Jesus Is Praying for You!

Michael W. Waters
John 17:9-19 (NLT)
9 “My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you. 10 All who are mine belong to you, and you have given them to me, so they bring me glory. 11 Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, you have given me your name;[a] now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are. 12 During my time here, I protected them by the power of the name you gave me. b I guarded them so that not one was lost, except the one headed for destruction, as the Scriptures foretold.
13 “Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy. 14 I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 15 I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. 16 They do not belong to this world any more than I do. 17 Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. 18 Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. 19 And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.

One of the greatest gifts given by God to God’s children is the gift of prayer. It seems rather peculiar that an all-wise, all-powerful, all-present God would have any particular interest in hearing the petitions of such weak, inconsistent and feeble-minded persons as ourselves. Nonetheless, God has great interest in our prayers, and God constantly desires to hear from us.

Possibly even more baffling is the witness of Scripture that declares that God prays to Godself for us. Is there any greater guarantee, any greater assurance known in all of creation than the fulfillment of prayers that God has prayed to Godself? God’s prayers are answered prayers!

In this text, we find Jesus praying for us. The magnitude of this statement is overwhelming – Jesus praying for us even as crucifixion was imminent. What is the content of Jesus’ prayer for us? It is for protection (protect them by the power of your name; keep them safe from the evil one). It is for unity among us (…protect them…so that they will be united just as we are). It is that we be made righteous (…Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth).

As you walk through this Lenten season, do so with the confidence of knowing that the prayers that Jesus has prayed for you are guaranteed and assured. You are protected, you are safe - have no fear! We are one – one faith, one LORD, one baptism! And you have been made righteous through Jesus’ sacrifice.

Michael W. Waters
Dallas, Texas
www.joytabernacleame.org