Opening Prayer
Lord Jesus, today let us again hear You pray for us. Amen.
Text: John 17:20–26
“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”
Devotion
This text is so beautiful and every word so valuable that we ought to treasure it in our innermost heart and rejoice in it as in the richest treasure. Jesus prays also for us who now live and believe in Him, and we are one with His apostles and all the saints in the Father and the Son. The love with which the Father is in the Son and the Son in the Father is also in us so that we are in the Son and in the Father together with all who believe. What blessedness this is! “The glory which You gave Me I have given them.” Note it well: The glory the Father gave Him He has given to us. We lost God’s glory by falling into sin, but we have gotten it back now. It is true and certain, we have gotten it more glorious than before. For the glory1 the Father gave the Son He has given to us. We have it all, though we do not see it, but it is true since Jesus has said it.
I think of this: To me, a poor worm and wretched sinner, Jesus has given the glory which the Father gave Him! Is it a dream? Jesus in us, as the Father in Him! Even though there is no evidence of this in myself, but only His Word, then the sun chases the dark thoughts of doubt out the door. Wasn’t Jesus Himself in His tender age unaware of His glory, but wasn’t He also then the Lord of glory? But now we all have begun to feel the divine glory in us. We know that Jesus loves us and we know that we love Him in return. We long for Him, rejoice in Him, sorrow over our sins against Him, serve Him, rely upon Him, live in Him. There is a holy life of love in us which is not of the flesh, but of God. We love the brethren and have mercy on our enemies. Isn’t this the image and glory of God in Christ Jesus? What else is it but love itself, of which John says: “God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him” (1Jo 4:16)? Therefore Jesus also says here: “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.” When we arrive where He has gone ahead of us, and we can look back on what we have now, then this glory shall be made perfect in us. Then we shall become like Him, and then we shall look into this mystery, which now can be reflected faintly in our brotherly love; into this depth: that the Father has loved us, just as He loved His only-begotten Son. Jesus’ own words even say this: “You have loved them as You have loved Me.”
Closing Prayer
My God, what shall I say to this? I believe and worship and live by this love. But Lord Jesus, have mercy on me. How separated and divided Your people are now who should be one in You! Unite us in You, as many as believe in You. Let Your love bind and blend our hearts together. Let our whole life be love. We thirst and long for this. Lord Jesus, let the love with which the Father loves You be in us and You in us, Your poor, unworthy, dearly-bought brethren! Amen.
Hymn
My heart expands so broad
With pray’rs, thanksgiving,
Which You, O dearest God,
Are now receiving;
I lay me in Your heart
So full of mildness,
There I am calm and still;
Do with me what You will,
Source of all kindness!
And when the final call
To me You’re sending,
When darkest night shall fall,
My life soon ending,
Then let Your Spirit be
Sweet comfort giving,
That I in heav’n may be,
Which Jesus won for me,
Forever living!
Landstad and unknown Danish: Med Bøn jeg Støv og Muld L 407:4-5 tr. DeGarmeaux;
tune: Nu rinder Solen op (ELH 83); alternate hymn: For the beauty of the earth ELH 463