Originally posted: 11/14/2019
John 17 is often referred to as Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer. As our perfect High Priest He prayed for His disciples and every person who would come to Him by faith for salvation.
“I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; 21 that they may all be one; even 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 sent Me,” (17:20-21).
And I was reminded of the disciples asking Jesus to teach them to pray. His response is recorded in two of the gospels.
“Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
10 ‘Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven,” (Matthew 6:9-10).
“Lord, teach us to pray… 2 And He said to them, “When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come,” (Luke 11:1, 2).
Jesus began His instruction on prayer by giving glory to the Father’s Holy Name, immediately followed with the request, Your Kingdom Come. Jesus lived and died to glorify His Father and fulfill His will.
And when He prayed His High Priestly Prayer, He was praying what He taught his disciples to pray, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
Consider His Kingdom Come
- His Kingdom Come… The Son will be glorified.
- Jesus spoke these things; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son…” (17:1).
- His Kingdom Come… The Father will be glorified.
- “…that the Son may glorify You,” (17:1).
- His Kingdom Come… Knowledge and faith in the one true God will be imparted.
- “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent… 7 Now they have come to know that everything You have given Me is from You; 8 for the words which You gave Me I have given to them; and they received them and truly understood that I came forth from You, and they believed that You sent Me,” (17:3, 7-8).
- His Kingdom Come… Believers will be set apart in His Word of Truth.
- “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth,” (17:16-17).
- His Kingdom Come… Unity in Him will be perfected.
- “The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; 23 I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity…” (17:22-23).
- His Kingdom Come… The Sent One, loved by the Father, will be recognized.
- “…so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me,” (17:23).
- His Kingdom Come… His Name and His Love will be made known in us.
- “and I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known, so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them,” (17:26).
How do we respond to His Kingdom Come?
Are we living with a desire for His Kingdom to Come? Are we praying, as Jesus taught, Your Kingdom Come?
Self-Examination time:
- Is my life bringing glory to the Son?
- Is my life bringing glory to the Father?
- Am I growing in knowledge and faith?
- Am I living a sanctified life, set apart and committed to His Word of Truth?
- Am I living to bring unity and peace among the body of Christ?
- Do others recognize the Son of God in my life?
- Do I make His Name and His Love known to others?
Self-Examination times can be discouraging, for we will never measure up. But we can be encouraged in His Truth; Jesus continues to pray and intercede for us forever.
… who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us, (Romans 8:34).
Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them, (Hebrews 7:25).
May we grow in our desire and confidence to pray and fulfill His will; may His Kingdom Come in us, on earth as it is in heaven.
For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus, (Philippians 1:6).