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John 17:20-26
"I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;
that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.
And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one:
I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
"Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me.
And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them."
that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.
And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one:
I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
"Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me.
And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them."
The expression ‘may be one’ occurs five times in John 17, a number usually considered to show the grace of God, and ‘one’ — the number denoting Father God — appears seven times, as you might expect. So we can see that the arithmetic of Jesus’ prayer underlines what He speaks.
As mentioned beforehand, the prayer is in three parts, and leads us to understand the Holy Trinity working.
The link between these three aspects is encapsulated in verse 23; “I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.” This for me is perhaps the most beautiful and reassuring verse in The Bible, particularly when Jesus tells us that each believer has been chosen from “before the foundation of the world”.
“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.” [John 15:16]
This verse from John 15, reiterates that when we ask of The Father in prayer, we should do so “in Jesus’ Name”, because we then ask as Him; in Jesus’ nature, Jesus having declared to us His Person and that of Father God.
Thus, it is vital, that when we meet, we are one together — without division — united in His Presence.
As mentioned beforehand, the prayer is in three parts, and leads us to understand the Holy Trinity working.
- When Jesus prays for Himself He is, in a sense, receiving ministry from Father God.
- When Jesus prays for His disciples, He is speaking of His own ministry to His followers, who will carry on His work.
- And when Jesus prays for all believers, He is acknowledging the work of The Holy Spirit, who will minister to the many generations to come after Him.
The link between these three aspects is encapsulated in verse 23; “I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.” This for me is perhaps the most beautiful and reassuring verse in The Bible, particularly when Jesus tells us that each believer has been chosen from “before the foundation of the world”.
“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.” [John 15:16]
This verse from John 15, reiterates that when we ask of The Father in prayer, we should do so “in Jesus’ Name”, because we then ask as Him; in Jesus’ nature, Jesus having declared to us His Person and that of Father God.
Thus, it is vital, that when we meet, we are one together — without division — united in His Presence.
Meditate On These Things
HEBREWS 10:15-16
But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before,
"This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,"
But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before,
"This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,"
HIGHLY EXALTED — Robin Mark with the New Irish Choir and Orchestra.
A HOLY OCCUPATION: Oswald Chambers on PRAYER
— Requires CHILDLIKENESS--
THERE IS A subtle thing that goes by the name of unworthiness which is petulant pride with God. When we are shy with other people it is because we believe we are superior to the average person and we won't talk until they realize our importance. Prayerlessness with God is the same thing; we are shy with God not because we are unworthy, but because we think God has not given enough consideration to our case, we have some peculiar elements He must be pleased to consider.
[from “If You Will Ask”]
[from “If You Will Ask”]
Listen to this meditation by clicking on the download file below...
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