Musing – Did you know that Jesus prayed for you?

 Hebraic Musing – Did you know that Jesus prayed for you?

John 17 starts with “Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said…” John 17:1 NKJV   As apostle John remembers Jesus’ prayer; this is at the end of the five-chapter message (in red letters!) that Jesus gave to His disciples.  In chapter 17 Jesus wraps up his long prayer to His Father with this prayer for himself, His Disciples, and for All Believers (That includes you and me!).  What was on our Lord Jesus’ heart?

What was His prayer for Himself?   “Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: ‘Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him.  And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.  I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.  And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.’”  John 17:1-5 NKJV

What was Jesus prayer for His Disciples, like John and like you and me?  Remember that we are, or should be, His disciples, but we weren’t there.  What was Jesus saying to us, His disciples in vs. 6-19:
 - they have kept Your word   v.6
 - they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You   v.8
 - they have believed that You sent Me   v.8
 - I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours   v.9
 - keep through Your name those whom You have given Me,  that they may be one as We are   v.11
 - that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves    v.13
 - that You should keep them from the evil one     v.15
 - Sanctify them by Your truth    v.17
 - As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world     v.18

Apparently, there is a job Jesus expects us to be doing!

Now let’s understand what Jesus prayed for you and me (and all Believers) in verses 20-26!

v.20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;” i.e. Not praying for just the Apostles, but also for us believers to come!  You and me!!!!

v.21 “that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us,”  How can we achieve that “oneness” that Jesus is asking for?   

v.22-23 “And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.”  That’s a lot of LOVE!!!

v.24 “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.”  Jesus is looking forward to us joining Him in heaven for eternity. PTL!

v.25-26 “O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me.  And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”   What kind of Love was Jesus calling for?

Points to ponder

How does it feel to have Jesus praying an “Intercessory Prayer” for you?

How important were Jesus’ words, that John remembered them 50 or so years later?

Is there a job Jesus is expecting you and I to be doing?

Maybe John’s frequent sharing of the Lord’s Scripture was good for his memory!!!

♫  Oh, How He Loves You, Oh, How He Loves Me, Oh, How He Loves You And Me.  ♫

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                   October 29, 2024
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”