The Heart of Jesus in Prayer

"That they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me." John 17:21

Jesus spent three years with His disciples, and He loved them deeply. As His death drew near, He took time to pray for them.

The night before His crucifixion, He opened His heart to the Father in one of the most beautiful and profound prayers in all of Scripture (John 17). It was not a prayer marked by fear or despair, but by love, mercy, and vision. There we discover what was most important to Jesus before the cross, and we also find a model for our own prayers as parents, leaders, and mentors.

Jesus interceded for His disciples, but also for all future believers. In other words, He thought of us—our families and our children. That limitless love sustained His prayer. In the same way, our love should move us to intercede constantly, even in moments of weariness, trials, or when we see weakness in those we love.

Jesus did not only ask the Father to protect His disciples; He went further—He prayed for their unity, their sanctification, and that they would reflect God’s glory. His prayer carried an eternal vision. In the same way, our prayers should go beyond the immediate. We should not only ask for provision or care but also cry out that our children and families live in God’s purpose and reflect the life of Christ in this world.

The cross was only hours away, yet Jesus did not stop praying. In the midst of pain and pressure, His heart remained in intercession. His example reminds us that prayer must never cease, even in the most difficult moments. As families, we must persevere in prayer, trusting that God hears and works even when we do not see immediate results.

The heart of Jesus in John 17 inspires us to pray with love that sustains, vision that transcends, and perseverance that endures. Every prayer we lift before the throne of grace will be heard by our Abba, who will cause it to bear fruit in His time. Lord, thank You for revealing Your heart to us in the prayer of John 17. Teach us to pray like Jesus with love that does not give up, with vision that looks beyond the immediate, and with perseverance that does not stop. May our families remain united, steadfast, and full of Your glory, so that the world may believe that You have sent us.

By Paulina Rodriguez