Cultivating a Deeper Prayer Life - A Theology of Prayer

Study 15

Text: John 17

"I KEPT THEM IN YOUR NAME..." John 17:12

Sometimes we overlook the power of the word, "kept." It is a little word, but it has powerful significance. The Psalmist was right when he wrote,

"Unless the Lord guards (keeps) the city,
The watchman stays awake in vain"
Ps. 127:1

In this part of the intercessory prayer of the Lord Jesus Christ, we catch yet another glimpse of the way He ministered. The word "kept" is most descriptive. Several connotations may be noted.

The word "kept" would have the following ideas attached to it. Let's look at three especially ideas associated with it.

Watching
Protection
Preservation

THE WORK OF THE LORD JESUS IN KEEPING HIS DISCIPLES

We are sometimes so caught up with the teaching, preaching and healing ministries of the Lord Jesus that we have probably taken for granted this aspect of His work. He "kept" His Disciples.

He certainly watched over them. He was concerned about their understanding of the Scriptures. He cared about the state of their faith. He knew their idiosyncrasies.

He also protected His Disciples. When the Pharisees and Scribes came to ask them as to why they "broke" the Sabbath law (Cf. Luke 6), He came to their rescue. However, Jesus protected His Disciples from an even greater danger. He kept them from the power of the evil one. On one occasion, Jesus told Simon that Satan had asked if he could sift him as wheat would be sifted (Luke 22:31). Obviously, Jesus had to keep Peter and His fellow disciples or they would have been lost to Satan.

That the Disciples of Jesus kept their commitment to follow Jesus must be traced to this great truth- that Jesus prayed for them (John 17:12; Luke 22:32). Jesus preserved all those who had genuinely given up all to follow Him.

"THOSE WHOM YOU GAVE ME I HAVE KEPT; AND NONE OF THEM IS LOST EXCEPT THE SON OF PERDITION..." John 17:12

Jesus not only prayed for His Disciples, He also did His part in keeping them in and through the power of His Father's name. However, one was "lost" even though he was included as one of the Disciples.

However, Jesus knew all along that Judas Iscariot was not really one of The Twelve, although He graciously included him into the fraternity of The Twelve. Judas listened to the teaching of Jesus. He enjoyed all the privileges that were accorded to Jesus and His Disciples. At the end of the day, he was still lost. However, Judas being lost does not reflect failure on the part of Jesus.

Judas was "lost" right from the very start. He was not regenerate. He never really believed. He went through all the motions of discipleship. Only Jesus saw through him. He managed to deceive all the other disciples till the very last moment.

"THAT THE SCRIPTURES MIGHT BE FULFILLED..." John 17:12

There are no direct prophecies concerning Judas and his betrayal of Jesus. However, there were certain portions of Scripture that could have been in Jesus' mind as he uttered these words. Let us take a look at some of those references.

"Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted
Who ate my bread has lifted up his heel against me"
Ps. 41:9 (Cf. Ps. 109:8)

Jesus, of course knew that this statement was in fact a hidden prophetic utterance that had direct reference to Judas and his betrayal.

PRAYING FOR PEOPLE TO BE "KEPT"

Jesus did His part in keeping His Disciples. He "kept" them in the powerful Name of His Father. He continues to pray that His Father would "keep" them.

Let us be challenged deeply to pray for people to be "kept" by the Lord. Let us invoke the Name of God on their behalf.

Let us also do our part in keeping those who are entrusted to us- our children, our Sunday School students etc. May the Lord hear our intercessory prayers for the people we are looking after.

~ Pastor Charlie Tan ~