Yahushua’s Final Prayer
By
Gary Primo
December 6, 2011
Have you ever wondered what you would say to Yahuwah (in prayer) in your final moments before death? It would help to know exactly when and how you were going to die, of course, and I don’t know if knowing would be a blessing or a curse. Many die without ever having a chance to say anything. One moment they are alive and the next they are dead. Perhaps it would be best to think of every prayer as being potentially our last. We simply never know when death is going to take us.
In John 17 we have recorded for us what Yahushua’s final prayer to his Father was. In Yahushua’s case, he knew exactly when and how he was going to die. He also knew that in his next conscious moment following his death (on the third day) that he would be resurrected again, to eternal life. So, that thought must have been of great comfort to him. We, too, know that in our next conscious moment after death, we will be brought up in the resurrection and to judgment. It doesn’t matter how long we are dead for, it will only seem like minutes. Yet death is something that we all fear and that none look forward to. We all know that death is inevitable. It is likely fear of the unknown that terrifies us.
Some do know beforehand that they are dying. It is natural carnal instinct that drives us to cling to life so desperately. I am sure that every one of us has experience the death of a loved one. We know of the emotions that overwhelm us during the aftermath. If it is a brother or sister in the faith that dies, we both morn their passing and rejoice knowing that they will be raised to everlasting life in the future. Yet we still have relatives and friends who are not in the faith and we might worry what is going to become of them. I can only suppose that it will depend on what transpires when they stand before Yahuwah in the judgment. It is my hope that since they did not know the truth, it will be revealed to them at that time and they will repent and be saved; but none of us can know for sure.
Yahushua had plenty of time to think about his death and there is no doubt in reading the other gospel accounts that he was afraid. I believe his fear was based primarily on the manner of death he was to suffer. He certainly knew that he would soon be resurrected back to life again. But, did he know of a certainty that he would not crack under the horrific pain and humiliation he was about to suffer and thereby disqualify himself as the perfect sacrifice for sin? It’s difficult to say. He had never endured such a trial before and he knew it was going to be painful.
In John’s version of Yahushua’s final prayer, Yahushua did not pray for himself. He prayed for his disciples and all who would heed their report and follow after them. He literally prayed for you and me. He was sure of his own coming glory. If we are doing everything in our power to live our lives according to Yahuwah’s word, we, too, should feel confident in our coming glory.
Let us now take a close look at the words Yahushua uttered during his final prayer.
John 17:1 - These words spoke Yahushua, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
Parson’s Bible Dictionary
Glorify (1.) To make glorious, or cause so to appear (John 12:28; 13:31, 32; 17:4, 5). (2.) Spoken of God to “shew forth his praise” (1 Cor. 6:20; 10:31).
Glory (Heb. kabhod; Gr. doxa). (1.) Abundance, wealth, treasure, and hence honor (Ps. 49:12); glory (Gen. 31:1; Matt. 4:8; Rev. 21:24, 26). (2.) Honor, dignity (1 Kings 3:13; Heb. 2:7 1 Pet. 1:24); of God (Ps. 19:1; 29:1); of the mind or heart (Gen. 49:6; Ps. 7:5; Acts 2:46). (3.) Splendour, brightness, majesty (Gen. 45:13; Isa. 4:5; Acts 22:11; 2 Cor. 3:7); of Jehovah (Isa. 59:19; 60:1; 2 Thess. 1:9). (4.) The glorious moral attributes, the infinite perfections of God (Isa. 40:5; Acts 7:2; Rom. 1:23; 9:23; Eph. 1:12). Jesus is the “brightness of the Father’s glory” (Heb. 1:3; John 1:14; 2:11). (5.) The bliss of heaven (Rom. 2:7, 10; 5:2; 8:18; Heb. 2:10; 1 Pet. 5:1, 10). (6.) The phrase “Give glory to God” (Josh. 7:19; Jer. 13:16) is a Hebrew idiom meaning, “Confess your sins.” The words of the Jews to the blind man, “Give God the praise” (John 9:24), are an adjuration to confess. They are equivalent to, “Confess that you are an impostor,” “Give God the glory by speaking the truth;” for they denied that a miracle had been wrought.
There can be no falsehood in glory. It is what it is. Nothing can be hidden. Glory reveals everything about a person. In giving glory to Yahuwah we bare ourselves before Him and confess that He is the Creator and the Supreme Ruler of the universe. We humble ourselves before Him, confessing our sins and seeking His forgiveness.
In the case of Yahushua, who had no sins to confess, how would we apply the word “glory”? I have often heard people say about me, “What you see is what you get.” I have never been sure if it was meant as a compliment or a condemnation; perhaps both, depending on who says it. (LOL) I have taken it to mean that I hide nothing. If they only knew. We all have something to hide. However, it can truly be said that neither Yahuwah nor Yahshua ever had anything to hide.
I believe that for mankind it all has something to do with judgment. Humans all fear being judged. In the case of the Father, there is no one above Him to cast judgment. In the case of the son, there is only one being above him qualified to cast judgment. The Jews tried, but their judgment was false. Therefore, they were not qualified to judge.
I believe that there is another definition of glory not mentioned above. That is, that it defines who we are. In this definition we each have a separate glory. I might be glorified by my artistic ability and someone else by their musical ability. With Yahuwah, His glory is being the Supreme Creator who has always existed. Yahushua’s glory is being the firstborn and the seed for the rest of creation. He now has added to that glory, the glory of being the firstborn into the new creation. No one else does or can share either of these glories with them. They are theirs alone.
In verse 1 Yahshua asks his Father to glorify him. What he meant was that he was asking for the Father’s help through his coming trial and suffering of death to remain firm and not waver; also, to raise him to the glory that was purposed for him. In doing so, the glory of the son would point right back to the glory of the Father, glorifying Him as well. Whenever we pray for supernatural help from Yahuwah for something like healing, we should include that we are asking because we seek to glorify His name before all who witness the healing.
2 - As you have given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as you have given him.
Before his earthly manifestation, Yahushua enjoyed the glory of being the only begotten son of Yahuwah. He was also the Great Prince, the Angel of Yahuwah, the mirror image of the Father himself. No other angelic being shared in this glory. They were all created by the Father through the son. Like I have stated in other articles, the Father only planted one seed, and in that seed was the genetic blueprint of all life in the creation. Technically it was the son who created the angelic realm, the universe and all that is in it, mankind, etc. It has always been the son who interacted with mankind, created the first man and woman and literally spoke to his chosen servants. Yahushua was the Elohim that was in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve. It was Yahushua who brought the flood upon the earth in Noah’s time and brought the Israelites out of Egypt and fought their battles for them. It was Yahushua who spoke to all the prophets of old. It was he who was worshipped as Elohim. However, Yahushua’s glory always pointed right back to the Father. During his earthly manifestation, Yahushua always gave glory to the Father who was the source of all things.
3 - And this is life eternal, that they might know you the only true Elohim, and Yahushua HaMashiyack, whom you have sent.
In the Hebrew language the term “know” has the implication of intimacy. For instance it is used in reference to a man “knowing” a woman carnally (sexually), as in the context of marriage. Here Yahushua alludes to the fact that eternal life is contingent upon learning to know both the Father and the son intimately, like a husband knows his wife. As a man and wife are to be joined and become one, such should be our relationship with Yahuwah. In fact, human marriages have always been a reflection of and a type of how our relationship with the Father and His son is supposed to be. Our intimacy with Yahuwah should reach the point where we think, speak and act as one. This is how intimate Yahushua’s relationship with his Father was. This is why Yahushua was able to perform the marvelous feats and miracles that he did. It was as if the Father himself were performing them and, indeed, the Father lived through the son. Yahushua never doubted that what he wanted, his Father wanted also. He fully knew the Father’s will at all times. They were in constant communication (speaking telepathically).
4 - I have glorified you on the earth: I have finished the work which you gave me to do.
By doing Yahuwah’s work on Earth, we glorify His name. Our work ends when we die. Of course Yahushua’s example was much greater and meaningful than ours. Yahushua divested all his prior glory to become human and to suffer death for us all. He was totally vulnerable to all of HaSatan’s tricks and was in all ways tempted as we are; yet, he never sinned. If he had, he would have been in the grave much longer than 3 days and would have been raised to eternal condemnation. The proof of his victory lies in the fact that over 500 people witnessed him in his resurrected body. All the pain and humiliation he suffered was 100% for the glorification of the Father.
5 - And now, O Father, glorify you me with your own self with the glory which I had with you before the world was.
Here we have it folks – right from the Messiah’s own mouth – he possessed a glory with the Father “before the world was.” How do those that deny Yahushua pre-existed his human manifestation explain this statement, as well as numerous similar statements throughout the Scriptures? Again the glory Yahushua had before the world was created was that of being the firstborn of all creation and the only begotten son and heir to the throne.
6 - I have manifested your name unto the men which you gave me out of the world: Yours they were, and you gave them me; and they have kept your word.
Yahuwah knows the end from the beginning. Therefore, when He developed the genetic blueprint for His creation, he already knew each of us, whom he has called, by name. We were all predestined to hear the Father’s call and He knew that we would answer, and then He would open our minds up to the truth. We were His, but He gave us over to Yahushua. Yahushua was talking about his immediate disciples in this verse, but the words can apply to each of us as well. We are all disciples. Yahushua also reveals here that he manifested the Father’s name to his disciples. He did not obscure or insult the Father’s name by calling Him HaShem, the LORD, God, Adoni, whatever. He called his Father Yahuwah, which might have been another reason that the Jews hated him. Like with his disciples, Yahushua has also led us to the truth of the Father’s name. And we, like him, are chosen to reveal the Father’s name to the world.
7 - Now they have known that all things whatsoever you have given me are of you.
8 - For I have given unto them the words which you gave me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from you, and they have believed that you did send me.
Like I have said in past articles, what comes out of the mouth reveals the heart. The disciples knew without a doubt that Yahushua was the son of Elohim because his words and deeds matched perfectly with Scripture. They were also witnesses to the fact that Yahushua’s life completed Scripture; especially the promises concerning his coming and his death and resurrection. They knew without a doubt that Yahushua was the greatest prophet of all and that the Father did indeed send him. We who have answered the Father’s call have no doubts about this fact either.
9 - I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which you have given me; for they are yours.
This prayer was strictly for those called of Yahuwah – the disciples of Yahushua’s day and every succeeding generation afterward. As for the rest of the world, many will come through the tribulation with their bloody garments washed clean. As for the billions who have already died, I would hope that they will be given an opportunity when resurrected to learn, embrace the truth and repent before they face the judgment. Those who remain incorrigible will go straight to the judgment and the lake of fire.
10 - And all mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I am glorified in them.
We glorify Yahushua by following precisely in his footsteps. We must become a mirror image of the Messiah as he was a mirror image of the Father. If we are not striving with all our might to become that mirror image, then we are not fit for the Kingdom.
11 - And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to you. 12 - Holy Father, keep through your own name those whom you have given me, that they may be one, as we are.
We cannot become one with anyone unless we know them intimately. For starters, we must know that person’s name. Imagine marrying someone whose name you don’t even know. This is exactly what the Christian faith has done. They worship every other name under the sun save the Father’s. Try calling your spouse by another name and you will know exactly how the Father feels. They are hopelessly lost in deception. They have no chance to gain the intimacy with the Father that we are acquiring. By worshipping other names they are in fact giving glory to that name, not the Father’s.
13 - While I was with them in the world, I kept them in your name: those that you gave me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
This is further proof that at no time did the Messiah refer to his Father by any other name than Yahuwah. The son of perdition, of course, is Judas Iscariot. He is the prime example of someone who heard the truth, and followed the Messiah for a time, but let the ways of this world overcome him. I have witnessed numerous cases of those who have left off following HaMashiyack to return to the world. They might as well be labeled followers of Judas. In doing, so they glorify HaSatan. It is not to be so with us. We can read through all seven of the letters to the seven churches and see for ourselves that they are all about overcoming the world and the “god” of this world – HaSatan.
14 - And now come I to you; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
The joy of Yahushua was that he glorified the Father. Such should be our joy as well. Yahushua knew that in glorifying the Father, the Father would glorify him. We must know and believe this about ourselves as well.
15 - I have given them your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
16 - I pray not that you should take them out of the world, but that you should keep them from the evil.
17 - They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
18 - Sanctify them through your truth: your word is truth.
Yes, the world is going to hate us, just like they hate Yahushua. Why? Because we tell the truth no matter what the consequences. Being not of this world means that we no longer are under the deceptions of HaSatan. We are meant to remain in the world as beacons of truth, shining in the darkness by our examples. Our actions must at all times match our words, which should match the Father’s words. Yet Yahushua prayed that the Father would keep us from evil.
One might ask, “What about all those who have been horribly tortured and martyred in Yahuwah’s name?” Like Yahushua, they remained steadfast in the Father’s name and their martyrdom is classified as having victory over death. They will be the first to be resurrected to glorious eternal life. They have already passed the judgment. By bringing ourselves under obedience to the Father and incorporating that obedience into our very nature, we demonstrate our love for Him and qualify for the Kingdom.
19 - As you hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
20 - And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
21 - Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
Yahushua set himself apart from the rest of the world and became a shining example for us to follow. His words, actions and victory over death is what sanctified him. We are to be sanctified by the exact same standard. We must become victorious over death. To accomplish that we must not only follow the Messiah, we must BECOME the Messiah. Again Yahushua includes all the coming generations of true Believers.
22 - 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 have sent me.
Having us become one with the Father was certainly Yahushua’s chief concern. To accomplish that we cannot merely set one day a week aside for Yahuwah and do what we please the rest of the week. Every day of our lives must be dedicated to worshipping Yahuwah. By continuously studying the Father’s word and applying it to our everyday living, we learn to become one with the Father. In doing so, we glorify the Father and when we emerge victorious over death He will glorify us. Our example should reveal to the world that the same Yahuwah, who sent His only begotten son to open the door to salvation, is in us as well.
23 - And the glory which you gave me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
When we become one with the Father as Yahushua is, he will transfer his glory onto us.
24 - I in them, and you in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that you have sent me, and have loved them, as you have loved me.
In essence we, through the salvation process, must empty ourselves of all worldly desires (make ourselves empty vessels) and allow Yahushua to fully indwell us. When we accomplish this, Yahushua will glorify us and we will be filled with the spirit of Yahuwah. Like Yahushua, the Father will honour our every request (for healing, etc.) We, in turn will glorify the Father by our every word, thought and deed.
25 - Father, I will that they also, whom you have given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which you hast given me: for you loved me before the foundation of the world.
Where was it the Yahushua was? He was in the Father. If we are not in the Father also, we cannot behold the true glory of Yahushua. The Father loves those who seek after Him. Since the son has always sought after the Father, since the day he was created, the Father has loved him always.
26 - O righteous Father, the world has not known you: but I have known you, and these have known that you hast sent me. 27 - And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.
The world at large has not known the Father. The Christian faith worships a triune godhead rather than the One True Elohim. Others worship a biune godhead consisting of only the Father and the son as having always existed together. Neither is correct or true. The shema declares “Yahuwah our Elohim is one Elohim.” The Father is the one and only source of all life. Yahushua was the beginning of his creation. The Christian faith knows and is one with the “god” of this world – HaSatan. He is in them and they are in him. They are as separate from the True Elohim as east is from west. They are as clueless as someone who is brain dead. They have rejected the word of Yahuwah and Yahuwah Himself. Their Messiah is nothing more than a “made over” version of the ancient pagan messiah, Tammuz. They are so deceived, ignorant and spiritually blind that they cannot see the truth. Not only that, but they will get very angry if you suggest they are deceived. In fact, they might even kill you.
Even if there was not a single man left to declare Yahuwah’s name to the world, Yahuwah would declare it by other means. When Yahushua entered Jerusalem and the crowds turned out to honour and worship him, the Pharisees demanded that Yahushua make them stop. He answered them:
Luke 19:40 - And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.
If those who have life refuse to declare Yahuwah’s name, Yahuwah would make the stones, which have no life, to declare His name. The living, who should appreciate the fact that were given life at all, show no gratitude whatsoever towards the One who gave them that life. They may think they do in worshipping their false gods, but are deceived. Instead they worship HaSatan, a created being himself. They worship the creation rather than the Creator. It would be better for them if they were created as a stone rather than a human, for then they would have an excuse.
Conclusion
There is quite the difference between Yahushua’s final prayer in John’s account and that which is stated in the other gospel accounts. The other three all read the same as in Matthew 26.
Matt. 26:39 - And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. (Mark 14:36 & Luke 22:42)
In all three of the other gospel accounts the apostles relate that Yahushua prayed for himself only – that he be spared from his coming trial. They have Yahushua praying the same prayer three times. Frankly, this strikes me as a little bit strange, that Yahushua would pray such a prayer for himself only. He knew he had to proceed with what was purposed for him. He knew that he would be raised to glory on the third day. He knew that this was the final trial and that he would be raised as the firstborn of the new creation. I suppose it is quite possible for each witness have a different version of events. Any who have studied the subject know that the New Testament was subjected to much tampering, also. Yahushua also knew that He was about to glorify the Father in a way no other man has ever done. Why would he pray for “this cup” to be taken away from him?
The fact is that there are a number of differences between John’s gospel and the others. I haven’t yet done a full study into this yet and do not want to draw any conclusions until I do, but thought I would throw this in as food for thought. Here are another couple of examples.
1 – The first three gospels all have Yahushua being baptized and going immediately into the wilderness to be tempted by HaSatan for forty days. When he returned he found out that John the Baptist had been thrown in jail and he began preaching to and baptizing the people.
In John’s account we find no such passage (of Yahushua being tempted of HaSatan) and, in fact, John gives a day by day account of what happened following the baptism of Yahushua. The day of his baptism he met Peter and Andrew, who became his first disciples. The next day he met up with Philip and Nathaniel. The third day he was in Cana of Galilee to attend a wedding that his mother and brothers also attended. After the wedding Yahushua went to Capernaum with his mother, brothers and his disciples and “they continued there not many days”. After that Yahushua headed off to Jerusalem to keep the Passover. There is no room in his account for the forty days of temptation claimed by the other three.
2 – In the first three accounts concerning the last supper, all mention the introduction of the symbols of the wine and bread.
John 13 mentions no such symbols but instead he mentions only the foot washing ceremony. Other places in the Scriptures support the symbols of the wine and bread also, so we can know that this event actually took place; but why does John make no mention of such an important revelation? Instead he introduces the custom of washing each other’s feet. This custom is not mentioned anywhere else in Scripture. When in the Worldwide Church of God, we observed both symbols – the bread and wine and the foot washing.
I do plan on doing a more complete study on the differences of these accounts some day. For now we will get back to Yahushua’s final prayer. I simply cannot comprehend Yahushua’s final prayer being for his own physical rescue from what had been planned since the beginning of creation. John also makes no mention of Yahushua crying and sweating great drops of blood. John’s account of Yahushua’s final prayer makes much more sense to me, where he prays for those who would follow after him.
In essence, John’s account of this prayer was that Yahushua was concerned for those who would follow after him. He knew how tough their trials were going to be and that not many mortal men could endure what was to befall his followers. To help them, he sent the spirit of Yahuwah to comfort and strengthen them. To receive this spirit, we must empty ourselves of all the trappings of this world and allow Yahuwah to fill us with His spirit.
Remember the wording in John 17:3, “And this is life eternal, that they might know you the only true Elohim, and Yahushua HaMashiyack, whom you have sent.” Knowing Yahuwah is essential to attaining eternal life. To truly know Yahuwah we must become one with Him in the same manor that Yahushua was one with him. Whether or not we achieve the same degree of oneness that Yahushua enjoyed with the Father or not is not as important as being found ever striving to achieve that same oneness. It is our hearts that Yahuwah will be judging us by. Of course, we must be found striving for that perfect oneness nevertheless.
If only the path to the Kingdom was as easy as the Christian religion teaches. It would be nice if we fully received salvation unconditionally upon baptism. It would be nice to go straight to heaven the instant we die without having to ever stand before Yahuwah in the judgment. It would be even better if we did not have to die at all, but were raptured away to heaven before our hour of trial. Unfortunately those ideas are all false and are nowhere supported by Scripture.
The time of the worst tribulation the world has ever seen is soon approaching. It is absolutely essential to our salvation that Yahuwah recognizes the effort we are putting into becoming one with Him. Study the seven letters to the seven churches of Revelation carefully. At the end of each it is stated that only those who are found “overcoming” will receive any reward. We are not only to overcome the world and the “god” of this world, but we must also overcome our own carnal nature. From the evidence I have seen, many do not take this challenge seriously enough. We must be eating, drinking, dreaming and meditating on this concept constantly. The time is getting shorter by the day. Yahushua is going to return “like a thief in the night”. No one knows the hour or the day. That means we must be prepared and ready at all times. We must not even think that “Yahushua delays his coming”; that we have all the time in the world to work out our salvation. What if he were to return today? How many of us would be spiritually ready?
Salvation is partially about self examination. We must do so constantly to judge where we are at spiritually; measuring ourselves against the only being to achieve total perfection, ever. If we find that we do not measure up, then we know we have more work to do. In fact, that work never ends until the day we die.
Do not be afraid to evaluate yourself. It is human nature to try to hide our sins. Rather than hide ours we must root them out one by one and deal with them. We must eliminate them from our nature completely. If we are unsure of anything, we must ask the Father to reveal our sins to us. When He does, do not feel inadequate. Do not give up and run away. Rather, thank Yahuwah for the revelation and work earnestly to remove yourself from the sin. Keep comparing yourself to that vessel. Is it completely filled with Yahuwah’s spirit? Is it half full – a quarter? This is what becoming one with the Father means. When that vessel is filled with his spirit and He is living His life through you, you will be one with the Father as Yahushua was. You will then be fit for the Kingdom. Until then we need to get off our lazy backsides and get to work.
Please understand that all of my writings I do for my own sake as well as all of my brothers and sisters in the faith. My own human nature still presents a very large thorn in my side. It is a constant battle to overcome that human nature (as the apostle Shaul confirmed), for it is ever with us. A lot of the sins we commit come almost as natural instinct. We commit them without even thinking. Before allowing sin to win over us, we should stop and think, “What would Yahushua say, do or think.” We should know the Scriptures well enough by now to answer our own questions.
There is a lot of information and knowledge out there to study; too much for anyone man. Therefore, I welcome any information and knowledge that others have come across in their studies. It is part of our job to edify one another and help each other to grow into the fullness of the Messiah. My own understanding of the Scriptures has changed enormously since I first began to study them 30 years ago. I expect and am hoping for that understanding to grow substantially more before I pass on from this life. I may never realize the fullness of Yahushua, but I want to make sure that I am found doing everything possible to complete that fullness when Yahushua returns or when I die. I urge you all to do the same.
Yahuwah Bless
G.P.