Reverend Justin Danielson, Parkview Christian Church – Centralia
We find Jesus praying throughout the Gospels often. He prayed with people. He went away to be alone to pray. He prayed for people with all kinds of sicknesses and disabilities. Jesus also taught the Disciples how to pray when they asked.
Prayer for a Christian is our communication with God. Jesus modeled the importance of keeping in contact with God the Father. In John 17 we find the real Lord’s prayer. In verses 1-5 Jesus prayed for Himself. In this article I want to look at the following verses, 6-19, where Jesus prays for His Disciples.
A disciple is defined in Matthew 4:19, “And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” So, a disciple is one who is following Jesus (come and follow), being changed by Jesus (I will make you), and is on mission with Jesus (fishers of men).
Jesus had twelve disciples plus others that followed Him to learn from Him and in turn live out His teachings. In John 17:6-19, Jesus turns from praying for Himself to those that He was investing in.
Jesus prays to God about His disciples. He prays that they have heard from Jesus and know that what comes from Him is from God. Jesus says in John 17:9, “I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.”
Are we praying for those that God has entrusted to us? We are called to make and multiply disciples. Meaning we should be sharing the Good News; we should be helping others grow in their faith which in turn should cause them to do the same.
For the complete column, see this week’s edition of the Centralia Fireside Guard.
