in heaven.

¹¹  Give us today our daily bread.

¹²  Forgive us our debts,

    as we also have forgiven our debtors.

¹³  And lead us not into temptation,

     but deliver us from the evil one.’

• And Jesus is praying for us so that we will be

1 Peter 5:8-9 (NLT2) ⁸  Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. ⁹  Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.

• Jesus is praying for you in other ways, too

¹⁷ Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.

• Jesus wants you to be
• If you are a believer, you’re taking on his character like putting on

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NLT2) ¹⁶  All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. ¹⁷  God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

¹⁸ Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. ¹⁹ And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.”

• Jesus is telling us our – we’re ambassadors sent by Heaven to tell the world about Him
• We have a LOT of advantages
  • We are kept by God
  • We are protected by knowing him, by obeying him
  • We are filled with the Joy of Jesus
  • We have the Truth – the Word of God
  • And it is making us holy
    • It’s growing us up to be like him
  • We belong to Heaven
  • And now we are being sent into this world just as Jesus was sent into this world