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We can’t go very far in the Gospels before we are impressed with the importance Jesus placed on prayer.

For instance, Luke 6:12 tells us He “---went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.”

That was the night He chose 12 men from among His many followers to be His apostles.

They must be chosen carefully, for these men would become pillars in the Church of Jesus Christ , yet unborn, and someday these same 12 men, except Judas, of course, would “sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel .”

So Jesus spent the whole night in prayer, and the next morning “---He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles:”

And for the next 3-½ years, He became their teacher and their protector.

And there’s no doubt in my mind that these 12 men were much in His prayers.

For instance, there was the time when He told them to get into a boat and go to the other side while He sent the multitude away.

And then, after a very long day, He “departed to the mountain to pray.”

Oh, I’m sure He had a great many things to pray about, but I can’t help thinking His disciples would be much on His mind.

In fact, the scripture tells us---“He saw them straining at rowing.”

And that was also the night that He walked, perhaps halfway across the Sea of Galilee , to rescue them.

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And even on the night before His crucifixion, we find Him very much involved in the welfare of His disciples.

Certainly, He had to break the news concerning His departure.

But He also told them about the coming of the Holy Spirit, and He talked about many things that would strengthen and prepare them.

And then, on His way to the Garden, He turned aside for a time of prayer.

We see that in John 17.

Of course, He talked to His Heavenly Father about His crucifixion, but He also talked a great deal about His disciples.

First of all, He went over the content of their teaching during the last 3-½ years.

John 17:6-9  “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. "Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. "For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me. "I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours.”

Yes, He had prepared them well.

But now it was time to turn them over to the care of His Heavenly Father.

V 11  “Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are.”

And then, having committed them to His Father’s care, He talks about their future.

V 13-19 “But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. "I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. "I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. "They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. "As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. "And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.”

Yes, there would be hard times ahead, but they wouldn’t be facing them alone.

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And then, dropping down to verses 20-21, we find Jesus expanding His prayer to include every believer.

“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; "that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.”

Yes, one in the Father and one in the Son.

Could there be any place more blessed?