Jesus prayed…for me

Jesus prayed…for me?

 What if you knew that Jesus had prayed for you…personally? Would that make a difference to you?

 My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, John 17:20

 What if you knew that Jesus had prayed for you…personally? Would that make a difference to you?

 The night before Jesus went to the cross, he gathered with his disciples for a final meal. Knowing fully what was ahead of him, he gave them instructions for the next steps of their mission.

 He knew that, through his crucifixion and burial, they would be in shock and fear for their own lives. So, after the meal he went to a place where he prayed regularly, just outside the city.

 While he was there, he prayed specifically for his disciples. He prayed that they would be protected, that they He would set them apart for His eternal purposes, that they would continue the mission that He had begun.

 Then he prays for a group of people not yet born. He says: I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. —John 17:20

 Don’t miss this: “…also for all who will ever believe in me through their message.”

 And here we are…2,000 years later.

 Not only is he praying for these future followers (us), but he prays for them in some very specific ways:

 That these people would experience an uncommon unity: That they would know the kind of oneness that He (Jesus) has with God the Father. The purpose of this unity would be as a message to the world that He (Jesus) was sent by God to reconcile the world to God.

 That they would be with him, where He is. Wow. That ultimately, they would see—with their own eyes—the glory that Jesus was given by God from before the creation of the world.

 Jesus wants you to be with him where he is and is apparently excited for you to see all that His Kingdom has in store for us.

 Finally, he prays that as he continues to reveal the Father to them, that God’s love would be in us and that He himself (Jesus) would live in and through us as well.

 So, if you are a follower of Christ, here is why you are motivated to do what Jesus has called you to do: He is living in you.

 Jesus has prayed for you, is continuing to pray for you, and is living in you!

 What this means for us is that we can be assured of his presence, his peace (even in difficulty) and his power to live out this new life today—and everyday.

 Would love to hear your thoughts about this as well. Feel free to leave a note.

Bill Herried is lead pastor at CenterPoint Christian Fellowship in Tacoma, Washington. He has an undergraduate degree from the University of Washington in Seattle, and Master of Divinity from Corban University in Salem, Oregon. He is married to the most extraordinary woman on the planet. Together they have 3 adult children and 4 grandchildren and loves a good biryani. You can learn more about Bill on his blog, Your Daily Encouragement