PRAYER TO INTERCEDE FAILURE

PRAYER TO INTERCEDE FAILURE

“Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;” John 17:20

These are the most comforting words for us in this great prayer of our Lord, because they bring us into its interest and intercession. We are among the number of those who have believed on Him through the apostolic word, and so His requests were all on our behalf also. This outlook of the Master Teacher is very suggestive. There He was, after three and a half years of public ministry, approaching an end which seemed to be that of defeat. He was surrounded by a few loving men, who nevertheless would soon all be scattered for utter fear. The outlook was very dark to all but the Lord. He also saw the darkness, and understood it better than any other for He possessed perfect emotion, intelligence and will. And therefore He saw through it, He saw their future and ours, saw the light clearly shining down the coming age; saw these very men, gathered after their scattering, going forth publishing the Word, saw the sacramental hosts of souls believing that Word, and for these He prayed. And His prayer for all of us was as His prayer for those men who were about Him. He knew their weakness, and how they would fail. He knows our weakness, and all about our failures. He prayed for them. He prays for us. He knew His intercession for them would prevail. He knows His intercession for us will prevail. Then let us rest in Him, with the rest of loving obedience and of surest confidence in His coming Kingdom.