Devotionals

The Man on the Cross: He has no plans of his own

by Henry Jaegers
06/25/20
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"Jesus said: follow me!" What happens next? 
By Henry Jaegers

The Man on the Cross: He has no plans of his own

I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do (John 17:4)

Suppose Jesus decided to retire from his ministry? This morning as I began this devotional, my mind was drawn to John chapter 17. It is truly, the high priestly prayer of Jesus and as I carefully contemplated its message, I wondered how anyone was ever allowed to put this chapter into the Bible.

 Just as no-one but the high priest was allowed to enter into the holy of holies, now we find Jesus alone with his father in the same place. And I cannot help but think that God wanted this here for us to read and think about carefully. 

I must confess, after reading this, that I am full of shame that I have not given more careful attention to this marvelous chapter. 

Do you know what I discovered, that has never occurred to me before? It is that Jesus prayed for me in that prayer. For me, Henry living in the year 2020. 

These are the words that have caught my attention in verse 20; “neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 

then the thought came to me as I have heard said before, suppose no one ever told me? Could this prayer ever be fulfilled? 

As I am getting older, I think about those words of Jesus. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished work which thou gavest me to do. 

So, the question I am closing with is this: when do I plan to have my retirement party? 

The man on the cross has no plans of his own. Do you?