Jesus' High Priestly Prayer

What do you pray for when you’re stressed or faced with difficult situations? Strength? Relief? In times like these, most people share the deepest concerns of their hearts with God,  which is exactly what Jesus did in John 17. As his death on the cross drew near, Jesus imparted important teachings to his disciples about the kingdom of God and tried to prepare them for his coming death. He also paused to pray. Join Groundwork for our series, “Jesus' High Priestly Prayer,” and together we’ll examine Jesus’ moving prayer of intercession for his disciples and for us. His prayer will guide us through conversations on glory, unity, love, and purpose.

Discovering Jesus’ Heart

Jesus is fully human, just like us. In the Bible, when he prayed, he prayed about what was important to him, just like we do. The Bible records one of Jesus’ prayers for us in John 17. At this point in Jesus’ ministry, he knows his time on earth is coming to a close. His teachings are earnest, and he’s trying to prepare his disciples for his death. Jesus prayed this prayer before his arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, trial, and death on the cross. 

As Jesus shared the concerns of his heart with God, he prayed to be glorified. He’s praying for strength to go through what he knew was coming so that his actions would bring glory to God. Then he prayed for his disciples and all believers—including you and me. He prays for unity, for us to experience the same love the Father has for him, and for the world to know God through our lives. This is the prayer many Christians call Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer. 

What is a High Priest? 

Jesus’ prayer in John 17 is commonly called his High Priestly Prayer because in it he offers prayers of intercession. He prays on behalf of his disciples. Then he prays on behalf of all believers. In the Old Testament, this was the role of the High Priest in God’s temple. Priests filled many roles and performed many functions in ancient Israel, but the High Priest served as an intermediary between God and his people.

As Jesus prayed, he acted as an intermediary between God and his people. Later in the New Testament, the apostle Paul also made this connection regarding the work Jesus continues to do at the right hand of God on our behalf in passages like Hebrews 5:1-10. 

An Invitation

Jesus prayed his High Priestly Prayer to intercede for us, but his prayer is also an invitation to live the kind of life he desires for us: a life of unity and purpose that shares in his glory. I invite you to study Jesus’ prayer in John 17 through our Groundwork series, “Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer,” 

• When Jesus Prays - John 17:1-5
• Jesus Prays for His Disciples - John 17:6-19
• Jesus Prays for Us - John 17:20-26

...and together we’ll learn about Jesus and take comfort in the great love and care he demonstrates for us. Then we’ll discuss together what it means to live in the reality of his prayer and how we too can reflect the transformative power of God’s love to others.