GET CONNECTED with our CHURCH FAMILY … responding to human need

Thursday, February 15

John 17:1-8 – Jesus Prays for His Disciples (RSV)

After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom 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 glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed. “I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.”

Devotion

According to some Biblical scholars, this is the last prayer that Jesus made before the cross. Since the sixteenth century, it has been referred to as the “high priestly prayer of Jesus.” He offered it in the upper room just hours before his arrest. Judas Iscariot had already left the group to betray Him; Jesus is praying for his 11 remaining disciples who are there with Him. He prays not only for his current disciples but also for all future disciples.

If we believe in Jesus Christ and his teachings, then, we are also among this unity of believers. It is written that the world recognizes us as Christ’s disciples by our love for one another. Therefore, when Jesus prayed for his disciples, He showed us that we need to pray for one another. Is this not a true form of service to others?

Certainly, we see some of our sins, faults, and short comings. Jesus sees them even more clearly, and yet He continues to intercede for us and forgive us. So, we must forgive and pray for each other. Because we have all been given by God to Jesus, all who believe will have eternal life.

Prayer

Our dear Savior, we are so grateful that you sacrificed your life to save us from our sins. We ask that you guide us to pray for and to help all of those around us in love. Amen.

Karen Siple