John 17:11-21

11I won’t be in the world much longer, but they are in the world, and I’m coming back to you. Holy Father, keep them safe by the power of your name, the name that you gave me, so that their unity may be like ours.

12While I was with them, I kept them safe by the power of your name, the name that you gave me. I watched over them, and none of them, except one person, became lost. So Scripture came true.

13“But now, ⌞Father,⌟ I’m coming back to you. I say these things while I’m still in the world so that they will have the same joy that I have.

14I have given them your message. But the world has hated them because they don’t belong to the world any more than I belong to the world.

15I’m not asking you to take them out of the world but to protect them from the evil one.

16They don’t belong to the world any more than I belong to the world.

17“Use the truth to make them holy. Your words are truth.

18I have sent them into the world the same way you sent me into the world.

19I’m dedicating myself to this holy work I’m doing for them so that they, too, will use the truth to be holy.

20“I’m not praying only for them. I’m also praying for those who will believe in me through their message.

21I pray that all of these people continue to have unity in the way that you, Father, are in me and I am in you. I pray that they may be united with us so that the world will believe that you have sent me.