“I have revealed you to the ones you gave me from this world. They were always yours. You gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything I have is a gift from you, for I have passed on to them the message you gave me. They accepted it and know that I came from you, and they believe you sent me. “My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you. All who are mine belong to you, and you have given them to me, so they bring me glory. Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, you have given me your name; now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are. During my time here, I protected them by the power of the name you gave me. I guarded them so that not one was lost, except the one headed for destruction, as the Scriptures foretold. “Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy. I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to this world any more than I do. Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.
John 17:6-19 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.17.6-19.NLT
Jesus takes time to pray for the people God has has given to Him in very specific ways. We would do well to follow His example with the people God gives to each of us:
- God has been revealed to them by Jesus. At the heart of all of our efforts, is the intentional work of showing others who God is through Jesus Christ.
- Everything Jesus has is a gift from God. If this is true for Jesus, it is also true for us. Jesus shared this with His disciples. May we do the same with those closest to us.
- They are God’s: Jesus recognizes that everyone given to Him in personal relationship belongs to God. They are part of God’s gift, bringing glory to Jesus. May we care for those God has given to us with the same understanding.
- Continued Protection: Jesus prays to God the Father for the continued protection of those close to Him even after He is gone. May we ask God for the continued care and protection over those He has given to us long after our time with them is past.
- Unity: Jesus prays for unity. Oneness. The same kind of unity Jesus experiences with Father God. He wants the very best in relationship for them. He gives the very best example. Let us do the same.
- Prepared: Jesus was intentional in preparing those closest to Him with God’s truth. He focused them on the Kingdom of God. This changed their relationship with the world. While enormous opportunity to expand the Kingdom of God exists, it comes in the context of resistance and hostility from the world. May we be intentional in preparing those God has given to us.
- Provided for: Jesus identifies provisions given that will be needed to live this life. Joy, God’s word, continued protection from the evil one, holiness and truth. What a list of provisions we are to share with those in our care.
- Sent: Jesus was sent into this world by God the Father. Jesus is continuing, by sending those closest to Him into the world to make God known through Jesus Christ. We are to do the same. We live in this world as “sent people” to reveal God to others. We are to send the ones God has entrusted to us to do the same.
- Sacrifice: Jesus gives a gift that only He can give. Holiness. His sacrifice makes us holy. May we encourage and guide everyone in our care to the sacrificial love of Jesus that makes each one holy. This may take sacrifice on our part, to draw people into the care of Jesus. Our sacrifice is aa small reflection of the sacrifice of Jesus.
Reflection
Jesus shows us in praying for those closest to Him an intentionality of preparation and provision to follow God in all circumstances. He intercedes for their care. His life has been focused on building capacity through God in each one of them. May we do the same with those entrusted into our care.
Encouragement
Jesus prays for those he lives and travels with. He shows us the focus, intentionality and sacrifice required to do the same. Let the example of Jesus encourage and challenge us today.
Prayer
Dear Jesus,
Thank You for being so intentional with those God entrusted to You. Thank You for interceding for each one of them. Thank You for showing us how to pray and live with those You have entrusted into our care. May we pray, live, love and sacrifice with a view that is well beyond our lifetime.
In Jesus name, Amen