‘And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me, and I knew that you always hear me, but I have said it because of the people who are standing around, so that they may believe that you have sent me”.'

There was a sense in which Jesus had no need to pray. He had power within Himself to do this thing. But He would not act before the people without His Father. It was to His Father that the glory must go. He had already prayed to His Father and received a positive response (‘You have heard me', compare on John 11:35). And He wanted all the people to know that it was from the Father that He Himself came.

He longed for their response to Him. We must never assume that, because those who are drawn by the Father will come to Him, He does not mind about the remainder. He wanted them to know that if they would come He would receive them. Then having demonstrated to all that He was acting along with God, He moved into action.

Continues after advertising
Continues after advertising