Scripture: John 17: 9-19 (CEB)
9 “I’m praying for them. I’m not praying for the world but for those you gave me, because they are yours. 10 Everything that is mine is yours and everything that is yours is mine; I have been glorified in them. 11 I’m no longer in the world, but they are in the world, even as I’m coming to you. Holy Father, watch over them in your name, the name you gave me, that they will be one just as we are one. 12 When I was with them, I watched over them in your name, the name you gave to me, and I kept them safe. None of them were lost, except the one who was destined for destruction, so that scripture would be fulfilled. 13 Now I’m coming to you and I say these things while I’m in the world so that they can share completely in my joy. 14 I gave your word to them and the world hated them, because they don’t belong to this world, just as I don’t belong to this world. 15 I’m not asking that you take them out of this world but that you keep them safe from the evil one. 16 They don’t belong to this world, just as I don’t belong to this world. 17 Make them holy in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 I made myself holy on their behalf so that they also would be made holy in the truth.
What does this passage mean to me/us?
Contributed by Hazel Keller
Hey, say a prayer for me.
Mmm (head shakes), I’ll pray about that.
So and so is going through it, remember her/him in prayer.
We have all said these things or had them said to us, in more than likely, a nonchalant way. What if Christ at his last moments with his disciples approached this prayer in John 17 that way? I’m humbled to say that I am guilty of not always acknowledging the power in sincerely praying. Taking a few moments with someone to pray has “benefits.” It’s not an insurance policy, I am aware of that, so hear me out… I am encouraged when someone prays with me because I’m not alone. Yes, God is always with us, but are we always with each other in Christ?
For me, togetherness is encouraging, it boosts my faith, lessens my worry, and makes us accountable to one another. Verse 10-11 “All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 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.” We need to be ONE, Jesus requests it! ONE is suffering, rejoicing, worshiping, and being in the in between together.
While reading this prayer it stood out to me that Jesus looked up to heaven to speak to God, His Father, our Father. It stood out to me how much Jesus’ love is God’s love. It stood out that Jesus asked God to give us what God had given him. That prayer, it’s sincere, it’s reverent, it is a calling. Some prayers need to be heard by one another. The disciples needed to hear what Jesus was praying, sometimes we need to hear each other. I think about how the pastor prays at the end of the sermon, it’s not a private secret cry, it’s a prayer for us, the ONE to reflect and hear the call.
Prayer
Lord, make us One with each other in Prayer. In the name of Jesus Christ, AMEN
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