I'm Praying for *Them*

Jesus' High Priestly Prayer, Part 2

John 17:9-19 | 1 Corinthians 15:57-58

There’s something about the way Jesus prays for his disciples here that might be unsettling to us modern Christians, we who have been raised to change the world.

Such a call - change the world - is not very strong in the gospels. For sure, Jesus conquered the world. The enemy is his footstool. The end is already made. We live in accordance.

But there is something about the circle of Christ’s community, with an exclusiveness that’s open to all (who would join in). In a particular way, God does God’s work therein.

Why would Jesus say, “I’m not praying for the world.”? We could interpret it to mean that simply in this moment, in this prayer he is not praying for the world and only the disciples. But there is likely something else going on.

The people of God - first being the people Israel - were called and set aside to live on earth as God’s people, the light to the nations. Christ on the cross broke it open to all people. And then the burst of the holy spirit reinforced such global breadth. Anyone can join in on the terms of the kingdom of God. Some may do it without even knowing it!

But there are boundaries, indeed.

It’s perhaps disturbingly interesting to note that the Church in Acts sold all their possessions and distributed the proceeds…to those in the Church.

Receive this prayer as a boon to your strength to live where you’re at, within the community of the Church, the people called Christians. Be a blessing to the world, but acknowledge that there is the Church, and there is the world.

(Don’t miss his sanctification in the truth - his word is truth.)

May you know Christ today as you join in worship with his people wherever you’re at.

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John 17:9-19

“I’m praying for them. I’m not praying for the world but for those you gave me, because they are yours. Everything that is mine is yours and everything that is yours is mine; I have been glorified in them. I’m no longer in the world, but they are in the world, even as I’m coming to you. Holy Father, watch over them in your name, the name you gave me, that they will be one just as we are one. When I was with them, I watched over them in your name, the name you gave to me, and I kept them safe. None of them were lost, except the one who was destined for destruction, so that scripture would be fulfilled. Now I’m coming to you and I say these things while I’m in the world so that they can share completely in my joy. I gave your word to them and the world hated them, because they don’t belong to this world, just as I don’t belong to this world. I’m not asking that you take them out of this world but that you keep them safe from the evil one. They don’t belong to this world, just as I don’t belong to this world. Make them holy in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. I made myself holy on their behalf so that they also would be made holy in the truth.

1 Corinthians 15:57-58

Thanks be to God, who gives us this victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! As a result of all this, my loved brothers and sisters, you must stand firm, unshakable, excelling in the work of the Lord as always, because you know that your labor isn’t going to be for nothing in the Lord.

Prayer (today, a song)

Jesus loves me, this I know,
For the bible tells me so.
Little ones to him belong.
They are weak, but he is strong.

Yes, Jesus loves me!
The bible tells me so.

Jesus loves me, this I know
As the spirit leads me so.
For Christ sent her to the earth
Giving us a second birth.

Yes, Jesus loves me!
The spirit leads me so.

Jesus loves me, this I choose,
It is the heart of the good news,
People near and everywhere
Find in him the Father's care.

Yes, Jesus loves me!
The heart of the good news.

Jesus loves me, this we feel,
When his people feed and heal.
By his lead we go and serve,
Everywhere, his way preserve.

Yes, Jesus loves me!
His people, go and serve.