Jesus completed His prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane by praying for me. When He pleaded into the dark of that night saying, “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their words,” He looked down and watched as from generation to generation His words ministered from one heart to another until one thirteen- year- old girl heard once again of His love for her at a camp meeting and believed. How about you?
When He prayed for us what was on His mind? What where the concerns that fastened Him to the Father on our behalf, amid His own dark night? Jesus prayed first for oneness as a testimony to the world, second, that we would be together with Him and finally that the love which His Father loved Him would be in us, and He would be in us.
Oneness
He pleaded first for Oneness with the Father and the Son. Oneness was of utmost importance! Who Jesus was, the word of life, “that which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled,” shared all that He was so they could be one with Him. “I in them and You in Me, that that they may be perfect in one.” Their unity, their love and united focus on God the Father and the Christ would be the witness to the world. They would know God sent Jesus and He loved them just as God had loved the Son. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life!” The oneness became the picture.
Together
Secondly, He prayed that they will be with Him where He is. Separation pains us. We long for loved ones. Jesus felt it too. “I want them to experience all that we have shared since before the world even began. for You loved me even before then.” Jesus was making it possible, under the direction of His Father for His children to be together forever in His kingdom.
I in Them
Finally, as He utters, “O righteous Father” He prayed “I have declared Your name and I will declare it.” Why? He wanted the love with which the Father had loved Him to be in them. He Himself, to be in them.”
John recorded these words of Jesus, and they are sent on down through history, living words beyond time, into eternity for me and you. Jesus prayed first for oneness as a testimony to the world, second, that we would be together with Him and finally that the love which His Father loved Him would be in us, and He would be in us. May it be so, amen and amen!
