Divine Intercession

In this message, Chuck Swindoll invites listeners into the intimate and holy atmosphere of John 17—Jesus' longest recorded prayer, often called the High Priestly Prayer. Set in the final moments before His arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, this prayer serves as a spiritual anchor for believers facing uncertainty, just as it did for the Scottish Reformer John Knox on his deathbed,. Swindoll sets the scene vividly: Jesus stands near the Kidron Valley, likely red with the blood of thousands of Passover lambs, pausing to "cast His anchor" on the Father before enduring the cross,. The sermon breaks down the first 19 verses of the chapter, analyzing Jesus' specific requests as He prays first for Himself and then for His disciples. Listeners will discover that Jesus defined "eternal life" not just as living forever, but as a relationship—knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ. Swindoll explains the Lord's specific petitions for His disciples: that they be kept (unified and protected from the evil one) and sanctified (set apart for a specific purpose),. Ultimately, this message teaches that when facing the threat of the future, a believer’s greatest resource is not human effort, but time spent on their knees.

Message Key Facts:

• The "Anchor" of John Knox: The sermon opens with the story of John Knox, the fiery Scottish Reformer. On his deathbed, he asked his wife to read "where I first cast my anchor." She read John 17 to him daily until he died, proving that the man who lived like a battleship found his stability in this prayer.
• The Smell of Death: Swindoll notes the historical context of the Passover. A census taken years later recorded 256,000 lambs slaughtered in the temple. The blood from these sacrifices flowed into the Kidron Valley, meaning Jesus likely crossed a red stream of blood—a mute reminder of His impending sacrifice—just before praying.
• Concentric Circles of Prayer: Swindoll visualizes the chapter as three concentric circles:
  1. Verses 1–5: A small circle where Jesus prays for Himself (His glory and return to the Father).
  2. Verses 6–19: A larger circle where Jesus prays for His disciples (their unity and protection).
  3. Verses 20–26: The widest circle where Jesus prays for all future believers (to be covered in the next message).
• Insulation, Not Isolation: Jesus prayed not to take the disciples out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. Swindoll explains this as "insulation," not isolation; believers are to be salt in the world without being destroyed by it.
• True Sanctification: Swindoll demystifies the word "sanctify." Rather than a "religious deworming process" or acquiring a halo, it simply means "to set apart for a certain purpose," much like choosing a specific necktie or chair for use. We are sanctified through contact with the Word of God,,.
• Godly Accomplishment: Jesus declared He had "accomplished the work" God gave Him, even though He was dying young (at 33) with much left undone by human standards. Swindoll argues that genuine accomplishment is determined by God’s assignment, not man’s metrics.

Message References:

• John 17:1–19: The primary text, covering Jesus' prayer for Himself and His disciples.
• John 16:33: Jesus’ promise of overcoming the world, setting the stage for His prayer.
• John 17:3: The biblical definition of eternal life: knowing God and Jesus Christ.
• John 17:5: Jesus’ prayer to be restored to the glory He shared with the Father before the world began.
• John 17:11: The request for unity among the disciples ("that they may be one even as We are").
• John 17:15: The request for protection from the evil one while remaining in the world.
• John 17:17: The means of sanctification: "Sanctify them in the truth; Thy word is truth".

Message Speaker:

Pastor Chuck Swindoll