The Gospel of John 17:1-19

Pastor Brian discusses the first two sections of Jesus’ longest recorded prayer in which he prayed for himself and for his disciples. While Jesus was in the world, he was both fully God and fully human and submitted himself to God the Father. He prayed regularly to the Father about the struggles, hardship, and pain here. Jesus is clear that he came to rescue people in the world, take them out of the world to be sanctified through his work on the cross, and place them back into the world on mission to share the message of his grace. Living in the world as rescued and redeemed Jesus followers is difficult. This is our occupational hazard. Jesus did not pray for his followers’ separation from the world but rather for protection during engagement and battles with worldly systems. The world needs Jesus followers!