After the passing of the bread and the cup, after the washing of their feet, and after Judas’ exit to set into motion the final hours of Jesus life as God incarnate on the planet He created, Jesus spent some time pouring out His heart to the eleven remaining disciples. He gave them warning, direction, explained all they were about to witness, and reminded them–you live on earth, you will have troubles.
AND THEN,
- PRAYED. FOR. ME! (and you!) We are His Bride, individually and collectively.
This prayer is called the High Priestly Prayer. Here Jesus intercedes as our great High Priest. (John 17)
Jesus pours His heart out for HIS BRIDE. The church. The ones who will remain and continue His ministry of proclaiming the hope found in Immanuel, God with us. The one to whom He gave His power of attorney, His name.
This prayer takes on new meaning when we read it as His final thoughts to the ONE (Bride) He loves and is giving His life to ransom. Jesus is asking the Father to watch over His Bride and asking God the Father to give to His precious Bride all the Father has given to His only Son: Give His inheritance to His yet untried Bride.
He is praying in the presence of the eleven just prior to the evening stroll to Gethsemane and with all He knew He was facing, I was on His mind! Though He is speaking to His Father, I am given the privilege of eavesdropping in on His heart cry. Listen. Hear the most precious words ever spoken:
“My prayer is not for them (the disciples) alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. (John 17:20-24)
Jesus wants to share with ME His name, His glory, His home, His love, and His fellowship with His Father. Does this astound you? It does me.
When my Beauty was 17 years old, she came to her Dad and I with a plea. Her tearful, passionate petition was for another teen–she wanted to share EVERYTHING she had including her mom and dad, her home, her finances, her car, her clothes, ……..everything with this friend—-also a Beauty.
So, after much prayer, we went to court to make a legal transaction: To provide a fresh start, her past was past. A new life. She became “adopted” into our family and our hearts. Forever ours regardless of where she might go and regardless if she loved us back. It was and remains unconditional. She is an equal member of the family with all the rights and privileges whether or not she participates equally. As in Jewish times, as an adopted son or daughter, she can NEVER be disowned. This was our promise to her in front of a judge. God knew this experience would help me understand the incredible love God has for His children.
Jesus, the Bridegroom, has been apart from His Bride for 2000+ years preparing for the reunion and for His Bride’s eternal home.
Heaven seems so silent. His Bride soooo longs/needs to hear His voice, see His face, but she must trust and read and re-read and memorize His love letters to her. She must wait patiently.
The waiting for the homecoming of the one you love is difficult. Days turn into years, and years into decades, and decades into centuries. Many fall “asleep” waiting……………. It is hard to continue to believe in the return when time continues to pass………………But these were His instructions and love mandates we wait………………..trusting in His love.
When the Bride hears the enemy whisper questions to cause doubt she need only whip out His letters (the Epistles) and read “thus saith the LORD!” Doubts will evaporate as we read 140 statements of just what our position in Christ is. Hope will return as we are brought to remember we have Jesus name, Jesus authority, and Jesus compassion. Courage to wait will rise knowing our place in the family of God is secure, our purpose and His one and only plan are forever ours.
Oh how I wish I (we) could grasp the depth, height, length, and breadth of His love for me (us).
Each and every soul who would trust in the Name of Jesus was truly on His mind all the way to Golgatha’s horrible hill. May we rise to His faith in His Bride.
And for those who love the oldie goldies enjoy the beauty of this anthem and feel the emotion as you listen to the words……………
