John 17

The other evening at confirmation class we were talking about the Lord's Prayer. I thought I heard our youth director at Central Lutheran in Elk River mention a verse in John 17, so I turned there. The students soon went to their small groups and I sat there and read John 17. I realized something very humbling that I've never realized before. Jesus prayed for me. John 17 is nothing but Jesus praying. He begins by praying for Himself, recognizing that the time has come for the Father to glorify His Son so that the Son could glorify Him. Jesus then prays for his disciples, praying that the Father would protect them by the power of the name of Jesus. Jesus prays that God will not take them out of the world but will protect them from the evil one. "They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified."

Jesus then prays for future believers.

"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. Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them."

How extremely awesome is that!!!