Lesson 48: John 17:16-26 - The High Priestly Prayer – Jesus’ Intercession for His followers today

16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.
19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.
20 “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.
22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one,
23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.
24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
25 O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me.
26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”


Jesus finished His prayer by praying for those who would follow Him and be His disciples through this period of history which includes you and me. He calls us His Church. Read the above verses again and listen – Jesus is praying these words for you! (Substitute your name wherever you see the words they, them, their.)

Again we see the word “sanctify” in these verses – to be set apart. Jesus wants us to be different from the world around us. He wants us to give up the world’s search for pleasure so we can gain His pure joy. He wants us to give up this world’s quest for money so He can give us the riches of eternity. He wants us to give up the world’s loneliness so He can give us the fellowship of His presence (including the fellowship with other believers). He wants us to give up this world’s search for fame so He can give us the glory of being a child of God. He wants us to give up the pipe-dream of this world’s peace so He can give us everlasting peace with and in Him.

*What has God taught you in these three lessons through Jesus’ prayer for Himself, for His disciples, and for us His Church?
*What do you think it means in verse 23 when Jesus said, He is in you, and God is in Jesus?