Holy Week, DAY 2

6 “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. 8 For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. 9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. John 17:6 - 19 (ESV)

Today we will look at the two remaining purposes of Jesus’ prayer.

1. Jesus prays for the disciples (Verses 6 – 19). He does not pray for the world (those who do not belong to Him). He prays for those who belong to God. He simply prays for them because they belong to the Father. Why does Jesus pray for the disciples?
   1. To keep them safe: He prays that the disciples would be preserved or kept secure and not leave the fold. Jesus prays for their security and they have it since Jesus asks the Father for it.
   2. For unity: Jesus asks the Father for the disciples to be unified relationally and unified or become one just as the Father and Son are one in faith. This is deeper than friendship. This is brotherhood.
   3.  For their joy to be complete: He prays that they would find joy in Him and not in the world; that they would have true and complete joy which only God can give.
   4. To protect them from the evil one: The disciples were protected from the evil one. Satan will try to rob them of their joy and try to convince them to turn away, but Jesus has prayed that they would be secure in salvation and that they would experience true joy (which nobody can take away).
      
      
2. He prays for the Church (Verses 20 - 26). Jesus prays for those who will believe by the testimony of the disciples. This prayer includes us. This amazes me most; Jesus prayed for you and for me. He is specific in what He prays for. He prays the same prayer for us as he prayed for the disciples.
   1. He prays unity among believers or the Church body: Jesus prayed that we would be unified or be as one as the Father and Son are one. We are to be of one mind, one body (with many parts) and through our unity and love for one another the world will see that we belong to Jesus.
   2. He prays that we have complete joy in Jesus: We have the complete joy of Jesus available to us today, so live in His joy. We have a God who loves us and who has redeemed us through Jesus Christ. This is something to be joyful about.
   3. He prays for protection from the Evil One – Jesus continually intercedes (prays) for us (Read Hebrews 7:25). Through Jesus we can and do live victorious lives. The Bible says that Satan is the accuser of the brothers (Revelation 12:10). In fact, the Bible says Satan accuses God’s children night and day before God. Yet Jesus intercedes for us (Romans 8:33 – 39)
      
      

Isn’t it awesome that Jesus not only prayed for the disciples who were with Him, but He prayed for and continues to pray for you and me? How does it make you feel to know that Jesus is making intercession for you, even at this very moment as you read this devotional?