And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world…

The prayer of Christ Jesus – Gospel of John 17:11 KJV

Prayer for disciples

In answering the question, ‘Who Does JESUS Pray For?’ we have clearly determined that Christ Jesus prays for us as High Priest and intercessor before God our Father.

“I have manifested Your name to the men whom You gave Me out of the world; they were Yours and You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.

John 17:6 NASB

Jesus, although not praying for Judas, intercedes for the Eleven Apostles in the upper room as well as other disciples – those followers in every era to come until the judgment of the world.

Eternal Life will be granted ONLY to those the FATHER has given to the SON and not all of the world — not to the worldly, not to the unrepentant, not to the Antichrists of the last days of John or to those opposing Christ Jesus in these last days.

Jesus Son of Man and Son of God prays: “I do not ask on behalf of the world, but of those whom You have given Me,” but who are these?

John 17:

6 “I have revealed your name to the people you gave me from the world…

9 “I pray for them. I am not praying for the world but for those you have given me…

And here is Jesus’ all-powerful intercession for us — sinners left without hope doing too few works of righteousness to earn eternal life.

And now I am no more in the world,

but these are in the world,

and I come to thee.

Holy Father,

keep through thine own name

those whom thou hast given me,

that they may be one, as we are.

John 17:11 KJV

One with the Father

Jesus’ incarnate mortal life is about to end!

And what does the Lord pray to the Father as He stands before the Apostles with His arms raised to heaven to the Father, the Lord Almighty?

Jesus prays that they may be one as He and the Father are One.

שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ יְהוָה אֶחָֽד׃

Deuteronomy 6:4 – Masoretic text

shama`Yisra’el Yehovah ‘elohiym Yehovah ‘echad … “Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! …

Jesus had witnessed:

• “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. – John 6:37
• “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. – John 6:44
  • “I will raise him up on the last day” is certain reference to eternal life and assurance to disciples of Jesus.
• “I and the Father are one.” – John 10:30

One with the Son

Here stands the same Son of the Father, God incarnate! praying for those He selected before the world began. Jesus, the Christ and Messiah prays for the sameness of relationship the He enjoys with the Father.

One and the same would be the expression of relationship – God’s Perfect relationship in love.

Jesus IS; yet in His Oneness He says He is ‘no longer in the world’ (past tense). Jesus prays for those He loves though they must remain in the world for now (as do we).

As WE are ONE refers to Christ as the LORD, One with the Father and the Holy Spirit of God!

10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. [KJV]

Now Jesus prays:

Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are.

John 17:11b NASB

Jesus bows before our Holy Heavenly Father as the Perfect and Incarnate Son of Sacrifice pleading for God to protect or keep them in the Lord’s fold as He leaves them to the predators of this world opposed to GOD and all righteousness.

Then again, Jesus prays an astounding prayer of intercession: “… that they may be one even as we are.”

One with God?

How can a mere man be one with God?

John has already used this testimony of Jesus many times including:

• “I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one G1520 flock with one G1520 shepherd.
  • – of the gentiles joined with the Jews following the One Messiah as if they were one – John 10:16

Now in His great prayer of intercession Jesus prays for this mystical relationship of love between the Father, the Son and those chosen to eternal life.

John 17: CSB

21 May they all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I am in you.

May they also be in us, so that the world may believe you sent me.

22 I have given them the glory you have given me, so that they may be one as we are one.

23 I am in them and you are in me,

so that they may be made completely one,

that the world may know you have sent me and have loved them as you have loved me.

Jesus’ loving words for believers here bears repeating.

• “That the world may know [our Father God sent Jesus Christ].
  • Is this your witness, beloved brother or sister in Christ?
• “and have loved them
  • Yes. our Creator Who determined your days also loves you as a beloved son or daughter IF you accept His mercy and grace through the Lord Jesus.
• “as you have loved me.
  • Our Perfect Creator loves us as He has loved the Perfect Son, our Lord and Savior the Messiah and Christ Jesus.

Do you bow humbly before your Lord and Savior who even as He prayed for you would soon sacrifice His Very Flesh and Blood on a Cross for your sins?

To be continued...