The Last Supper discourse is coming to an end. Jesus is about to leave the supper table and go to Gethsemane. he looks upward and, right there in front of his disciples, he begins to talk to the Father.
Jesus is just hours away from his own death ... and for whom does he pray? His disciples. He asks the Father to protect them from "the world."
Remember that in John's Gospel, "the world" has two different meanings: Creation and human beings in general, and those who have rejected Jesus and who work against him.
Until the reign of God comes, the world will be a mixture of good and evil. Because we are free human beings, we experience a pull in two directions; Toward God and away from God.
So Jesus prays for his disciples ... his disciples of all ages.
Imagine - Jesus praying for you, pulling for you. Why?
Because he loves you.
- Little White Book, Diocese of Saginaw