A. INTRODUCTION
1. Two different prayers.
a. John 17, Jesus prays out of His strength.
b. Gethsemane, Jesus prays out of suffering and agony.
2. John 17 has a triumphant theme; Gethsemane shows exhaustion and weakness as He surrenders to the Father’s will.
3. First prayer not in Upper Room and before He gets to the garden. Where? Holy of Holies.
4. John 17 is the longest recorded prayer, other times not recorded He prayed all night, 40 days.
B. TRIUMPHANT PRAYING: JOHN 17:1-22
1. Asked to return to His previous glory. “Bring me into the glory” (v. 5). You can pray for yourself when your purpose is to glorify the Father. “Give glory back to You” (v. 1).
2. For His disciples. “My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given Me” (v. 9).
a. Prays for them to glorify the Father.
b. For their spiritual growth.
c. For their effective ministry.
d. Protection from the evil one.
3. For all believers. “I pray that they will all be one” (v. 21). The basis:
a. As Father and Son are one (v. 21).
b. For evangelization (v. 21).
c. Not union in one denomination, but unity in acceptance, love, and fellowship.
C. GETHSEMANE PRAYING
1. A comfortable place for agonizing praying; “Where He usually prayed” (Luke 22:39).
a. Because He knew His hour had come (John 13:1).
b. Because He faced physical torture.
c. Because the cup contained the sins of the world.
d. Physical death.
2. Agonizing prayer. “He prayed more fervently . . . agony of spirit” (Luke 22:44, NLT). He “carried our sorrows” (Is. 53:4). “He bore our sins” (1 Peter 2:24).
3. Private prayer. When no one prayed with Him. “He took Peter . . . and James and John . . . keep watch with Me . . . He found them asleep . . . could you not watch with Me one hour?” (Matt. 26:31-40, NLT). Three times they fell asleep. “A third time . . . go ahead and sleep” (Matt. 26:45, NLT).
4. Submissive prayer. Jesus didn’t reject the Father’s will, He wanted another plan. “Let this cup pass from Me” (Matt. 26:39, NLT). He yielded. “If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, Your will be done” (Matt. 26:42, NLT).
5. Effective prayer. “He offered prayer and pleaded with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could receive Him from death. And God heard His prayers” (Heb. 5:7, NLT).
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.
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Dr. Towns' email is ELTowns@liberty.edu
Dr. Towns’ web address is www.elmertowns.com
