“I have manifested Your name to the men whom You gave Me out of the world; they were Yours and You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.” John 17:6
Captains of cargo ships carry The Manifest, a record detailing the freight being carried on board. Those who insure the ship require a clear documentation of the contents of the vessel. Those who unload the freight check The Manifest to determine if all the valuable cargo listed arrived safely to its port of destination.
Jesus prayed to The Father, and stated, “I have manifested Your name to the men You gave Me out of the world.” V. 17a
When Jesus manifested the name of God to the men of God, He revealed the contents of His character, and The Father as The Source of creation and the owner of all things. He knew The Father had set aside the men who would become His disciples.
Prior to Jesus calling The Twelve, He spent all night in prayer, seeking His Father’s wisdom and will concerning the men He would call to join Him in ministry. Throughout His life on the earth, Jesus prayed for His disciples to stay the course. Seated by The Father in Heaven, Jesus continues to intercede for His followers to do the same.
“He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25
The Men Jesus called to be His disciples shared at least six distinctive characteristics.
1. They belonged to God. “They were Yours.” V. 6a
2. They were gifts from God. “You gave them to Me.” V. 6b
3. They kept God’s word. They have kept Your word.” V. 6c
4. They knew God was The Source. “They have come to know that everything You have given Me is from You.” V. 7a
5. They received instruction from Jesus. “Received the words You have given to Me.” V. 8a
6. They trusted in Jesus. “Believed that You sent Me.” V. 8b
Jesus was not content with calling the men to come alongside of Him on the earth. He was intent upon interceding for them. He prayed for them to be holy, separated from the world, while remaining in the world.
“I ask on their behalf; I do not ask on behalf of the world, but of those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours.” V. 9
“And all things that are Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine; and
I have been glorified in them.” v. 10
Jesus is The Intercessor. He has always prayed for His disciples, but now His prayers are even more intimate and intense, as He is seated at the right hand of The Father.
Ø “I am no longer in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I come to You.” V. 11a
Ø “For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into Heaven itself, now to appear on the presence of God for us.” Hebrews 9:24
Changing the name on “The Titanic” would not have saved it from sinking. The name of this infamous ship reflected the pride and arrogance of the owners. When those responsible for guiding the ship became more intent on gaining speed than arriving safely at their destination, disaster struck in the form of an iceberg. Those who claim the name of Christ, but rebel against His authority over their lives, may increase their intensity for the work of The Lord, but they will never know intimacy with The Lord of the work.
Jesus prayed that His disciples would keep themselves close to The Father’s name. This required them to remain faithful children, bringing honor and glory to Him by their unity.
“Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are. “ John 17:11b
The Father is not honored by disunity. When His children fight among themselves, they invite His correction, and discipline. Jesus, The Intercessor, prayed then and He intercedes now for His disciples to be marked by unity, not enmity.
Jesus prayed then and intercedes now, to manifest The Father’s name, in the lives of His disciples. By drawing His disciples closer to Himself, He releases The Father’s love through them. Being filled with The Spirit of Jesus, releases the love of The Father, through the lives of Christ followers.
When Jesus manifested The Father’s name, He revealed and released His Father’s love through His disciples.The Father’s love flows through His children, when they are filled with The Spirit. Prayer warriors who bear The Father’s name are not only recipients of His love in the world; they are reflectors of it, to the world. They manifest the content of His character in their lives when they pray more for others than they do for themselves. Jesus manifested The Father's name, and interceded for His children. His disciples will do the same. TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!