I am praying for them, I am not praying for the world but those whom you have given me, for they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them.1
Knowing that he was about to accomplish the work that his Father had given him to do, Jesus prayed to the Father2—the Son now serving as the chief high priest3 of the New Covenant4 (Jesus was raised from the dead, is seated at the right hand of God, and is now interceding for us).5 Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. . . . I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.6
Wait! Doesn’t God love all human beings equally? Aren’t we his creation? Isn’t it that God is love7?
Language has its limitations and nuances; E.g., love may have different connotations in the English language. In Hebrew, there are two words evidently written throughout the OT that differentiate love—Ahab8 and Hesed.9 One has to do with human love for another; the other, demonstrates God’s true commitment without strings attached. The world’s love may look something like “I love you because . . .” Hesed reverses it; “Because God loves you . . .” Even more interesting, in the Greek language (which was the language used for the New Testament Scriptures), the word was further expanded to be more concise—Agape, Storge, Phileo, Eros.10
Agape is the steadfast, sacrificial kind of love that God has for mankind. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.11 Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, . . . ?12
Storge is the familial or parental kind of love. As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”13 Jacob was the supplanter, the deceiver. But he was destined to birth the 12 tribes of Israel. Jacob had to go through character formation to the point that he wrestled with God; until his name was changed to Israel.14 Both Jacob and Esau grew rich.15 How then did God hate Esau? Was it that he never bothered to discipline Esau? It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.16
Phileo is the brotherly love. No longer do I call you servants, . . . ; but I have called you friends for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit . . .17
Eros is the passionate, the possessive, the jealous,18 the zealous kind of love that God exhibits for both his name and word.19 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.20 The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers. You destroy those who speak lies; the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.21
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.22 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.23
May you diligently search the Scriptures daily and grow deeper in your knowledge of God and Jesus Christ; may you understand the fear of the LORD, and be grateful for his steadfast love. Our Father in heaven, hollowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.24 AMEN!
Notes:
1. John 17:9
2. John 17:1-26
3. Hebrews 7:11-28; 8:1-2
4. Matthew 27:51; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45. The curtain of the temple tearing from top to bottom confirms the change from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant.
5. Romans 8:34
6. John 17:1-9
7. 1 John 4:16b
8. https://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/hebrew/nas/ahab.html
9. https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/what-is-the-meaning-of-hesed-gods-unconditional-love-for-us.html
10. https://centeredonchrist.substack.com/p/what-are-the-four-main-greek-words#:~:text=In%20the%20ancient%20Greek%20language,Storge%2C%20and%204)%20Agape.
11. John 3:16
12. Ezekiel 33:11
13. Romans 9:13
14. Genesis 32:22-28
15. Genesis 33:8-9
16. Hebrews 12:7, 11
17. John 15:15-16
18. Exodus 20:5, 34:14
19. Psalm 138:2
20. John 14:6
21. Psalm 5:5-6
22. 1 John 3:1
23. Galatians 5:1
24. Matthew 6:9-10
