The world is a dangerous place. Vaccines and hand sanitizers do their best to keep germs at bay. We school children in safety precautions and worry when they leave home. We are confronted by many dangers on a daily basis. There are physical dangers as well as spiritual dangers, especially those which target Christians and seek to overwhelm them, causing them to fall.

Judas was sidetracked by money and betrayed his Lord. Peter was blindsided by fear and he denied knowing Jesus. We have our own sinful natures and outside temptations to contend with. How easy for us to be drawn to jealousy, self-centeredness, pettiness, grudges, gossiping, and more. We Christians acknowledge our faults, but Jesus prays that we remain faithful, encouraging one another.

Jesus, following His death, resurrection and ascension, would no longer be visibly present among His disciples. They would remain in the world, to carry out the ministry Jesus has completed. “These are My words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled. . . Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all nations . . . You are witnesses of these things . . . I am sending the promise of My Father upon you . . . stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:44-49).

Jesus prays His High Priestly prayer for His disciples and for us (John 17:11b-19). He has come to this dangerous world, not to condemn but to save. He didn’t open a Clinic in Capernaum or establish a glorious earthly kingdom. He would build His Church upon the confession of His name. His disciples would carry on the ongoing witness to God’s love and grace in Christ. All sinners were to hear God’s Word, convicting and converting them to faith and life in Christ.

In a dangerous world, where Satan still prowls like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8), many are not one in faith and life. Many go alone without God and His power to sustain and nourish them. Jesus prays for the unity of His Church. He prays that His disciples, and all believers, may be one, even as He and His Father are one, in purpose and practice. Jesus prays that His people be joined to God the Father by faith. “Holy Father, protect, keep them in Your name . . . I do not ask that You take them out of the world, but that You keep, protect them from the evil one” (John 17:11b, 15).

A family should provide protection and support, security against dangers. More importantly, Jesus prays for unity of faith and life in His name, according to His Word. Through faith, we receive forgiveness. Joined to Him as one by faith, we have God’s almighty protection and grace. We are to encourage one another to be one in Christ by faith. St. Paul writes, “I . . . a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit – just as you have been called to the one hope that belongs to your call – one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all” (Ephesians 4:1-6).

As a man leaves mother and father and clings to his wife and together they become one flesh (Matthew 19:5), we are one by faith in Christ. God provides a sure defense and stronghold for us as we cling to Him by faith, assured of His abiding presence and peace, with His means of grace in Word and Sacrament to sustain us.