Musing – Which of the Lord’s prayers is really His prayer?

 Hebraic Musing – Which of the Lord’s prayers is really His prayer?

Jesus taught his disciples how they should pray in what we’ve been mistakenly calling the “Lord’s Prayer”; because it is actually the prayer that we should be praying.  ”Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come…..” Matthew 6:9 NKJV

Instead, I think John 17 should be studied and recognized as the prayer of the Lord (in red letters) when He was facing the expectation of His crucifixion.   Here are the opening 5 verses of Jesus’ prayer in John 17.  “Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.”  John 17:1-5 NKJV   Jesus was praying and pleading with His Father to recognize that He had finished the work He was to do in His time here on earth.  Jesus is claiming “Mission Accomplished!”

What was Jesus praying for in the rest of chapter 17?  Jesus was praying for His Disciples in verses 6-19.  He thanked His Father for us, His disciples, in v.6a.  “They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.” 

Jesus was also praying for perfect unity amongst us, His disciples.  “Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are.” John 17:11b   There is a whole lot more in John 17:6-19 to read and digest!  Jesus knows what we, His disciples, will be facing in the future.

In John:17:20-26 He is praying for all believers.  Is this also Jesus’ prayer for us believers today?   Let’s listen to those seven verses that Jesus prayed to the Father for us believers.   20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;  21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. 24 Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. 26 And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”

Did verse 20 refer to those of us who became believers 2,000 years later?

Jesus wanted all of us believers to be as one in verses 21-22.  How much divisiveness is there in the Christian Community between churches and denominations?

Where is Jesus in verse 24 and where does He want us to be?

How much love does Jesus expect from us in verse 26?

Points to Ponder

Are you and I disciples?  Did vs.6-19 apply to us?

Jesus prayed for our unity; so how does He feel when us Saints disrespect one another?

Does John chapter 17 need to be read slowly and carefully?

Which one is really the “Lord’s Prayer”?   Matthew 6:9-13 or John 17:1-26

“The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” John 6:63

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                             April 30, 2024
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”