Six Prayers on Jesus' High Priestly Prayer
John 17 / By Esaias Heidenreich
As far as I can tell, Esaias Heidenreich wrote more prayers on this moment in Christ’s passion history than on any other. Heidenreich loves this chapter of the Bible (John 17). In fact, he published a 400-page book of sermons he preached just on this chapter! It’s great to meditate with him on John 17. Below are the six prayers he wrote, taken from our weekly devotional.
The Seventeenth Chapter of John Set in the Form of Prayer
The First Prayer
O Lord Jesus, true Lamb of God, who bears the sin of the world, You desire to be regarded and known by us and all Christendom not only as a Savior and Redeemer, but also as the sole, faithful, and loving Intercessor who always pleads for our highest good before the heavenly Father. According to Your example, we also raise the eyes of the heart and body toward heaven, awaiting the sight of Your splendor, comforting ourselves by Your omnipotence, which has been given to You over all flesh, so that You may grant us and all believers eternal life. O take not Your grace from us, but increase in us the saving, true knowledge of Your heavenly Father, and grant that we may recognize You, who was sent by Him, with living faith until our end, that through Him and with You, we may love the God and Father of all comfort and remain His heirs in eternity. Amen.
The Second Prayer
Lord Jesus, through the proclamation and revelation of Your holy evangelist, You have rightly declared Your heavenly Father on earth, and through Your innocent death, You have completed the work of our redemption. Let the clarity of Your Word and the fruit of Your bitter suffering and death never be lost on us poor sinners. Take us up, the poor little children of Eve, among those whom Your heavenly Father has given You, who have been graciously brought by Your holy Word and Spirit, and have been entrusted to Your wounds and heart. Rule our hearts, that we hold fast to Your Word, so that we truly recognize from it that You have come from the Father and believe that You are sent by Him, and with Him in the unity of the Holy Spirit live and reign, true God, forever and ever. Amen.
The Third Prayer
O Lord Jesus, Your collect is like a stern thunderbolt upon the stubborn, secure, and godless world when You say: “I pray for them and not for the world.” By this, You exclude from Your gracious supplication all despisers of Your holy Word and name, all defilers of Your most holy sacraments, all idolaters, and all those who persist in open sins and blasphemies against their conscience and Your Word without true repentance and contrition. Let us not be found among such a hell-bound multitude. Rather, keep us as Your own, whom You have redeemed with bitter suffering through the bountiful outpouring of Your blood. Through Your grace, bring us into the inexpressible love and fidelity of Your heavenly Father, that He may graciously recognize us as His own. With the eyes of Your mercy, look upon our perilous stay which we have in this world, this infirmary and vale of misery, and come to save us who are needy from all danger. Amen.
The Fourth Prayer
O Lord Jesus, if Your Church has ever had need of Your heartfelt intercession, it is today: O Lord, preserve her in Your name, that she may be one. You are aware, O sweetest Lord Jesus, what manner of discord, strife, and sharp quarrelling the devil causes today among Your little flock, such as has never been known in former times within Your gathering. O blessed Prince of Peace, have mercy upon hearts poor and weak in faith, and unify Your own in the blessed bond of love, true unity, and faithfulness. Grant them to be of one heart and one soul with one another, that they may heartily and steadfastly take joy in You, and may partake of perfect joy and eternal glory. Amen.
The Fifth Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, You are most aware of the perilous evil with which the devil now assaults us and Your Church in the world. Grant that we, supported by the outpouring of Your prayer, may become partakes of the heavenly Father’s grace and may be protected from the devil’s evil, such as false doctrine, unbelief, despair, shame, and blasphemy. Sanctify us in Your truth; Your Word is truth. Share with us the richness of Your holiness, that we may also be sanctified in the truth.
We especially and heartily thank You, Lord Christ, that You also do not forget us who are poor and miserable in Your prayer and collect. Rather, You clearly say: “I pray not only for these, but also for those who will believe in Me through their Word, that they may all be one.” Let us, our wives and children, along with all distressed Christians of these last days, fruitfully enjoy the power and effect of this intercession, and blessedly increase in knowledge of Your Word and will. Amen.
The Sixth Prayer
Lord Jesus, we rejoice exceedingly, that before Your suffering, You ask the heavenly Father that He would grant us and all believers the resting place of Your kingdom and graciously preserve it. You say, “Father, I desire that where I am, there they may be with Me, whom You have given Me, that they may see My glory which You have given Me, because You loved me before the world was founded.” O take us up as Your little sheep which You have purchased at the great cost of Your rose-colored blood, and lead us through this vale of misery and deadly peril to Your eternal glory, that of the joyful company of Your elect. Keep us in the love of Your heavenly Father, and dwell in us and among us through Your mighty Word, which quickens, blesses, and sanctifies us here in time and there in eternity, You who with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, true God, lives and reigns now and forever. Amen.
Esaias Heidenreich, Passional Betbüchlein (1582)
Lucas Cranach the Elder, Jesus as the Man of Sorrow (1537)