A number of years ago when I first started exploring Christianity, (you know, the time when you intellectually know there is a God, because of the evidence. But you are not really sure there is a God, because – well, He is invisible!) I found myself listening to the Bible on CD, because at that time I found reading the Bible really hard.
Well one night, (I think it was a Thursday night) there was a mighty thunder and lightning storm. And I found myself sitting in the lounge room, in the dark looking out the window with the curtains drawn back, just observing the sheer majesty of the scene. Playing in the background was the voice of Alexander Scourby reading the Gospel of John. It was, what I would later discover was the prayer of Jesus in chapter 17. As I was looking out at that might storm, and hearing that prayer from Jesus being read out, I noticed that Jesus prayed for his disciples, and then after awhile began praying for a guy called Robbie – I never knew my name – Robbie – was in the Bible. I rushed to get a Bible and look up the verses that I had just heard. And you are never going to believe it. My name – Robbie – is not in the Bible.
At first I was confused – I heard my name of the CD as sure as my name is Robbie – but no matter how many times I played the CD back or searched the Bible, I could not hear, or find my name again. But then a warm feeling came over my chest while an ice-cold chill ran down my shoulders and back, and I heard – what I now know to be the voice the Holy Spirit – which said. Your name is there, by faith, look, read again! And so I looked again and sure enough, my name is in scripture. This was such a special moment which I will forever treasure – Jesus prayed for Robbie – take a look for yourself!
Jesus Prays for Himself
17 Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, 2 as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. 4 I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. 5 And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.
Jesus Prays for His Disciples
6 “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.7 Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You.8 For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me.
9 “I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. 10 And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. 12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.
Jesus Prays for Robbie
20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for Robbie who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that Robbie may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that Robbie also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given Robbie, that Robbie may be one just as We are one: 23 I in Robbie, and You in Me; that Robbie may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved Robbie as You have loved Me.
24 “Father, I desire that Robbie also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that Robbie may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and Robbie has known that You sent Me. 26 And I have declared to Robbie Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in Robbie, and I in Robbie.”
See, I told you!
