GUARDIAN
TEXT: [Jesus prayed], “Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son that the Son may glorify You, since You have given Him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. … I have manifested Your Name to the people whom You gave Me out of the world. … I have guarded them … But now I am coming to You … Keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; Your Word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, so I have sent them into the world I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word, that they may all be one, just as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You have sent Me.” (John 17:1b-3, 6a, 12b, 13a, 15b, 16-18, 20-21)
Look at the love with which Jesus prays for us, the night before His death! All His concern is for us, not for Himself-though He is the One who will be hanging on a cross within hours. Jesus asks the Father to keep us trusting in Jesus, and to make us holy, loving, united people who will carry His message to the whole world.
Jesus will not be absent while God is doing all this. He will rise from the dead to live forever-and to share that everlasting life with everyone who trusts in Him.
WE PRAY: Lord, thank You that You are with us and in us, forever. Amen.
——————– Reflection Questions
• Why is Jesus concerned for His followers?
• Who protects us now?
• Read John 17 to see everything Jesus prayed for you.
Responses