Jesus prayed for me and prayed for you too

To all my brothers and sisters. Have you taken a look at John 17 before? I mean, really really looked at it, taken it all in, let it work its way deep into your heart? I never really noticed it before, but Jesus prayed for all of us in advance.

20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 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. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

25 “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26 I have made you[e] known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

There is something really awesome here. Before we were, Jesus was, and the work He did on the cross has grave impact on our life. That He comes in and resides in us. He prayed to His heavenly father that Him residing in us would come to be so. This is truly, truly amazing.

In John 14:12-14 we see something that brings the above scripture into even more amazing light.

12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Do you see it? If we believe this scripture that if we ask for anything in Jesus' name it will be done? Should we not also believe that when Jesus asks something of the Father will it not be done? Surely, whatever the Son asks it will be. I had never seen it like this before. Jesus himself prayed for us, and since it is Him who is asking the father these things then I am sure it is being done. These words from Jesus are amazing, are they not? How wonderful it is we have a savior who prayed for us before we came into being. Jesus asked the father His love would be in us. Amazing. Furthermore He has said He will be in us.

Again I am amazed at our Lord. I've read this Scripture before many times but never has it penetrated my heart like this before. I know for sure Jesus is in my life, residing. Because He prayed for me for all these things I know God our father has answered His prayer. Jesus lived a life free from sin. He conquered the grave. And was risen again. In Him we have eternal life. Amen.

Together with the Lord

In the Bible we read many verses that contain the words blessed and happiness. Depending on what translation whether it be KJV or NIV it varies from each one. But what we don't normally always see is that the translation that we read have been translated from the Hebrew and Greek languages. Sometimes the meaning of these words gets lost in translation.

John 13:17 (NIV) Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

John 13:17 (KJV) If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

It is my desire to come to the Scriptures, examine them and look at in reference to what the whole of what the Lord says in the Scriptures. I desire to do this because sometimes in our sin we can make Scripture out to be saying something when it really isn't saying that. Because we are sinners we can incorrectly interpret Scripture.

The translation from Greek of these two words; blessed and happy come from μακάριος

makarios

mak-ar'-ee-os

A prolonged form of the poetical μάκαρ makar (meaning the same); supremely blest; by extension fortunate, well off: - blessed, happy (X -ier).

When we look in the Old Testament we find verses such as Genesis 12:3(KJV) that contain the English word bless as well.

"And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed."

The translation from Hebrew of the word bless comes from the word בּרך bârak baw-rak'. A primitive root; to kneel; by implication to bless God (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as a benefit)

The meaning of this is that the action of kneeling before God is an act of adoration to Him. Submitting to His Holiness, Glory and Honor and giving praise to Him. Now when God in turns blesses man, since man is the creation man holds no claim on Holiness thus cannot be praised so this action of blessing is a benefit to man. Something from God to benefit.

Looking at the whole of Scripture. I think to myself that in the days of the Old Testament God's servants were blessed with many riches, wisdom and things from God. Abraham was given a Son, Israel was saved many times, Daniel was given visions of end times, David was anointed king over Israel, etc.

And when I look at the New Testament, when Jesus speaks in Matt 5:3-11(NIV) I get an overwhelming conviction that being Together with the Lord is what being blessed and happy consists of.

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God."

How awesome it is to be called a child of God.

Acts 20:35(NIV)  "In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” 

Like our heavenly father whom men of faith knelt before and praised and whom God in turn gave wonderful things; that we as followers of Christ can be like our heavenly father and give to others. Not that we hold any claim to impart such as God but Christ working in and through us by the Holy Spirit reaching out to others.

I feel that sometimes we think we need more things. That to be blessed is to have much stuff. But in my life I know that has never brought me true joy or happiness. So looking to Jesus I can see that fellowship with Him is what being blessed is. That we have the Holy Spirit working in us.

John 14:15-16 “If you love me, keep my commands. ¹⁶ And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever.

Before the fall, man was together with God in the garden of Eden. After the fall man became separated from God by a great vast chasm that man can never cross on his own. The Lord, who's name is Jehovah Jireh, the Lord who provides knew this before He created man and already had a plan formed to restore man to a right relationship with Himself. This plan was completed on the cross. His only begotten Son, Jesus, who had no sin was sentenced to death, became obedient to it and paid the penalty for our sins. The Lord rose from the grave and now sits at the right hand of the Father, interceding on the behalf those who place have faith in Him. 

Thanks be to God that our relationship with Him is restored. That like in the garden of Eden, through Jesus Christ we can be blessed by being Together with the Lord. Hallelujah. Amen.