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We are studying in John Chapter 17, where Jesus Christ is praying and in verse 6 Jesus prays about what He has done. “Father, I have introduced these men to You.”

Jesus has revealed God the Father to those men whom the Father has given to Him.

We must never despise anyone whom God has given to Jesus. We read that we must never touch the Lord’s anointed.

They have kept Your Word. Of all the important things that could have been on the heart of mind of Jesus on this occasion it was that. They have kept or obeyed Your word. Kept means – accept – receive – obey or guard.

After Jesus has given these men the Word of God, He seeks to confirm it by prayer.

Verse 7 – They know that all I have – everything I have – and all I am – comes from You.

Verse 8 – I have given to them the words that You gave Me to give them, and they received – and they have come to know – and they have believed that You sent Me.

It would be very difficult to make this any simpler.

Verse 9 – I pray for them. Preaching and Teaching is not enough. Miracles are not enough. All this spiritual work must be supported spiritually by prayer and with prayer.

Jesus, this is Your last night on earth. Why not go to the pools, and leprosy centres, and soup kitchens, and where people are imprisoned by drink and drugs?

No – He gives Himself to prayer!

Having taught the disciples, Jesus now prays for them. What an encouragement that must have been.

Can you hear the disciples saying – “Jesus is praying for us?” Listen. Come over here. The Master, the Lord, Jesus, is praying for us.

He is not praying for the world but He is praying for those who will be lights in the world.

We do not know what He said – but we do know, it was more than simply, bless Andrew and John and Peter and James. He was in agony. He was in anguish, and he was sweating, and the sweat was blood. That is deep spiritual anguish.

One of the greatest and hardest things we can do is pray for those men and women of God who are serving Him in the world. Pray that they will be faithful, sensitive, patient, loving, powerful, obedient – and whatever God places on your heart.

Verse 10 – Father, all I have is Yours and all You have is mine! Everything that our Creator God has, was placed at the disposal of Jesus Christ, His Son, our Saviour.

All He gives is for sharing. It is not my custom to give points, but here are three.

1. Give everything to God.

2. Realise that all that is His is also yours.

3. Receive it all and share it all.

Father, as I leave them, keep them, guard them.

You who have kept Israel over the years, keep safe and secure, these men whom You have given to Me. Protect them as You have protected Me. Remember where Jesus is going!

Guard them. Keep them safe and secure. Keep them one. We so need to hear this and know this.

The whole mission and ministry of Jesus Christ is being handed on to these men. Do we see this? That same mission and ministry has been handed on to us. We are a privileged people to have this special protection.

We are God’s protected people, and God’s persecuted people. We also need to know these truths. The world will never understand such apparent contradiction.

Verse 12 – I have kept them – guarded them – nourished them – fed them –shepherded them. Father, there was one, but he was not yours anyway. Jesus is so completely honest, and John records it.

Let us pause at verse 13 today. As I come to You – as I am coming home – I am praying all these things – that they might have My Joy filling them.

He is the source of joy. He supplies the joy.

Be filled today with His Holy Joy. You may be hurting, and yet still be filled with the Joy of Jesus Christ. Jesus gives to His People, Love, Joy, Peace – and it shows.

"Bible verse and quote" from Jan Couns

Bible and Quote - February 10-14