I find it so very precious that Jesus, the Son of God, and part of the triune God, prays for you and me.

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, [21] that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. John 17:20-21

In John 17 we have Jesus’ prayer for His disciples, both for the ones with Him then and all that will come to Him in the future. John 17 is often titled the disciples’ prayer and gives many insights on how Jesus prays for us while we live in this world. Jesus prays for us to be one or have unity. He desires believers to be one just as Christ and the Father are one.

Disunity in relationships has often been an area in my own life and also in many believers that I have known; whether family of origin, in-laws, friends, church members, or even in their own marriages. By Jesus’ example, praying for unity seems to be something we should often include in our prayers for both our own lives and for other believers that Jesus brings into our lives.

Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Romans 8:34

Jesus is at the right hand of God interceding for us. Webster’s dictionary definition of intercede is prayer, petition, or entreaty in favor of another. It is so encouraging to know Jesus is praying and making petition for each of us. As believers, we know He is pleading His sacrificial blood to cover all of our sins. “There is now no more condemnation for those in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). When God the Father looks at us, He sees Christ and His Righteousness – Wow!!

I know I struggled for many years with the concept of there is no condemnation when I blow it, even when I confess my sins (I John 1:9). I grew up in a family where failings and sins are never forgotten but brought up and used as a weapon years and years later. I have known many other women who struggled in this area too. Reading and meditating about Jesus making intercession for us has helped me to better grasp His stedfast love, mercy and forgiveness.

Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. Hebrews 7:25

Jesus always lives to make intercession for us. Praying for us constantly is what he lives to do. Another way is to say this is, the resurrected Christ’s life goal is to always pray or intercede for us. What a comfort! Jesus Christ knows our hearts, our secret thoughts, our sins and failures, yet He still pleads our cases before the Father.

He can save to the uttermost. There is no sin is too great to keep anyone from His forgiveness. I have known young Christians from really rough backgrounds who while desiring to follow Jesus, feel that their past is too sinful, too awful and beyond what God even can forgive. Yet the Bible shows us examples of people like Mary Magdalene and Rahab the prostitute who became God followers and experienced His great forgiveness and mercy.

The other thought that came to me while pondering these verses was how great of a focus do I /we give to prayer? The Bible tells us to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). “Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints” ( Ephesians 6:18) This verse is included at the end of the Armor of God passage. I heard a pastor once teach about “all prayer” being a powerful part of the armor of God.

Do I spend significant time in prayer on a daily basis?

Am I regularly praying for the shared requests as well as unity in the life for those Christ brings across my path?

I am so very grateful Jesus is our Great High Priest who is always praying and making intercession for us!

Praying for us all to grow in prayer,

Blessings,

Deb

Dig Deeper:

Take time in the Bible to look up all the scriptures about Jesus praying and notice how He prays, what He prays for, when He prays and where He prays. Be open to the Holy Spirit revealing ways to change or improve your own prayer life based on Jesus Christ’s example.