“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me
through their word.”
John 17:20
Jesus says that he is praying for us here – not just for the eleven disciples gathered around Him at that moment, but for us as well. That is one of the truly astounding things we’ve seen as we’ve made our way through this “High Priestly Prayer” in John 17. Standing with His face toward the cross, knowing He is soon to die, our Savior fixes His mind upon us! As William Hendriksen has said, “The eye of Jesus scans the centuries and presses to his loving heart all his true followers as if they had all been saved in that very moment.”
This is an amazing thing to think about. Jesus has prayed for me! And not only did He pray for me at that time and in that place as he prepared to face the cross, but the Bible says He continues to pay for us even now. Roman 8:34 encourages us with the promise that the Christ who died in our place and was raised for our assurance is right now at the right hand of God where He is “interceding for us.” Christ Himself lifts our needs daily before the Father to strengthen us in our weakness, to fan into a flame our faltering faith, to secure us from our doubts and insure us that all He has purchased will become ours. For that reason, since He “ever lives to intercede for us” as Heb 7:25 declares, we can be sure that “He is able to save to the uttermost, those who draw near to God through Him.” Dear friend, are you drawing near to God through Him? Let this news of Christ’s intercession embolden and strengthen your faith today.
It has been a joy to look more deeply into this prayer these past several weeks. I have been encouraged and pray you have been as well. With this morning’s message, we come to the end of this prayer (though you can go back and listen again on SermonAudio.) Beginning next Sunday we will take a short break from John’s gospel to consider various issues pressing in on us today.
May the Word of God in the Hand of the Spirit strengthen your soul!
Pastor Scott