DAY 17 // JOHN 17 // "JESUS PRAYED FOR YOU!" // NICKIE FOX

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one. I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”

When I found out that my assignment for our devotional series was John 17, I said (in a sarcastic tone), “Oh thanks! You gave me the chapter that Pastor Larry wrote an entire book on!”
I don’t have a doctorate like Pastor Larry or Deb, but I hope we can be encouraged and challenged by looking at this portion of scripture together today.
During our 21 days of prayer and fasting, what better way to focus on prayer than to study how Jesus prayed. In John 17, we find Jesus’ longest recorded prayer. This chapter comes right before his arrest. Even when Jesus knew he was headed for the cross, he took time to pray for US! This display of love overwhelms me! Who am I that You should be mindful of me? Let’s take a look at the scriptures.

20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,
21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one.
23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”

Jesus prayed for you! Jesus prayed for those who would believe because of the message preached by the apostles. He prayed for the sanctification and mission of His followers. Jesus was confident that the apostles would spread the gospel. He prayed for those who would believe as a result. All future believers are included in this prayer. Isn’t that great?

What did Jesus pray? UNITY! Jesus set the standard of unity in these verses by the example of the Father and Son. In verse 21 it reads, “that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.” Complete unity is only possible with believers because of the indwelling. The Father indwells in the Son, and the Son indwells in believers (verse 23). This prayer of unity is also a rebuke of the groundless and often bitter divisions among believers. Ephesians 4:3 says, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” I don’t know about you, but in these times of political and racial tension, it seems almost impossible to have unity with one another. However, only with the indwelling of Christ in our lives are we able to love one another and live in unity & peace as Christ has commanded us to do.

Why unity? That the world may believe! When we are unified and clothed with peace, love, joy, and kindness… we stand out! We are all evangelists who are living on mission to share God’s love for people. Believers are to be characterized by humility and service--just as Christ was. If we back up to verse 18, Jesus says, “As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.” We are not of this world! We may long for heaven, but the work that needs to be done is here on earth.

Church, let’s live in unity, no matter what is going on around us, so that they may know HIM!
So, during this last week of focused prayer and fasting, know that Jesus prayed and continues to pray FOR you.
For a more in depth look at John 17, check out Pastor Larry Walkemeyer’s book on Amazon titled, “Together With God''. It’s all about living in the power of Jesus’ greatest prayer.

Prayer Focus: Pray for our TEACH ministries that souls would be discipled and matured.