The last thing the Lord did in connection with the disciples before going back to the Father was to pray for them. This prayer illustrates the present service of Christ's high priesthood which He would carry on at the right hand of God for them in the new dispensation. Hence, there would be a new High Priest ministering in the heavenly sanctuary—the Son of God. This is another feature of Christianity that was not known in Judaism.
Two things are especially before His heart—the glory of His Father, and the care of His disciples. The prayer illustrates the present intercession the Lord Jesus is carrying out on high in the glory. In the prayer, He does not mention a word about the failures and shortcomings of His own, though there were many. Nor does He ask riches for them, or honours, or worldly influence and advancement; He has only their spiritual good and blessing before Him.
• The Lord made seven specific requests:
• That the Father would be glorified in the Son (vss. 1-8).
• That the disciples would be kept in oneness of thought, aim, and purpose (vss. 9-11).
• That His joy would be fulfilled in them (vs. 13).
• That they would be kept from evil (vss. 14-16).
• That they would be sanctified through the truth and thus made useful in service (vss. 17-19).
• That all who would believe would be one in testimony that the world might know that He is the sent One of the Father (vss. 20-23).
• That they might be with Him so that they could behold His glory (vs. 24).