Verse Of the Week for September 29 - October 5

“Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word.”

- John 17:20.  

This verse is part of a prayer that Jesus prayed as He approached His death on the cross. The men that He had called and chosen were about to witness His death. He had shared with them on different occasions that He would be taken, suffer, and be crucified. He also had told them that on the third day that He would rise again. These disciples had a difficult time understanding all of this. This scripture is a prayer that Jesus prayed to the Heavenly Father concerning these men. Read all of John 17. Jesus had called these men, taught these men, prepared these men. Now He was praying for these men that had believed upon Him. Though they, at this time, didn’t fully understand everything that was going to happen, Jesus was praying for them. He prayed for the Fathers protection of these men that had believed upon Him. He prayed for them as they were witnesses of Him. He prayed for unity not only with one another but with the Father and Son also that they all could be one. When we get down to verse 20 notice this portion of Jesus’ prayer. He said, “Neither pray I for these alone…” Jesus said that He was not praying for these disciples alone. There were others upon His heart that He was praying for. Notice as the verse continues. “…but for those that shall believe on me through their word.” Jesus was praying not just for His disciples, but for those that would believe on Him through their word. These disciples would be commissioned to go into all the world and to preach the gospel to every creature. The Holy Spirit would be given on Pentecost to empower these men to preach His Word and many would believe on Jesus Christ and be saved. This would include you and I today if we have been saved. So you see, more than 2000 years ago, Jesus, the Word made flesh, the Son of God, just prior to dying for our sin, prayed for us. We were on His heart and mind before He ever went to Calvary. He declared Himself, that He had come to seek and to save that which was lost. The same gospel those early disciples preached is the same gospel that is being preached today and souls are still being saved today! So when you get discouraged, when it seems that no one cares or understands. Remember that Jesus prayed for you. Way back, all those years ago, Jesus prayed for you! Bless His Holy Name!

Our dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for Jesus. Thank you for the sacrifice of your Son. Thank you for the individuals that you have used to point souls to you. Thank you for those that you placed in our lives to point us to Jesus Christ. Thank you for the Sunday School teachers, AWANA teachers, workers, and helpers, that untiringly are busy pointing men, women, boys, and girls to Jesus. Thank you for those that will believe upon you through the Word that is being proclaimed today. Thank you Lord and Bless your Holy Name!