Jesus' Prayer for Christians
I would say if Jesus prayed something for someone or some group of people, it would be a pretty important prayer request, wouldn't you? I mean, if God's Son prayed something, we know He was praying for the right thing, the thing that would please the Father. That is why I want you to consider Jesus' prayer in John 17 for a little while.
One of the main requests for which He prayed was for a unity between the disciples once He was gone back to Heaven. (John 17:11) In fact, He asked the Father to make them "one" as the Father and the Son were "one." I would say that is the closest relationship possible, wouldn't you? He did not only ask that for the original disciples, but He asked it for us. (John 17:20,21) That is amazing! The will of God from the beginning of the church has been for all believers to live in unity, in intimate relationships with each other.
Jesus prayed this so the people who were in the world would see the difference and come to believe in Him, but there was another reason, too. We need it to grow. It completes us as people. We were made in the image of God. God is love, and He has relationships, so we should, too. God said that it was not good for Adam to be alone, so He made Eve. This speaks of marriage, but it is bigger than that. It means people were not meant to be alone. We thrive when we have the love and support of other people who care about us and urge us to become all the Lord wants us to be.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Psalms 92-94.
One of the main requests for which He prayed was for a unity between the disciples once He was gone back to Heaven. (John 17:11) In fact, He asked the Father to make them "one" as the Father and the Son were "one." I would say that is the closest relationship possible, wouldn't you? He did not only ask that for the original disciples, but He asked it for us. (John 17:20,21) That is amazing! The will of God from the beginning of the church has been for all believers to live in unity, in intimate relationships with each other.
Jesus prayed this so the people who were in the world would see the difference and come to believe in Him, but there was another reason, too. We need it to grow. It completes us as people. We were made in the image of God. God is love, and He has relationships, so we should, too. God said that it was not good for Adam to be alone, so He made Eve. This speaks of marriage, but it is bigger than that. It means people were not meant to be alone. We thrive when we have the love and support of other people who care about us and urge us to become all the Lord wants us to be.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Psalms 92-94.