Jesus Prayed For Us (Maundy Thursday Worship Service)
Abridged Worship Provided By: Rev. Jacob Shaw (Please note that this is not a verbatim account of our Sunday morning worship, but rather a condensed version for those at home to study and enjoy)
Opening Prayer:
Lord, we come to join you at your table. Like the generations of the faithful before us, we come to encounter Your mercy, grace and love. Bless us this day as we welcome Your eternal Spirit to guide us in our worship. Amen.
Scripture Reading: John 17: 20-25
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
“Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.
“Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”
Reflection:
Nestled in the 17th chapter of the Gospel of John we encounter a prayer which Jesus spoke aloud to the Father in heaven, in the upper room. Verse 20-25 are just a portion of that prayer, but it is important to reflect upon these words because this portion of prayer is about us, these words are for us to hear.
The whole prayer begins first about Jesus the Son, and God the Father, and Jesus prayed that glory be given to God, then, Jesus prays for his disciples, the few who had the privilege to gather with the Lord on the eve of the crucifixion but had journeyed with him throughout his ministry. Following Jesus words of prayer for his disciples, Jesus prays for those who will come to him because of the ministry of his disciples. It is because of that inner circle and their willingness to trust God, to walk Jesus’ way, even going to their exile and deaths, that we find ourselves here. We are their descendants.
Jesus knew that one day we would be here, that we would come and worship, seeking to know God. And he prayed for us. And in that prayer, Jesus unveils to us, the unity of God’s love, a love which has been true since before creation itself, and he is calling us into the reality by His Grace, through our faith.
I love these words from Jesus, “I want those you have given me to be with me where I am”.
Jesus in prayer desire a unity with us, and to ensure this, he is willing to face betrayal, he is willing to face rejections, humiliation, torture and execution, he is even will to become sin, so that the sinner may go free, free to go into the arms of the Lord.
So, as we approach the Cross of Good Friday tomorrow, may we remember that upon the leading to the cross, upon the cross, and in the glory of the resurrection to come, Jesus Christ had you in mind.
Let his prayer, become your prayer.
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come Thy will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. Let us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever . Amen.
Homework:
Approach Jesus in faith, knowing that he thought of you, first say thank you, show appreciation to God who holds you in his prayer, and then ask for His will for your life to be made known to you.
If you need help on this reflective journey email: minister@mountainviewunited.ca
Closing Prayer:
We give You thanks, oh Lord, for Your grace, Your love and Your faithfulness. Help us as we go forth to trust in you always. Amen.
Meme of the Week:
Thank you for joining us this week. If you have any thoughts, feelings, or prayers, feel free to leave them in the comment section below. Please be respectful of others’ posts and make room for all those joining us.
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