To begin looking into this prayer in more detail, let’s remember why Jesus is praying at this particular point in his ministry.
This prayer occurs right before Jesus is arrested. Jesus knows what is to come. We hear Him say in this prayer: “I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you.”
Jesus knows that He is going to the Father, but His followers are not. He will no longer be with them in the same way, which leads to this prayer. “While I was with them,” He prays, “I protected them in your name that you have given me … But now I am coming to you.”
This makes me think of dropping off Rachel at college for the first time. A lot of prayer, of course. (And maybe a few tears, too.) Entrusting her to God, knowing that we will no longer be with her day-in and day-out. Praying that God will protect her.
We’ve taught her, and prepared her as best we could. But now, it is time for her to be on her own.
To me, this is what Jesus is doing here, as He gets ready to go to the cross and ultimately to return to heaven.
It is time for his disciples to do this without Jesus right there with them. At least physically...
I am curious as to your thoughts as we leave off here for today... what do think both Jesus and the disciples are feeling in this moment??
Let me know in the comments below.
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