Late in my life I learned that many of the changes in my heart had happened because (unknown to me) my faithful wife had been praying for me. In my sixties I also learned that my faithful great aunt and great grandmother had consistently prayed for my salvation for years before I gave my life to the Savior. It’s heart-warming to know that someone is, or has been interceding for us without us even knowing it. Well Jesus Himself does that!
We learn that Jesus had been interceding for Simon Peter:
“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:31–32)
Without his prior knowledge of Satan’s coming attack, Jesus had already begun praying for Simon. (What a great model for praying on behalf of our children for things they don’t yet understand that they will one day face.)
But did you know that Jesus Himself has been doing that for you?
Paul says, “. . . Christ Jesus is the one . . .who indeed is interceding for us. (Romans 8:34)
And Hebrews tells us that Jesus “always lives to make intercession” for us.(Heb 7:25)
So we naturally ask: “What sorts of things is Jesus asking on our behalf?” And John chapter seventeen gives us the answer.
In this passage, on the very night of his betrayal, Jesus is praying to the Father in the presence of the twelve. In His prayer Jesus refers to his disciples as He says to His Father:
I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. (John 17:9)
So what does He pray for them? Here’s a summary:
- That they would be kept in the Father’s name (vs. 11)
- That they may one, even as the Father and the Son are one (vss. 11, )
- That they may be guarded and kept from the evil one (vss. 12, 15)
- That Jesus own joy may be fulfilled in them (vs. 13)
- That they may be made holy by his word (vs. 17,18)
- That they may be with him one day, and delight in his eternal glory (vs. 24)
What a list! Jesus prayed all that for the men whom he hand-picked to be with Him and then sent into the world as His witnesses.
That’s great for the twelve apostles, but what about us peons? Well here’s the corker. In that same prayer Jesus said explicitly that he was also praying that for us:
“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,” (John 17:20)
Do you get that? If you believe in Him through their word, then He’s praying those same kinds of things for you! Why? Because “He always lives to make intercession!”
What a great relief it is to know that I’m not on my own! Of course, Jesus wants me to pray for good and important things for my spiritual well-being and that of others. But He loves us so much that he is constantly asking the Father for the things that we need whether we have thought to ask them or whether we are even aware of the challenges and dangers that are just around the corner. He did that for Peter. He did that for the twelve. And He does that for all of us who believe in him through their word.
Amazing! The Son of God is interceding for you and for me. . .right now. . .asking for things that we are not wise enough or consistent enough to ask for ourselves.
See how much He loves us!