The Prayer of Jesus (Part 2 of 2)

March 10, 2026·25 min·2 clips

Alistair Begg reveals what Jesus actually prayed for in John 17, not what we typically ask for.

1. Truth For Life Weekend presents Alistair Begg expounding John 17, Jesus' high priestly prayer, in Part 2 of 2 of the series. 2. Begg is the sole teacher; no guest appears; he cites Warren Wiersbe, Samuel Rutherford, Anne Cussens, and an unnamed Carolina-born Bible teacher as supporting sources. 3. The episode's core thesis is that Jesus prays not for healing or earthly success but for five things for his disciples: mystery, security, sanctity, unity, and glory. 4. Begg opens with the Trinitarian claim that from all eternity within the Godhead there was love and communication, citing John 17:24 — Jesus' desire that his followers see 'the glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.' 5. On security, Begg returns to John 6:37-39, where Jesus states he will lose nothing of all the Father has given him and will raise believers on the last day, framing this as the ground of the disciples' confidence. 6. He applies John 17:14 — 'the world has hated them because they are not of the world' — to contemporary Western culture, where the assertion that 'Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life' is met with hostility rather than applause. 7. Begg specifically mentions conversations with Muslim friends as a context where exclusivity claims are challenged, noting the cultural assumption that 'all roads lead to heaven like they lead to Timbuktu.' 8. He counters that Christians should not be surprised by social opposition and quotes the Beatitudes: 'Blessed are you when you are persecuted for righteousness' sake.' 9. Begg draws a parallel from Psalm 11, where the psalmist is told 'Flee like a bird to your mountain,' and uses the 1960s Animals lyric 'We gotta get out of this place' to illustrate the temptation to escape rather than engage. 10. On sanctity, Begg expounds John 17:17 — 'Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth' — arguing that separation from sin comes through sustained engagement with Scripture, not willpower. 11. He reads John 8:12 — 'I am the light of the world; whoever follows me will not walk in darkness' — as an example of the 'words that you gave me' Jesus refers to in his prayer. 12. An unnamed Carolina-born Bible teacher (1901-1986) is quoted with the aphorism: 'Sin will keep us from this book, or this book will keep us from sin — and it is not the word hidden in the head but in the heart that keeps us from sin.' 13. Begg adds his own application: 'You can have a head full of Scripture and a heart full of sin. You can backslide with a Bible under your arm.' 14. On unity, Begg cites John 17:21-23 — 'that they may be one, even as we are one' — distinguishing supernatural Christian unity from organizational or structural ecumenism. 15. He illustrates supernatural unity by describing walking into a congregation of strangers speaking Dutch and experiencing genuine kinship, calling it 'not affectation — it's a reality.' 16. Begg names Tepele from South Africa and brothers and sisters in North Africa and the Balkan Peninsula as examples of this cross-cultural unity in Christ. 17. On glory, Begg returns to John 17:24, citing John 12:23 — 'The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified' — to trace the 'hour' motif from John 2's Cana miracle through the cross. 18. Scottish minister Samuel Rutherford (1600-1661), a Westminster Assembly commissioner, is quoted: 'Your errand in this life is to make sure an eternity of glory for you to see,' linked to the Westminster Catechism. 19. The episode is a solo expository sermon with no interview element; Begg's style mixes pastoral warmth, precise theological argument, and occasional humor, such as citing the Animals' pop lyric alongside Psalm 11. 20. People who value rigorous exposition of John 17 alongside practical application for contemporary Christian life will find this episode rewarding; those seeking topical discussion or interview format are likely to move on.

As heard by us

A careful look at Jesus' prayer that keeps theology and pastoral application in the same frame.

Jesus' high priestly prayer is handled as a close look at what he asks for: glory, belonging, sanctification, and unity. The teaching keeps its attention on the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, but never loses sight of the plain effect of the prayer: Jesus asks for his people to be…

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

Hear Jesus' prayer in John 17, where mystery gives way to security.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Truth For Life