John 17: 5-11, 17 Jesus' High Priest Prayer

Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.” I have manifested Your name to the men whom You gave Me out of the world; they were Yours and You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. Now they have come to know that everything You have given Me is from You; for the words which You gave Me I have given to them; and they received them and truly understood that I came forth from You, and they believed that You sent Me. I ask on their behalf; I do not ask on behalf of the world, but of those whom You have given Me; for they are Yours; and all things that are Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine; and I have been glorified in them. I am no longer in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are. While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name which You have given Me; and I guarded them and not one of them perished but the son of perdition, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled. I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one.

Jesus' High Priest prayer is a high point in manifesting Jesus' mission. He was sent to save and restore the lost from Israel and among the gentiles. All who were going to be saved for all time were know by name in advance. These are the elect, not because of their goodness, but because they were chosen by God. Jesus prayer climaxes when he says do not take them out of the world, but keep them from the Evil One. He wants his earthly mission to continue through his disciples, but urges protection for them from spiritual warfare led by Satan and his demons.

Daily Prayer: Holy Father, it is true that I am in the world and under attack by powers of darkness. Thank God for Jesus Christ who has already won the war and has only asked his disciples to hold the ground he has already won. Help me to do my part for the sake of Jesus Christ my Lord Amen.