May 24, 2020

Praying for others is important because prayer works! If we’ve ever had someone pray for us – not in general, but just for us personally – we know what Jesus is up to.

Some years ago, our District realigned our Circuits. At monthly Pastor’s Meetings, I was now meeting with a dozen pastors, half of whom I had not formally met with before. All of us knew only half of the pastors we were now meeting with.

At the conclusion of each individual pastor’s story, we would set the story-teller in the center with the rest of us standing around him with our hands upon his head or shoulder -- and we would, in turn, pray for him out loud based our intercession on the story he had just shared. 

I felt most comfortable when I was doing the praying. I don’t count myself as a great prayer, by any stretch, but can pray spontaneously when called upon. 

Being prayed for, on the other hand, left me feeling vulnerable. After all, I had just told them  my “story” – the good, the bad, and the ugly! Now they would pray for me. I could do nothing but receive their prayers. but receive their prayers. It was somewhat uncomfortable but at the same time quite powerful and moving. It was a good reminder that I was not a “lone stranger.” Other colleagues were there to support me, value and care for me.

That’s something of what Jesus is doing. He prays for his disciples. He senses their anxiety, confusion and fear, and so he prays for them. He knows he will soon leave them. So, he prays for them. 

And as he does, whether or not they fully understood everything he said, he told them that they do not have to do everything or even understand everything now. He will be there to support them. They will never be alone; they are valued and loved. 

It’s a powerful moment. And one of the amazing things about this passage is that Jesus doesn’t do this only for them, but also for us. As Jesus prays, “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word.” We are the latest in a long line of persons who have been inspired and encouraged to believe because of the words and lives of those original disciples.