John 17 -- You and I are IN the Bible!

What an incredible privilege we have, being privy to this incredibly personal prayer from Jesus to our Father – hearing Him speak about us to God.

He described the eternal life He had given us – “that people know you, the only true God, and that they know Jesus Christ, the One You sent.”  And by using the word Christ in His name, He is openly declaring Himself to be the Messiah!

In verse 10, where Jesus prays, “All I have is Yours, and all You have is Mine,” my commentary noted how easy it would be to say the first part, but also how impossible it would be for us to mean the second part.  It was only because Jesus was equal with God that He could say it and mean it.

Jesus prayed this for us:  “I am not asking You to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the Evil One.”  My commentary said that He wasn’t praying for escape, but preservation for us.

Verse 20 is incredibly special:  “I pray for these followers, but I am also praying for all those who WILL believe in Me because of their teaching.”  WOW!  Jesus specifically prayed for me AND my sons all those centuries ago!  He also established residence in us in verse 23:  “I will be IN them and You will be in Me so that they will be completely one.  Then the world will know that: 

1)       You sent Me, and

2)       That You loved them just as much as You loved Me

Father, it’s beyond my ability to conceive that You would or could love me just as much as You loved Your Son, Jesus Christ.  He is infinitely worthy of Your love and I am not.  Yet You choose to do it anyway.  AMAZING LOVE, Father!  Amazing love!

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford