Daily Devotions
John
John 17 : 1 - 26 "ENTERING INTO THE PRESENCE OF THE FATHER"
Day 257 – John 17
ENTERING INTO THE PRESENCE OF THE FATHER
Jesus entered into the Presence of His Father and poured out His heart to Him in deep and confidential tones. We learn much from studying the way Jesus communed with His Father.
1. Prayer involved reflection over His life’s ministry.
2. It also involved meditation on the work His Father had entrusted to Him.
3. Jesus contemplated on the following:-
a) The hour of His death.
b) The Glorifying of His Father.
c) The desire to return home to His Father.
LOVING INTERCESSION
Soon after, Jesus turned His attention to intercession for His beloved Disciples. The rest of His prayer, which was also the bulk of His prayer, was devoted to interceding for His Disciples.
Even when we speak about Jesus interceding for His Disciples, His words showed that He had spent time meditating on the subjects before bringing them up to the attention of His Father! True intercession always involves deep contemplation! Let us try and learn significant lessons from Jesus concerning how we may improve the way we intercede in prayer for people.
“I have manifested Your Name to the men
whom You have given Me out of the world.
They were Yours, You gave them to Me,
and they have kept Your word.”
John 17:6
INTERCESSION BEGINS WITH PERSONAL INVOLVEMENT
Jesus was personally involved in the lives of the people for whom He now prayed. He was their Teacher. He was their Master. Only when He had done His part could He bring their needs before the Father the way He did.
If Jesus had not done His part in carefully teaching His Disciples, then He would have to pray differently. When we have failed to do our part in ministering to people, our intercession would have to begin with confession of our shortcomings and sins!
INTERCESSION INVOLVES A REVIEW OF MINISTRY
As Jesus began His intercession for His Disciples, He reviewed His ministry with them. What He had done with reference to the teaching of His Disciples?
As He reviewed His three-year relationship with them as their Master-Teacher, He was able to say,
“I have manifested Your Name to the men…”
John 17:6
He had taught His Disciples much, but at all times, He was most careful to tell them that He had come in the Name of His Father. His Father’s Name was at all times exalted. His Father’s Name took center stage always. Let us consider some of the things Jesus taught His Disciples concerning the Father:-
1. The Father and Worship
Jesus taught this precious lesson to the woman of Samaria. John wrote,
“But the hour is coming, and now is,
when the true worshippers will worship the Father
in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such
to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him
must worship Him in spirit and truth.”
John 4:23-24
2. The Father and Ministry
Jesus taught His Disciples that His Father was constantly working in the hearts of men.
“My Father has been working until now,
and I have been working.”
John 5:17
3. The Father and His love
To Jesus, the Father had the most wonderful heart of love.
“For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things
that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works
than these, that you may marvel.”
John 5:20
The above is only a glimpse of the many things Jesus taught His Disciples concerning the Father. He had been assigned to teach His Disciples about the Father and He had not failed to do that!
ACKNOWLEDGING THE FATHER’S PART
Jesus was careful to make this note as He prayed for His Disciples. Yes, they could be said to be “His Disciples”. Nevertheless, that expression did not detract from the fact that they were also His Father’s men. He acknowledged His Father’s part.
“…They were yours, You gave them to Me…”
John 17:6
REVIEW OF THE DISCIPLES’ PERFORMANCE
Jesus must of course review the performance of His Disciples. How well did they fare? How well they performed would form an important component part in how He prayed for them. He was glad to be able to say that they had kept the Word that Jesus had taught them (John 17:6). Jesus teaches us that Intercessory Prayer is deep and involved!