Does Jesus pray for us?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Prayer was and still is a part of Jesus’ ministry. Throughout His time on earth, He prioritized individual prayer time with His Heavenly Father, and in John 17:1–26 we read Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer in which He prays for His remaining disciples. In Luke 22:31-32 He specifically tells Peter (Simon): “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers." This reflects Jesus’ heart and the advocate role He takes even today in the lives of His followers. In Hebrews 4:14–16 Jesus is referred to as believers’ “great high priest” who can sympathize with our humanity even though He was sinless; we can then “draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Jesus has been praying for us since His ascension back into heaven, and He is our personal Advocate before God the Father, the permanent propitiation for our sins (Hebrews 7:25). Even as believers, we will often sin and fail in our faith walk, yet even then Jesus advocates for us when we confess our sins (1 John 1:9—2:2).

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Jesus praying for us is not addressed in the Old Testament.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• In the High Priestly Prayer, Jesus prays that His disciples would know God, be guarded from worldliness, unified in the Spirit, full of joy, protected from the evil one, sanctified by the Word, that they would be witnesses in the world through their love for Christ, and that they would be with Him in eternity and experience His love (John 17:1–26).
• In Luke 22:31-32 Jesus makes it clear He has personally prayed for Peter’s faith to not fail even though Satan had demanded to have him. Jesus’ care for Peter reflects His heart for us.
• Jesus intercedes for us with empathy, as He, too, lived on this earth and was tempted just as we are. He is our great High Priest, and through Him we have access to the Father (Hebrews 4:14-16). Because Jesus is interceding for us, we can have full confidence that we can approach God and be met with mercy and grace.
• Hebrews 7:25 affirms Jesus’ interceding role in our life: “Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.” Jesus is faithful in fulfilling His interceding role in believers' lives.
• We sin and make mistakes, but when we bring our sins to Christ, we are forgiven and He advocates to God the Father on our behalf (1 John 1:9—2:2).

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Throughout the Gospels, we see Jesus spending time with His Father in prayer (Luke 6:12; Mark 14:32; Matthew 26:36). While we don't know all the details of what Jesus prayed about, at times we get a glimpse into His prayer life. In the High Priestly Prayer, Jesus prays "for those who will believe in me through their word" (John 17:20). In fact, 1 John 2:1 reminds us that "we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." Christ is our Advocate, and Satan is our accuser who showcases our sins before God (Revelation 12:10). Yet we do not have to worry about Satan’s accusations. Jesus has the true power to remove all condemnation and dark spots from our record: "Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us" (Romans 8:33-34). It is incredible to know the perfect Son of God prays for us at all times.

UNDERSTAND

• Jesus intercedes on our behalf to the Father.
• Jesus took on human form (though sinless), so He is an advocate who has empathy for us.
• Jesus’ intercessions for believers thwart Satan’s attempts to destroy us.

REFLECT

• How does it change the way you approach your daily struggles to know that Jesus is praying for you right now?
• In what specific areas of your life do you most need to experience the mercy and grace Jesus intercedes for on your behalf?
• How can you make your prayer life more like Jesus’?

ENGAGE

• What does Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer (John 17) reveal about His priorities for His followers, and how can those shape the church today?
• How does Jesus’ role as our Advocate give believers confidence in facing accusations from Satan or condemnation from the world?
• How can we encourage one another with the truth that Jesus intercedes for us when we fail, rather than leaving us in guilt or shame?