The High Priestly Prayer: How Jesus’ Words Help Us Pray
June 20th, 2023 • by Judy Dunagan
As a fairly new grandmother of five young grandkids (they call me Momo), I can tend to be anxious when I hear that one of them is sick. My mind often escalates to the worst-case scenario when I hear they have high fevers, ear infections, or chronic coughs.
I used to run to “Dr. Google,” thinking I could better pray for them if I knew what their symptoms could lead to. But that only led to more anxiety and worry. Instead, I’ve learned that running to God’s Word and praying his truths over my loved ones calms my anxious heart and helps me fix my eyes on Jesus.
This makes me think of John 13. We can only imagine how heavy our Savior’s heart must have been as he washed his beloved disciples’ feet, knowing within a few hours he would be dying on a cross for them . . . and for us. He knew they would desert him at his darkest hour, and yet, he chose to pray for them . . . and for us.
That powerful prayer—called the High Priestly prayer of Jesus—is found in John 17. I’m so grateful that we can apply that same prayer to our own lives today. In verse 20, Jesus prayed, “I do not ask for these [his disciples] only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word.” That’s us today, my friends.
“When we pray Scripture, instead of being burdened by a heart full of fear, we can find peace. Instead of a mind full of doubts or lies, we discover truth. ”
Unpacking the Prayer of Jesus in John 17
Read John 17:11–17 and see how you can apply the prayer of Jesus over whatever is troubling your own heart today.
“And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”
Perhaps you have a burden for a prodigal child and are groaning in prayer for them. Or, perhaps you long to be a prayer warrior for your children, grandchildren, niece or nephew, or students in your classroom, but don’t know how to pray for them. Let’s unpack this prayer of Jesus in John 17 to see how we can pray these same prayer requests for our own loved ones today:
Keep them in your name. (v. 11)
In the NIV, this verse says, “protect them by the power of your name.” In a world filled with so much turmoil and fear, isn’t it comforting to know that we can ask God to “keep/protect” our loved ones by the power of his mighty name? You can pray these words every day over them. Pray that they will be protected from the pull and lies of this world and from temptation to sin.
Have my joy fulfilled in them. (v. 13)
God’s Word often talks about the joy of Jesus even in the midst of all he endured while walking this groaning earth. In Hebrews 12:2, it says that Jesus “who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” We can pray for ourselves and for our loved ones that we will all have the fullness of his joy—no matter what circumstances we are facing—because he is always with us.
Keep them from the evil one. (v. 15)
In Ephesians 6:10–18, we are warned about the “schemes of the devil” against us as believers in Christ. There, we find the armor of God’s protection spelled out, and we see that our mighty weapons are God’s Word, the sword of the Spirit (v. 17), and prayer (v. 18). Praying God’s Word is like combining those two powerful weapons together against the enemy and all of his attacks on us and our loved ones. When we pray Scripture, instead of being burdened by a heart full of fear, we can find peace. Instead of a mind full of doubts or lies, we discover truth. Just as Jesus prayed for his disciples to be protected from the evil one, we can pray the same for those dear to us.
Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. (v. 17)
A helpful definition of “sanctify” is to be “set apart for a sacred purpose (consecrate), free from sin (purify).” We can pray for future generations to be set apart for the sacred purposes God has for their lives.
“Just as Jesus prayed for his disciples to be protected from the evil one, we can pray the same for those dear to us. ”
Praying Pattern from John 17
Friends, how wonderful to know that we can turn all of those prayer requests Jesus had for his disciples into a prayer for a loved one today. I encourage you to use the following prayer pattern as an example to pray for someone you are burdened for right now:
Dear Lord,
Thank you for the prayer you prayed over your beloved disciples right before you died for them and for me. And thank you that I can pray those same things over *name of loved one* today.
I pray that you will keep them in your name. Protect from the lies of this world and the temptations that will come at them. May they discover that you are their stronghold and deliverer.
Even in the midst of this battle, may they have your joy fulfilled in them. A joy that can cover them no matter what they are going through because you are with them. And may I find that same joy as I carry this burden of prayer for them.
I “do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep from the evil one.” Your Word tells us that the enemy is like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. But thankfully, you are the bigger lion with the loudest roar. You are the Lion of Judah who has won the ultimate victory over sin and death and the evil one. Because of your shed blood and your resurrection, I stand in the victory you have already won for us. And I claim that victory for ’s life today!
Thank you for your Word, the sword of the Spirit, that is our mighty weapon. Thank you that I can pray the truth of your Word for my family. I ask that you sanctify in the truth; your Word is truth. Please set them apart for the purposes you have for their life. May they choose your truth over the lies they are believing. May they discover a desperate love for your Word and dwell in it to counter those lies with the truth of your Word.
Thank you that you love even more than I do. I pray all of this for them in the mighty name and power of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Judy Dunagan is the author of The Loudest Roar: Living in the Unshakable Victory of Christ. A wonder seeker of God and His Word, Judy is passionate about discipleship and making God’s Word and prayer come alive in everyday life. She is an Acquisitions Editor of women’s Bible studies and books at Moody Publishers. You can subscribe to Judy’s website at judydunagan.com for a free downloadable resource “The Power of Praying Scripture.” Judy and her husband, Rick, live in Colorado and are the joyful grandparents of five grandchildren. Connect at: judydunagan.com.
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