For those also who believe

The Disciples in the World

¹³ But now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves. ¹⁴ I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. ¹⁵ I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. ¹⁶ They are not of the world, even 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, I also have sent them into the world. ¹⁹ For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.

²⁰ “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; ²¹ that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.

²² The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; ²³ I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me. ²⁴ Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.

²⁵ “O righteous Father, although the world has not known You, yet I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me; ²⁶ and I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known, so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”

This passage from John 17, in today's chronological readings in the One Year Bible, is a prayer that Jesus prayed to the Father in the garden just before His arrest and crucifixtion. The other gospel accounts record only one line of Jesus prayer that night. Luke 22:42,44 says this:

 saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” ...⁴⁴ And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground.

We can tell from the accounts that this prayer in the garden lasted for hours. Jesus had come back to the disciples to find them sleeping and returned to continue praying. The other gospel writers only record the very brief line from Jesus prayer. But John in verse 17 of his gospel account records the heart of Jesus prayer that night. You see as He prayed  fervently for those hours, in agony, it was not the cross and what He faced that caused Him to sweat drops of blood. Jesus came for the cross. It was His purpose from the begining. His response to what He faced was "not My will, but Yours be done."

I want you to look at these 2 verses again.

²⁰ “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; ²¹ that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.

Jesus prayer is not on behalf of these(the disciples) alone, but for those who believe in Him through their word. Those who believe in Jesus through their word, That's you, that's me. Every believer that has come to know Jesus through the word and testimony of the disciples is included in Jesus prayer that night. You can insert your name into that prayer. I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for _________ and those who believe through their word.

When Jesus interceeded and prayed to the point of sweating blood, He prayed for you. He prayed that night for every hardship, test and trial you would face. He prayed that night for the thing you face today. He prayed to the point of shedding His blood. Do you think the Father will not answer the prayer, the fervent prayer of His Son? Jesus asked the Father that we would be one with Them, that we would know the glory of the Father and the Son.

Jesus prayer of intercession that night is the greatest prayer of intercession ever offered. A little later Jesus went to the cross in the greatest act of intercession know to man. Both the prayer and the cross cost Jesus His blood. His blood shed for you and for me. The power to cleanse us from sin. The power to heal the power to change circumstances.

Jesus offered that prayer of intercession that night. Later He offered His life as an act of intercession. Today Jesus is still interceeding for you.

Romans 8:34    Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

As I said previously, I would count it an honor and privilege to pray for you. Leave your request on the prayer request page. Our prayer and our intercession for you and for your need will be that the prayer of our Lord that night will be manifested in your life today.

Thy will be done. Thy kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven.