“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message.” (John 17:20 NLT)

Jesus and His disciples were together for about three years. There’s no telling how many times they prayed together during that time. In John 17, He prays with them for one of the last times before His arrest.

There are three parts to His prayer. In verses 1–5, Jesus prays for Himself. He was facing unimaginable suffering. He was about to take the punishment for the world’s sins. He was about to experience His Father’s perfect wrath.

That explains why Jesus wanted to confirm the connection between them. “Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you” (verse 1 NLT). Jesus was ready to complete God’s mission. To finish the work of salvation. To make eternal life possible. When we picture eternity, we may think of heavenly streets of gold and angels praising God. But Jesus said eternal life is “to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth” (verse 3 NLT).

Jesus also revealed the primary purpose for His saving work: to glorify God. And if we follow Him, that should be our primary purpose too. The apostle Paul wrote, “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31 NLT). Everything we do, from the biggest moments of our lives to the smallest daily decisions, is an opportunity to give glory to God. That’s what we were created to do. And that’s where we find genuine fulfillment and joy.

In verses 6–19, Jesus prays for His disciples. Those men would face the consequences of their discipleship. All but one, John, would follow Jesus to their deaths at the hands of their enemies. But they were equipped for battle. Jesus said, “Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world” (verse 18 NLT). Jesus asked God to protect them—not only from the persecution to come but also from spiritual doubt and despair. Jesus would no longer be around to encourage them and lift their spirits. He wanted to make sure they were prepared for what lay ahead.

The key to spiritual well-being is joy. Jesus prayed, “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” (verse 13 NLT).

If your joy has diminished, ask God to restore it, as the psalmist did in Psalm 51:8. In Matthew 21:22, Jesus says, “You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it” (NLT). God wants to ignite the spark of joy within you so that you can see the world from His perspective.

In verses 20–26, Jesus prays for all believers. His chief request is that we remain unified. There’s strength in numbers. If we can trust that our fellow believers are allies, our ministry benefits. Unity is also a way of identifying believers. God wants unbelievers to see the closeness that exists among us. That can be a powerful draw for some. Our mission is to communicate God’s love to the world. Unity is one of the most powerful tools we have to accomplish it.

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