Jesus was one part of the triad of God. It is beyond comprehension how there are three separate
entities, but they are one. They all have different aspects of being God, but they work together as one. When you are able to accept that, then read the scripture. It brings it to life in a whole new way.
The thing that catches my attention most is that Jesus is God in a human body. He is part of the triad and he still prayed. If Jesus prayed to his father, Abba, then that means that we really need to be praying. It is more than worship. Prayer is a conversation. It is being open and vulnerable. It is pouring your heart out to God and listening to what He has to say in response.
Jesus prayed for God's glory because the hour had come. He was headed toward danger, not away. He had time to flee. He had the choice to change the outcome. He could still be the victorious king that the people expected. However, Jesus chose to stayed his course. He came into the world as a human for the glory of God. He was going to make sure that it happened no matter how hard it may be for him personally.
Jesus' prayer gave him strength to do what he needed to do to give us sinners the opportunity for salvation. Jesus was with God before the world was created. He saw all that people had done for all of time. He was not ignorant of the fact that we are not worthy of this gift, but he gave it anyway. His authority over life and death was never in question. Jesus' sacrifice was always destined. He needed to not look at his own life, but God's glory. It was about changing his focus.
Next, Jesus prayed for protection over his disciples because they were his gift while on earth. He loved them and knew what they had to face once he was gone. In a way, he had been preparing them for a very difficult life and martyrdom for some. Jesus wanted them to have strength too. Their lives were meant to glorify him and that doesn't always come easily. A true follower of Jesus is willing to walk into death to bring God the glory. However, that is not all there is. There is unimaginable joy and peace, but that is secured in the prayer of protection.
What his disciples did not realize was just how much Jesus had been protecting him. He is still protecting his followers, but we all die one day. Death might as well have a purpose. None of his disciples had been lost while Jesus was alive except for Judas, but that was due to his own choices. He walked out of Jesus' protection. Jesus knew the 11 would be hated because he was hated. He did not desire that, but sometime that is what is required to have real change.
The scripture was fulfilled through Jesus. It became complete. Jesus understood this, so his prayer for the joy of his apostles. He prayed sanctification of the truth by the Word. He wanted their eyes open, but that couldn't really happen until after the resurrection. He wanted them to have full lives.
Jesus ended his sequence of prayers by praying for us (all who came after his resurrection). He prayed over the followers that would come over the years after his ascension. He did not want us to feel alone. He gave his glory to us to unite us. Through salvation we are united with Jesus through life and death. He wanted us to understand His glory to the point that we know that he is still with us and loves us. We all need reassurance or confidence. He prayed over salvation because it is more than concepts or knowledge. It is a real relationship with him.
Jesus fulfilled every prophecy made about him. He did not miss one. This was done to make God known to the world. His life also taught us how to live, love, and pray. He prayed for himself to be able to do what he needed to do. He prayed over ministry. It was an intercessory prayer on behalf of his apostles. He prayed over people when they didn't realize that they needed prayer. Then Jesus prayed over the future and what would come. He was concerned for us all, so he wanted us to have unity and never feel alone.
John 17
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