The Gospel of John 17
It is beautifully mysterious how God can pray to Himself. Often, Jesus would leave the public behind to find a private place to pray. What kinds of things does Jesus pray for? Does he pray for himself? Does he pray for his disciples? Does he pray for us? Yes.
Weekly Memory Verse: John 17:17
“Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.”
Monday, January 30 Read John 17:1-26. What is Jesus praying for? What does he want for himself? What does he want for his disciples? What does he want for us?
Tuesday, January 31 Reread John 17:1-26. Notice how this prayer weaves together so many of the themes we have already encountered in John: glory, eternal life, the world, the word, faith, unity, truth, love, being sent. Can you find more?
Wednesday, February 1 After reviewing John 17, read Mark 14:32-42. Here again, we see Jesus praying to his Father at about the same moment in the story. How is this prayer different than the one in John 17? Why is it helpful to have both prayers recorded for us?
Thursday, February 2 After reviewing John 17, read 1 Kings 19. Elijah wanted to run away and hide. The world had become too much for him. What was God’s response? Does Jesus want his disciples and those after them to be in the world, of the world? How do we do this?
Friday, February 3 After reviewing John 17, read Ephesians 3:14–4:5. What is unity? What unifies the disciples of Jesus? Is this what Jesus was praying for? How do we injure that unity?
Saturday, February 4 After reviewing John 17, read Matthew 28. It is significant that Jesus tells his disciples to make disciples. I John 17, Jesus prays for his disciples and the disciples they would make. That means Jesus was praying for you… and the disciples you make.
Bethel Lutheran Church, St. Paul, MN – bethelstpaul.com