“I have revealed you to the ones you gave me from this world. They were always yours. You gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything I have is a gift from you, for I have passed on to them the message you gave me. They accepted it and know that I came from you, and they believe you sent me. “My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you. All who are mine belong to you, and you have given them to me, so they bring me glory. Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, you have given me your name; now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are. During my time here, I protected them by the power of the name you gave me. I guarded them so that not one was lost, except the one headed for destruction, as the Scriptures foretold. “Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy. I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to this world any more than I do. Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.

John 17:6-19

Dear God, I love how specific this prayer is. Jesus has zeroed in on his close followers and talked about his desires for them. He will move on to future believers in a bit, but for now, in this moment, he was focusing on the needs of the people to whom he is the closest. What did Jesus request for them?

1. That their unity would be protected
2. To not take them out of the world, but to protect them from Satan
3. Make them Holy
4. Teach them with your word

Father, I would like to embrace this prayer and ask it for myself and for those I know and live. Make me one with your community and my fellow believers. I don’t want to be removed from the world, but I want to be your presence in the world. I need your protection. Please forgive me of my sins and wash me in Jesus’ blood. And please continue to teach me so that I will be as close to knowing you as possible by the time my life on earth is done.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen