Jesus, at the most poignant moment in Christian history, recognises the significance of His imminent death with a cry of utter desolation. Jesus, the Christ, the son of God, is abandoned (if only for a short time), and in this one act, the whole of humanity is offered a fresh start – a new relationship with God. Jesus Prays for All Believers John 17:20-23

A chapter of prayer by Jesus. Chapter 17 of John’s gospel is the longest prayer of Jesus recorded in any of the gospels. In truth, this chapter is likely to be an amalgamation of many prayers and sayings of Jesus gathered together in one place by the gospel writer. In this chapter Jesus consecrates himself to the task that lies ahead, not for His sake, but for ours. This prayer of Jesus brings us to a closer understanding of the mind of Jesus, his relationship with God, and his selfless love of those, like us, in his care.

He says, “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one, I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that You sent me and have loved them even as You have loved me. 

I pray in Jesus’ name, may we ever be drawn closer to Christ and to each other, as we gain a deeper understanding of His mission in the earth, as He prays for us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.