NT Fire Starters – Day 153: John 17:1-26
READ: John 17:1-26
THINK: If you were preparing to leave your closest loved ones and about to face the toughest time of your life, do you think you might have some parting words? And wouldn’t those words certainly convey your deepest affections and desires–the things you most want them to remember? This passage essentially conveys that sort of message. Jesus knew He was about to be arrested, tried and executed, and here we read how He prayed for His followers– including you–as He faced His final hours. In this prayer, Jesus expresses some of His most intense longings for you, including His desire for you to know God in a deeper way and the necessity of being in unity with other believers.
RESPOND: What can you tell about Jesus’ deepest desires for His followers from His prayer in this passage? (See 17:1 note.) According to John 17:3, what is the essence of Christ’s gift of eternal life? (See 17:3 note.) When and how does this life begin? What does eternal life mean to you in the present? What does it mean for you in the future? To whom does Jesus’ prayer of protection apply? (See 17:6 note.) In what way are you, as Jesus’ follower, “not of the world” (vv. 14, 16)? What does it mean for God to “sanctify” Jesus’ followers? (See 17:17 note.) How does that affect your relationship with God, His Word, and the world? What role does Jesus’ sacrifice play in this ongoing process in your life? (See 17:19 note.) How do you know that Jesus’ prayer in this passage applies to you (v. 20)? The most frequent request in Jesus’ prayer is for His followers to “be one” as He and His Father are (vv. 11, 21-23). (See 17:21 note.) What type of unity is Jesus referring to, and why is this so important among Christ’s followers? Does this mean that Christians should agree on everything? Why or why not? In what way does Christian unity validate the message of Jesus? How can disunity among Christians affect those within the church and those outside the church?
PRAY: Thank Jesus for His gift of eternal life–the opportunity to have a personal and eternal relationship with God. Commit to taking full advantage of this gift by getting to know Jesus more deeply through God’s Word, prayer and faithful living. Pray for unity among Christians and ask Jesus to help you never be the source of unnecessary division.
ACT: Throughout the day, practice praying in a constant and conversational way. Much of this will be silent, and most of your attention will be rightly focused on listening for God’s direction and not simply talking. This will help you develop a deeper, more consistent relationship with God. In addition, if you have unsettled differences with other Christians, fulfill Jesus’ desire and restore unity to these relationships by asking for and extending forgiveness.