Praying on the Way to the Cross

Dear Lord Jesus, we come to the banquet table of your word. The psalmist reminds us that your word is sweeter than the honey from the honey comb. By your word we are warned and in obeying you there is great reward. We confess that all you say is perfect, trustworthy, right and gives joy to our hearts. You, The Word, are radiant, sure, and altogether righteous! (Psalm 19, NIV) Amen.

Scripture Reading: John 17:9-19 (NLT)

“My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you. All who are mine belong to you, and you have given them to me, so they bring me glory. Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, you have given me your name; now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are. During my time here, I protected them by the power of the name you gave me. I guarded them so that not one was lost, except the one headed for destruction, as the Scriptures foretold.

Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy. I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to this world any more than I do. Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.

We praise you, our High Priest! The glory of your name and your love for us shines through this prayer. Thank you for filling us with your joy. You have given yourself as a holy sacrifice so that we are made holy by your truth. Thank you for interceding for us, asking the Holy Father to protect us from the evil one and for teaching us to pray in the same way.

Father we pray, don't let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one (Matthew 6:13, NLT). We ask that you make us holy by your truth. Help us to faithfully go into the world filled with the joy of the Lord. May we bring glory to you as we remain in the world. Amen.