For understanding, please note that Jesus was praying herein "before" He shed His precious holy blood on the cross for our transgressions. Similarly, to understand this passage, we need to understand that this is Jesus' humanity praying to the Father for strength-- "Not My will but Thine!" God’s will is “to have all men saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:4)
Indeed, as Jesus said, "I have manifested Thy Name unto the men which Thou gavest Me out of the world: Thine they were, and Thou gavest them Me; and they have kept Thy Word." (John 17:6)
Now they have known that all things whatsoever Thou hast given Me are of Thee. For I have given unto them the words which Thou gavest Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from Thee, and they have believed that Thou didst send Me. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which Thou hast given Me; for they are Thine. And all Mine are Thine, and Thine are Mine; and I am glorified in them. AND NOW I AM NO MORE IN THE WORLD and I come to Thee. Holy Father, keep through Thine own Name those whom Thou hast given Me, that they may be one, as we are. [Holy Ghost]
Jesus continues ... "While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Thy Name: those that Thou gavest Me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. And now come I to Thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have My joy fulfilled in themselves. 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. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy Word is truth. As Thou hast sent Me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word; that they all may be one; as Thou, Father art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me.
And the glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me. Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory, which Thou hast given Me: for Thou lovedst Me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, the world hath not known Thee: but I have known Thee, and these have known that Thou hast sent Me. And I have declared unto them Thy Name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith Thou hast loved Me may be in them, and I in them." (John 17:1-26)
The same that whispered in the ear of John the baptizer said what? "And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon Him. And I knew Him not: but He that sent Me to baptize with water, the same said unto Me, Upon whom Thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, the same is He which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost." (John 1:32-33)
A failure to rightly divide the Scriptures will only bring confusion and discouragement. But God is not the Author of confusion. Therefore, in understanding Jesus' example of prayer herein, one needs to acknowledge the context of the verse/passage: the author, the audience, and the circumstances. At this juncture in the scriptures, Jesus knows the time has come, when Judas would betray Him in the Garden of Gethsemane. His nailing to the cross was imminent; His plan of salvation to redeem His people on the horizon.
Still, Jesus (God manifest in the flesh) had to ensure that His disciples understood His words, while similarly ensuring that satan never uncovered His true identity. The I AM that was and is and is to come. His Name JESUS for He shall save His people from their sins ... Emmanuel, being interpreted, God with us. (Matthew 1:21-23)
"To wit, God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself." (II Corinthians 5:19; Isaiah 9:6)
Through Thy Word are we sanctified; justified; our sins once red as crimson made white as snow because of the precious, holy blood shed on the cross for you and I. The greatest story ever told that the same God who created this world and all that is within loved His creation as beloved, and thus, willingly, after His kindness and love God our Saviour toward man appeared. (Titus 3:4-7)
When He returns one day soon for His beloved, then will will recognize that this same Jesus whom ye once crucified in your heart too, is now both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36) King of kings and Lord of lords, Alpha and Omega, the first and the last. (Revelation 1:8, 11)
It is for this reason that we are "looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ!" (Titus 2:13)
Let those with ears to hear, hear the truth of the good news gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Stand in the offering plate.
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