The Priestly Prayer of Jesus

SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER (YEAR C)

SCRIPTURE READING:
Acts 7:55-60.
Ps 97:1.2b.6.7c.9 (R.1a.9a)
Rev. 22:12-14.16-17.20; Accl; Jn. 14:18
Gospel Jn. 17:20-26.

Preamble:

Dear friends please repeat these words after me;
Stay with me Lord Jesus, as I give you my mind, may your word never depart from me.
Stay with me Lord Jesus, as I give you my ears, help me listen and obey your voice.
Stay with me Lord Jesus, as I give you my heart, help me welcome you always.
Holy Spirit, rekindle in me the fire of your love. Amen.

In the gospel periscope, Jesus prayed for future believers-for all those who would believe the message of the early disciples. For us today, this is so precious because it gives us confidence and reason to believe and keep our hope, our faith and love alive since we live in challenging times where the world is in great crisis.

In the past we never heard of concept as global crisis though we had tribal and ethnic wars and conflicts but today it is more of a global crisis that has trapped everyone.

Today every news broadcast gives us more information about the latest financial downturn or collapse in our country Nigeria-the dollar ranks far above the Naira, Nigeria today produces less and less barrel of crude oil, even the one we have is been vandalized, petroleum which was in abundance has now become a scarce commodity because it is rationed. Everyone in the country is affected in some way, even the wealthiest people are affect.

Today we have ongoing wars not only in Nigeria but other parts of the world which is further destroying lives and properties on the altar of selfish interests. These has caused many today to flee their country not only because of violence but also because of the economic situation especially in countries like Somalia, Uganda, Zimbabwe and other African countries and news has it that thousands and thousands of refugees are camped in Italy today.

What of the presence of evil and satanic manipulations where so many for quest of power and financial security have been swayed into practicing necromancy, witchcraft, idolatry, fetishism, sorcery, black magic, voodoo, cultism and engaging in occultic practices.

Again lack of religious freedom has made so many not to practice their faith for fear of been killed. In the midst of all these crisis, the question is does Jesus’ prayer for today’s believer hold sway since it appears that those who are perpetrators of evil are actually excelling and believers are in constant pain and torture?

What formed the content of Jesus’ prayer for future believes who as scriptures says they are not of this world but they are in the world and as they are in the world they keep going through these experiences that dampen their faith and even kill the urge to pray because these experiences are not only economical but are psychological aimed at destabilizing and creating fear in man.?

The answer for us today is that the prayer of Jesus is the solid foundation that keeps believers moving for he says in John 16:33 “in the world you would have trouble but be brave for I have overcome the world.” It is only those who are close to the Lord can actually know the secret of overcoming the crisis of our today’s world and that is why he made four petitions that would keep believers safe and sound.

Jesus prayed that believers may be one-verse 21-22.
That believers may be perfected in unity-verse 23.
That believers may be with him in glory-verse 24.
That believers testimony may be great verses 25-26.
Seeds of heaven the prayer of Jesus covered a multitude of persons infact everyone;
It was a prayer made for the weakest as well as for the strongest.
For the diseased as well as for the healthy.
For the orphan as well as for the children of the family.
For the widow and widower as well as for the couple.
For the prisoner as well as for the free.
For the believer in the darkest jungle of distress as well as for the believer who is in the limelight experiencing the good things of life.

Seeds of heaven, this is the greatest prayer ever said and we must tap into it always. It is a prayer that guarantees you abundant protection and joy as well as peace and reason to forge ahead.

It is a prayer that tells us that without unity between believers the evil in our world will keep prevailing. Evil thrives where there is division. But where there is unity, compatibility, togetherness, ofuobiness, the evil one cannot sow a seed of discord. The unity of believers formed the centrality of Jesus’ prayer.

The standard for unity is the oneness between Jesus and His father. The purpose for unity is that the world may believe that the father sent Jesus. In John 8:42; Jn 6:38; 10:36 “Jesus said to them, “If God were your father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me.”

Jesus came that men might have life and have it to the full, have it more abundantly-John 10:10.

A divided witness confuses the issue and cannot stand, just as a divided house and kingdom cannot stand. There are not many messages nor many ways to God. There is only one message and one way. In John 14:6, Jesus says “I am the way and the truth and the life. no one comes to the father except through me.”

Unity does so much for us-it helps us to be one in mind, in character and purpose and our lives are given to each other to help one another to be new creature God has made. To live as new creatures should, holy and righteous and pure. To proclaim the glorious message that God has sent His son into the world.

Another prayer point of Jesus was that believers may be with Him in glory.

The Glory of Christ is the glory of righteousness which he secured by living a perfect life-Jn. 13:31-32.
The glory of Christ is the glory of the cross. Jn. 12:23-26, 12:27-30.
The glory of Christ is the glory of the resurrection which brought victory over death and hell. Jn. 13:31-32.
The glory of Christ is the glory of the ascension and exaltation. Jn. 17:5-8.

Since believers are called to be one in mind and heart and be united they would share in the glory of Christ in this way;

The glory of the believer is the glory of righteousness which Christ gives to the believer by faith. Jn. 1:51; 13:31-32.
The glory of the cross which gives to the believer both forgiveness of sins and the privilege of serving God himself: the privilege of sacrificing all he is and has to

God in order to reach a lost ad desperate world. Jn. 12:23-26.

It is the glory of the resurrection which gives the believer a new life in Christ. Romans 6:4-5; 2Cor. 5:17.
It is the glory of living eternally in the presence of God and of being exalted to serve Him by ruling and reigning with his Son, Jesus Christ, forever. Jn. 14:2-3; Romans 8:16-17; Titus 2:12-13; 3-7.

Finally Jesus’ prayer has a striking testimony

(A.) there is the testimony of the world. The world has not known God. Jesus was the revelation of God; therefore, all who saw Jesus saw God. Yet the world rejected Him, refusing to know Him. Romans 10:3 say “Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.

(B) There was the testimony of Jesus. He knew God. He was eternal and had always existed with God. He was the Son of God himself. John 8:55 “though you do not know him, I know him, if I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and keep his word.”

(C) There is the testimony of the believer down through the centuries because of his closeness to Jesus.

(D) there is testimony of the faithfulness of Jesus. He declared and revealed God. His purpose was that men might know the love of God and have the love of God dwelling in them. Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

As Jesus prayed for you and I today- May his steadfast love abide with us in the name of Jesus.

May he turn every bitterness into joy in the name of Jesus.
May he wipe away every sorrow and give beauty for ashes in the name of Jesus.
May he anoint our heads with the oil of gladness and situate us daily in the city of great joy in the name of Jesus.
May he transform every insult made at you into seeds of great blessing in the name of Jesus.
May he position you for excellent testimony in the name of Jesus.
May he cover you with his precious blood and banish forever from your homes every blood sucking demon and agent of destruction in your life in the name of Jesus.
May he watch your going and your coming back in the name of Jesus. Amen.
May he never allow evil to prevail over you ad your household in the name of Jesus. Amen.
May he grant you territorial domination wherever you go in the name of
Jesus.