20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 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 believe this to be one of the dearest verses for future believers found in our Lord’s High Priestly Prayer as He is praying for all who would eventually come to know Him through the eleven’s witness – this would graciously include both you and me. He enlarges His prayer to encompass the whole company of faithful followers in every generation not just merely the eleven apostles only. Jesus knew full well believers in every age would need preservation and sanctification. God’s goal for all saints is sanctification – meaning His desire is for every follower to be controlled by Jesus’ nature rather than by their own fleshly nature.
In light of our sanctification, our Lord’s scope in His intercessory prayer was deep and wide indeed. We should make note of this considering our own feeble prayers – we so often pray small do we not? It would behoove us as well to pray for future believers who will come to know the Lord long after our feet have left this earth. Just as each high priest of Israel continued to bear the names of the twelve tribes over his heart before God in the tabernacle as well as in the temple, so now our great High Priest Jesus carries future believers into the presence of God. Scripture tells us that whenever Aaron the priest of Israel would enter the Holy Place he was to bear the names of the sons of Israel over his heart as a memorial before the Lord – ever bringing the tribes of Israel before God’s throne:
29 “Whenever Aaron enters the Holy Place, he will bear the names of the sons of Israel over his heart on the breastpiece of decision as a continuing memorial before the LORD.” Ex 28:29 (NIV)
Jesus is our great High Priest and intercessor - continually bringing us before God’s throne. His permanent priesthood affording Him the capacity to bring His saving work to completion. Hebrews states:
24 but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. 26 Such a high priest meets our need--one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Heb 7:24-26 (NIV)
John also tells us in Revelation that Jesus loves us, coming to set us free from the bondage of our sins through His blood and making us to be a kingdom and priests. We have an obligation to be praying for present believers and future believers as well. Saints have a purpose of now and forever serving God:
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father--to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen Rev 1:5-6 (NIV)
We should note as well that one comes to believe through the preached Word of God. It is the means God uses as Scripture tells us – faith comes by hearing. People do not come to faith through human persuasion and cleverness rather through the pure and holy Truth of God’s Word. It is alive and active and sharper than a double edged sword. The Spirit uses it to convict and encourage, woo and draw, strengthen and satisfy. Paul tells us:
17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. Romans 10:17 (NIV)
“And the only way to know the God of the Word is to know the Word of God.” Donna Evans
"The Word of God well understood and religiously obeyed is the shortest route to spiritual perfection. And we must not select a few favorite passages to the exclusion of others.
Nothing less than a whole Bible can make a whole Christian." A.W. Tozer
Lastly, it is the Lord’s great desire for His followers to be one in heart and action. Divisions among the saints grieve His holy heart. The want of unity among believers as well as continuous strife causes much damage to Christ’s great Name. The Savior suffers through the hot contentions and continuous striving of those who call themselves saints. This is why unity among believers is continually preached throughout the New Testament. Paul clearly states the correct behavior for every believer in Colossians which properly reflects our Lord to others:
12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Col 3:12-14 (NIV)
King David also tells us:
1 How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! Psalms 133:1 (NIV)
Paul adding his exhortation in Romans 12:
18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Romans 12:18 (NIV)