I am constantly Re-reminded of this prayer of Jesus recorded in John 17, to which I had dedicated an entire chapter in the book: And Then The End Shall Come.

This Sunday morning I was reminded again, but this time from our pastor Tom of certain things about this prayer, which again caused me to think on the subjects recorded there, which were on Jesus’ mind, as He prepared to give Himself a sacrifice for any, who would follow Him out of this world into His kingdom.

Here we see the emphasis of His request to Father. This prayer is for us His disciples. We are in the world, but we are not of it. Jesus left us here but not Alone. Our purpose is not to win this world, but to call disciples out of it.

His emphasis is for us to be one. Later He would command these for whom He was praying here to go into all of the world making disciples, and teaching them all that He had taught to them, they would even continue to learn from this Holy Spirit given them just before Pentecost when He had breathed on them in John 20 this His Spirit, whom He had said would lead them into all truth. Yet, here in this prayer we learn that the world that He is not praying for, may know a truth, because of our unity, which even though they will not come to Him, they will see.

Verse 24 which is not highlighted here, makes clear His purpose for the spread of the gospel; that we for whom He is praying, who have come to Him out of (this world), which through us now knows of Him; that we will behold Him in all of His glory, as He comes for us.

It is not until later in the book of the Revelation that He reveals to this same John just how the world will react, when they see Him as our message to them is coming to pass. Here He is seen coming, and the world now fully understands His judgments and His rewards. It is there revealed in Revelation 6, that this world will finally see, because apparently, of our unity in Christ, that Jesus (the Lamb) has kept His Word, and that He is returning. For us it is glory, but to them it is in Wrath, as they cry out for the rocks to fall on them to hide them from Him and His purpose for them.

This will all happen, because Jesus (He who created us as the word of God) has spoken it into our future, and done it again by His Word.

Friends we can know Him, but knowing of Him without being in Him will make all of the difference in our eternal future. The world will one day know that He loves us, but it will be to them loss. Call upon Him while you will still be heard. Seek Him while He can be found. Share Jesus with your friends and neighbors while it is yet day.

For you believers encourage your friends and neighbors who are yet in the world to read John’s gospel,