Turn with me, please, to John 17.

There are some theologians called it the high priestly prayer, because Jesus being our great high priest, interceding for us with the Father.

You see, in the Old Testament, the high priest would go to the Holy of Holies once a year, first to atone for his own sins, then he atones for the sins of God's people.

But because Jesus was sinless, pure, holy, he did not have to confess his sin.

He did not have to atone for his sin.

He only atones for our sin, and that's what he did on the cross.

Our high priest, the Lord Jesus Christ, is interceding on our behalf

right now in heaven. The epistle to the Hebrews tells us that, that Jesus continuously

interceding for his children. Now, think about this. When you're in need of prayer, when you're

going through a tough time, and then you get somebody call you and says,

I'm praying for you. I mean, that really makes all the difference in the world. And this, whether

be a friend or be a family member, it's wonderful. It's great encouragement. But I want you to think

about this. You're not just being prayed for and interceded on behalf by anybody, but this is by the Lord of Glory.

Your name is mentioned in high places. It can get higher than that. Not only by an ordinary person,

by the Lord Jesus himself. And so Jesus' prayer in John 17 is an example of how he's interceding

for us. I want you to look at that very, very carefully with me. Because what that prayer does,

it exposes to us the thoughts of our Lord in his mind. It's an eye-opener as to the unique relationship that he has with the

father, as a unique relationship that he has with the believers. It is a joy-filled blessing to know

that Jesus 2,000 years ago was praying for you by name because he said,

I don't only pray for the disciples. He said, I pray for those who are going to believe. So he was

praying for you back then. He's praying for you right now. It is a delight. It's a comfort to

know that his future children, you and me, were in his thoughts, were in his prayer,

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