1. With reference to Himself

a) His life's work (Fulfilling His Father's will of proclaiming His Father's Name)

b) His relationship with His Father (Endeavouring always to glorify His Father's Name)

2. With reference to Intercession for His Disciples

a) The need for intercession

b) Note other references in the Scripture concerning the Lord's prayer ministry (Luke 5:16; 10:21-22; 11:2-4, etc)

POINTS OF INTERCESSION

1. The Lord Jesus thought of His disciples as people whom His Father had given Him. "They were Yours, You gave them to Me" (John 17:6)

2. "They are Yours" John 17:7 (Cf. Exodus 33:13, "Consider that this nation is Your people"). Intercession with reference to relationship with God. A very deep concept!

3. Intercession with reference to knowledge of God. "Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from you" (John 17:7, 14). See how Paul prayed for the Ephesians concerning "knowledge of God" (Eph 1:17-18).

4. Intercession with reference to "faith" or "belief." "I have given to them the words which You have given Me, and they have received them, and have known surely that I came from You, and they have believed that You sent Me" (John 17:7-8).

5. Intercession as an ever-present, and continuing ministry, "I Pray for Them" (John 17:9). See how Paul would mention that he prayed for his friends constantly (Phil. 1:3-4; Eph 1:16; 1 Cor 1:4, etc).

6. Intercession with reference to being glorified in His disciples. "I am glorified in them" (John 17:10). Cf. "Created for Glory" (Isa 43:7); "You are My servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified" (Isa 49:3).

7. Intercession with reference to being protected by the Lord. "Holy Father, keep through Your Name..." (John 17:11, 12). Note Peter's words, "Kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time" (1 Peter 1:5)

a) Protected from the world John 17:14-15

b) Protected from the evil one John 17:15

8. Intercession with reference to unity. "That they may be one as We are" (John 17:11)

9. Intercession with reference to God-given joy. "That they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves" (John 17:13).

10 Intercession with reference to the Mission of all disciples. "As You have sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world" (John 17:18).

1. It requires deep, spiritual maturity.

2. It requires much effort and energy. It requires "faith working through love" (Gal 5:16).

a) Faith that our intercession counts.

b) Love that moves our hearts to pray.

3. It requires much discipline.

a) Setting aside time to pray regularly.

b) Being able to enter into intercessory prayer meaningfully.

4. It requires much experience.

5. It absorbs much of a person's life.

6. It is however not practised in isolation

a) The Lord prayed and He also taught His disciples all that He needed to teach them.

b) The Lord fulfilled all that was His to fulfil, even as He prayed for them.