Jesus Prays For His Followers -There’s A Prayer For That

The Prayer Jesus Prayed for His Disciples and All Believers

John 17 is often called the High Priestly Prayer of Jesus.

In this remarkable chapter, Jesus lifts His eyes toward heaven and prays to the Father shortly before His arrest and crucifixion. He prays for Himself, for His disciples, and for all future believers who would come to faith through their testimony.

That includes us.

This prayer provides a unique glimpse into the heart of Christ and reveals what He desired for His followers. Jesus prayed for their protection, unity, joy, sanctification, and eternal relationship with God.

If you have ever wondered what Jesus desires for His people, John 17 provides the answer.

Jesus Prays for His Followers

John 17: 1-26 (KJV) These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said,

Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: 2. As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 3. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. 4. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. 5. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. 7. Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. 8. For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.

I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. 10. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.

And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. 12. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14. I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.

They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. 18. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. 19. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21. That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. 25. O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.

And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

Reflection

One of the most comforting truths in John 17 is that Jesus prayed not only for His disciples but also for future believers.

“Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word.”

Think about that for a moment.

Before going to the cross, Jesus prayed for those who would one day place their faith in Him.

He prayed for unity:

“That they all may be one.”

He prayed for protection:

“Keep them from the evil.”

He prayed for holiness:

“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”

He prayed for joy:

“That they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.”

And He prayed that believers would ultimately be with Him forever:

“Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am.”

This prayer reveals the love, care, and concern Jesus has for His people.

Even today, Christ remains our advocate and intercessor before the Father.

Closing Encouragement

Take comfort in knowing that Jesus cares deeply for His followers.

He prayed for their protection.

He prayed for their unity.

He prayed for their growth.

He prayed for their joy.

And He prayed for their eternal future.

When you feel alone, remember that the Savior who died for you also prayed for you.

Walk confidently in His truth, trust His promises, and continue to seek Him daily.

The prayer of Jesus reminds us that we are loved, protected, and called to live for His glory.

Pathway365 Insight

The most amazing part of John 17 may be this:

Jesus prayed for people who had not even been born yet.

“Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word.”

That means before the cross, before the resurrection, before the Church spread across the world, Jesus was already praying for future believers.

He was praying for us.

Few truths are more comforting than knowing that the Savior who died for us also prayed for us.

Continue Your Journey

• A PRAYER FOR HOPE
• A PRAYER FOR FORGIVENESS
• A PRAYER FOR DEVINE HELP
• A LIFE CHANGING PRAYER
• A PRAYER FOR TROUBLE
• A LIFE CHANGING PRAYER

Scriptures marked KJV are taken from the KING JAMES VERSION (KJV): KING JAMES VERSION, public domain in The United States. Pathway365 is based in the United States and is governed by its laws. Outside of the United States, you’ll need to check the copyright laws in your country before use.

Scripture quotations from The Authorized (King James) Version. Rights in the Authorized Version in the United Kingdom are vested in the Crown. Reproduced by permission of the Crown’s patentee, Cambridge University Press