Middle school · Day 7 of 7
Jesus Prays for You
Read: John 17:9-21 (KJV)
9I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. 10And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. 11And now I am no more in the world, but these are 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. 12While 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. 13And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14I 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. 15I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 16They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. 18As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. 19And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. 20Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21That 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.
Read the whole chapter ›What it means
In John 17, Jesus prayed for His disciples right before going to the cross. He asked God to keep them from evil and make them holy through His Word. Then in verse 20, He said something amazing: "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word." That includes you! Jesus prayed for you before you were even born. And the Bible says Jesus still prays for His people today. So when you pray, you are not starting the conversation alone. Jesus is already praying for you. He prayed that believers would be united, so pray for your friends, family, and church too. This week you learned that prayer is simply talking with a God who loves you. Keep the conversation going.
Key verse
“Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;”
John 17:20 (KJV)
Think about it
- How does it feel to know that Jesus prayed for you?
- Jesus prayed for His followers to be one. How can you help bring unity in your family, friend group, or church?
- What is one prayer habit from this week you want to keep?
Pray
Jesus, thank You for praying for me, even before I was born. Keep me from evil and help me grow in Your Word. Help me pray for others the way You pray for me. Amen.