What if you could pray the way Jesus did? In John 17, often called the High Priestly Prayer, Jesus pours out His heart to God just hours before the cross. He’s not just praying for His disciples—He’s praying for you, me, and every believer who follows Him. This prayer is more than words; it’s a blueprint for how we should pray and live, with God’s mission to reach the world at the core. Jesus lived with a clear priority: the mission first, others second, Himself last. I once read a leadership book called The Mission, The Men, Me. It wasn’t Christian, but it reminded me of Jesus’ selfless approach. In John 17, He prays for us to join His mission, united as one, shining His glory to a world that needs Him. Here are seven ways John 17 teaches us to pray and live for that mission.
1. Put God’s Glory First in Prayer
In John 17:1-5, Jesus starts by praying for His Father’s glory and the fulfillment of His plan. He’s focused on what matters most—God’s purposes. When you pray, don’t just list your needs. Ask God to make His name known through your life, your family, and your community. Pray for His will to guide your decisions, aligning your heart with His mission to save people and bring honor to His name.
Try this: Begin your prayer with, “God, use me today to show others who You are.”
2. Pray for Protection and Spiritual Growth
In verses 6-19, Jesus asks God to protect His disciples from evil and to make them holy through His truth. We’re in a spiritual battle, facing temptations and pressures that can pull us away from God. Pray for protection over yourself, your loved ones, and your church. Ask God to let His Word shape you, helping you grow stronger in faith and live more like Jesus every day.
Try this: Name someone or a group (like your family or church) and pray, “Lord, keep them safe from harm and help them grow in Your truth.”
3. Pray for Unity That Stands Out
In verses 20-23, Jesus prays that all believers would be one, just as He is with the Father. He says our unity is like a billboard, showing the world that Jesus is real and God loves them. In a divided world, a church that loves each other grabs attention. Pray for your church, your Christian friends, and even believers you disagree with to be united in love, reflecting God’s heart.
Try this: Pray for a friend or your church, saying, “God, make us one so the world sees You through us.”
4. Pray to Reach the World
Here’s the heart of the mission. In verses 21 and 23, Jesus says our unity will help the world believe in Him. He’s praying for us to join His work of telling everyone about God’s love. In Acts, when the early church faced persecution, they didn’t pray for safety—they prayed for boldness to share the gospel (Acts 4:29). That’s mission-first thinking. Pray for opportunities to share your faith, whether it’s inviting someone to church, helping a neighbor, or speaking up about Jesus.
Try this: Ask God, “Who can I share Your love with this week? Give me the courage to do it.”
5. Pray with Eternity in Focus
In verses 24-26, Jesus looks to the future, when we’ll be with Him in glory. He reminds us this world isn’t our final home. Colossians 3:2 says, “Set your minds on things above.” When life feels overwhelming—whether it’s money troubles, family stress, or health issues—pray with heaven in mind. Ask God to keep your focus on His promises and to stir a longing for His presence.
Try this: Pray, “Lord, remind me of Your eternal plan and help me live for what lasts.”
6. Pray to a God Who Loves You
Jesus’ prayer in verses 25-26 is personal, full of love for the Father and for us. Prayer isn’t just a duty; it’s a conversation with a God who cares deeply. Approach Him with gratitude for His love, ask to know Him better, and pray for His love to flow through you to others. Let your prayers be real, like talking to a close friend.
Try this: Start your prayer with thanks, like, “God, thank You for loving me. Help me love others like You do.”
7. Keep Praying for Others
Throughout John 17, Jesus prays for others—His disciples, future believers, and the world. He’s showing us how to put others first. Make it a habit to pray for your church, your pastors, missionaries, and people who don’t yet know Jesus. Follow Jesus’ example of selfless prayer, lifting up those around you.
Try this: Pick one person or group each day to pray for, like, “Lord, bless my church and reach my coworker who needs You.”
Why This Matters: Jesus Prayed, So Should We
Right before the cross, Jesus looked beyond His own suffering to pray for you and me. In John 17:20-26, He asked for us to be one, united in love like He is with the Father. He gave us His glory—not to make us famous, but to transform us into reflections of His character, shining His light in a dark world. Our unity and love are a billboard to the world, shouting, “Jesus is real, and God loves you!”
Jesus lived with a mission-first mindset: God’s plan, others, then Himself. We see it in Acts when the early church, under attack, prayed for boldness, not protection. If Jesus prayed like that, how much more should we? Imagine a church where we all pray like Jesus—selflessly, boldly, for God’s glory and the world’s salvation. Imagine a community so united that people can’t help but see Jesus. That’s what He prayed for, and that’s what He’s calling us to.
Your Next Steps
Here’s how to live out Jesus’ prayer this week:
Pray for the mission. Every day, ask God to use your church and friends to reach others, unified for His glory.
Live for His glory. You’ve got Christ’s glory—His love, His mission. Show it by forgiving someone, helping a neighbor, or sharing your faith.
Look to eternity. Let Jesus’ prayer remind you that you’re headed for glory. Pray with that hope, letting it guide you through tough days.
When the world sees believers transformed by God’s Spirit, living water flows out of us, pointing others to Jesus. Let’s pray like He did and be the answer to His prayer. God gets the glory, and the world gets the gospel.
What’s one way you’ll pray differently this week?
