Jesus Prayer and Covid

Jesus Prayer and the Covid Debate

I do not pray for these alone, but for those who are vaccinated, don’t take up hospital beds, and love others enough to get the booster; that they may point out how the unvaccinated are unloving and stand strong, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be divided over fleshly things in Us, that the world may know what side they are on. And the glory which You gave will be spotlighted on me when I belittle those who disagree with me and win this argument! (1 Opinions 17:20-22)

The night Jesus went into Garden of Gethsemane to pray and was arrested, He first prayed for unity. Hopefully the “passage” above seems ludicrous and ridiculous—but consider many of the posts shared on social media compared to Jesus’ prayer:

“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. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one” (John 17:20-22).

He prayed that we would be united—ultimately united in Christ. He wanted His followers to be one. In John 13:35 Jesus observed, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Church, it’s past time we stop living in the flesh and focus our hearts and minds on spiritual things. Two hundred years from now this virus, the vaccine, masks, and opinionated posts won’t matter. They really won’t.

I encourage Christians to abandon earthly arguments, become united, and demonstrate a love that sets us apart from the world. Spend some time meditating on Romans 8:5-9:

“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.”

The toughest night of His life Jesus prayed we would be united. It’s time we seek that unity together!

Originally written by Brad Harrub, Focus Press, September 20, 2021.