This was not the first time that Jesus prayed for His mission and the mission He was to leave behind for the disciples to spearhead. It was not the first time He prayed for the twelve disciples and for the people who were following Him. But, since it was some of the last words recorded before He was taken to the cross, we must pay attention.
Jesus said, Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, so that the Son may show Your splendor. You gave Him authority over everyone. You give eternal life to each one You have given the Son. And this is the way to have eternal life: to know You, the only true God, and Your Son, the One You sent to earth. I brought glory to You on earth by finishing the work You gave Me to do. And now, Father, glorify Me with Your light that we shared before the world began … I am departing this world, but they are staying in this world. I am coming to You. Holy Father, You have given Me Your name, protect them by the power of Your name so that they will be one heart and one mind just as We are one. While I was with them, I protected them by that name. I guarded them so that not one of them was lost. John 17: 1-5, 11-12
It may be scary to step out into new territory that God is showing us. But He is there to back us up, to protect us from fall-out from our past and to give us security to move forward. His protection is not a small warning sign staked in the ground that we might casually pass up, but a huge splash of His glory and the light of His presence behind us, lighting the way (Isaiah 58:8). That kind of light leaves no dark places in our path forward. His glory lights up our footsteps and shows us the way to tread, today and tomorrow.
Protection is what God offers to defend and guard us from danger. The Bible is full of promises of protection against: Trouble (Ps 32:7). Oppression (Ps 9:9). Violent men (Ps 140:1). Evil (2 Thess 3:3). Lying leaders (Ps 12:7-8 NLT). Disease (Ps 91:3). Robbers (Ps 35:10). Enemies (Ps 64:1).
But there are other kinds of danger that Jesus prayed about in John 17 at the Last Supper. It was just hours before the night He spent in the garden of Gethsemane with the disciples, where He was arrested and then delivered to the cross. In this prayer He expressed His oneness with God, the Father. He relates that the glory and light of the Father is assigned to the Son. He also confirms that He finished the work on earth that He was sent to do. His petition is one of concern for those He is leaving behind. He is aware of their need for continued protection and guarding. The two things He prayed for them were that they be unified as one and not be lost.
On the brink of leaving us, Christ’s focus was on those who were to continue the work of the Father. He knew that His unity with the Father was important for His work, and the same kind of unity among the disciples would be of paramount importance for theirs. This oneness would bond their hearts and their minds to each other. Harmony of spirit would bend them to put each other’s needs ahead of their own. The power of His name would bind them to Him and the same mission. They would guard each other and no one would be lost.
What groups of His people have you bonded with?
How can you boost that bond?
What common mission do you have?
What can you do to guard and protect each other?
O One God, make me more aware of the hearts and minds of those in my life. Be our harmony. Be our focus. Protect us for Your mission. Amen.
happy hunger 
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