Gospel

The Master's Prayer Part 3

by Roland Crim
12/27/16
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“I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you 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.†John 17:13-19 NIV

 

We continue reading the beautiful prayer of our Lord to the Heavenly Father made on the evening before His crucifixion. It never ceases to amaze me all that our Lord said to the Father in so few words. Not one word is wasted. It truly is amazing!

 

Jesus made this prayer audibly so that we might have the full measure of His joy within us. How wonderful that our Lord would say that with His imminent death so close at hand. He cares so much about us that He had and still has this desire for us, His followers.

 

We are hated by the world because we have accepted and believe in the words that Jesus provided to us from the Heavenly Father. We are hated by the world because of Jesus.

 

Jesus did not belong to this world. We, His followers do not belong to this world either. We are in the world, but we do not belong to it. This world is full of hate, destruction, self-centered, self-seeking people, who look for worldly treasures. They may have their fill, but, it will all be in vain.

 

Jesus does not ask that we, His believers be taken out of this world. We have work to do for our Lord. We need to spread the Good News about Jesus Christ. Our Lord wants us to help in winning souls to Him. Time is short. Jesus is coming again. Jesus does ask the Father to protect His believers from the evil one. The evil one will do all in his power to thwart the advancement of God’s kingdom. We therefore do need protection in carrying out the work of the Lord.

 

Jesus sanctifies Himself that the Father might sanctify us with truth, and truth is the word of the Father.

 

Let us always be thankful for this prayer of our Lord, and for the protection we are provided so that we can work for the advancement of God’s kingdom. We, like our Lord, do not belong to this world! AMEN!!