Have you ever overheard a conversation about you by some important people? You know when people talk about you behind your back seldom very good. Now I started pastoral ministry at the age of 20. uh you know just a few years ago. Hold the laughter please. One day back then I was called to the office of some of my top ecclesiastical supervisors for an evaluation. Well, I was young, inexperienced, and I was quite fearful of how this meeting was going to go, especially as the supervisors had a reputation of being very harsh and demanding. Well, I arrived early and unannounced for the meeting and the door to the office was open and I heard the supervisors already talking about me. I thought, "Wow, this can't be good." But as I overheard them, they were saying nice things about me. Wow, I was so relieved. I thought, well, now I at least I know I'm not going to be fired.
Being able to eavesdrop or overhear what my supervisors were saying gave me relief. It gave me relief about the meeting I was going to have and hope about my future. In the Gospel of John, chapter 17, we're given the opportunity to listen into and overhear a prayer of Jesus to his father. Now, overhearing that prayer can give us relief. It can give us hope and it can give us confidence in our lives today. and in our lives forever.
John 17:1-11 NIV Jesus Prays to Be Glorified
17 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:
“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.
Jesus Prays for His Disciples
6 “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one.
Charities
Ross Jutsum State of the Heart – An inter-denominational ministry of music and worship.
New Life for Haiti New Life for Haiti - Home
Bengali Evangelistic Association Bengali Evangelical Association (bengalimission.org)
Bible Gateway BibleGateway.com: A searchable online Bible in over 150 versions and 50 languages.
GCI Grace Communion International (gci.org)