Cultivating a Deeper Prayer Life - A Theology of Prayer

Study 4

Text: John 17

"JESUS SPOKE THESE WORDS…" John 17:1

If we are truly desirous of cultivating a deep and meaningful prayer-life, we could not do any better than to study the long prayer that the Apostle John recorded in his Gospel. This prayer is sometimes called "The High Priestly Prayer of Jesus." This prayer reveals how the Lord Jesus communed with His Father.

The words that Jesus used must be studied in careful and loving detail. We will be greatly benefited when we take time to ponder over each phrase. Let us engage in the study of this High Priestly Prayer of our Great Intercessor. May we be deeply moved to learn how to pray as the Lord Jesus did.

As we study the words used by the Lord Jesus, let us be challenged to think about the words that we employ in our prayers to our Father in Heaven. Let us take time to ponder the words we use in prayer. While we know that God cares much about the state of our heart, let us not think that the words we use are not important. They are!

"JESUS... LIFTED UP HIS EYES TO HEAVEN..." John 17:1

Remember how the Lord Jesus taught His Disciples to pray? He urged them to address God this way, "Our Father... in Heaven..." (Matt.6:9; Luke 11:2). Jesus sought to teach His Disciples to be conscious of God as their Father in Heaven. He Himself was most conscious of the same things He emphasized to His Disciples. When Jesus took on flesh, He submitted Himself fully as a human being to His Father in Heaven. It is significant that He prayed as He did.

1. What is the significance of the phrase, "Lifted up His eyes to Heaven..."?

When Jesus lifted His eyes to heaven, He was symbolically practising what He taught His Disciples. He was indeed conscious of who God was! He was in Heaven. (This does not mean that God was not near Him).

2. What is the significance of the word "Heaven"?

This word signifies the greatness and majesty of God. This word symbolizes the fact that God is Sovereign above all! It was to this GREAT GOD in Heaven that Jesus lifted up His eyes. This is an important consciousness that we must develop!

3. What is the significance of the focus of the Lord Jesus, when He lifted up His eyes to Heaven?

We are reminded of Psalm 121, where the Psalmist wrote about how he lifted up his eyes to the hills... and from that upward look, we learn the concept "FOCUS." When we read the phrase, "Lifted up His eyes to heaven" it suggests that He was indeed most focused on praying to His Father in Heaven. How we all need to learn how to be lots more focused in our prayers than we are. We are so often distracted when we approach God in prayer!

4. What is the significance of writing all these details down?

John wants us to know that when Jesus prayed, He prepared Himself thoroughly. There was such a sense of deliberation when He began His prayer to His Father. He composed Himself. He prepared His heart and mind. He focused His thoughts on God His Father, being in Heaven... and then He prayed! Let's prepare ourselves lots more before we pray!

"FATHER..." John 17:1

How do you approach the throne of grace? What is the first word you use when you cry out to God in prayer? For Jesus, the word, "Father…" symbolized much! How precious this word is! What a joy and privilege it is to be able to address God in this intimate way.

It was the Father who first declared Jesus as His Son...
"You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased..." (Luke 3:22).
It was the Father who declared on another occasion,
"This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him" (Luke 9:35).

Carefully, and with great love, the Son must have carefully preserved this precious relationship with His Father! Always, the Son lovingly addressed God as "Father" in prayer. John 17:1 is one typical example. Throughout the Gospel of John, Jesus' consciousness of God as "Father" was well preserved (John 4:23; 5:18; 6:32 etc).

He spoke of His Father lovingly and courageously. He introduced people to believe and relate to God as "Father in heaven." He taught the doctrine of the Fatherhood of God strenuously.

Consequently, the precious Father-Son relationship was always kept intact. The relationship between Son and Father was well maintained in deep and meaningful prayer.

CHALLENGED TO DEVELOP A DEEPER PRAYER LIFE

Let us take time to evaluate our prayer-life. Let us begin by examining our relationship with God as Father. Do we have a deep and strong consciousness of God as our Father? Do we commune with Him as Father frequently? Do we have a deep love for God as our Father in Heaven?

~ Pastor Charlie Tan ~