Listen

[Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father …”]

“I have revealed your name to the people you gave me from this world. They were yours and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. This is because I gave them the words that you gave me, and they received them. They truly understood that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me.”

John 17:6-8

Think

Jesus offers this prayer for his disciples out loud in front of them, just before he is arrested. They don’t know what is coming, but he does—and these words are one of his final gifts to them. He wants the disciples to hear him telling God that he loves them and trusts them to carry out the work he has given them to do, even when he has to be separated from them.

I wonder what the disciples thought of this prayer. Were they honored that Jesus had such confidence in them? Or did they feel confused and afraid, worried that they hadn’t “truly understood” anything, and that they wouldn’t be able to do what Jesus was asking of them?

We are disciples of Jesus too, and sometimes Jesus asks us to do hard things, just as he did with his original disciples. But any time Jesus calls us to do something hard, he also expresses love for us and confidence that we can do it with God’s help.

Catherine Healy

Pray

Gracious God, I know that all good things come from you. I want to know your name and keep your word. Help me to trust you, understand you, and hear your voice. Amen.

Go

Jesus promises to pray for all of us. How is he praying for you right now?