A Norvell Note
Vol. 28 No. 5 – 1-29-24
He Prayed for Us
One of the most touching passages in the Bible is John chapter 17, which begins with these words: “After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:” Then, He began to pray for His followers, He began to pray for you and me.
Pause a minute and take that thought in. Jesus Christ, not long before He went to the cross, took time to pray for you.
Throughout my life, I have had the opportunity to pray for countless people. Some by request, some simply because I knew they were struggling. It was from a stage up front, sometimes in their home, sometimes from beside their bed in a hospital room or their home, and many times from the quiet of my study. I am always honored and humbled to pray for people. It’s not unusual for them to respond with gratitude and a reminder of how much it meant for me to pray for them.
There have been many times when the roles change. I’ve asked for prayers from friends, family members, and strangers. Many have prayed for me without me requesting or knowing. It is always appreciated and humbling. Thank you when you have prayed for me, and I hope you will never stop.
So, when I read that Jesus “looked toward heaven and prayed,” I realized that His prayer was partly for me. That is a lot to take in. It also reminds me that praying for others and knowing that others pray for me is no small matter.
During my years of preaching in Brunswick, Georgia, Mrs. Mamie would remind me every time I visited her at home or in the hospital, she would take my hand as she walked out the door at the end of a sermon of this verse: “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. “(James 5:16) And usually she would add, “You keep praying for me.”
So, are you praying for others? Who are you praying for? Do they know you are praying for them? Are you asking others to pray for you? Jesus reminds us that it’s a good thing.
Let’s keep praying for each other.
Tom
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