John 17:1-26

John 17:1-26
Jesus Prays

"After Jesus had finished speaking to his disciples, he looked up
toward heaven and prayed: Father, the time has come for you to bring
glory to your Son, in order that he may bring glory to you. And you
gave him power over all people, so that he would give eternal life to
everyone you give him. Eternal life is to know you, the only true
God, and to know Jesus Christ, the one you sent. I have brought glory
to you here on earth by doing everything you gave me to do. Now,
Father, give me back the glory that I had with you before the world
was created.
You have given me some followers from this world, and I have shown
them what you are like. They were yours, but you gave them to me, and
they have obeyed you. They know that you gave me everything I have.
I told my followers what you told me, and they accepted it. They know
that I came from you, and they believe that you are the one who sent
me. I am praying for them, but not for those who belong to this
world. My followers belong to you, and I am praying for them. All
that I have is yours, and all that you have is mine, and they will
bring glory to me.
Holy Father, I am no longer in the world. I am coming to you, but my
followers are still in the world. So keep them safe by the power of
the name that you have given me. Then they will be one with each
other, just as you and I are one. While I was with them, I kept them
safe by the power you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of
them was lost, except the one who had to be lost. This happened so
that what the Scriptures say would come true. I am on my way to you.
But I say these things while I am still in the world, so that my
followers will have the same complete joy that I do. I have told them
your message. But the people of this world hate them, because they
don't belong to this world, just as I don't. Father, I don't ask you
to take my followers out of the world, but keep them safe from the
evil one. They don't belong to this world, and neither do I. Your
word is the truth. So let this truth make them completely yours. I am
sending them into the world, just as you sent me. I have given myself
completely for their sake, so that they may belong completely to the
truth. I am not praying just for these followers. I am also praying
for everyone else who will have faith because of what my followers
will say about me. I want all of them to be one with each other, just
as I am one with you and you are one with me. I also want them to be
one with us. Then the people of this world will believe that you sent
me. I have honored my followers in the same way that you honored me,
in order that they may be one with each other, just as we are one. I
am one with them, and you are one with me, so that they may become
completely one. Then this world's people will know that you sent me.
They will know that you love my followers as much as you love me.
Father, I want everyone you have given me to be with me, wherever I
am. Then they will see the glory that you have given me, because you
loved me before the world was created. Good Father, the people of
this world don't know you. But I know you, and my followers know that
you sent me. I told them what you are like, and I will tell them even
more. Then the love that you have for me will become part of them, and
I will be one with them."

Jesus is the way. Invite Him into your heart.