ARTICLE – 13 November 2016
On the day before Jesus was crucified, He spent His precious time with His close disciples. It was just before the Annual Passover Festival. He had spent three and a half years with them. He knew them intimately and they were precious to Him. Jesus was going to leave them soon and He said to them: “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God” (Luke 22:15). Jesus then instituted the Lord’s Supper for the disciples and subsequent followers to obey. He also washed the disciples’ feet, setting an example of servanthood for them to follow in their service to the people of God, the Church. Jesus then continued with His words of reassurance to the disciples. Although, very soon, He would no longer be with them, He promised that the Holy Spirit would come and reside in them. This happened at Pentecost.
As an appropriate conclusion to all that was said, Jesus prayed for the disciples. It was one of bringing comfort and hope to the troubled hearts of the disciples. Jesus’ prayer was meant not only for the disciples present with him then but also for the other current disciples and also on to future generations of millions of disciples including all of today. Jesus’ prayer in John 17 was the longest recorded prayer of Jesus. “After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you” (John 17:1).
While we are not specifically told so, this prayer must have had a tremendous impact on the hearts of the disciples. We can assume, since this prayer had been preserved for us, that it was intended to bring peace and assurance to our troubled hearts. If we believe in the One who prayed it and in the sufficiency of His work at Calvary, why do we need to worry. The Lord Jesus continues His ministry of intercession for the Christians through the generation on to us today. “Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died – more than that, who was raised to life–is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us” (Romans 8:34). On our part we can simply believe in Jesus for His finished work and sing this simple song:
Precious Lord, take my hand,
Lead me on, let me stand,
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn;
Through the storm, through the night,
Lead me on to the light…
