Friday...Jesus prays for his disciples

John 17.6-19 — 6 “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All I have is yours, and all you
have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but
they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your
name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.

13 “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hat- ed them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

In the midst of our reflections and thoughts about this solemn day, we find ourselves in the middle of Je- sus’ prayer for his disciples. The prayer he prayed before he was arrested and killed.

Jesus prayed that he would be glorified, in that, through the crucifixion, God would fully reveal himself as the One true God, the lover of Israel and the world. Even in this incredibly intense and emotional moment , Jesus’ thoughts turn towards his disciples, the ones whom the Father had given him as
their mediator, he stands in the gap prays for their sanctification. This Hebrew word points towards

a consecration, where a person is made holy by God. Through the cross and in His own body, Jesus took upon himself the shame, failings, sin and agony of all people, in order that they might know healing and ultimately embody the love of God.

It is out of that desire that he prays for his people, those who earlier, sat around the table, the names we know and those we do not know the names of—but people who had seen a glimpse of the God in Him and chose to trust him with all their life.

In our sanctification, we are placing our lives in God’s hands, for his use, his glory and his mission. In the words of Mary, ‘Let it be to me, according to your word.’

Stop and breathe.

Lord Jesus, be with us as a church as we watch and wait on this solemn day. You loved us until there was no breath left in your body, may we also be faithful to you and because of what you have done through the cross, may we be consecrated for your service.