The apostle John wrote how Jesus prayed to His Father God about His disciples, “I have given them your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that you should take them out of the world, but that you should keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through your truth: your word is truth. As you have sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world”, and in chapter seventeen and verse twenty of his book John shared how Jesus prayed to His Heavenly Father God about His disciples saying, “neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe” where we read:
Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
The verse reads, “Neither pray I for these alone, ...” John began with Jesus' words, “neither pray I” which means “but moreover I, Jesus, do not entreat, beg, beseech or ask” “for these alone” or “about, concerning and on account of Jesus' immediate disciples only or solely”. John shared how Jesus said He was not “making orations or entreaties” to His Father God in Heaven only on behalf of His current disciples, but also for the ones in His following statement.
The verse goes on to say, “... but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;” John continued with Jesus' words, “but for them also” or “however, nevertheless, notwithstanding and moreover on behalf of the people even so and indeed” “which shall believe on me” which means “who will trust in, rely upon, cling to and have confidence within me, Jesus” “through their word” or “by way and means of their, the disciples of Jesus', speech, uttered words, decrees and mandates”. John shared how Jesus prayed for the people who would “believe and trust” in Him because of the “speeches and testimonies” of His disciples.
When we think through John's words in this verse, we learn how God's “gospel” of “salvation” for mankind has descended throughout the ages. Jesus came into the world to die on the cross as a perfect sacrifice for sins so mankind could be forgiven of all their wrongs. Jesus left this message to His immediate disciples whom He “sanctified and assigned” to carry on His message after He ascended to His Father in Heaven. One by one people have received Jesus Christ as their personal “Savior and Lord”, and now millions upon millions of people have become “them also which believe” on Jesus because of their testimony. Let all who read these words examine themselves to be certain they are “believers” in Jesus Christ, and should there be one reading these words who has not received Jesus as their “Savior”, let them surrender their lives to Him and ask God the Father to forgive their sins.
Next time John shares how Jesus prays to His Heavenly Father God about His disciples saying, “that they all may be one”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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