Christ's prayer for you

Jesus knows his time as come to accomplish his purpose to die on the cross for the forgiveness of man’s sins. He also realizes this means his time on earth is nearly done and he will soon return to heaven. Therefore he prays to God that his disciples would be one as God is one, protected from the evil one, and sanctified in the truth. Now this is a powerful prayer but I really want us to look at the last six verses as Jesus prays for those who would believe in Christ through the disciples teachings. Look with me at John 17:20-26.

John 17:20–26 ESV

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just 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 have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

Do you realize this means that Jesus knows he is but hours from the Cross and his thoughts are on not only his disciples who have walked with him over the last 3 and half years, but he is thinking of you and I and all the others who would believe in him through his disciples teachings. Jesus took time out of his last hours on earth to pray for you. What a powerful encouragement that is to me. Its overwhelming to think about. Luke records his agony of knowing the cross is coming and the well known phrase not my will but thy will be done but instead of dwelling on the pain of the cross he is praying for you and I. What is it that is so important Jesus is praying about it hours before his death.

Oneness

One with God and each other.

Same character/purpose/attributes

This is only possible through the Holy Spirit living within us. As each one of us draws closer to God and into a more perfect oneness with Him we draw closer together in oneness as well.

He says it 3 time that they may be one even saying perfectly one

Why do we need oneness- that the world might believe that Christ came from the Father. The worlds desire for salvation depends upon the oneness of the church. Why is America departing from God because we have become such a divided church. we fight bicker and argue over everything from doctrine to the color of the carpet. Why would anyone want to come to a church thats fighting and arguing and hateful to fellow christians.

Be with and to know God

Be in heaven

He prays for us to be in heaven where he is. God wants to spend time with you to be with you reside with you. Many times when we think of heaven we think of mansions and friends and family but the glory of heaven is we get to be with God forever. To really know Him as He is.

See the Glory of God

We think of glory as something we give to God we glorify him we give him glory. but glory is something God already has and when we glorify Him we are praising him for that which is already his. Sadly we don’t even know the real glory of God God told Moses and the prophets over and over again no man can look at me in my glory and live. Isaiah saw him in a dream and was afraid for his life, but in heaven we will see Him in his glory and know Him as we are known. What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see…

Love of God

He prays for the love with which the Father loved him to be in us. How much does God the Father love God the Son. how much does God love himself. God is love 1 John 4:8. If God is love than how much does love love itself. Its indescribable, infinite, immeasurable. And Jesus prays that this love be in you. What are the two greatest commandments Love God love people. Love covers a multitude of sins 1 Peter 4:8. By this he world will know you are my disciples by your love one for another John 13:35. Love is core to who we are as Christians. Yet it seems the older the church gets and often the older the Christian gets the more we lean towards legalism rather than love and mercy. We become bitter rather than more loving.

Invitation

I have two questions for you first do you know the love of God have you accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior? If not in just a moment we will have a song of invitation and I encourage you to just come up and ask me how can I be saved? I would love to talk more with you about that and to pray with you. Then for those who are Christians i ask to judge yourselves are you seeking oneness with God and the church, are you seeking to really know God, and are you filled with the love of God? Or are you lacking in one of these areas and need to repent and ask God to help you improve. Let it not be that our lives were lived in such a way that caused the lost to not desire to know God and his love. As we sing this song of invitation if you have a decision to make, or need to pray now is the time will you come.