Did you know that Jesus prayed for you? No, I do not mean that Jesus prayed for his disciples in ancient times and since you are a disciple the words sort of cover you also. No, I mean that Jesus actually prayed for you.
After praying for the disciples of his time, Jesus turns his attention toward the future and prays, “on behalf of those who will believe in me through [the disciple’s], that they may all be one.”
It is as if Jesus knew how scattered his followers would become with thousands of different Christian denominations (different flavors of church) dominating the landscape; and even separate churches for those with white skin and brown.
It is like Jesus knew how scattered his followers would become as they struggle to follow Jesus and Jesus’ kingdom, all while being strongly drawn to follow their political and cultural views instead.
It is like Jesus knew how scattered his followers would become as dividing lines between nations become stronger than brotherhood and sisterhood with the family of Jesus Christ in other places across the borders.
A few years back, I was part of a committee that was interviewing teens who were being selected to go on a trip to a foreign nation in order to meet Christian teens in those nations and to do some service work with those teens. The teens were clearly excited about the opportunity, but in our increasingly divided world, a world where fear permeates our relationships (sometimes with very good reason: terroristic threats, kidnapping, drug cartels), some of the parents were less than excited.
“What if something bad happens to them while there are in that country?” one parent asked. “What if they don’t come back? Promise me that they will be safe.”
Now, everyone wants to protect their children. That is a parent’s job after-all. So, I do sympathize with their fear. But, on the other hand, this was a spiritually life-changing opportunity. We asked the parent, “Can you promise us that nothing bad is going to happen tomorrow when he goes to school?”
The parent could not promise us that.
We then asked, “If a Christian child from a church across the seas were to come here for a visit, would you do everything in your power to keep that child safe?”
“Of course, I would,” the parent replied.
“Then why would you assume that your brothers and sisters in Christ in another nation would not do the same,” we questioned. “They are just like you. They are Christians who show the love of Christ and follow the ways of Christ just like you. No one can guarantee anyone’s safety at any time, but when these teens go, they will be living with the family of Jesus Christ.” In other words, "Do not fear, we are all one."
“May they all be one.” Jesus prays. “Just as you, Father, live in me and I live in you, may those who sill follow me in the years to come also live in us.” When we live in the love of Jesus Christ we are one family. That is Jesus’ prayer anyway.
And, this prayer continues to echo even today. Jesus still desires that the entire world might look at Jesus’ followers and see just what godly, sacrificial love looks like. Jesus still desires that the world might look at Jesus’ followers and see a vision of unity and family that goes across family divisions and national borders. Jesus still desires that the world might know that it is loved by Jesus as well as loved by those who gather in his name.
You know what I love most about this prayer of Jesus? I just love the simple fact that Jesus prayed for me. There is something powerful in knowing that you are prayed for. It is more powerful than just being told that we are prayed for. After-all, lots of people say, “I’m praying for you.” Actually hearing the words of the prayer as the disciples did or reading them as we do and knowing for certain that you are not forgotten is one of the most Spirit enriching things that can happen.
A church I used to attend (before I was chosen as one of the few who get the privilege to stand up front and bore people to death for an hour every Sunday morning) used to pray each week for specific families and people in the congregation. This would happen the entire year and, therefore, was a regular practice of that congregation.
Even still, one Sunday when little Morghen in her pretty white Sunday dress heard her name as the pastor prayed, she jumped up and down on the pew and said, “God prayed for me! God prayed for me!”
Granted, she had a little confusion about who God was at that point, but she was not incorrect, God prays for us! Jesus prays for us, and it is, quite frankly, touching and mysteriously powerful to know that the Word of God who breathed life into the universe takes the time to pray for you and me.
So, can I pray for you? Because, like any pastor, I truly want you to have your cravings for the presence of the living Christ in your lives to be a reality. I truly want you to feel to your very core the presence of God’s love; a love that would go through the horrors of torture and death just so that you can have life! I truly want the divisions, the walls that are in your life, to crumble and fall so that we can all be one in God’s family.
Let us pray,
Jesus Christ, our brother, I join my voice with yours as I pray for each person here.
May each one know that you stand beside them.
May each one know that you will love them to the end and beyond.
May each one know that you desire true life for each of them.
Break down any walls that divide them. Unite them as you, Jesus, and the Father are united.
What I mean by that, I guess, is that each may know that they are family with one another, just as they are family with you.
May each person here know that they are never truly alone, and that there is always someone to whom they can turn when the struggles and confusions of life become too great.
May each child here feel your love and the love of their church family surrounding them. May they know they have a home with your people no matter where they find themselves in the world.
And, I ask that each of these people here may get the chance to love the world as you have loved the world. May they be filled only with the wonders of your embracing love.
Lord, Jesus hear our prayer.
Amen.
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