I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours.
I once heard an attorney use the phrase, “drawing a distinction.” The way he used it meant that he was recognizing a difference between two things. Things that had been lumped together. For example, a marketing analyst might draw a distinction between “all people who shop for groceries” and “all people who shop for groceries at Brand X store.”
In today’s passage, Jesus draws his own distinction. In this very special prayer on his last night before being crucified he notes that he is “not praying for the world…” The world is under his authority, but the people of the world are not all destined to be called out of the world. Those who are given to Jesus obey God’s word. (Verse 6) They know that everything Jesus has comes from the Father. (Verse 7) They have accepted the words of Jesus. They are certain Jesus comes from God. They believe God sent him. (Verse 8)
These people that Jesus is praying for are different from those in the world. The world is not a nice place. The world does not accept God, or his Word, or Jesus. The world does not hesitate to ridicule and hate those who believe in Jesus. Sometimes the world kills those who believe.
This situation is not new. The battle between the people of God and the world dates back to the beginning. Then Satan took the form of a serpent and tempted Eve to eat the forbidden fruit. The battle saw its first blood when Cain killed Able because Able loved God and Cain did not.
Since Jesus existed before the creation of the world, he has seen all these things. He has watched his creation being tainted by sin and evil over the centuries. Yet he knows that destroying the Evil would cost the lives and souls of those he loves. (Matthew 13: 24-30) His only alternative is patience and sacrifice. Patience to wait out the evil. Sacrifice to redeem his fallen children.
The world says that people are “basically good.” Jesus knows that people are basically not good and that they desperately need to be forgiven and redeemed. Who are you going to believe?
Food for thought: What advantage does Jesus have in drawing distinctions between people that you and I will never have?
He has the advantage of perfect perspective – he truly sees the big picture, peoples motivations, and the end results. I am glad I don’t have the responsibility that comes with this perspective as I’m not up to the task of judging people’s hearts on my own.
I agree with what Nathan says. Jesus has the unique ability to read a human heart and a human thought. He also still loves us despite what He sees. All of that is unique to Jesus. All of that is part of what makes Him so beautiful.
Rich & Nathan,
Thank you for adding your thoughts today. Jesus does have a truly unique perspective on our hearts, one that only God can have.
I heard a story yesterday on the radio about a man who sat next to a woman during a plane trip. The woman had a baby with her and cared for it like any other mother would only she had no arms. When the man finally mustered the courage to ask, he wondered if there was anything she couldn’t do for her child. The woman said that there was one thing… She reached into her travel bag and pulled out a bottle and then offered it to her child. The child grabbed the bottle and happily started to drink … while holding the bottle with his feet. His arms lay limp at his sides.
We learn by observing and often by copying what we see. In many things we are wise to copy what our Lord does. However, we need to recognize that there are some things that are for Him alone to do. Recognizing who the Father has given Him is one of those things. For our part, as Rich points out, we do well if we can love others despite what we see.
Hi Jeff,
Thanks for the encouragement of this write up today.
Brent,
Thanks for reading! 🙂
Great story and point brother