Gospel

The Master's Prayer Part 4

by Roland Crim
12/28/16
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“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—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will 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.” John 17:20-26 NIV

We now read the final part of Jesus’ prayer to the Father prior to going to the garden, where He would be arrested. For Jesus to have been able to focus on His prayer, knowing what lay ahead for Him is truly amazing. He knew the Father would take care of believers, yet He wanted those present to hear Him pray this prayer to the Father.

The prayer is extended by Jesus to include all believers. Is it not amazing that 2000 years ago Jesus said a prayer for you and me? Jesus prayed for the unity of all believers. He wanted us to be one, just as the Father and the Son were and are One. He prayed that we all would be united with the Father and the Son. We have much work to carry out for our Lord. For others to believe that the Father sent the Son, we must be united with the Father and the Son, that it may show when we speak to others about Jesus. Through the glory we have been shown by our Lord, we are united to the Father and the Son, as well as to each other. Jesus seeks the complete unity of all believers. We have not yet obtained that complete unity. This at times hinders us doing all the work we are given. We must strive for unity with all believers. Let us focus on that which we have in common rather than differences we have in our belief. The more we strive for unity, the more unbelievers can know that the Father sent the Son, and that the Father, Son, Spirit, and all believers are united as one.

Jesus desires that believers see His glory, the glory He had with the Father prior to the creation of the universe. Believers know Jesus, and that He was sent by the Father. Jesus has already, and continues to make the Father known to those whom belong to Him. He does this so that the love of the Father will dwell in us, and He Himself will also dwell in us. How blessed we are to have the Holy Trinity indwell us. Through this indwelling, accompanied by daily reading of scripture, and prayer to the Father and the Son, we are then equipped to carry out the work the Lord gives to us. We can then work for the advancement of the kingdom of God! Let us do our work for the Lord, as the harvest is ready! Time is short and the workers are few! AMEN!!