My Prayer

Scripture: John 17:9-12 (Click link for scripture in Bible Gateway)

9 “My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you. 10 All who are mine belong to you, and you have given them to me, so they bring me glory. 11 Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, you have given me your name; now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are. 12 During my time here, I protected them by the power of the name you gave me. I guarded them so that not one was lost, except the one headed for destruction, as the Scriptures foretold. (John 17:9-12 NLT)

“My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you.” Did Jesus not care for the world? Of course he did! He was giving his life to take away the sins of the world! Then why is this prayer for his disciples and not for the world? He prayed for his disciples because their faithfulness to the mission he was giving them was the hope of the world’s salvation! The plan was for these men and the other men and women who remained faithful to be filled with the Holy Spirit soon after Christ’s resurrection and ascension and to take the message of God’s redeeming love to the world. There was no other plan!

The lives of Jesus’ disciples would bring him glory. He built no organization, he held no office or position, he built no buildings. What he did was to leave behind these eleven men and the other men and women whose lives he had shaped by his teaching and example. If anything was to come of his time on earth, it would come through the lives of these men, those other men and women, and those they influenced in the days ahead. All that would come on the other side of their desertion, his crucifixion, the dark hours for all when he was in the tomb, and their amazement when he appeared to them on the other side of the grave. There was no other plan!

Jesus prayed that his followers would be protected, not only from harm, but from unhealthy self-interest, from strife among themselves, and from disunity. And he called on the full power of The Name to protect them. Jesus prayed that the unity of his followers would be like the unity that exists in the Godhead, the unity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! That’s a big prayer, friends! And remember, there is no other plan!

Prayer:

Father, Now as then, may we be united and faithful, just as they were, just as you are! Amen!