We’ve been in this passage for a long time now. New verses, but the same passage. And as we come to this place today, we are understanding that the end was near. The feet had been washed, the passover meal had been eaten, the new covenant has been announced and a new commandment had been given. Love had been shown, lessons had been taught, promises had been made and the questions had largely been answered. All that was left, the final moment before Jesus’ arrest, he chose to spend it in prayer. At the most vital moments of the Church’s life, they [the disciples] were found praying. At the moments that changed everything, prayers had been spoken. Even at the moment when they felt like everything needed to change, they gave themselves to prayer. So what we discover is that all the Church has ever done is follow Jesus’ example. At the end of His 3 years of ministry, at the end of His 33 years of incarnation, at the end of this last night with His disciples, He decided to pray. Not close in prayer, not to bless what had been, but to wrestle in prayer, to struggle in prayer. To understand and to reveal to us that all the action happens in prayer. In this week’s sermon, “Privilege Released, Burden Lifted,” Pastor Abie Kulynych discusses Jesus’ prayer for Himself and how He lifted our burden by setting aside His glory.