This week’s Pastor to Person was written by Pastor Caleb Beller.
[John 17:20 NIV] 20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,”
Jesus’ prayer here in John 17 is one of the greatest treasures of scripture. Jesus would soon be betrayed, falsely accused, beaten and ultimately crucified. Yet with the weight of all this pending who does He pray for?
Nearly 60% of this prayer Jesus prays for His disciples, and almost 25% of His prayer is for you and me! How amazing is it that 2,000 years ago, as Jesus was preparing for the cross, we were on His heart! Jesus emphasizes two things for us who believe in Him, through the disciples’ message.
The first in unity. Four times Jesus is going to refer to “oneness” or “unity.” The idea is that we are no longer a fractured piece of broken humanity, but that we are now whole in Christ. The image-of-God fully restored through the work of Jesus and the Spirit in us! Jesus says that this unity will reflect His love to the world.
Secondly Jesus expresses His desire for us to one day be with Him. To see Jesus as He truly is and to experience the glory of Heaven.
Let us allow His prayer to fill our hearts and minds today! May the unity of Christ in you and you in Him reveal the fullness of who you were created to be. May the hope of heaven fill us with excitement and motivation to share His love with the world around us!