Thursday, May 16, 2013
John 17:9-10 "I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them."
OUR ASCENDED LORD PRAYS ... FOR YOU
Jesus' work on earth was done. He ascended into heaven to be seated in glory at God's right hand with all authority and power over everything in heaven and earth.
Jesus does not just sit in heaven basking in His glory. His glory is in His love for us. He has not forgotten about us when He ascended on high. He continues to pray for us.
In the verse above Jesus is praying specifically for the disciples that were in the upper room with Him, but He shows a few verses later that He also prays for you and me today. He says, "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word" (20). You can find great comfort in the fact that Jesus prays for you. He is God's own beloved Son. He perfectly fulfilled His Father's will. You can be sure that God answers all of Jesus' prayers.
Notice again how possessive Jesus is of us. He also loves the world and gave Himself for all, yet you are special to Him. You belong to Him and to the Father. You are like a special treasure to Him. As we read in Psalm 135:4, "For the LORD has chosen Jacob for Himself, Israel for His special treasure."
You can hear the love in those words, "Those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine." It is like someone who has some cherished possession and they take special care of it. As His special treasure, Jesus continues to pray for you and for your protection.
There is also a great sense of security in those words. If the almighty God possesses us as His special treasure, He will not let anything harm us. Jesus prays for that specifically in tomorrow's verses.
