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BUMC Mini-Blast May 18, 2026
JesusTime Devotion
by Joey Capuano

Scripture: John 17: 1 - 11

Jesus prays for us!

by Joey Capuano

In one of the readings for (last) week, John 17: 1 - 11, we are approaching the end of the Easter season, in Ascension Sunday, which is the last Sunday before Pentecost. Why is this Sunday so important? Good question, and I asked the same thing when looking at the readings for this week! It is important because it shows that, even though Jesus is ascending into Heaven to be with his Heavenly Father, He isn't leaving us!

As we know, God - through Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - is omnipresent. This is truly consoling! Even though there are so many things in the world that are scary and negative - just take a look around and see some of the things that are happening in our communities, in our state, in our country, and in our world - God is always there with us to help us through. In the reading from John, Jesus is asking His Father to protect, be with, and guide His disciples. We can extend this blessing to us today, as His modern followers!

I want you to take a look at these words:

John 17:1-11 Christ's Prayer for His Disciples

17:1 After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you,

17:2 since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.

17:3 And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

17:4 I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do.

17:5 So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.

17:6 "I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.

17:7 Now they know that everything you have given me is from you,

7:8 for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you, and they have believed that you sent me.

17:9 I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours.

17:10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them.

17:11 And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.

In these lines, we see that Jesus is praying for God's intercession, so that we may be united as one body, one family in God! With so many divisions in our world today, let's try to remember this!

We have the opportunity to live out God's Word, and to share the message of the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit with everyone we meet. I recently read a quotation from Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta that is really beautiful that I think can relate to our Reading for today: "I used to pray that God would feed the hungry, or do this or that, but now I pray that He will guide me to do whatever I'm supposed to do, what I can do. I used to pray for answers, but now I'm praying for strength, I used to believe that prayer changes things, but now I know that prayer changed us and we change things." How do I feel that this relates to our Reading from John today? With the faith that God is within us, and all around us at all times, that we are reminded of by reading the Prayer of Jesus in the Reading, we can feel strengthened to push on, to share His Love with others!

May we all be blessed in the beautiful spring weather that we are having, which is just perfect for an earthly reminder of the BLESSINGS that we receive through this Sunday (Ascension Sunday), next Sunday though Pentecost, and beyond! And, as we pray for others, let us also be comforted to know that Jesus prays for us, too!