Jesus Prays

This week I meet a man who did not think he wanted me to visit him. He had just been admitted to our hospice services at a fairly young age. His life included financial struggles, a divorce, addictions, and being estranged from his only son. He had been dealing with a bad heart for years and was recently discharged from the hospital to seek no further treatment. Two of our staff nurses indicated that they hoped I would be able to talk with him. He was emotional with them and yet, did not realize how critical he was. He declined my visits, but since he was in a care facility and I am obligated to do an evaluation, I prayerfully stopped to see him.

I was not prepared for how he would look and how bad his condition was. One thing I have learned is the value of being a good listener when I am visiting a patient who is not a Christian. They need to know that you care. I also did something for his benefit that was gross because of his condition. It was something he was unable to do for himself. He was obviously grateful and surprised. I also let him call his sister on my phone. There was no doubt that he was needy emotionally, financially, and spiritually.

Now that I knew he trusted me, I told him that I was not going to preach to him, but that I would shoot straight. I let him know that our nurses stated that he was a very sick man. I told him he may not have long to live. Earlier in the visit, I asked him what he thinks will happen when he dies as far as his destination. He gestured downward. I shared some simple gospel verses with him and reassured him that he was loved by God but must receive the offer of eternal life through Jesus and Him alone. I asked if there was any reason that he would not want to do that. He nodded his head negatively. The man wanted to be forgiven and go to heaven. I helped him in a basic biblical prayer of repentance. Only God knows for sure, but I trust that my new friend became my brother in Christ in that moment!

Of course, it is people like my patient and me — sinners — that caused Jesus to come to this earth. He lived, died and lives so that we might be reconciled with God and be with Him forever. As we approach John 17, Jesus transitioned from talking with his disciples to praying to His Father. He was clearly thinking about the cross and the people of the world whom God so loves.

The text says that “He looked toward heaven and prayed” (John 17:1). Christians typically close their eyes when we pray. I have known some people to peek when praying. There is only one way I could know that! I think we typically close our eyes because it allows us to block out distractions. In the intensity of the moment, Jesus gazed towards heaven. As far as we can tell, Jesus was looking into a dark sky. Chapter 18 begins with his arrest after He had finished praying. It was at night. Whether our eyes are open or closed, there is an intensity and clear purpose in prayer. We are connecting with the God of the universe.

In this situation, God the Son was praying to God the Father. As God, Jesus knew all things. He was also a man and knew what He was about to face. He would pray for Himself, His disciples, and then for all believers. Not surprisingly, our Lord prayed least for Himself. He acknowledged that it was time for Him to do what He left heaven for over 30 earth-years ago. His selfless act would glorify the Father and He too would be glorified. That would happen when, by God’s authority, Jesus would give eternal life (2). Nothing in the world could be more important for the world. Magi’s gifts pointed to the death of the God who was laid in a manger. Jesus taught about what He would do to provide everlasting life to those who would believe. These are the ones God had “given him” (2). Jesus makes clear that the gift of God is not just escape from hell and therefore walking on streets of gold. Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent (3). Eternal life and eternal blessing is found in knowing God the Father and His son. I am not sure why Jesus referred to Himself in the third person here. It may have been humility. In His sovereign knowledge, perhaps He knew that John would be writing the words of His prayer one day. Thankfully, He is the Messiah, sent from God to reconcile and redeem.

His final words in the section seem to indicate a longing for heaven and being with the Father again in the way that He was for all eternity. They also reflect that Jesus was resolved to go to the cross. I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began (4-5). Jesus would be doing no more miracles or teaching. That work was complete. Soon he would do his greatest work and say, “it is finished.”

Lawrence O. Richards states it this way: This work finished, God would lift Jesus to His presence again and give his Son the glory that “I had with you before the world began.” We live in the world now, but this world is not the end! The end for us, as for Jesus, is glory in the very presence of the Father. The word “glory” speaks literally of brightness, splendor, radiance. In the verb form it means more than “to praise or honor”; it means to “clothe in splendor.” With Jesus’ work on earth finished, He returned to the Father to be clothed again with the splendor that was His from eternity past. For Jesus, life in this world had a purpose. Christ lived to reveal and to glorify God. But this life was only a momentary experience for Christ.

It is no wonder that Jesus prayed as He did when He did. The Son of God knew what he would accomplish. I would like to think He had sinners like my new friend on His mind.