We get an intimate glance in John 17 at Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane before He was arrested. This beautiful Father-Son conversation where Jesus speaks to His Father and prays for His glory to be done.
“I brought glory to You here on earth by completing the work You gave me to do.” (v.4)
And then Jesus moves on to pray for the disciples that He’s leaving. Asking that they would be strengthened.
“I’m not asking You to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to this world any more than I do. Make them holy by Your Truth; teach them Your Word, which is Truth. Just as You sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your Truth.” (v.15-19)
Jesus prays for His disciples that He spent the last three years with… knowing that they still didn’t fully comprehend that He was going to die and rise to life again. He then prays for all future disciples.
“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as You and I are one – as You are in me, Father, and I am in You. And may they be in us so that the world will believe You sent me. I have given them the glory You gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and You are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that You sent me and that You love them as much as You love me. Father, I want these whom You have given to me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory You gave me because You loved me even before the world began!” (v.20-24)
He prayed for you and me!
That just makes me so emotional… we are His purpose for coming to earth! He paid the price of our sin so we can know the Father. He had us on His mind. From the Garden to the Cross, and past the empty grave. He thought of you and me.
“O righteous Father, the world doesn’t know You, but I do; and these disciples know You sent me. I have revealed You to them, and I will continue to do so. Then Your love for me will be in them, and I will be in them.” (v.25-26)
We have such a loving Heavenly Father! His plan, before the foundation of the world, was to give us each choice and also an abundance of Grace. We’ve been on His mind since then…
At the lowest of days, when we may feel that no one else sees us or cares, may we all be reminded of the love of a Father that sent His Son. The love of a Son that had us in mind. And the love of His Spirit that lives in us and will never leave us or forsake us….
What a beautiful love story!
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