Winter Quarter: Unit II, Lesson 8 – Teachers

As a result of experiencing this lesson, you should be able to do these things:

• Explore Jesus’ intercessory prayer for His disciples.
• Long for Jesus’ prayer to be answered more fully in your lives and in the church.
• Pray for others and work for unity in the body of Christ.

Ask (verse 15, NASB)—Greek: erótaó (er-o-tah’-o): to ask, question; “pray” (KJV); “prayer” (NIV).

Believe (verse 20)—Greek: pisteuó (pist-yoo’-o): to think to be true, have confidence; to entrust.

Sanctify (verse 17)—Greek: hagiazó (hag-ee-ad’-zo): to make holy, consecrate, purify.

Sent (verse 18)—Greek: apostelló (ap-os-tel’-lo): to have ordered to go to a place appointed; sent away.

Word (verse 14)—Greek: logos (log’-os): a word, speech, divine utterance; analogy.

World (verse 16)—Greek: kosmos (kos’-mos): order; the universe; Earth.

• Refer to the Townsend Press SS Commentary Teacher’s Edition for an additional lesson plan—with word studies, insights on teaching adults, learner matrices, etc.
• Review last week’s student assignments (“Your Life” and Your World!”).
• Thoroughly review your student book for your adult or young adult class.
• Please note that you have the option of using your subscription bundle supplements, i.e., Lesson Scenario, Student Activity Sheet, SSL-AAG Listener and Answer Sheets, etc.

People often look for ways to appeal for assistance on the behalf of others. How can people respond to the urge to intercede in a meaningful manner? Jesus’ prayer for His disciples serves as a call to use intercessory prayer for the sake of others.

We often ask for the prayers of others when we are confronted with personal challenges and important decisions. We firmly believe in the power of prayer and the strength that comes from supporting one another through crises. In difficult times, those who are able freely lend whatever assistance they can to help and support struggling friends or family members. Christians open their hands and their hearts to touch acquaintances, neighbors, and even strangers in times of natural disaster and crisis. For many, the desire to help others in need is second nature. There are times, however, when a person’s greatest need may be unknown, when he or she is unwilling to receive help, or when the best solutions to his/her problems are beyond one’s capacity to assist. Jesus left a roadmap for navigating through such moments—intercessory prayer. Are you willing to petition and plead with God for someone else’s needs? Some people cherish friends with money, friends with power, or friends with connections; but one of the best friends anyone will ever have is a friend who has access to limitless protection, provision, and power of God through intercessory prayer.

While Luke documents Jesus’ extensive prayer life, among the gospel writers, however, John had the unique advantage of being one of Jesus’ disciples. John was actually present when Jesus offered what has been called His “high priestly prayer” of intercession for the disciples, and records the prayer from the perspective of an eyewitness. The stated purpose of John’s gospel is to give evidence to believe in Jesus as Messiah in order to gain eternal life (see John 20:31). This prayer is a culmination of calls to eternal life (see John 17:2-3) that make up a refrain throughout John (see 3:15-16, 36; 4:14, 36; 5:24, 39; 6:27, 40, 47, 54, 68; 10:28; 12:25, 50). In the call to salvation, many preachers/others often emphasize the necessity of a change of heart and lifestyle, and turning away from sin; however, Jesus tends to emphasize the need to trust in Him so that He, by His Spirit, may change a person’s life and lead him or her out of sin and shame. Eastern religions teach that the world is an illusion that must be transcended. Jesus did not ask for His disciples to escape an illusory world but, rather, that they be made holy (sanctified) with truth as they live in it. It is important to emphasize that they are made holy. This is nothing in and of themselves that they had done or we will do. Our holiness lies solely on the shoulders of Christ as He continues to intercede for us even and especially today.

(Choose from the items below.)

1. Recall a time when someone volunteered to pray earnestly for your needs before you could ask anyone to do so.
2. Whom do you usually ask to pray for you?
3. What qualities do you look for in those you trust with your prayer concerns?

Knowing the power of prayer, every Christian should have a very active prayer life. Even a quick study of the Gospels reveals Jesus’ diligent devotion to the practice of prayer. If Jesus, who was divine, gave Himself so faithfully to prayer, how much more should we spend time with God in prayer. Among its many purposes, prayer is a means of showing compassion and sharing other people’s burdens. Through His Word, God welcomes all believers to come boldly with their prayer concerns in times of need (see Hebrews 4:16), assuring them of the effectiveness of praying one for another (see Ephesians 6:18, et al). When Christians offer prayers in Jesus’ name, they are exercising the right to pray that Jesus earned for those who trust Him as Savior. Our mediator, Jesus, qualified us to go to God on the basis of Jesus’ righteousness and merit, knowing that God will hear us.

God calls His children to be “in the world, but not of the world,” meaning that God expects Christians to reject worldly or carnal values, worldly standards of living, and worldly ways of being in the world. Worldliness hinders our witness, thus making it hard to win or influence souls for the kingdom.

ADDITIONAL EXPOSITORY INSIGHTS FOR THE TEACHER

John 17:14-16

KJV

14  I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.

16  They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

NIV

14  “I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.

15  “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.

16 “They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.”

The men’s acceptance and reception of the Word of God through Christ allowed Jesus to identify these men with Him and set them apart from the world. Jesus knows that the world has rejected and hated Him and therefore the same attitude will be heralded at them because of Christ. Despite the relationship and unity between Christ and His own disciples, Jesus could not pray that the Father would take them, nor us, out of the world. Jesus is not asking for them to be removed from the war. Too many of us seek Christ and then hide in the sanctuary. If Jesus had prayed this prayer and it happened, then the plan of Gospel expansion would have been in trouble and their call and training worthless. As the disciples move through the world, they will need protection from the evil to allow them to continue forward with sharing the Gospel. This reference to evil would very well be a reference to the Evil One (see Matthew 6:13; 1 Peter 5:8). As recharged and regenerated men, the disciples no longer belonged to the world as spiritual beings on a realm of spiritual evil even though they would reside in the physical world as physical beings. We are called out and set apart for specific reasons of engagement within this world to impact it for God’s glory. We are partners with Christ. As partners, we must understand that we have been set apart from the world, yet remain in the world, for a purpose. The world needs our intercessory prayers and participation in order for our communities and nations to change for the better.

DISCUSSION STARTERS

(Please review the appropriate student lesson for related biblical exposition section.)

• Adult Question:

How do we avoid slipping into our comfort zone and not engaging the world for Christ?

• Young Adult Questions:

Living a sanctified and holy life should be the goal of every believer. Why do you think some Christians seem to take issue with the call to holiness? Briefly share.

John 17:17-21

KJV

17  Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

18  As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

19  And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

20  Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

21  That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

NIV

17  “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.

18  “As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.

19  “For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

20  “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,

21  “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.”

This is the second petition on behalf of the prayer. To sanctify carries deeper meaning than being set apart. Sanctify means “to set apart for God and holy purposes,” and carries the weight of consecration, anointing, and/or making holy. Those who are sanctified are not in and of themselves holy—but God, through the sanctification process of Jesus, has made us holy. That which is sanctified reveals the holy will of God in His truth and especially the truth as it is wrapped up in and is the embodiment of God’s holy Word. It is by God’s Word that we learn to fulfill the will of God. To be sent into the world by Christ Jesus just as He was sent by the Father is the highest calling that can be bestowed upon men and women. Christ did not need to make Himself holy, for not only was He already holy but also He was the embodiment of holiness. Jesus chooses to sanctify Himself as a sign of dedication to His calling that the disciples might have an example to follow and a message to proclaim (verse 19). This submission of Christ gave power to the disciples to properly proclaim the message of salvation and sanctification through the Lamb of God efficiently and effectively. Faith is the necessary condition for enjoying life with God and for God. This faith allows for the unity within the body of Christ to exist and be an example to the world of the unity of the Godhead. With this unifying power, we must wholly and humbly intercede for this world to understand the depth of God’s love.

DISCUSSION STARTERS

(Please review the appropriate student book’s related biblical exposition section.)

• Adult Question:

As we are sanctified and empowered with God for God, how can we engage other saints of other churches and denominations for the work of Christ Jesus?

• Young Adult Questions:

Discuss the impact that a divided church has upon the mission to proclaim Jesus’ message and reach unbelievers. Why is unity so important among believers?

John 17:22-24

KJV

22  And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

23  I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

24  Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

NIV

22  “I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—

23  “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.

24  “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.”

The effects of our faith will be to elicit faith on the part of those throughout the world. The glory noted in verse 22, without a doubt, points to the ultimate heavenly position of the church, but it includes the privilege of serving and suffering for God’s light to shine in this world. This privilege to serve and suffer is just as Christ is commissioned by the Father to do so here on earth. This privilege helps to unify the saints as we reflect Christ in our living and giving. The perfect union of the church is made possible not by human effort, but by the grace of God as an extension of the Godhead which is cemented by love. The love of God bestowed upon man is the same love bestowed on the Son. Jesus’ final petition can be seen by us now as we read historically, as Jesus prayed in light of His finished work regarding salvation and His death on the Cross. The Cross must never be seen as outside of God’s will. The Cross, being glorious in its representation and work for humanity, was and remains to be anything but a glorious sight. The glory lies and shines brighter because of the “not my will, Father God, but Your will be done” sacrificial attitude (see Matthew 26:42-44; Luke 22:42). This attitude that Christ took on and wants us to take on is an attitude of submission to God’s will. It is also the attitude of true love that the Godhead displayed and is expecting (as Jesus prays for us) the church to do as well as we shine our lights in intercessory prayer and work for the call and cause of Christ, standing in the gap for others.

DISCUSSION STARTERS

(Please review the appropriate student book’s related biblical exposition section.)

• Adult Question:

The world is in need of light. What are we doing wrong in sharing the light, and what can we do to better shine and intercede for others in this world?

• Young Adult Questions:

Describe the emphasis Jesus placed on the safety of the believer. What assurance or comfort does this prayer give you?

• Refer to Adult Book

(See student lesson’s “Your Life” and “Your World” sections.)

— This week, make a list of those you need to intercede for in prayer, along with their specific need. Start with those you know and then move to adding people you do not know. With all the violence and tragedy being reported in the world, you can add people from the news. You can add someone who is on an unholy rant on a social-media site. You can always add the leadership of your church, community, and this country. Do not just make the list, but actually take time every day this week to pray for those who are on it.

— Seek to contact someone from your list, personal and non-personal, and let that person know that you have been praying for him or her. This can be done by phone call, text, social-media post, email, or letter in the mail. Imagine the response of someone who receives an unexpected, unsolicited card or letter stating “I have been praying for you.”

• Refer to Young Adult Book

(See student lesson’s “Your Life” and “Your World” sections.)

— Jesus is still interceding for us (see Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25). Jesus’ prayer in John 17 gives us a glimpse of what He desires for us. Pray that the Lord’s will would be fully manifest in your life and in the hearts of today’s believers.

— When the church is unified, standing together on the truth of God’s Word, it will greatly impact the health and growth of the church. Unity blesses and encourages believers and is a powerful image of godly love to the world. Embrace this truth and continue to work for unity in the body of Christ.

The lesson topic for Sunday, January 31, 2021, is “Women Speak Out.” The Devotional Reading is Joel 2:28-32, the Background Scriptures are Luke 2:36-38; Acts 1:12-14; 2:16-21; 21:8-9, and the Printed Texts are Luke 2:36-38; Acts 2:16-21; 21:8-9.

Lord, use us as Your vessels. Use us individually and collectively. Draw out of us anything that is not like You. Bind us together in love just as the unity and love of the Godhead are bound together, that we may serve You with humility and excellence. Lord, we love You. It is in the marvelous name of Jesus that we pray. Amen.

(January 25-31, 2021)

PROPHESYING DAUGHTERS

MONDAY, January 25: “Jesus Supports Mary’s Choice” (Luke 10:38-42)
TUESDAY, January 26: “Jesus Responds to Sisters’ Call” (John 11:1-11)
WEDNESDAY, January 27: “Jesus Raises Lazarus; Mary Believes” (John 11:38-45)
THURSDAY, January 28: “Women Carry Resurrection Message to Apostles” (Luke 24:5-10)
FRIDAY, January 29: “Jesus’ Final Words and Ascension” (Luke 24:44-53)
SATURDAY, January 30: “Simeon Sees Impact of Jesus’ Ministry” (Luke 2:28-35)
SUNDAY, January 31: “The Spirit Empowers Daughters to Prop” (Luke 2:36-38; Acts 2:16-21; 21:8-9)