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.