John 16: 31-33, 17: 1-5
“You believe at last! Jesus answered. “But a time is coming, and has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:
“Father, the time has come, Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.”
A Thought
Jesus had tried to prepare his disciples for upcoming persecution by assuring them that after his departure, the Spirit would come and reveal to them the truth about his death, resurrection and second advent. Now Jesus speaks plainly to them about the Father’s love for them and they can ask the Father for anything in his name because he has overcome the world. The disciples will leave Jesus alone, but his Father will be with him. Jesus tells them he came from his Father and now the time has come for him to return to the Father. The cross awaits for Jesus. Jesus now prays to his Father to bring glory to him that he may complete the work of eternal life that the world may know the Father, the one true God.
Our Prayer
Father thank you for sending your Son that we may inherit eternal life through his life, death and resurrection. Help us to remember the cost on the body of Jesus–the bloody beatings, the rejection, the denial and betrayal of all, the insults and humiliations, the spitting, clapping and the mocking, the false accusations and falsely condemned, the crown of thorns on his head, the nails that were driven in his hands and feet to a wooden cross and finally his bloody death. We ask in Jesus’ name.
