John 17:20 –
“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message.”
If it wasn’t for the disciples or Paul the message of Jesus would have died on the cross. Jesus never wrote of His own works, at least that anyone has found. The fact the message Jesus gave survived is amazing all in its own, considering the forces that tried to squash it. You had the Jewish elite that did not want to rock their boat, the Roman who did not want a revolt and other religions since the message took from their “flock” also. No the message was not popular, yet it has survived over 2000 years.
When we pray we should consider that against all odds the message of Jesus survived and we should thank God for that. I know it’s difficult to understand in today’s context, but imagine trying to preach a message that would most likely get you jailed and or killed. But also consider these men watched Jesus turn water into wine, walk on water and raise the dead, so their convictions were very strong. How about yours? Where does your faith rest? See when facing death these are very tough questions.
Now Jesus is not only praying for the disciples, but also for you. You are an integral part of the kingdom of God and Jesus knows this. The disciples will die off and need others to continue the message. That is where we have to step up and continue to talk to others about Jesus. We must learn and share as much as we can so others can share when we are long gone. This isn’t a message that was meant to die with us!
Remember playing the game of secret, where you tell a secret to one person and they tell another until it finishes the circle back to you? How funny it was to hear what ended up being said after passing through multiple people! The problem with today is the Gospel is being passed between people without real factual study. Sure sharing the message of Jesus is simple, but what comes next gets lost. People start trusting their feelings more than facts, and feelings cannot be trusted unless backed by fact. That’s where the disciple’s message came into play, they documented the message of Jesus so we can read it and remain true 2000 years later.
Sure some things get lost in translation, but they honestly are not a big deal. Love gets confused since there are multiple words that get translated to love. Also, worship comes from 4 root words that have slightly different meanings. But that’s the joy of learning and growing. You’re not expected to just have it all figured out in one sitting. At the same time you are not expected to sit on your hands and just experience God superficially. No, He wants us to dig for Him just as we want Him to fight for us. So read your Bible, and find a group of people you can relate to for study and worship.