August 31, 2024 • 12 mins
How does Jesus' prayer for His disciples and all future believers resonate with us today? Join me, Charles Vance, as we take a closer look at John 17, known as the High Priestly Prayer, where Jesus prays with such depth and devotion on the night before His arrest. This episode of the Living Words Podcast will illuminate how Jesus seeks to glorify the Father, calls for His disciples' sanctification, and dreams of a united community of believers. Reading from the New King James Version, we highlight the profound themes of glorification, sanctification, and unity, offering insights into Jesus' divine purpose and deep desires.
We also share a heartfelt prayer for sanctification through the Holy Spirit, emphasizing the transformative power of God's word. Our discussion invites you to open your heart and mind to scripture, allowing its truths to guide you on paths of righteousness. As we explore the importance of being set apart for God's purposes, you'll find encouragement to face worldly challenges with your eyes on the eternal kingdom. Be equipped to live as lights in the darkness, drawing strength and comfort from the Holy Spirit to live more fully and victoriously over sin. Tune in for a spiritually enriching journey through the High Priestly Prayer and beyond.
Get a copy of the In His Footsteps devotional here.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Good morning.
I'm Charles Vance and this isLiving Words Podcast.
We're in week 22 of In HisFootsteps Devotional 52 weeks in
the Gospel of John, and we'regoing to be dealing with the
High Priestly Prayer, which isprobably one of the most famous
prayers of the ages.
John 17 is the text and we'regoing to go through that prayer.
(00:24):
This is the prayer, the highpriestly prayer, that Yeshua
Jesus, messiah, king of kingsand Lord of lords, prayed the
night Before his Capture andthen the trial and the
crucifixion and resurrection.
So this is basically thebeginning of the end and he sets
(00:45):
it off with an impactful,powerful prayer that we're going
to go through.
I'm going to be reading from theNew King James.
I like the King James becauseit's an honest text.
(01:07):
It has the letters are italicif they've been added.
It doesn't make any pretenses.
It's a bit stilted, you know,because it's closer to Old
English.
It's a little formal with thethese and the thous.
Old English, it's a littleformal with the these and the
thous.
So I choose New King Jamesbecause it's the same text but
(01:38):
it's just been modernized alittle bit so that we can
understand the words andcomprehend them better.
So in the first part of theprayer Yeshua prays for himself.
It says Jesus spoke these words, lifted up his eyes to heaven
and said Father, the hour hascome.
Glorify your son, that your sonmay also glorify you, as you
(02:00):
have given him authority overall flesh, that he should have
given eternal life to as many asyou have given him and all
flesh that he should have giveneternal life to as many as you
have given him.
And this is eternal life.
That they may know you, theonly true God, and Jesus Christ,
whom you have sent.
I have glorified you on theearth.
I have finished the work whichyou have given me to do and now,
(02:21):
o Father, glorify me togetherwith yourself, with the glory
which I had with you before theworld was.
And then he prays for hisdisciples.
I have manifested your name forthe men whom you have given me
out of the world.
They were yours, you gave themto me and they have kept your
(02:43):
word.
And now they have known thatall things which you have given
me are from you, for I havegiven to them the words which
you have given me and they havereceived them and have known,
surely, that I came forth fromyou, and they have believed that
you sent me.
I pray for them.
I do not pray for the world,but for those whom you gave me,
(03:06):
for they are yours and all mineare yours and yours are mine,
and I am glorified in them.
And now I am no longer in theworld, but these are in the
world and I come to you, holyFather.
Keep through your name thosewhom you have given me, that
they may be one as we are WhileI was with them in the world
(03:46):
Verse 2.
Have my joy fulfilled inthemselves, and I have given
them your word.
And the world has hated thembecause they are not of the
world, just as I am not of theworld.
I do not pray that you shouldtake them out of the world, but
that you should keep them fromthe evil one.
They are not of the world, justas I am not of the world.
(04:13):
Sanctify them by your truth.
Your word is truth.
As you and now Jesus prays forall believers, I do not pray for
these alone, but also for thosewho will believe in me through
their word, that they all may beone, as you, father, are in me
and I in you, and they also maybe one in us.
(04:34):
That the world may believe thatyou sent me and the glory which
you gave me I have given them,that they may be one, just as we
are one, I in them and you inme.
That they may be perfect in one, and that the world may know
that you have sent me and haveloved me as you have loved me,
that have loved them as you haveloved me, father.
(04:55):
I desire that they also, whomyou gave me, may be with me
where I am, that they may alsobehold my glory, which you have
given me, for you loved mebefore the foundation of the
world.
O righteous Father, the worldhas not known you, which you
have given me, for you loved mebefore the foundation of the
world.
O righteous Father, the worldhas not known you, but I have
known you and these have knownyou, that you sent me and I have
declared to them your name andwill declare it that the love
(05:17):
with which you loved me may bein them and I in them.
Father, thank you for this wordand please open up our eyes and
our ears to hear it and see it.
In Yeshua's name, amen, thankyou.
(06:15):
And now, having read the text,we're going to talk about John
17 itself.
It is often referred to as theHigh Priestly Prayer.
It is one of the most profoundchapters in the New Testament.
It records the prayer of Jesusimmediately before his arrest,
offering deep insights into hisdesires for himself, his
immediate followers and thosewho would come to believe
(06:36):
through his message.
This chapter is divided intothree parts the prayer for
himself, the prayer for hisdisciples and the prayer for all
believers.
The context was just after hisfarewell discourse to disciples
and before his passion narrative.
He serves as a spiritual summitof John's gospel.
(06:57):
He reveals the heart of hisunity, sanctification and divine
glory amidst his impendingsuffering.
So the key themes are he praysfor his glory in return to the
Father.
Jesus begins by asking theFather to glorify him so that he
may glorify the Father,pointing to the cross as the
moment of supreme glorification.
This reflects the mutualindwelling and love of the
(07:23):
Father and the Son andunderscores the purpose of His
mission to reveal the Father'sglory, the intercession for the
disciples' sanctification andunity.
Jesus prays for the protection,joy and sanctification of His
disciples, emphasizing the Wordof God as the means of their
sanctification.
He also prays for their unity,reflecting the unity of the
Father and the Son with apurpose that the world may
(07:45):
believe in His divine missionPrayer for all believers.
Extending His prayer beyond Hisimmediate followers, he prays
for all who will believe in Himthrough them.
His prayer focuses on unityamong believers, a unity so
profound that it mirrors theunity between the Father and Son
, ultimate desire for hisfellowship with the believers.
(08:07):
He expresses his desire thatbelievers would be with him
where he is, to see his gloryand to share in the love and
fellowship of the Godhead.
And this highlights theultimate goal of salvation
eternal communication with Godand communion with God.
Here are some lessons from thisreading the Purpose and Power
(08:28):
of Divine Glory.
His request for glorificationis not for His benefit but for
the fulfillment of God'sredemptive plan, highlighting
the interconnectedness of glory,sacrifice and divine mission.
The glorification of the Sonthrough the cross and His
resurrection reveals the depthof His love and the path to
eternal life for humanity.
And unity is a reflection ofdivine relationship.
(08:52):
So Jesus prays for the unity ofHis disciples and all believers
, mirroring the unity betweenthe Father and the Son.
This unity is foundational tothe witness of the church.
It demonstrates the love andholiness of God in a divided
world.
It calls believers to seekspiritual harmony that
transcends doctrinal, culturaland personal differences.
(09:14):
Sanctification through truth.
Jesus emphasizes the role ofGod's word in the sanctification
of believers.
Sanctification, or being setapart for his purpose, involves
a deepening knowledge of truthand transformation into the mind
and likeness of Christ.
This process equips believersto navigate the world without
(09:36):
being of it embodying the valuesof his kingdom.
So some questions forreflection and discussion.
How does the promise of the HolySpirit comfort or empower you
in your own spiritual journey?
Well, with me, the promise ofthe Holy Spirit is vast.
It's everything.
Without it you're nothing.
(09:57):
There is no, you can't, you'renot a believer if you don't have
the Holy Spirit to comfort youand to guide you and to empower
you, give you courage andstrength.
It is critical that you openyour heart and mind to allow the
flow of the Spirit.
So Jesus prays not only for hisimmediate disciples but for all
(10:20):
believers.
How does knowing that you'reincluded, how does that make you
feel?
I mean, that's everything to me?
Every time I see that I saythat's us, that's us.
Yes, he prays for himself.
Jesus prays for you directly.
He says for those and for thosethat hear because of those,
(10:42):
here's some suggested prayers.
A prayer for embracing andreflecting divine glory.
Heavenly Father, we come beforeyou in awe of the glory
revealed through your Son, jesusChrist.
Teach us to understand the truenature of your glory, displayed
in love and sacrifice on thecross.
Help us to live lives thatreflect this glory, amen.
(11:02):
And a prayer for unity amongbelievers.
Lord Jesus, our High Priest,you prayed for our unity, that
we would be one, as you and theFather are one.
Instill in us a deep desire forunity with your body, the
(11:26):
Church.
Help us to overcome divisionsand to love one another,
genuinely reflecting your loveto the world.
Strengthen our bonds, that ourcollective witness may lead
others to believe in your nameand the love of the Father that
it has for us.
Amen.
Here's a prayer forsanctification, to the truth, to
the Spirit.
Holy Spirit, our guide andsanctifier, you have called us
(11:48):
to be sanctified in the truth ofGod's word.
Open our hearts and minds as weengage with scripture, allowing
your truth to transform us fromthe inside out.
Lead us in paths ofrighteousness, setting us apart
for your purposes.
Equip us to navigate thechallenges of this world,
keeping our focus on the eternalkingdom and living as lights in
the darkness.
Amen.
(12:10):
Thank you for joining me thisweek.
My prayer for you is thatyou'll find some light, some
meaning, that something in theprayer that Jesus prayed for you
, that you be one with him andthe fact that you follow his, be
obedient to him and follow hiscommands and abide in him, and
(12:31):
you'll receive the strength thatyou need from the Holy Spirit
and the comfort to live lifemore fully and victorious over
sin.
My prayer is that you'll goforward with this, yeshua.
I just pray that you would bewith every one of these
listeners, that they would betouched by your spirit and your
heart, and that they would beempowered for the week and for
(12:53):
the day In Yeshua's name, amen,until next time.
Good morning.
I'm Charles Vance and this isLiving Words Podcast.
We're in week 22 of In HisFootsteps Devotional 52 weeks in
the Gospel of John, and we'regoing to be dealing with the
High Priestly Prayer, which isprobably one of the most famous
prayers of the ages.
John 17 is the text and we'regoing to go through that prayer.
(00:24):
This is the prayer, the highpriestly prayer, that Yeshua
Jesus, messiah, king of kingsand Lord of lords, prayed the
night Before his Capture andthen the trial and the
crucifixion and resurrection.
So this is basically thebeginning of the end and he sets
(00:45):
it off with an impactful,powerful prayer that we're going
to go through.
I'm going to be reading from theNew King James.
I like the King James becauseit's an honest text.
(01:07):
It has the letters are italicif they've been added.
It doesn't make any pretenses.
It's a bit stilted, you know,because it's closer to Old
English.
It's a little formal with thethese and the thous.
Old English, it's a littleformal with the these and the
thous.
So I choose New King Jamesbecause it's the same text but
(01:38):
it's just been modernized alittle bit so that we can
understand the words andcomprehend them better.
So in the first part of theprayer Yeshua prays for himself.
It says Jesus spoke these words, lifted up his eyes to heaven
and said Father, the hour hascome.
Glorify your son, that your sonmay also glorify you, as you
(02:00):
have given him authority overall flesh, that he should have
given eternal life to as many asyou have given him and all
flesh that he should have giveneternal life to as many as you
have given him.
And this is eternal life.
That they may know you, theonly true God, and Jesus Christ,
whom you have sent.
I have glorified you on theearth.
I have finished the work whichyou have given me to do and now,
(02:21):
o Father, glorify me togetherwith yourself, with the glory
which I had with you before theworld was.
And then he prays for hisdisciples.
I have manifested your name forthe men whom you have given me
out of the world.
They were yours, you gave themto me and they have kept your
(02:43):
word.
And now they have known thatall things which you have given
me are from you, for I havegiven to them the words which
you have given me and they havereceived them and have known,
surely, that I came forth fromyou, and they have believed that
you sent me.
I pray for them.
I do not pray for the world,but for those whom you gave me,
(03:06):
for they are yours and all mineare yours and yours are mine,
and I am glorified in them.
And now I am no longer in theworld, but these are in the
world and I come to you, holyFather.
Keep through your name thosewhom you have given me, that
they may be one as we are WhileI was with them in the world
(03:46):
Verse 2.
Have my joy fulfilled inthemselves, and I have given
them your word.
And the world has hated thembecause they are not of the
world, just as I am not of theworld.
I do not pray that you shouldtake them out of the world, but
that you should keep them fromthe evil one.
They are not of the world, justas I am not of the world.
(04:13):
Sanctify them by your truth.
Your word is truth.
As you and now Jesus prays forall believers, I do not pray for
these alone, but also for thosewho will believe in me through
their word, that they all may beone, as you, father, are in me
and I in you, and they also maybe one in us.
(04:34):
That the world may believe thatyou sent me and the glory which
you gave me I have given them,that they may be one, just as we
are one, I in them and you inme.
That they may be perfect in one, and that the world may know
that you have sent me and haveloved me as you have loved me,
that have loved them as you haveloved me, father.
(04:55):
I desire that they also, whomyou gave me, may be with me
where I am, that they may alsobehold my glory, which you have
given me, for you loved mebefore the foundation of the
world.
O righteous Father, the worldhas not known you, which you
have given me, for you loved mebefore the foundation of the
world.
O righteous Father, the worldhas not known you, but I have
known you and these have knownyou, that you sent me and I have
declared to them your name andwill declare it that the love
(05:17):
with which you loved me may bein them and I in them.
Father, thank you for this wordand please open up our eyes and
our ears to hear it and see it.
In Yeshua's name, amen, thankyou.
(06:15):
And now, having read the text,we're going to talk about John
17 itself.
It is often referred to as theHigh Priestly Prayer.
It is one of the most profoundchapters in the New Testament.
It records the prayer of Jesusimmediately before his arrest,
offering deep insights into hisdesires for himself, his
immediate followers and thosewho would come to believe
(06:36):
through his message.
This chapter is divided intothree parts the prayer for
himself, the prayer for hisdisciples and the prayer for all
believers.
The context was just after hisfarewell discourse to disciples
and before his passion narrative.
He serves as a spiritual summitof John's gospel.
(06:57):
He reveals the heart of hisunity, sanctification and divine
glory amidst his impendingsuffering.
So the key themes are he praysfor his glory in return to the
Father.
Jesus begins by asking theFather to glorify him so that he
may glorify the Father,pointing to the cross as the
moment of supreme glorification.
This reflects the mutualindwelling and love of the
(07:23):
Father and the Son andunderscores the purpose of His
mission to reveal the Father'sglory, the intercession for the
disciples' sanctification andunity.
Jesus prays for the protection,joy and sanctification of His
disciples, emphasizing the Wordof God as the means of their
sanctification.
He also prays for their unity,reflecting the unity of the
Father and the Son with apurpose that the world may
(07:45):
believe in His divine missionPrayer for all believers.
Extending His prayer beyond Hisimmediate followers, he prays
for all who will believe in Himthrough them.
His prayer focuses on unityamong believers, a unity so
profound that it mirrors theunity between the Father and Son
, ultimate desire for hisfellowship with the believers.
(08:07):
He expresses his desire thatbelievers would be with him
where he is, to see his gloryand to share in the love and
fellowship of the Godhead.
And this highlights theultimate goal of salvation
eternal communication with Godand communion with God.
Here are some lessons from thisreading the Purpose and Power
(08:28):
of Divine Glory.
His request for glorificationis not for His benefit but for
the fulfillment of God'sredemptive plan, highlighting
the interconnectedness of glory,sacrifice and divine mission.
The glorification of the Sonthrough the cross and His
resurrection reveals the depthof His love and the path to
eternal life for humanity.
And unity is a reflection ofdivine relationship.
(08:52):
So Jesus prays for the unity ofHis disciples and all believers
, mirroring the unity betweenthe Father and the Son.
This unity is foundational tothe witness of the church.
It demonstrates the love andholiness of God in a divided
world.
It calls believers to seekspiritual harmony that
transcends doctrinal, culturaland personal differences.
(09:14):
Sanctification through truth.
Jesus emphasizes the role ofGod's word in the sanctification
of believers.
Sanctification, or being setapart for his purpose, involves
a deepening knowledge of truthand transformation into the mind
and likeness of Christ.
This process equips believersto navigate the world without
(09:36):
being of it embodying the valuesof his kingdom.
So some questions forreflection and discussion.
How does the promise of the HolySpirit comfort or empower you
in your own spiritual journey?
Well, with me, the promise ofthe Holy Spirit is vast.
It's everything.
Without it you're nothing.
(09:57):
There is no, you can't, you'renot a believer if you don't have
the Holy Spirit to comfort youand to guide you and to empower
you, give you courage andstrength.
It is critical that you openyour heart and mind to allow the
flow of the Spirit.
So Jesus prays not only for hisimmediate disciples but for all
(10:20):
believers.
How does knowing that you'reincluded, how does that make you
feel?
I mean, that's everything to me?
Every time I see that I saythat's us, that's us.
Yes, he prays for himself.
Jesus prays for you directly.
He says for those and for thosethat hear because of those,
(10:42):
here's some suggested prayers.
A prayer for embracing andreflecting divine glory.
Heavenly Father, we come beforeyou in awe of the glory
revealed through your Son, jesusChrist.
Teach us to understand the truenature of your glory, displayed
in love and sacrifice on thecross.
Help us to live lives thatreflect this glory, amen.
(11:02):
And a prayer for unity amongbelievers.
Lord Jesus, our High Priest,you prayed for our unity, that
we would be one, as you and theFather are one.
Instill in us a deep desire forunity with your body, the
(11:26):
Church.
Help us to overcome divisionsand to love one another,
genuinely reflecting your loveto the world.
Strengthen our bonds, that ourcollective witness may lead
others to believe in your nameand the love of the Father that
it has for us.
Amen.
Here's a prayer forsanctification, to the truth, to
the Spirit.
Holy Spirit, our guide andsanctifier, you have called us
(11:48):
to be sanctified in the truth ofGod's word.
Open our hearts and minds as weengage with scripture, allowing
your truth to transform us fromthe inside out.
Lead us in paths ofrighteousness, setting us apart
for your purposes.
Equip us to navigate thechallenges of this world,
keeping our focus on the eternalkingdom and living as lights in
the darkness.
Amen.
(12:10):
Thank you for joining me thisweek.
My prayer for you is thatyou'll find some light, some
meaning, that something in theprayer that Jesus prayed for you
, that you be one with him andthe fact that you follow his, be
obedient to him and follow hiscommands and abide in him, and
(12:31):
you'll receive the strength thatyou need from the Holy Spirit
and the comfort to live lifemore fully and victorious over
sin.
My prayer is that you'll goforward with this, yeshua.
I just pray that you would bewith every one of these
listeners, that they would betouched by your spirit and your
heart, and that they would beempowered for the week and for
(12:53):
the day In Yeshua's name, amen,until next time.
Popular Podcasts
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.