The following is from OBC’s daily devotional for today:
Jesus prayed for himself, that God would glorify him. His “hour had come” to die for sinners (v. 1). Jesus gives eternal life (v. 2) because he is eternal life (v. 3). Jesus, the eternal Son, glorified God throughout his earthly life in a sin-cursed world (vv. 4-5).
Jesus prayed for the disciples (vv. 6-19), praying for their protection from and purity in the world.
Jesus prayed for the salvation (v. 24) and spiritual union of all Christians (vv. 20-21) through his death and resurrection (v. 22) so that through their unified life and witness the world would know who Jesus is and what he did.
Truths to Nail Down and Meditate On
- The unity Jesus prayed believers would have is a spiritual unity accomplished by the Father through the Holy Spirit based on Christ’s death and resurrection. It is a spiritual unity because Jesus prayed that believers would be one as he and the Father are one (vv. 11, 21). This is called Spirit baptism (1 Cor 12:13), first occurring in Acts 2 and from then on at the moment of conversion of every new Christian.
- Given all the temptations believers face in the world, we must learn from Jesus’ simple reliance on prayer and the Word (vv. 6-19). “Sanctify” (vv. 17, 19) means “to set apart.” Jesus set himself apart to do God’s will by dying on the cross so that sinners who trust in him could be set apart from sin.
- Christian, think about this: Jesus prayed here for you (v. 20) and his prayer was answered! The Triune God indwells you (v. 23) and you are eternally secure. Live this out before the world for Christ’s glory!