John 17:11-13 ESV

11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.

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11 At ngayon ay wala na ako sa sanlibutan, subalit ang mga ito ay nasa sanlibutan, at ako'y papariyan sa iyo. Amang Banal, ingatan mo sila sa iyong pangalan, sila na ibinigay mo sa akin, upang sila'y maging isa, na gaya naman natin na iisa. 12 Habang ako'y kasama nila, iningatan ko sila sa iyong pangalan, sila na ibinigay mo sa akin. Sila'y binantayan ko, at isa man sa kanila ay walang napahamak, maliban sa anak ng kapahamakan, upang matupad ang kasulatan. 13 Ngunit ngayon ay pupunta ako sa iyo. Ang mga bagay na ito ay sinabi ko sa sanlibutan, upang sila'y magkaroon ng aking kagalakang ganap sa kanilang sarili.


KEEP THEM IN YOUR NAME

Jesus knew exactly that the hardships that will follow after His arrest would cause them to be scattered. Self-preservation out of fear and intimidation does result to scattering, doesn’t it? It threatens unity. As the old military strategy says, “Divide and conquer.” Disunity is precursor to fall.

While Jesus was with them, they were one as sheep under Him, the great and loving shepherd. No one was lost except Judas. He kept and loved them unto the end, even beyond. Thus, the reason why He prayed for them – that they will be kept intact or united.

Unity would never be achieved without His people recognizing God’s authority. This is the reason why Jesus pleaded the Father to keep them ‘in His name’. Jesus referring to the use of the Father’s "name" is not a reference to magical spells or incantations. To speak "in the name of" the father is to invoke His authority and power.

In a family, the father is the authority figure. Should every child recognize his authority, there is a proper alignment and harmony in the family. The church with a high view of God would surely be united, where the reverence and love of God permeate.

As a result, Jesus’ ‘joy is fulfilled in themselves.’ That is, Jesus is greatly magnified in and through a loving relationship in His family. As he said, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” [John 13:35]

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