John 17:20-23a
”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.”
The last sentence in this passage has me scratching my head. Jesus gave the disciples glory? As I meditate on this, I am seeing the word “glory” being used to describe the indescribable: Jesus wanted to be “one” with the disciples, as close and united as his “oneness” with God. This oneness would allow the disciples to go forward and share Christ with others in a powerful way. And ultimately, Jesus was waiting for us, you and me, to become one with Him as well.
Holy Father, your gifts are wonderful. This glory is beyond my comprehension. Help me to better understand, through your Word. Amen
Becky, transforming
John 17:20-23
Jesus prayed for his disciples and all who would follow him (including me/you. Even though Jesus has tried to prepare them for his coming death and resurrection, they have failed to understand and were not able to grasp the very different lessons of Jesus’ ministry. The disciples were very ordinary and few in numbers but Jesus is leaving the future of God’s work in their hands—and in God’s hands. —in God’s hands. When the glory of the Lord shows up, Jesus knows that creation is restored, people are healed, life can return to the way it was in the beginning. Jesus is leaving the disciples, but he is not leaving them alone. The Holy Spirit will accompany them—wi…
John 17:20–23 “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all those who will ever believe in me through their message.“ As I read this verse it is almost unbelievable that Jesus meant me as he prayed. He prays for unity among us and that is an enormous task in today’s world. Then he speaks about glory. I think he means the glory of God‘s presence in our lives. We could see that in Jesus and his disciples, but do we see that in ourselves? Would people identify us as a believer because of our love, our words, and our actions? I hope so. Prayer: Gracious God, May I be your hands and feet as I live in t…
John 17: 20-23a “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 completer unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
Through Jesus’ death we were given the glory that…
John 17:20-23a
John 17 is known as Jesus’ high priestly prayer. He knows His time on earth is short and He is passing the torch of His mission to the apostles. The enduring power of this prayer emerges in today’s passage where we learn Jesus’ intent was to instill God’s glory in the apostles so that they can pass it on to all who believe, becoming a never-ending cycle right up through this very day and beyond. Whenever our words or actions cause another person to ponder the reality of salvation In Christ or even take active steps to come to Jesus, this is God’s glory working in and through us as believers.
Prayer - Glorious God, it is only…