The Lutheran Hour
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"Jesus Prayed for You"
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Text: John 17:20-26
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(Jesus said, Father), “My prayer is not for them (these disciples) alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message.”
Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia.
Abraham Lincoln once said, “I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go.” President Lincoln was talking about prayer.
There may be times you are convinced that prayer is primarily something we tackle as God’s people. There may be times you feel guilty about not praying enough. When you run into obstacle after obstacle or hurt after hurt, you may feel too weary to utter a word of prayer. If events in your life or in the world get too confusing, you may be at such a loss for words that you don’t even know what to pray. Prayer, too, is a gift. The invitation to converse with God is a great blessing. But it can also be a challenge.
Last fall, a movie about prayer was released in theaters around the country. It was called “War Room.” Maybe you’ve seen it. The movie focuses on the lives of a husband and wife as they encounter struggles and temptations. As their marriage is threatened, an older woman named Miss Clara enters their lives. Miss Clara begins to teach the young and troubled wife about the power of prayer. Instead of becoming disheartened, instead of harboring grudges against her husband or punishing him with complaints, the young wife is challenged to pray for him. Miss Clara reveals that she has a special prayer closet. She calls it her “war room.” She devotes hours on her knees, praying for her loved ones and for God’s gracious work to be done. Following Miss Clara’s example, the wife empties her walk-in closet and creates a war room of her own. And she begins to pray. The results are remarkable.
The movie demonstrates what Jesus’ brother James said in chapter five of his book, James, in the Bible, “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working” (James 5:16).
But before you start to jump into prayer or feel like you have a big job to accomplish, please realize where and with Whom prayer begins. Please know Who the righteous Person praying really is. You heard him in John chapter 17. Jesus said, “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word” (John 17:20). Jesus prayed for you! Jesus is the One with a war room as He pleads for you to God the Father. Jesus is the Savior Who cares about you so much that He is driven to His knees to lift you up before the Father in heaven.
To get prayer right you’ve got to get its origins right. Prayer doesn’t start with you. It starts with the Savior Who loved you so much that He gave His life for you to save you from your sins and from this world’s chaos. Prayer begins in the heart of Jesus Who pleads your case, earned your pardon, took your punishment on the cross, and sets you free from the power of sin and death through His resurrection from the dead.
The Apostle Paul made that very clear to people in Rome who were overwhelmed with the struggle of life in this world. He lets us all know that God Himself is praying for us. First, he said, “The Spirit, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words” (Romans 8:26-27).
The Holy Spirit is praying for you with groans that capture what your words cannot even express. Then Paul went on to say, “Christ Jesus is the one who died-more than that, who was raised-who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding (praying) for us” (Romans 8:34).
Did you hear that? Jesus is praying for you! He is interceding, offering prayers on your behalf to God the Father. That’s where prayer begins. And that is the Good News you hear in John, chapter 17. You get a glimpse of your Savior Who prays for you. He knows you. He understands what it’s like to live life in this difficult world. He’s been tempted. He felt grief and pain. He was ridiculed and cast aside. He knows the ravages of illness, the helplessness of poverty, and the ache of betrayal. He knows how it feels to be tired. So Jesus prays for you.
So here’s a big question. How do you need Jesus to pray for you today? Let Him know. Call out to Him. Cast your cares upon Him for He cares for you. Jesus prays for you.
Now if Jesus is praying for me, what do you think might be the number one prayer request on His prayer list for you? Is it physical health? Jesus cared a lot about healing and restoring when He walked the earth. But that wasn’t the number one concern in John 17. Could it be providing for you? Jesus fed thousands, providing wine at a wedding, and enabled His disciples to catch loads of fish. He cared a lot about provision during his time in Galilee and the surrounding area. But that’s not what He mentioned in John 17. In this intimate conversation with God the Father, Jesus got right to the heart of the matter. He zeroed in on what was most important for you and me.
Do you know what it is? Maybe you’re thinking, “I could really use a new car,” or “I’d like to be able to have children,” or “I need the pain of my past taken away.” All those things are very important. But there’s something else that is so big, it covers all of those needs too.
Let me summarize it this way: I don’t know if you’ve ever watched the reality show, “Survivor.” The show takes a group of people and it strands them on an island somewhere in the world. They have to build their shelter, find a way to make fire, and do all they can to supplement the meager rations of rice they’re given to eat. For over a month, they don’t shave, they don’t wash, they don’t look in a mirror, and they don’t communicate with any friends or family; all they do is scrape together a survival kind of life and compete in contests that slowly eliminate people from the group. The goal is to be the sole survivor and win one million dollars.
But something interesting happens as the weeks go by. Their priorities change. After weeks of not seeing any of their loved ones, the people on the island are sometimes given letters from home. At times, loved ones are brought to the island to visit them as a special reward. You should see what happens. Tough grown men break down in tears as they hug their loved ones. People are willing to give up everything just to spend a few hours with a husband, a wife, a brother, a sister, or friend. They realize that the creature comforts are not the most important things in life. Personal goals are not on top of the priority list. Even their problems and struggles don’t rank number one. What do they need? They need love-real love instead of an island of self-interested people. They need hope-hope that the end of the brutal game is near and that real life awaits them again. They need faith-faith that there is someone who cares about them unconditionally and is not just playing games with them.
That is what Jesus prays for in John 17. That is what He asks for you: that you will know God’s enduring love, that you will be filled with the certain hope of eternal life with Him, and that you will have faith in Jesus Who cares about you and will bring you through it all. Faith, hope, and love; Jesus wants this for you and He wants it for everyone. It’s what matters most in life: faith, hope, and love.
So Jesus prayed: “I do not ask for these alone, but I also ask for those who will believe in me through their word, that they all may 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. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me” (John 17:20-23).
That’s a lofty prayer. It shows Jesus’ heart for all people. He wants what is best and what is most enduring for all of us in life. If there is one thing that we should always be doing in our lives….it’s asking ourselves, “How well are we doing at reflecting the God Who really loves us….His oneness, His kindness, His grace, His truth?”
Unfortunately, that’s not often what we see reflected in our lives, is it? Recently, I got a chance to speak with David Kinnaman at one of our events for Lutheran Hour Ministries. He spoke about some things that he had discovered in his research for the book, UnChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks about Christianity… and Why It Matters. The authors asked young people about their perceptions of the church. Their findings, they challenge us.
Kinnaman and Lyons commented: “Only a small percentage of outsiders strongly believe the labels ‘respect, love, hope, and trust,’ that those labels describe Christianity. A minority of outsiders perceives Christianity as genuine and real, and something that makes sense, that’s relevant to their life” (p.27).
Now there’re many reasons why those perceptions might exist. But, the only thing we can control is how we act towards one another, towards others in His Name. In fact, when we learn to be ourselves in Christ for others, great freedom and joy is unleashed not only in our lives, but through our lives.
So, let’s admit it: sometimes our conduct may be one of the greatest obstacles to sharing faith in Jesus, the hope of eternal life and the enduring love of God with the world. But, let’s also admit that our Savior’s prayer for us is empowering, directing, and encouraging even then. We can begin again in grace to live life in Him for others!
Jesus’ prayer for us not only brings us blessings and promise today; it gives correction and direction. Let’s face it too that sometimes we disagree very poorly. Sometimes our pride gets in the way of showing love. So, keep asking, because of Jesus, how can you handle conflicts and disagreements better? How can His hope and love spring out of your most difficult encounters with others? If you don’t like someone, how can you still do what the Apostle Paul urged when he said, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3 NIV)? And in striving for that, your conduct can reflect to others the true nature of God to the world today! Why, because it reflects Jesus, the One Who loves and cares for you!
This message is being presented on Mother’s Day weekend. Happy Mother’s Day, Mom. Happy Mother’s Day to my wife. Happy Mother’s Day to all you mothers out there today. One traditional role of moms, though, has always been that of a praying referee. When it’s with siblings or friends, moms have always had to step in, to try to make peace, or try to negotiate, or try to hear each other out, prayerfully. If one of my brothers and I started calling each other names or swinging fists at each other, mom made sure we settled down and figured things out; and, of course, all the time praying to God for all of us. That’s what moms do, right?
Now, if our moms do that well, just imagine that God does the same thing perfectly. Jesus prayed for unity, but He also taught us how to get there. Do you want to get along with the people in your life? There are two things you can do to insure oneness with each other.
First, deal with issues personally. Jesus said, “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone” (Matthew 18:15). Jesus didn’t ask you to gossip. He didn’t ask you to speak poorly about your wife or your husband to your co-workers or to send a complaining email about your fellow church member to your entire address list. He didn’t ask you to write a blog. If there’s an issue, go personally and talk about it. Settle it. Be done with it and move on. Bless the other person with sincere care. Don’t be out to destroy them. Bless them. Bless your spouse. Bless your kids. Bless your parents. Bless your neighbors and co-workers. Bless people. Don’t work hard to make things hard for others. This takes courage and humility, but those are some very good characteristics to develop. Go personally. Bless people.
Second, get angry slowly. James 1:19 says, “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger.” In other words, don’t jump to conclusions. Martin Luther urged us in his explanation to the eighth commandment-God’s command not to bear false witness against our neighbor-to explain everything in the kindest way. It’s good to give people the benefit of the doubt. It’s helpful to listen carefully to others and try to fully understand what’s happening. Then, it’s good to respond slowly and mercifully. You may have to work through some of your emotions and let go of some of your feelings. You may have to hold your tongue and swallow your pride, but those are good things. You’ll foster oneness and you’ll show people God’s patience and kindness through it all. Get angry slowly.
If you work hard at oneness, you’ll show the world something very unique. Jesus said it well in His prayer: “May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me” (John 17:23 NIV).
You know, being a Christian is not being a person who is better than everybody else. If you are listening today and you have that view of believers, that’s just not who we are. We are forgiven sinners, just like you can be; people just as guilty before God as anyone else. In the hearts of believers are all the same struggles and temptations and failures that you may be feeling right now. The only difference, and it’s a big one, is that we have come to know and believe what God has done for people just like us. The miracle of being of Jesus’ Church, is that we gather to continually receive God’s grace and strive to be merciful to others when it’s not deserved, forgiving to others when it is not earned, and loving even to those who would wish us ill. Why, because that’s how God in Christ loves us now and forever. I’ve got great news for you today. Jesus prayed for you. He prayed for me.
And on this Lutheran Hour broadcast, heard by more than one million people every week, I want you to know personally that Jesus prays for you even now.
His precious gift of forgiveness and mercy comes from His unconditional love for you, a totally new start in life today, and hope for what you face every day. It’s a gift that Jesus paid for by sacrificing His life for you and by making peace with God for you. In God’s eyes, because of Him, you are perfect. In God’s heart, because of Him, you are His beloved child. That’s what Jesus wants to pour into your life, your heart, by faith. That’s what Jesus prayed for. And His prayers work.
And with His precious gifts come even more noble goals for your life and mine. Now, your life in Him, wherever you are, whatever you are doing, it’s about showing others Who God is for them too. There’s a oneness, a unity, a peace, a joy that comes in living life in Him for others each day!
Let me also say this; even if you’re a veteran follower of Jesus, today may be the time for you to remember what your faith in Jesus means and how it shapes your life too. And for those of you who may not know Him, today’s the day to be connected with the faith, hope, and love that God gives you through your Savior. What a precious gift! Especially when you know that Jesus prayed for this moment for you.
Amen.
LUTHERAN HOUR MAILBOX (Questions & Answers) for May 08, 2016
Topic: Why Are There Different Christian Denominations?ANNOUNCER: Now Pastor Gregory Seltz responds to questions. I’m Mark Eischer. Pastor, Jesus prayed that His church would be unified, so why are there so many different denominations?
SELTZ: That’s a good question, Mark. Many people want to know that answer too.
ANNOUNCER: Let’s point out at the outset that there is a difference between world religions and Christian denominations.
SELTZ: That’s important because Christianity is counted among world religions. But all forms of orthodox, creedal Christianity are distinct from all other world religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam because the Christian faith confesses Jesus Christ as the Son of God and the world’s Savior from sin and death.
ANNOUNCER: But, within the Christian Church there are denominations, church bodies, varying branches.
SELTZ: Right, so within Christianity you’ll find denominations like Lutherans, Roman Catholics, Orthodox, Methodists, etc., and these days, even more independent churches.
ANNOUNCER: Does the fact that many Christian denominations exist signal disunity within the Christian Church?
SELTZ: It can, but we have to remember, Mark, that Christian denominations generally confess the ecumenical creeds and stand together as the Christian Church on earth. We need to remember that, ultimately, the Church is defined by people who faithfully confess faith in Jesus the Christ.
ANNOUNCER: There is a “visible” aspect to the church but there is also an “invisible, hidden” aspect.
SELTZ: Exactly. The visible church is made up of people, congregations, and denominations you and I can see outwardly and they should seek to be faithful to the teachings of Jesus in all things together. The invisible, hidden church is the true church-all those who have genuine faith in Jesus and the redemption He gives by grace alone. We can’t ultimately see into people’s hearts, but God can. That’s why the true church on earth is called the invisible, hidden church to our eyes but very clear to God.
ANNOUNCER: Why then are there so many different denominations? Can’t believers get together and confess a common faith?
SELTZ: Denominations are a fact of life in this world where, even as the Apostle Paul said, we “see in a mirror dimly” and only “know in part” (1 Corinthians 13:12), but then he also says this, there are divisions among God’s people at times “in order to show who has God’s approval” (1 Cor. 11:19).
ANNOUNCER: So, it’s yes and no. Yes, we can confess a common faith; but no, there are sometimes good reasons, sometimes bad reasons when we don’t?
SELTZ: That’s about right. But more importantly, we’ve got to make sure that both our agreements and disagreements concern the vital things in the word of God! We do have common ground in the Scriptures and in the creeds, and that still allows us for some struggle with trying to work out some other things in the world and in ministry.
ANNOUNCER: I suppose that’s putting the best construction on it.
SELTZ: Well, yeah, but to be completely honest, I also know that denominations have also developed for selfish and contentious reasons and that’s not part of what God’s plan is for us. But today we’re trying to be constructive so as we wait for Jesus to return, draw all believers to Himself, Christian denominations can allow for conversation and clarity in confession.
ANNOUNCER: Say more about that.
SELTZ: The existence of Christian denominations keeps us talking about the very important truths God gives us in His Word. That’s what I mean by conversation. We need to keep talking about justification by grace through faith with no works involved in our way of salvation with God. We need to keep talking about the blessings of baptism and the power of Holy Communion. We need to discuss the Christian life; the end times, getting ready to meet Jesus and these points, and many more, are important teachings and they stay at the forefront of conversation because we have many denominations speaking about why they are so vital.
ANNOUNCER: This conversation can keep us engaged with God’s truth and it also causes us to reaffirm those teachings found in God’s Word.
SELTZ: That’s where clarity and confession come in. The existence of Christian denominations offers believers and non-believers the opportunity to contrast differing viewpoints as they search the Scriptures. That allows for clarity not only for your personal belief, but in common, public confession. And through it all, and this is key, it challenges all believers into a deeper study and dialog through the Word of God.
ANNOUNCER: How should one evaluate a denomination?
SELTZ: Read the Bible, study it carefully, and measure a church’s teachings against the clear Word of God, and speak with wise followers of Christ you know, and pray for God’s faithfulness. But above all, pray for God’s faithful guidance. And realize that ultimately all of this should point to Christ, His work, and our life in His Name!
ANNOUNCER: This has been a presentation of Lutheran Hour Ministries.
Action in Ministry for May 08, 2016
Guest: Dinh Hai AuANNOUNCER: You’re listening to The Lutheran Hour and this is “Action In Ministry.” Today we heard how Jesus prayed for His disciples and for all who would come to believe in Him through the message they shared.
SELTZ: Mark, that message is still creating faith today, even places where the work is difficult and discreet. We’re here today with Mr. Dinh Hai Au, who is the director of Lutheran Hour Ministries in Vietnam, locally known as Globalinks, and many of our listeners in the U.S. and Canada are familiar with Facebook. Dinh, how do you make use of Facebook in Vietnam?
AU: Well, first, I would like to say hello to our listeners and send our warmest greetings from Vietnam Center. I can say to the Vietnamese people, Facebook is very, very famous and popular. If you want anything to be known widely, you have to put it on Facebook. Nowadays, people in our country, especially young guys when they wake up in the morning, the first thing they do is surfing Facebook.
SELTZ: That’s pretty much like it is here. Do you have any limitations on what you’re able to place on Facebook or is it pretty open for publicizing your activities?
AU: There are some sensitive issues that we should not put on Facebook, but anything that we want to promote our Ministry Center, we can put on Facebook. So we created a fan page for our gift shop to do the local fund raising. We also created a fan page for people who like sports to be involved. Honestly, our sports ministry is very, very widely known all over the country thanks to Facebook.
SELTZ: Wow!
AU: We have been able to reach players and fans not only in the city but also in the country as well, especially the people in the south.
ANNOUNCER: And could you tell us a little bit about that sports program, and how it works, and what you do?
AU: We usually have the sports ministry event once every three or four months throughout the year and we invite teams to come to our sports event. In each team there are at least five unchurched friends who come to play with us and the others are Christians.
SELTZ: What game is it that you play?
AU: That’s called futsal; the most popular and attraction kind of sport in Vietnam at the present time. It’s kind of mini-soccer-five players per side.
ANNOUNCER: Now you also operate some human-care type ministries involving, I believe, eyeglasses and milk for school children. What can you tell us about that?
AU: Well, talking about our holistic ministries here in Vietnam, we have been working on the eyeglasses project and the milk project for the nursery schools in the rural areas. By God’s grace, He opens the new doors for us in evangelism. The nursery schools and the local government really appreciate our milk project, I can say; because we support them very often, I mean nine months of the school year here in the country. But we don’t require anything from them and so they are really curious about that. One day a principal of the nursery school came to me and asked me the reason why. I told them that it’s just because of our love to you all. God gives us the love freely and unconditionally and now we want to share this very love with the children and the parents in the nursery school and you, the teacher, as well.
SELTZ: Wow, Mr. Dinh Hai Au, thanks for being with us today.
AU: Thanks everyone for listening and God bless you all. Goodbye.
SELTZ: And that’s our Action In Ministry segment today to bless, to empower, and to strengthen your life in Christ for others.
ANNOUNCER: For more information on our ministry center in Vietnam, call 1-855-john316. That’s 1-855-564-6316. Our email address is info@lhm.org.
Music Selections for this program:
“A Mighty Fortress” arranged by Chris Bergmann. Used by permission.
“See, the Lord Ascends in Triumph” From The Concordia Organist (© 2009 Concordia Publishing House)
“Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation” From The Concordia Organist (© 2009 Concordia Publishing House)