“I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.” – John 17:9

John 17 is the prayer by Christ for His disciples, but not for them only. Jesus said to pray for your enemies and those that despitefully use you (Matthew 5:44), but here we see a truth that many are hard put to face; the first-century “world” had been condemned already. There was no need to pray for them; those chosen were prepared, trained, and soon to receive the commission to take global the Gospel, even to the uttermost part of the earth; only that Father God would keep them from evil. We don’t think that verse 15 below means to keep from doing evil; we rightly proclaim that they had works foreordained to walk in and should be kept from harm until the appointed time in which to die for the name of Jesus Christ.

“14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.”  (See 1 John 3:1)  “15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.” – John 17:14-15.

The birth of the Church of Jesus Christ was a most interesting, spectacular time and the singular event of import in the history of man, more so than any other. Even many Christians don’t grasp the significance of what happened. A new covenant in the pure and sinless blood of the Son of God is made available to all who would hear and believe. There’s no going back; there’s no returning to the old way, no blood of bulls and goats; it’s Christ alone, death and hell are defeated, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” – 1 Corinthians 15:55.

“Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word” – John 17:20

What an unimagined thing that the Christ of God would pray for you. Yes, the salvation of grace the prophets of the ancients spoke to and longed to see; that day of Christ as they testified beforehand of the suffering your saviour would endure for you and the glory that should follow. Salvation, a miracle so extraordinary the holy angel’s desire to look into, who could understand such a thing as this; if you heard the word of God and believed of the salvation sent to you, the very Son of God Almighty had already prayed for you two thousand years ago.

The Father heard Christ’s prayer and answered. Stop what you’re doing and thank Him for praying for you, for His holy word, and that He opened the dullness of your mind, that the word of God would penetrate right down to your very soul, bringing faith for converting you unto life, and life everlasting in Him.

“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” – John 17:3