Jesus Prays for All Believers
20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.
25 “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26 I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them” John 17:20-26.
Here Jesus prays for those who believe through the disciples’ word. Jesus prays for the disciples and here He prays for all believers who follow the disciples. Vital contact with future generations and all subsequent generations will not be lost, for Jesus will dwell in them as well. The indwelling of Jesus, the Christian’s earthly share in eternal life, provides the great bond of union connecting Christians of all times with the Father.
Jesus’ love for them is the same as His love for His immediate disciples, a love patterned on the eternal love of the Father for the Son. This love is so perfect that it will force even the world’s recognition. And they too shall have a share in the eternal glory of the Son.
With a cry of triumph as a close to His prayer, Jesus draws all of us into His embrace. The world has refused to hear His Father, but we who believe have known the Father, and so we share in His love and in His Son. Jesus made the Father known, and so now at this point in John’s Gospel, He proceeds to the ultimate revelation of the Cross, the resurrection, and the distribution of the Holy Spirit. “…I have made You known to them, and will continue to make You known…” John 17:26.
Take time today and meditate (think deeply about) the meaning of this prayer for all of us.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.
From the Bible:
“And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone” Matthew 14:23.
“When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed…”John 17:1-26.
“But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray” Luke 5:16.
“And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed” Mark 1:35.
“And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray” Mark 6:46.
“In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence” Hebrews 5:7.
“Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last” Luke 23:46.
“And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all” Mark 6:41.
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