In our reflection today, we drawn into another personality of Jesus. A personality who cares and worries for his disciples. He is so worried that he prays to the Father for the disciples. Unlike other brief prayers that usually characterize the nature of Jesus, here almost the whole of Chapter 17 of John’s gospel is dedicated to the disciples.
Click below for the whole text of John Chapter 17
21 Day Lighting Experience – John Chapter 17
17 After Jesus finished saying this, he looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Give glory to your Son, so that the Son may give glory to you. 2 For you gave him authority over all people, so that he might give eternal life to all those you gave him. 3 And eternal life means to know you, the only true God, and to know Jesus Christ, whom you sent. 4 I have shown your glory on earth; I have finished the work you gave me to do. 5 Father! Give me glory in your presence now, the same glory I had with you before the world was made.
6 “I have made you known to those you gave me out of the world. They belonged to you, and you gave them to me. They have obeyed your word, 7 and now they know that everything you gave me comes from you. 8 I gave them the message that you gave me, and they received it; they know that it is true that I came from you, and they believe that you sent me.
9 “I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those you gave me, for they belong to you. 10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine; and my glory is shown through them. 11 And now I am coming to you; I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world. Holy Father! Keep them safe by the power of your name, the name you gave me,[a] so that they may be one just as you and I are one. 12 While I was with them, I kept them safe by the power of your name, the name you gave me.[b] I protected them, and not one of them was lost, except the man who was bound to be lost—so that the scripture might come true. 13 And now I am coming to you, and I say these things in the world so that they might have my joy in their hearts in all its fullness. 14 I gave them your message, and the world hated them, because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 15 I do not ask you to take them out of the world, but I do ask you to keep them safe from the Evil One. 16 Just as I do not belong to the world, they do not belong to the world. 17 Dedicate them to yourself by means of the truth; your word is truth. 18 I sent them into the world, just as you sent me into the world. 19 And for their sake I dedicate myself to you, in order that they, too, may be truly dedicated to you.
20 “I pray not only for them, but also for those who believe in me because of their message. 21 I pray that they may all be one. Father! May they be in us, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they be one, so that the world will believe that you sent me. 22 I gave them the same glory you gave me, so that they may be one, just as you and I are one: 23 I in them and you in me, so that they may be completely one, in order that the world may know that you sent me and that you love them as you love me.
24 “Father! You have given them to me, and I want them to be with me where I am, so that they may see my glory, the glory you gave me; for you loved me before the world was made. 25 Righteous Father! The world does not know you, but I know you, and these know that you sent me. 26 I made you known to them, and I will continue to do so, in order that the love you have for me may be in them, and so that I also may be in them.”
So what does Jesus pray for? Jesus prays for the unity of the disciples, that is, he prays for love among the disciples. The adage that says united we stand, divided we fall can be related to the desire of Jesus. However, the unity is not planned towards any kind of unity but the unity with God. We too as children of God are implored to be united with the body of Christ. Our unity in God and with Christ is predicated on our knowing God loving God and serving God.
Jesus also prays for the protection of the disciples. He presents this distinction between being in the world and of the world, we are in the world but not expected to be of the world. Being of the world is to be dependent on the laws, practices, nuances and dictates of the world. Being of the world is being worldly and finding joys in the dictates and expectations of the world. On the other hand, Jesus expects us, his disciples, to depend on everything that comes from the mouth of God. Jesus wants us to be depend on the will of God.
Another great prayer point of Jesus is that of the preservation of the disciples. Preservation of our faith is key. Without the help of God we cannot please God. Jesus prays that the disciples do not get lost.
Lord, your constant love reaches the heavens;
your faithfulness extends to the skies.
Psalm 36:5
Jesus prays for the mission of the disciples. Jesus in a special way prays for the continuity of the work of God. Jesus prays that he would continue to be in them. Being baptized is not enough, we must strive each day to remain in Christ. We must take time to engage with God through prayers. It is a constant fellowship we must learn to continually do, personally of collectively. This is why we see in the gospel, Jesus Christ often retreats to the mountain or a quiet place to be with the Father. This was essential for his mission on earth. So how often do we retire to a quiet place to be with God? Let’s make this a new habit.
We should take time out to read the words of the Psalmist in Psalm 36. Click below to read Psalm 36
21 Day Lighting Experience – Psalm 36 (GNT)
Human Wickedness
Sin speaks to the wicked deep in their hearts; they reject God and do not have reverence for him. 2 Because they think so highly of themselves, they think that God will not discover their sin and condemn it. 3 Their speech is wicked and full of lies; they no longer do what is wise and good. 4 They make evil plans as they lie in bed; nothing they do is good, and they never reject anything evil.
The Goodness of God
5 Lord, your constant love reaches the heavens; your faithfulness extends to the skies. 6 Your righteousness is towering like the mountains; your justice is like the depths of the sea. People and animals are in your care. 7 How precious, O God, is your constant love! We find[b] protection under the shadow of your wings. 8 We feast on the abundant food you provide; you let us drink from the river of your goodness. 9 You are the source of all life, and because of your light we see the light. 10 Continue to love those who know you and to do good to those who are righteous. 11 Do not let proud people attack me or the wicked make me run away. 12 See where evil people have fallen. There they lie, unable to rise.
Verse 10 says that God continues to love those who know him and to do good to those who are righteous. We are encouraged today to make special efforts to act like our penny catechism teaches us that God made us to know him, love him and serve him. This is also the prayer of Jesus today for you and I that are in the world but not of the world.
Join us tomorrow, 17th February for Lighting Experience – Day 17
Speechlesswaters