24"Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. - P33
Jesus prays for all future believers, asking the Father that they may be one, justas He and the Father are one. By this unity, the world will know that the Fathersent Jesus and has loved the believers as He has loved Jesus. Jesus expressesHis desire for the believers to be with Him and to see His glory. - P33
Notice that this work to which Jesus commits Himself is done for a "them"—the church. We do not grow in the knowledge of God on our own. The Christian life is not the story of me and God; it is the story of God and us, His church. This is the way God sanctifies the saints and glorifies Himself. - P34
We, too, all carry recommendation letters as believers in Christ. The difference is that the writer of our letters never draws a blank because He didnot write our letters based on our performance or merit, but solely basedon His. Written on our letters is a declaration of a perfect and righteouslife, signed by the blood of the Son of God. And based on this declarationthe Father accepts us. - P35
But it gets even better. Not only has Jesus given us these spotless letters, butnow He stands beside the righteous Father, interceding for us. The highpriestly prayer found in John 17 is not just a one-time prayer Jesus offeredwhile on earth. As our advocate, He continually intercedes for His peopleat the Father‘s side. He pleads with the Father, "Guard them, sanctify them, keep them until they finish their race!" What a wonderful Savior and anamazing advocate! If the Son of God is for us, who can be against us? - P35
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