The purpose of ransom is reunion. Without reunion, ransom has been poured out in vain. Concerning the One who paid the infinite price of His life for us it is written, “He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied” (Isaiah 53:11). John 17 records the prayer Christ offered just before Gethsemane. He had met with His disciples in the upper room, had washed their feet, and had given them the emblems of His sacrifice. Around the table He had talked with them about His going away and His plan to come again so that they could all live together forever. They walked through the streets of Jerusalem and down into the valley of the Kidron in the light of the Passover moon.
Before going into the Garden for His final struggle with the powers of darkness, He paused, and gathering around Him that little band of chosen ones, He poured out His heart in prayer. The climax comes in verse 24: “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am.” “Jesus pleaded, not for one only, but for all His disciples...His eye pierced the dark veil of the future and read the life history of every son and daughter of Adam. He felt the burdens and sorrows of every tempest-tossed soul, and that earnest prayer included with His living disciples all His followers to the close of time. ‘Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word.’ Yes; that prayer of Christ embraces even us” (5T 529, 530). In all the host of the redeemed there are no duplicates. God “needs” only one of each kind, but He can’t afford to lose that one—me. This is why He came to this world. He was saving me. This is why He died on the cross. He wanted me. And this is just as true as though I were the only one in all the world.
He came for me. He loves me. He wants me for His friend. Not only does He want me to follow Him as a sheep follows the shepherd or as a child his father, but also He wants me to sit with Him in counsel. He likes to know what I think of Him and the way He does things. It pleases Him when what He does pleases me. It pleases Him when I tell Him so. And it will bring joy to His heart all through eternity when He sees my face glow and my heart rejoice as He explains more and more of His wonderful works to me. From world to world He will take me with Him. And my reactions and responses will please Him as nobody else in the universe can please Him. He is an in nite God. He has infinite “needs.” He “needs” me. And He thinks the price He has paid is worth it to get me.
In Florida a girl was kidnapped and held for ransom. Her father paid a half million dollars to get her back. He thought she was worth it. Suppose a few weeks later some of her friends come to visit her. One of them says, “Barbara, your father surely thinks you’re important, doesn’t he!” Wouldn’t it be strange if she should hang her head and say, “I don’t know. Sometimes I wonder.”
Did you ever hear a Christian talk that way about Jesus? Were you ever tempted? Jesus wants you for His friend. He wants you so much that He paid your ransom. It cost Him everything. He gave His life because He wants you. Shall He have what He wants? Wouldn’t it be a shame to keep it from Him? Listen again as He prays for you individually: “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am.” Why does He want me with Him? Love enjoys the presence of those it loves. Were you ever separated from someone dear to you? If you have shared the sorrow of separation, you will agree that when the one you love the most is far away, the happiest thing you can think of is to be where that one is. Did you know Jesus thinks that way about you?
Rising from the prayer season with His disciples, Jesus went into the shadows of Gethsemane and agonised until bloody sweat ran down His face. At midnight the mob hurried Him off to the judgment hall. Seven times He was arraigned before the priests and rulers; twice, tortured with the scourge. Then they led Him to Calvary and hung Him up between heaven and earth. There in the darkness, Satan tortured His soul with the terrible temptation that if He should go ahead and die for me, He would never live again. As the shadows gathered about Him, the light of hope flickered and went out, but His love grew stronger and stronger. He determined to die for me—even if it meant death forever.
At last the moment of death came, and friends laid Him in the tomb. Early on the morning of the first day of the week, the mighty angel came down the skies and rolled the stone away. “Son of God,” he cried, “come forth. Thy Father calls Thee.” He responded to the summons, but on His way to the Father’s throne He paused to comfort poor weeping Mary. Recognising her risen Lord, she sprang to embrace His feet in worship. But He said, “No, Mary, not yet. I have not yet ascended to My Father. Go tell My brethren that I am going to the Father.” With gladness she ran to share the good news, and He ascended to the temple above (see 3SP 202, 203). Angels waited to welcome Him, but He waved them back. He could not accept their worship any more than He could Mary’s worship. He had something on His heart. He went in to meet the Father, from whom He had been separated for three decades. But before He accepted His Father’s embrace and the glad welcome home, He had a request. “Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am. Father, I died. I paid the price. Is it sufficient? Before I come back, I want to be assured that I can bring all My friends with Me.” And He was thinking of me—and you.
The Father’s heart agreed with the heart of the Son, and He granted Christ’s prayer and embraced Him, assuring Him that He could bring you and me home with Him. Immediately Jesus returned to this world and met with His disciples that evening. After forty days of fellowship He led them out to Olivet, giving them the Gospel Commission and His parting blessing. Again He was on His way heavenward (see DA 833, 834). is time the representatives from all the universe gathered for the official inauguration of Christ as Priest and King in the heavenly sanctuary. The escorting angels sang as they approached the city, “Open the gates, ‘and the King of glory shall come in!’ ” Back came the challenge, “ ‘Who is this King of glory?” And the guard of honor answered, “ ‘The Lord of hosts; He is the King of glory.’” Again the angels wanted to worship Him. But again He waved them back. He wanted to see His Father. And there before the representatives of all the unfallen worlds Christ again asked, “May I bring with Me all My friends from that fallen planet? Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am.”
Jesus would not accept the throne of the universe until He had the assurance from God Himself that He could bring me with Him to share that throne. Jesus wants me with Him there. The Father wants me there. All heaven wants me there. So Christ entered upon His intercessory work in the temple above. Have you ever wondered what He prays about there? Would you like to listen in as He presents His petitions to the Father? Ellen G. White tells us that this prayer of John 17 “is a lesson regarding the intercession that the Saviour would carry on within the veil,” an “illustration of His ministration in the heavenly sanctuary” (5BC 1145). And what is the climactic request? “Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am.”
Now let us look ahead. The time of trouble has come, the plagues are falling, the death decree seems about to be executed, and the saints are agonising in prayer. At midnight God’s voice sounds down through the open space in Orion. The saints “look up steadfastly into heaven and see the glory of God and the Son of man seated upon His throne. In His divine form they discern the marks of His humiliation; and from His lips they hear the request presented before His Father and the holy angels: ‘I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am” (GC 636). This was Jesus’ prayer before Gethsemane. It moved Him in that hour of supreme sacrifice at Calvary. It filled His thoughts on the resurrection morning. It was His heart burden at the ascension. It has been His prayer throughout His mediatorial work. And it is His final request just before He returns. He wants us with Him. If you and I are willing, do you think He will get us there? Will ransom bring reunion? Yes! And it will be forever! R&R WDF
The End.
