Of all the wonderful things Jesus did on this day of this very week, my favorite by far, is this remarkable prayer: “… I pray also for those who will believe in me through their [His disciples’] message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one — I in them and you in me —so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
“Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

“Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” (John 17:20-26)

Just wow.

Listen, Jesus was about to walk the hardest road anyone could ever imagine, yet took the time – even had the heart – to pray for you and me. Us. The very reason He was dying to begin with. The very cause of His crushing became the subject of His praying.

Heavens, but His love absolutely knows no bounds. Ours was the very sin that held Him to that cross, yet ours is the very heart He longs to hold. I mean… He wants us “one” with Him and His Father. Can you fathom it? What does that even mean? Complete unity… Oneness… God’s love in us… Jesus, Himself – in us???

What kind of King… what kind of God invites you into a relationship like that? Is He desperate? Needy? Lonely? Never. He is- simply put – LOVE. And love just keeps driving Him forward… toward the pain and separation and hell that awaits.

Because, He knows we often wait in a desperate, needy, all alone kinda hell of our own making. And, Hell awaits us all apart from Him. So, He prays. He lifts His voice to Heaven before His body is lifted up and He prays. He prays for us to be ONE with Him and His Righteous Father. He prays we will know their love. He prays we will see His glory. He prays for us to go where He is going. He just prays.

Because He knows Heaven will never be complete without you there.