Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States - Lutheran Seminary God Pause - Moved by the Promise for Thursday, 29 May 2014 - Read John 17:1-11

Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States - Lutheran Seminary God Pause - Moved by the Promise for Thursday, 29 May 2014 - Read John 17:1 Jesus said these things, and lifting up his eyes to heaven, he said, “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may also glorify you; 2 even as you gave him authority over all flesh, he will give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 This is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and him whom you sent, Jesus Christ. 4 I glorified you on the earth. I have accomplished the work which you have given me to do. 5 Now, Father, glorify me with your own self with the glory which I had with you before the world existed. 6 I revealed your name to the people whom you have given me out of the world. They were yours, and you have given them to me. They have kept your word. 7 Now they have known that all things whatever you have given me are from you, 8 for the words which you have given me I have given to them, and they received them, and knew for sure that I came from you, and they have believed that you sent me. 9 I pray for them. I don’t pray for the world, but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All things that are mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them through your name which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are.(World English Bible)
Two things profoundly shaped my prayer life and faith as a child and youth: the fear of losing my mother, who had multiple health problems, and World War II. 
On this Ascension Day, this week's gospel reading from John shows how prayer shaped Jesus' life and faith. Jesus begins his high priestly prayer with meditation on God, acknowledging he soon will die on a cross and praying to his Father that all "may know you, the only true God and Jesus Christ whom you have sent."
Then Jesus focuses on his followers, praying as we do for our families—"Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me." 
Missionary Judy Hyland was imprisoned by the Japanese in the Philippines during World War II. Judy stated that people prayed and pinned their hopes on the holidays, that peace might come the next Fourth of July, the next Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter.
Thank you, Jesus, for praying for me and my loved ones. Help me to keep your Word and be a person of prayer. Amen.
Selmer "Sam" Hatlestad
Watertown, S.D. 
Master of Divinity , 1964
John 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,
2 since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.
3 And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
4 I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do.
5 So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.
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.
7 Now they know that everything you have given me is from you;
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.
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.
10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them.

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.(New Revised Standard Version)
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