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Book: John
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John 17:1
I. The prayer life of Jesus. "These words spake Jesus, and lifted up His
eyes to heaven, and said, Father."
A. You almost feel that you take your shoes off when you get to
this chapter for it surely brings us into the holy of holies.
That personal, private, intimate relationship between the Son
with His Father.
B. Lukes gospel that presents Jesus to us as the Son of Man, and
shows to us the human side of Jesus, gives to us a greater
insight to the prayer life of Jesus than any other gospel.
1. It is Luke that tells us that when Jesus was baptized
by John that as He was praying, He received the gift of
the Holy Spirit.
2. Mark in chapter one tells us that "In the morning, a
great while before the day, He arose and went out into
the desert and there prayed." The day before spent in
Capernaum had been a very busy day, while He was
teaching in the synagogue He was interrupted by a demon
possessed man, He then went from the synagogue to
Peter's house where He healed Peter's mother in law,
then far into the night the crowds thronged around Him
bringing their sick and infirmed. After such a busy day
one might think that it would be good to spend an extra
hour in bed the next morning.
3. Luke 5 tells us how as the fame of Jesus spread through
the area, that it became difficult to make their way
through the villages as they were being thronged where
ever they went. Luke tells us that Jesus withdrew
Himself into a deserted place and prayed. The Greek
present perfect tense would indicate that it was a
pattern, "He was retiring in the deserted areas and
praying."
4. Luke 6 tells us that "It came to pass in these days
that He went out into the mountains to pray, and He
continued all night in prayer to God." It was the next
morning when He chose 12 of the disciples to be called
apostles.
5. Matt. tells us that after the news of the death of John
the Baptist, that He suggested that they go across the
sea to a wilderness area to rest, but as they left
Capernaum the crowds saw the direction the boat was
going, and they ran around the end of the lake and were
waiting for Him when they arrived on the other side.
Jesus when He saw the crowd was moved with compassion
toward and spent the day teaching them. Toward late
afternoon the disciples that Jesus send them away, and
He told the disciples to feed them first, it is the
time when He was to take the 5 loaves, and 2 fish and
feed the 5,000. Afterward when the crowds dispersed,
and He had sent the disciples to the other side, that
Matthew tells us that He went up into the mountain to
pray, and continued in prayer until the morning watch.
6. Luke in chapter 9 tells us that He had gone to the area
of Ceasarea Phillipi with His disciples, and it came to
pass as He was praying alone, the disciples were with
Him. The multitudes were gone, just His disciples
there.
7. The next mention of prayer comes from Luke 9 again. He
had gone up into the mount with Peter, James, and John
where He will be transfigured before these disciples,
Luke tells us that He was going up there to pray, and
that while He was praying, the fashion of His
countenance was altered."
8. Luke 10 tells us that Jesus had sent His disciples
ahead to the cities and villages where He would be
visiting. When they returned with the joyful news of
the power manifested in the name of Jesus, Jesus said,
"I thank Thee O Father, Lord of heaven, and earth, that
you have hid these things from the wise and prudent,
and have revealed them unto babes, even so, Father; for
so it seemed good in Thy sight." This makes me happy
that I am a babe. I would rather be a babe, with the
power of God working in my life, that have all the
knowledge in the world, and have to depend upon my
education.
9. Luke in chapter 11 tells us that as He was praying in a
certain place that His disciples said to Him, "Lord
teach us to pray."
10. John 11. A large number had gathered in Bethany around
the Tomb of Lazarus, for they heard that Jesus was
going to visit the tomb. As Jesus arrived He was
weeping, and the crowd thought that He was grieving as
the rest of them. Jesus lifted up His eyes, and said,
"Father, I thank You that You hear Me, and I know that
you always hear Me, but because of the multitude
standing around that I say this that they might
believe that You sent Me." After prayer He said,
"Lazarus, come forth." and Lazarus came struggling
against the grave clothes, out of the tomb. This great
power came after prayer.
11. John 12 tells us that some Greeks came to Phillip and
said they wanted to see Jesus, when Jesus was informed
of their desire, it was as though as He then looked at
the cross, and spoke of the fact that the hour had now
come, He could see the great hunger of the world for a
Savior represented by these Greeks. He said, "Now is
My soul troubled, what shall I say, Father, save Me
from this hour, but for this cause, came I into the
world, Father, glorify Thy name."
12. Luke tells us in 22, that He said to Peter, "Satan has
desired you that He might sift you like wheat, but I
have prayed for you." How would you like to hear Jesus
say to you, "I have prayed for you." "Seeing He ever
liveth to make intercession for us."
13. Before us is the next mention of Jesus praying, in
this account we get a fuller record of the words of
Jesus prayer than any of the other prayers. We find
Him praying first for the Fathers glory, second for
His disciples, and last for those who would believe on
Him through their testimony. Or for you and me.
14. The next mention of His prayer is in the Garden of
Gethsemane which was one of His favorite prayer spots
around Jerusalem. Here He was agonizing in prayer as
He was facing the horrible prospect of being separated
from the Father when the sins of the world would be
laid upon Him.
15. The rest of the mentions of the prayers of Jesus come
from the cross.
a. Luke tells us that while they were nailing His
hands to the cross, Jesus prayed, "Father
forgive them, they know not what they do.
b. After darkness covered the earth at noon, and
there were those awful hours of silence
suddenly the silence was broken by the pitiful
cry, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken
Me?"
c. Just as He was dying He again prayed, "Into
your hands I commend My Spirit.
16. His public ministry began in prayer at His baptism,
and ended in prayer on the cross.
II. Notes of prayer.
A. The place of prayer.
1. Sometimes in the wilderness.
2. Sometimes in the synagogue.
3. Sometimes alone.
4. Sometimes among the crowds.
5. Sometimes in the garden.
6. Just where He was when He offered this prayer we cannot
be sure, but somewhere between the upper room where He
had celebrated the last supper with His disciples, and
His crossing the brook Kidron on His way to the Garden
of Gethsemane. Chapter 14 ends with the words, spoken
at the dinner table, "Arise, let us go." The next
chapter begins, "Now when Jesus had spoken these words,
He went forth with His disciples over the brook Kidron
to the garden."
7. What does this tell us about prayer? That it doesn't
matter where you are, you can pray anywhere.
B. The position of prayer. "And lifted up His eyes to heaven."
1. Sometimes while sitting.
2. Sometimes while standing.
3. Sometimes while kneeling.
4. Even while being nailed to the cross.
5. In this and other accounts while lifting up His eyes
toward heaven.
6. What does this tell you about the position of prayer?
It doesn't matter the position of the physical body,
what is important is the position of your heart.
C. What does this tell you about the need of prayer.
1. If Jesus being the Son of God saw the need of prayer
before making great decisions, before eating, when
facing adversity, when His soul was troubled, when His
disciples were in danger of slipping.
2. How much more do we need to pray over all things, in
all conditions, and under every circumstance.
3. If it was necessary for Him, how much more for us.
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