ESOCS Devotional 30 July 2022
TEXT: JOHN 17:1-11
MEMORY VERSE: “I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me, for they are thine.” John 17: 9 KJV
0 And the apostles, when they had returned, told Him all that they had done. Then He took them and went aside privately into a deserted place belonging to the city called Bethsaida. 11 But when the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing. 12 When the day began to wear away, the twelve came and said to Him, “Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding towns and country, and lodge and get provisions; for we are in a deserted lace ”
In this His high priestly prayer, Jesus prayed for Himself (vs 1–5), His disciples (vs 6–19), and all of His Church (vs 20–26). The prayer reveals the gifts He has given His people: eternal life (vs 2–3), the Word (vs 8, 14), and His glory (v 22). But note that believers are the Father’s gift to Him (vs 2, 6, 9, 11–12), just as Jesus is the Father’s love gift to us (John 3:16). It is all of grace.
This prayer teaches us about God’s sovereign purpose and our place in it, and about the relationship between the Father and the Son. The Lord Jesus views Himself equal to the Father in terms of glory (John 17:5), and yet distinct from the Father and subject to Him in their relationship. God’s sovereign plan involved “the hour” when the Son of God would offer Himself on the cross. There is an eternal relationship between God the Father and God the Son, reflecting their intimacy and love for one another. But God is also the Father of Jesus when He took on human flesh (Luke 1:35).
The disciples were equipped with the knowledge of God and the word of God. They were also obedient to the things that they heard, as made manifest when Jesus prayed “and they have kept thy word” (v 6). It was essential that the disciples kept the word of God, so that the generations who followed could receive the authority that is in the word. As vessels of the Most High God, it is our responsibility to grow in grace, and in knowledge of Jesus Christ, which are both rooted and grounded in obedience. Jesus has prayed for us that God’s protection will be upon us (v 11).
Jesus also prayed for unity. It has been called the real Lord’s Prayer because it’s one that Jesus prayed for His disciples. It is the Lord’s Prayer for His companions and His Church. It was the first prayer for Christian unity. Jesus prayed that His disciples may be “one.” On the last night of His life, our Master did not pray for the health of the disciples; for the success of the disciples; even for the happiness of the disciples. He prayed that they would get along with each other. In other words, our Lord’s Prayer was for unity between His disciples and unity within His Church.
That should be our prayer. As Jesus prayed for our unity, we should continue to pray to be united as a Church. We should pray because we’re not called to do it alone. We’re called to pull together to serve God through Christ. This idea of unity starts with us. We have to pull together. Unity isn’t easy. Most of us have never learned how to disagree in love, or how to love those with whom we disagree. We’re called to demonstrate our unity in Christ through love. It has to start with us. We have to pull together. Christ’s prayer and Christ’s command is still that we be one as He is one with God and that we love one another as He has loved us.
- Is Christ’s prayers being answered? Are we persevering? Are we united?
- Lord, teach me to work in unity with the brethren for the growth of your church
Read Other ESOCS Devotional here
FURTHER READING: Deuteronomy 1:1–8; Ezekiel 26:1–14; Titus 2:1–15
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ESOCS Devotional 30 July 2022
