The Lord’s Prayer, Part 2: Jesus' Intercessory Heart Revealed

Based on Scott Mitchell's Bible lesson “The Lord’s Prayer, Part 2 – Jesus’ True Intercessory Prayer

Jesus Prayed for Us

The night before His crucifixion, Jesus Christ offered a prayer not centered on Himself—but on us. In what should rightly be called the true Lord’s Prayer, found in John 17, we see a deeply intercessory plea that reveals the spiritual legacy Christ intended for His followers. This second installment of our series on the Lord’s Prayer uncovers profound theological truths about sanctification, unity, and the mission believers are called to fulfill in a world that is not their home.

Sanctified Through Truth

Jesus did not ask the Father to remove His disciples from the world but to sanctify them in it. “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (John 17:17). This act of sanctification—hagiadzo in the Greek—means to be set apart, wholly devoted to God’s purposes. It is not a progressive journey, but a positional reality bestowed through the Word of God.

As followers of Christ, we are not of this world, just as He is not. Yet we are sent into it with a divine mandate. Paul affirms this in 1 Corinthians 6, where he reminds believers that they are washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

Called to Unity in Christ

Jesus’ prayer turns to the body of believers—those present with Him and those yet to come. “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee” (John 17:21). This unity is not organizational but spiritual. It transcends denomination and culture, forming one flock under one Shepherd.

Scripture makes it clear: there is one church, one faith, one Lord. This unity mirrors the relationship between the Father and the Son—an inseparable bond rooted in divine love and purpose. Paul reinforces this in Ephesians, describing the church as a body, fitly joined together under the headship of Christ.

Vessels of the Gospel

In this sacred prayer, Jesus does not isolate His disciples from the challenges of the world; He empowers them to overcome it through truth and to carry His Gospel. We are described as earthen vessels—frail, yet filled with the treasure of the Gospel (2 Corinthians 4:7). The glory of Christ shines through our weakness, proclaiming the power and mercy of God.

Our lives are not merely reflections of a belief system—they are instruments of divine truth. Jesus prayed not only for protection but for proclamation—that His followers would declare the truth boldly, living testimonies of the Word made flesh.

Love and Glory Shared

Christ’s petition culminates in a call for believers to be with Him and to share in His glory. “And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them” (John 17:22). This glory is not reserved for the end of days; it is experienced now through the glorious Gospel that shines as His light in us. It will be fully realized at His return when we are united with Him in perfect fellowship.

The love with which the Father loved the Son is the same love that now resides in us. This is not theoretical. It is the defining mark of authentic faith. “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35).

A Prayer That Includes You

Jesus prayed for you. If you are a believer in Christ, your name was in His heart that night in Gethsemane. He asked the Father to sanctify you, unify you with fellow believers, and send you forth as a light-bearer of His truth. This is not a passive identity—it is a divine commission.

The Lord’s prayer was not merely an instruction; it was a revelation. It unveils the heart of our Savior, His love for the Church, and His expectation that we live set apart, in unity, proclaiming the Gospel until He comes.

Final Thoughts

This message invites personal reflection: Are you living as one who has been prayed for by Christ Himself? Have you received the truth that sanctifies and unites? Are you proclaiming the Gospel with the authority given through the Son?

To hear the full teaching and go deeper into John 17, we invite you to listen to this episode of Unlock the Bible Now. Brother Scott Mitchell continues to explore how this prayer is not just history—it’s your heritage.

Watch the The Lord’s Prayer, Part 2 – Jesus’ True Intercessory Prayer