Jesus’ Upper Room Prayer: Praying the High Priestly Prayer Today

After Jesus’ death and burial, His disciples were experiencing feelings of deep shock and depression. Life as they knew it was completely suspended. The relationships they had invested in, the hopes and dreams they had pursued appeared to be no more. They witnessed first-hand justice by a spineless political administration and occupying authority with cooperation and encouragement from a self-serving and religious ruling class. Days earlier, the crowd had heralded Jesus’ arrival into town, but then in their fickleness, they turned and called for Jesus’ crucifixion. If you were there as a disciple, what feelings would you have had? When your dreams, hopes, and ideas of a future appear to be shattered, do you have questions for God like: “How come, why, what now, who’s next, and am I going to be okay?” Finding partnership and support in our journey with God is crucial. In moments of crisis, remembering the promises and the word of God that have been spoken into and over our lives is essential for making it through. Then, when we experience the issues of life, we are not easily thrown because we are in community and communion as we remember Jesus’ Words. Jesus intercedes for us today, joined by the Holy Spirit. Based on John 17:1-26, there are 7 petitions of the high priestly prayer that Jesus is asking His Almighty Father to grant to the ones Jesus loves: (1) Protection by the power of God’s name - verses 11 & 12; (2) Safety from the evil one - verse 15; (3) Sanctification to regard as special, consecrated –verse 17; (4) Oneness in accord with oneself – verse 21; (5) In-ness (made up word) meaning the condition in which something operates from the inside- verse 26; (6) Perfected in unity revealing God’s love working through the process in stages to reach the final phase - verse 23; (7) To be with God the Father and see the glory of the Son – verse 24. In the high priestly prayer of Jesus in John 17: 1-26, there are also three reasons identified why Jesus and the Holy Spirit pray for us: (1) Jesus loves His Father and all the things of the Father – verse 2; (2) Jesus wants us to experience the fullness of the joy of life in Jesus Christ –verse 13; (3) Jesus wants the world through us to know Jesus in His fullness – verse 18.