The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1943-03-19
OUR LORDS INTERCESSORY
PRAYER

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LESSON TEXT-John 17:1.8. 1928.
GOLDEN TEXT - Holy Father. keep
through thine own name those whom thou
hast given me-. that they may be one. a. we
are."-John l7:11. R ii tll
There are some times and places
so sacred that one Is instinctively
hushed into reverent devotion. When
Christ prayed in holy intercession Gas
recorded In John ~ on the night
before His suffering His disciples
must have been lifted into the very
presence Of the Eternal One. It was
a holy experience.
He prayed for Himself, but even
more did He pray for His believing
followers. To know that someone
is praying for us is indeed an anchor
in a time Of storm, a strong help
in the hour of conflict or OF service
for Christ.
But to know that the Master
prayed for you and me-that is
enough to send us, like the disciples
of old, out to face an unbelieving
world in His conquering name. He
prayed for Himself-and He prayed
for me! -. s'-@-
1. He Prayed for Himself ivy. 1-8).
He looked up and said: Father"
and then He was ready to pray. So
close was He to God that there was
just this simple recognition Of their
communion. In Christ are we not
as close as He?
What did Jesus ask for Himself?
At first thought it seems d little UNI
usual that He asked
l. For Recognition Of His Divine
Glory wv. 1-5). "'a# =
Why would He who had just given
the disciples an example OF and an
admonition to humility desire to
have His glory manifested? Be sure
it was not matter of selfish pride.
He had finished His work (for He
counted redemption as complete
throughout His prayer), and now the
glory which He laid down when He
came to earth (Phil. 1869 was to
be resumed.
He wants man to see Him now not
only as the compassionate Son Of
man, but the glorious Son of God,
able to save. It is right that the
glory of Christ should be magnified
and recognized by the whole crea-
ton. He is worthyl az VI r5.
2. For the Manifestation Of His
Grace wv. 6-8).
The Father had given Christ the
heart devotion of those who believed
in Him. Note that their faith rested
ON the name of God ". 81, and
upon His Word which had come to
them and to us through Christ.
He recognized their position and
standing in Him and established it
before God and man. He then
prayed for them Tread Wv. SID that
they might be kept in an evil
world as a testimony to the grace
and power of God in the human
heart.
This leads to His intercession for
all believers
II. He Prayed for All Believers
wv. 1920. .@-ss
Christians are not simply the
avowed adherents to particular
form of belief, they are "sent' ones.
AS the Father sent Him into the
world, "even SO send / them into
the world" said Christ.
Christ has gone to be with the
Father, but He has left those who
believe in Him as His witnesses, His
representatives. For this they need
holiness. He prayed: u
1. For Their Conservation IVY, 10.
For their s;akes He consecratsd
Himself. Surely if He needed it, we
/ do far more. It is not only His will
for us, but His prayer. How won
derfulfy that prayer was answered
we see as we look back over the
intervening 10 centuries, from His
immediate, disciples on through the
martyrs, the missionary pioneers Of
all ages, the faithful preachers and
teachers Of the gospel, yes and "liv-
ers' of the gospel too. He knew,
He prayed, God answered. Are you
in that blessed host of consecrated
believers?
2. For Their Unity and Glory wv.
20-26).
There is refreshing simplicity
about the Christian faith which is
utterly different from all the COM
plications which man has prepared
and superimposed upon it. Essen
tally it is matter Of God having
sent His Son into the world to be the
Redeemer Of men. He and the Fa-
Their are one, He and His followers
are one, and so we are all one. We
who today believe are included (read
Wv. 2O-23).
This is an inward unity Of the
Spirit, not an outward union Of or
CARNATIONS. The answer to our diff
ficulty is not the dissolution Of de-
nominations (although there do
seem to be far too many subdivi-
sions, tool but the uniting Of all
groups in oneness Of love and devo-
ton to Christ. and united emphasis