John 17 – What hung heavy on the heart of Jesus?

Jesus prayed, “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.”

As Jesus was approaching his death he did not pray only for himself, he did not pray only for those disciples with him, and he did not pray for only his time and generation. Jesus also prayed for all those who would come after and believe in his name. Jesus prayed specifically for you and me that night. Two thousand years ago, the eternal destiny of you and I hung heavy on the heart of Jesus.

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Dream Deferred by Langston Hughes

What happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry up
Like a raisin in the sun?

Or fester like a sore–
And then run?

Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over–
like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.

Or does it explode?

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