Send to Kindleby Robin McKinley,
Narrated by Artificial Intelligence, Eric,
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Since my early days of studying the Bible, John chapter 17 has always stood out to me. In this chapter, Jesus prayed for his disciples and us.
I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. John 17:20
As Jesus prayed, John recorded that He pointed His followers toward the only way to receive eternal life.
Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you. For you have given him authority over everyone. He gives eternal life to each one you have given him. And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth. John 17:1-3
The Lord didn’t include the world in His prayer. But He prayed for the ones the Father gave Him. It included all those who called on the name of Jesus throughout all time.
In His prayer, He Mentioned Four Major Requests.
To Keep and Protect Us
Even though the Lord didn’t pray for the world, He was giving up on it. No, He called us to reach the unsaved. And in doing so, He prayed for our protection.
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. John 17:10-11
When we think of protection, we usually want it from those we rub shoulders with. Jesus, however, prayed for our protection from the evil one.
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. John 17:15
That We Would Have Joy
The things of the world can’t steal our joy because it isn’t based on circumstances. It comes from within us, which comes straight from Jesus.
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. John 17:13
To Make Us Holy
We live in an unholy world. But Jesus, the Word, and the Truth sets us apart to God. Therefore, in Him, we stand holy before God.
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 17:17-19
For Perfect Unity
Our unity is His testimony. We are joined to the Father through the Son. And our unity with each other is established through Jesus Christ the Son.
I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. John 17:21, 23
I couldn’t close with a better prayer than what Jesus prayed in verse 26. That verse concludes this awesome chapter which contains the prayer that Jesus prayed for us.I have revealed you to them, and I will continue to do so. Then your love for me will be in them, and I will be in them. John 17:26
About the Author:
Robin, with his wife Cindy, became children’s evangelists early in their ministry. They ministered to children full time for 8 years. During that time they developed several children’s stories which were told with visuals and puppets.
Robin recently turned two of those stories into children’s books. One is called “The Contest,” a book about the Fruit of the Spirit, and the other is called “Twas the Night of Christmas”. He has also authored 5 volumes of devotional books called, 3 Minutes Alone with God. Each entry is a product of his personal biblical Journaling.
These and his other writings are available on his website called Christian Perspectives at www.ramckinley.com. When you visit this site, you can sign-up for newly written devotions as they come out which will be emailed to you.
Presently Robin is the pastor of Calvary Christian Center in Pottstown, PA. He is an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God. He and his wife make their home in Birdsboro, Pa. He also serves as the president of the local ministerium. He and Cindy have two married sons and four grandchildren.
