KEEPING SPIRITUALLY FIT
John 17:20,21 My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
This prayer is not recorded in any of the other gospels. Possibly it was because John was one of the three that Jesus took close to him as he prayed in the garden just before he was arrested. It could have been that Peter and James had fallen asleep at this time, we just don’t know for sure. We do know by reading it what was on Jesus’ mind and heart.
Jesus prayed for himself. The cross was not an easy thing as some might think. Yes, Jesus knew that death would not be the end of his existence. He had the power to give up his life and to take it back again. He knew that following his death he would return to his divine state, and would go to the abode of the dead to preach about his atonement giving them a chance to receive his grace. He knew he was in complete control of all that was about to happen to him. But he also knew that the greatest hour of temptation was yet to come. His attacks would come from within and without. The more opportune time that we see following his temptation in the wilderness was upon him. Satan and the powers of darkness would be flooding his mind with all the threats and intimidations that go through a person’s mind and heart when facing death. They would enhance the fear of the upcoming pain, hate, ridicule, mocking and betrayal. They would lie regarding his victory over sin and death. They would point out that in his humanity he was one sin away from needing a savior himself, and failing to live up to God’s hope to redeem all that were lost. Yet in this dark hour he was not alone. God would send a holy angel to comfort and encourage him as the stress of the hour brought great drops of blood as sweet coming from his face.
Soon the sinless Son of God would have the sins of all humanity placed on him in such a way as he would become the sacrificial Lamb of God. While he would not become sinful in himself, he would know the shame, guilt and the judgment of god upon himself. While the physical pain of the cross was terrible, I believe it was no match to the terrible weight of our sins upon the righteous holy God in Christ. It is no wonder he cried out to his Heavenly Father that this cup might be taken from him. But even in this moment he added that he wanted his Heavenly Father’s will to be done.
Jesus prayed for his apostles. Jesus knew that while he had taught them what they would need to know and do, it would not be easy for them. He had even warned them that if they would persecute and even kill him, then they should expect no less. Jesus had seen what Satan’s attack on Peter led too. Now with him in heaven and the apostles not able to see him physically, would they carry on in the confidence and authority Jesus had given them? Jesus knew they still had their free will, and they could turn from him. This is why Jesus told Peter after the Last Supper that Satan asked to sift him as wheat. Then Jesus added that he prayed that his faith might not fail, and later would strengthen his brothers. Jesus knew this could happen to all his apostles once he was gone to heaven. This is why Jesus prayed for his Heavenly Father to protect them from Satan. Jesus knew their greatest attack would come from Satan and the powers of darkness.
Jesus also prayed for us too! For all that would follow his atonement on Calvary's cross, Jesus knew we would also experience the same attacks from Satan, the powers of darkness and the evil of this world. We would also be attacked from friends and even family trying to get us to turn away from Jesus. His prayed that his great passion on Calvary’s cross and his victory over sin and death might not be in vain. What we would commit unto him, Jesus was asking God to bring it about.
God wants more than we can know or understand that we receive forgiveness and eternal life by faith in the grace afforded by Jesus’ atonement on Calvary’s cross. Sometimes we feel as though we are all alone in this fight against Satan, the powers of darkness, the evil of this world and even ourselves. What we must remember is that we are not alone. God stations his mighty angels about us and he himself is in us. We have his divine authority in the spiritual realm to do our battles. We carry the promise of Jesus that he will never leave or forsake us, and he is greater than he that is in this world.
Where we often fail is not praying for ourselves. We quickly pray for others and seek the face of Jesus, but where do we find ourselves on our prayer list? Well, it is usually last. Sometimes we feel unworthy, often ashamed of our unChrist-likeness. Most often we just don’t think to pray for ourselves. This is a big mistake! We have not because we ask not. (James 4:2) When we get down physically and spiritually we make ourselves susceptible to temptation and defeat. We need to live our life physically and spiritually from a position of strength, and this comes by prayer for ourselves. Many people today are into physically exercise. We can’t hardly go anywhere but to see people jogging along the side of the road. We need to be more fit spiritually than physically. Don’t neglect time with the Lord, and certainly in intercession for yourselves.
Prayer: Thank you Lord Jesus for praying for us. Holy Spirit, please help us to be committed to prayer for other, and also for ourselves. We ask this in Jesus name.
