Prayer - Jesus Prays (Part 3)

John 11:41-42 “Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.””

Jesus Lifted His eyes

Addressed the Father

Not the first prayer - He thanked for the answer before it was obvious

God hears - Always (always answers {Yes, No, Wait})

Spoken in a crowd to validate Messiahship

Wanted listeners to believe - contagious faith

When Greeks came to “see Jesus”

Networking, social contacts - Greeks -> Philip -> Andrew -> Jesus

John 12 21 “Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.””

John 12:23 “But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified.”

John 12:27-28 ““Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.””

Addressed to the Father

Soul was troubled - internal conflict - Turns to God

Does not pray to undo or circumvent God’s Will

“Father, glorify Your Name” - God’s Glory is the ultimate end of all things.

The Father answers - it is the third time in an audible voice

At Baptism

At Transfiguration “don’t tell”

Now - Jesus speaks of the cross “the hour is come”

It is public, His first petition, not praise, or thanksgiving

The Fathers voice was evangelical (not to comfort Jesus, but to draw people to crucified Messiah)

At the Last Passover

Mt 26:26-29 “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.””

Mk 14:22-25 “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. And He said to them, “This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many. Assuredly, I say to you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.””

Lk 22:14-20 “When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. Then He said to them, “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.”

Solemn

Institutes Lord’s Supper

In Remembrance

1 Cor 11:24-26 “and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.”

During conversation at meal

Payer for Peter at Last Meal

Lk 22:31-32 “And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.””

Satan has asked for you Job 1:9-10 “So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.”

1 Pe 1:7 “that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,”

Sift - σινιάζω to winnow, to separate, to sieve

The Comfort - “I have prayed for you” for περί a preposition - spatial - “around” As an Advocate - Jesus never lost a case 1 Jn 2:1 “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”

Jesus talks to Peter about previous prayer and conflict

Jesus sensed the need to pray - He knew the warfare

Request of prayer - That Peters’ faith would not fail (not that he would not be sifted) ἐκλείπω - cease, run out, fail, die out

Jesus’ prayer guarantees Peters security, calling, mission Ro 11:29 “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”

Jesus’ prayer was intercession on behalf of Peter

Prayer for Future Indwelling of the Holy Spirit

John 14:16-17 “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.”

Addressed to the Father

He will give another Comforter

A forever dwelling together with Him (Eternal Security)

Holy Spirit will now indwell believers - We are the temple 1 Cor 6:19 “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?”

A Second Comforter - Divine Communion

Holy Spirit function in prayer

Jude 20 “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,”

Rom 8:26 “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

Eph 6:18 “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—”

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