Jesus Prays
I am not asking on behalf of them alone, but also on behalf of those who will believe in Me through their message, John 17:20 · Berean Standard Bible
Jesus says: 'I'm not just praying for these disciples—I'm praying for everyone who will believe in me through their message.' That includes you.
Two thousand years ago, Jesus prayed specifically for you. He looked across the centuries and included you in His most sacred prayer.
Jesus prays with you personally in His heart.
This is the moment in Jesus' prayer where He thinks of you. Every person who has ever come to faith through the gospel message was on His heart that night.
Jesus expands His intercession beyond the present disciples to include all future believers who will come to faith through the apostolic testimony.
This verse extends the prayer across all of church history. The phrase 'through their message' (dia tou logou auton) affirms the indispensable role of apostolic witness and proclamation in the spread of faith.
Jesus prays for all future believers, including the present-day church.
Jesus' prayer reaches through time to encompass every person who will ever believe because of the apostles' testimony. Every believer in history is covered by this intercession.
18As You sent Me into the world, I have also sent them into the world.
19For them I sanctify Myself, so that they too may be sanctified by the truth.
20I am not asking on behalf of them alone, but also on behalf of those who will believe in Me through their message,
21that all of them may 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 that You sent Me.
22I have given them the glory You gave Me, so that they may be one as We are one—
Read all of John 17 — You get to overhear Jesus praying to the Father. He prays for His disciples — and then He prays for you.
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