John 17 is all about Jesus’s prayers for his disciples and his people, for those who followed him and believed in him. However, Jesus prayed not only for his followers, but “…for those who will believe in me through their [the disciples’] word” (John17: 20, NKJV).
What a powerful truth! Jesus’s phrase “those who will believe in me” includes you and me. Jesus was praying for us when he walked this earth in the flesh. Centuries ago, we were on his mind. He even recorded this prayer in his Word, knowing we would be reading it. He wants us to know he was interceding for us to the Father.
Beloved, this prayer which Jesus prayed for us did not vanish into thin air. It has been burning on God’s altar all this time, and God has accepted Jesus’s prayer for each of us. Our salvation is the result of his prayers. We are in him today because God answered his prayer for us.
“But he, because he continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore he is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:24-25).
Right now, Jesus is praying for transgressors who haven’t yet turned to him. Scripture says he can save to the uttermost, meaning to the end of time, all who will ever come to him.
Throughout my years in ministry, I have seen many drug addicts and alcoholics get gloriously saved. Each time, I would think, “This one had to have a praying mother or interceding grandmother somewhere in the past. God is answering those holy warriors’ prayers.”
Now I see something better than that, something far more powerful and effective. It wasn’t just a mother or grandparent who was praying for those who now believe. Jesus was praying for them all along. “I pray for them…who will believe in me through their [the disciples’] word” (John 17:9, 20).
If you have been running from the Lord, you will never get away from his prayers. The Father answers his Son, and all who resist him are hardening their hearts to the prayers of Christ who prayed for them on earth and is praying for them still.