Have you read Jesus’ prayer for you? Did you know He prayed for you? John 17 is that prayer. He prays over the disciples who were with Him and for every one of us who would become His followers later. His prayer is both intimate and profound as He speaks to the Father.
Jesus is praying specifically for those who decide to follow Him. He knows not everyone in the world will choose to do so. He knows the evil in the world will make every attempt to trip us up. He knows we need the protection that only the Father can provide. He prays for it all.
Jesus gives full credit to the Father. He states that all of us belong to the Father and to Him because the Father has given us into Jesus’ care. Notice that Jesus says He is glorified in us. His glory comes in our being good representatives of Him. The more we follow His example and represent Him well, the more glory He receives.
Jesus asks the Father to protect us in His name. We are being protected in Jesus’ name. We are covered with God’s grace and mercy in Jesus’ name. And why does Jesus ask for that protection? So that we will be one, just as He and the Father are one. That means we are to be of one mind, working as one body. Rather than bickering over minuscule differences, we are to unite in the significant agreements, such as believing that Jesus is the Son of God, that He died on a cross for us, and that He rose on the third day. By uniting as one, we bring glory to Him.
I pray we all know that Jesus prayed for us. I pray we know that Jesus is glorified in us. I pray each one of us will choose to unite as one, just as Jesus and the Father are one. Jesus prayed for you. Jesus is glorified in you. Choose to unite as one in Jesus’ name. The Father is protecting you in Jesus’ name.
John 17:9-11 “I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.”
Marty Pressey 