John 17:6-19: a reflection

6“I revealed your name to the people whom you have given me out of the world. They were yours, and you have given them to me. They have kept your word. 7Now they have known that all things whatever you have given me are from you, 8for the words which you have given me I have given to them; and they received them, and knew for sure that I came from you. They have believed that you sent me. 9I pray for them. I don’t pray for the world, but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 10All things that are mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 11I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them through your name which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are. 12While I was with them in the world, I kept them in your name. I have kept those whom you have given me. None of them is lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13But now I come to you, and I say these things in the world, that they may have my joy made full in themselves. 14I have given them your word. The world hated them because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15I pray not that you would take them from the world, but that you would keep them from the evil one. 16They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17Sanctify them in your truth. Your word is truth. 18As you sent me into the world, even so I have sent them into the world. 19For their sakes I sanctify myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.

On the night before his death, Jesus prays for his disciples, and through them for all who would believe, asking the Father to care for them. I pray for them, he says. Holy Father, keep them through your name. I pray not that you would take them from the world, but that you would keep them from the evil one. Sanctify them in your truth. Before he goes to the cross, Christ intercedes for his own, asking the Father to keep them, guard them, sanctify them. His people were on his heart, and he prayed for them, entrusting them to the Father's care. Christ prayed for his own, and prays still; his intercession surrounds those who are his.

Notice that Christ prayed for his own, entrusting them to the Father. On the very eve of his suffering, with his own agony before him, Christ's thoughts turned to his disciples, and he prayed for them, asking the Father to keep them, guard them from evil, sanctify them in the truth. He did not pray that they be taken out of the world, but that they be kept in it. His people were on his heart; he interceded for them before the Father, committing them to his care. And this prayer of Christ for his own is not merely a past event; Christ lives to intercede for his people still. The intercession of Christ surrounds those who are his; he prayed for them, and prays for them.

That is worth resting in, for Christ prays for his own, asking the Father to keep and sanctify us. We can feel alone, unguarded, uncertain whether anyone intercedes for us; but Christ prayed for his own, asking the Father to keep them from evil and sanctify them, and he lives to intercede for us still. We are not left to face the world unprayed for; Christ prays for us, entrusting us to the Father's care. When you feel alone and unguarded, remember that Christ prays for his own, as he prayed for his disciples that the Father would keep them. Rest in the comfort that Christ prays for you, asking the Father to keep you from evil and sanctify you in the truth, as he prayed for his disciples on the night before his death and lives to intercede for his own still; for we are not left to face the world unprayed for, but are surrounded by the intercession of Christ, who commits us to the Father's keeping care.

Lord Jesus, on the night before your death, you pray for your disciples, and through them for all who would believe, asking the Father to care for them. I pray for them, you say. Holy Father, keep them through your name. I pray not that you would take them from the world, but that you would keep them from the evil one. Sanctify them in your truth. Before you go to the cross, you intercede for your own, asking the Father to keep them, guard them, sanctify them. Your people were on your heart. Show me that you prayed for your own, entrusting them to the Father. On the very eve of your suffering, with your own agony before you, your thoughts turned to your disciples, and you prayed for them, asking the Father to keep them, guard them from evil, sanctify them in the truth. You did not pray that they be taken out of the world, but that they be kept in it. Your people were on your heart; you interceded for them before the Father. And this prayer is not merely a past event; you live to intercede for your people still. Let me rest in that, for you pray for your own, asking the Father to keep and sanctify me. I can feel alone, unguarded, uncertain whether anyone intercedes for me; but you prayed for your own, and you live to intercede for me still. I am not left to face the world unprayed for; you pray for me, entrusting me to the Father's care. When I feel alone and unguarded, help me remember that you pray for your own, Lord, as you prayed for your disciples that the Father would keep them. Help me rest in the comfort that you pray for me, asking the Father to keep me from evil and sanctify me in the truth.