Psalm 21:1–7, John 17:1–11 and Ephesians: 1:15–23
Some Christians like the expression that they received an answer from God through prayer. In that case, can I receive an answer from God every time I pray? In fact, all prayers are answered. It may be answered according to my will, according to God’s will, or neither. If so, would one be happy if one’s prayers were always answered? Conversely, would life be unhappy just because things don’t go my way? There are times in our lives when we face results that do not go according to our prayers, but for which we are even more grateful. I am very happy these days because the prayers from 20 years ago and 10 years ago have not been answered. At that time, my prayer did not include ministry in Canada. But I am very thankful to God right now.
Here, through Jesus’ prayer, we can see the various aspects of prayer and answer. In John 17, through Jesus’ prayer, we witness prayer in a situation that goes beyond my hopes and plans. Right now, Jesus is in a situation where things are not going according to his will and plans, on the path of the cross. What thoughts did Jesus have at that time before ascending to heaven? He must have had various complex thoughts and worries. However, Jesus faithfully carried out God’s work. We can understand this well through verses 4 and 6. “4 I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. 6 “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me, and they have obeyed your word.” Jesus prays to God. I have completed the things my father told me to do. I have glorified the Father’s name on this earth, and I have revealed You. Those who believe in God have been left on this earth. I proclaimed God to them and taught the gospel.
However, the mysterious thing is the fact that Jesus’ prayer changes. As we now know, the situation Jesus faced was challenging. With the omnipotence received from God, Jesus has performed countless miracles to this day. However, from now on, Jesus must do the exact opposite and lay down all his divine power. He can strike the evil forces threatening Him with lightning and blow them away with a windstorm. However, he is well aware that this deviates from God’s will and plan. He has the ability, but he is in a situation where he must not use it. In a very difficult situation, Jesus still prays to God. In verse 5, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.
Jesus, who must be placed in the most dishonourable situation through death on the cross, asks God: “Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory.” However, the prayer directed toward Jesus himself changes direction to a prayer for his disciples. These are verses 9 and 11. “9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you.” Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. I want to cry every time I read this prayer. This is because Jesus’ prayer very clearly reveals His heart toward His disciples. Jesus said, “I pray for them. I can no longer be with them in the world. But God, please protect them and make them one, just as we are.” In this prayer, you can read Jesus’ love, concern, and various complex emotions. Perhaps Jesus predicted that after the crucifixion and resurrection, Christians and the church would be persecuted, scattered, and sometimes repeatedly divided through conflict. However, the key point is that Jesus’ prayer shifted toward conforming to God’s will and prioritizing others over oneself. Through this, we learn the lesson of discerning God’s will before our own plans.
The same is true of Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians. Intercessory prayer for others has power. This is because it is what God has commanded and requested. At that time, the believers received valuable teachings from the Apostle Paul for three years. However, immigrants from various regions of Türkiye had weak roots in faith. They were easily deceived by heretics. People who were knowledgeable and faithful lacked the heart to embrace beginners. So they were busy condemning one another, and the church lost its love and passion for God. It was at this time that the Apostle Paul wrote a letter while praying in prison.
Through this prayer, we can see that the Apostle Paul introduces Jesus to the believers and teaches about the church community. Paul prays that the believers will receive the spirit of wisdom and revelation and know the hope of God who calls them. He also proclaims to Christians who have just come to know Jesus that He is truly the Son of God. He continued to pray that the eyes of their hearts would be opened and that they would understand and know this so that they could accept it with faith. So he explains that Jesus is the head of the church God established for the people of this earth, and that the church is His body. Through Paul’s prayer, we come to know that Jesus is everything in our lives. This is because He gave us everything, and when we know Him, we can enjoy fullness.
Beloved, I would like to recommend this one thing through the prayers of Jesus and Paul. I hope that we become people who look beyond our circumstances and environment to God’s will and plan, whether or not our prayers are fulfilled. I pray that this week will be a time when we earnestly pray for our families and neighbours around us, just as Jesus and Paul did. Amen.