Jesus prays for his disciples
by Neil Bergmann
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As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world (John 17:18).
Read John 17:6–19
John’s gospel is unique in the way that it describes the Last Supper. Five chapters, 13 to 17, are dedicated to what is often called Jesus’ farewell discourse, where he prepares the disciples for his imminent arrest and execution. Chapter 17 is one long prayer in which Jesus prays to his Father to protect his disciples in the trying times ahead, and then extends that to prayer for those who believe through the words of the disciples, which includes us!
Why do the disciples (and us) deserve special protection and blessing? It is partly because Jesus loves them (and us), but more directly, it is because the disciples are being sent out to tell the world about Jesus, and that can be a dangerous thing to do.
Likewise, we are all sent by Jesus into the world, to tell a hurting and misguided world what it really means to live in the kingdom of heaven. The way that we are sent out into the world will be different for all of us. It may be as preachers, or as writers, or as campaigners, or as carers. It may be to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to house the homeless and to visit the forgotten.
In whatever way we go out into the world, Jesus’ prayer to his Father applies to us. We are under the protection of the creator of the universe. We will never be alone.
Jesus, you are sending us out into the world. You have prayed to the Father to protect us as we go. Give us the courage to step beyond our comfort zones, to stop depending on our own strength, and to rely totally on your strength. Amen.
Neil Bergmann is currently the chair of Lutheran Earth Care, Australia and New Zealand. A retired computer engineer, he worships at Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Rochedale, Queensland.
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