Did You Know Jesus Prayed For You?

Although we read often of the sayings and works of Jesus throughout the Gospels, we often forget that there are things that Jesus did once and for all. Of course, the main act of his sacrifice on the cross for our sins and the sins of all mankind is one we remember. However, another act Jesus did once and for all was to pray for you:

“My prayer is not for them alone. I also pray 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. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” –John 17:20-23

Jesus prayed for his disciples in John 17:6-19, but beginning in verse 20 he prays for all of us who will become believers through their preaching of the gospel to all nations. As a believer in Christ, Jesus prayed for you. Notice the theme of that prayer? Jesus prayed for unity within the body of believers. It’s almost as if he knew in advance what would happen to his church once he ascended!

As a Christian believer, the one thing I’d like you to focus on living in peace with your fellow brothers and sisters. As the Apostle Paul stated in Ephesians 4:2-7:

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit–just as you were called to one hope when you were called – on Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.

Let us honor Christ’s prayer for us by being patient and humble and exhibiting grace to our fellow man. We should live as one body, under one God and Father of all. May we take Jesus’ prayer to heart and also remember that as we live out the good news of the gospel, that God will call upon us to do our part to share his good news with others. Jesus prayed for us as believers, but also prayed for those that will believe through our example as well. Be encouraged…be faithful…be thankful that Christ knew your name even before the creation of the universe and that he prayed for you to live in unity and let his Spirit shine through you in peace and humility.