Jesus Prayed for You

Written by: Emily Mewborne

During my travels to Togo, West Africa I have met many women with many stories. As I reflect, I’m reminded of a time I sat outside of a local Togolese church with a group of congregants. We asked one simple question, “how are you and your families doing?”  

After some silence and hesitation from the group, one by one, Togolese mothers and daughters spoke up.    

A woman named Bubunay’s farming family is devastated by a drought. Now she has no money to pay her children’s school fees.  

Comla, a young woman of this church, longs to work, but because of her blindness it feels impossible.     

 A widow named Fiden is looking for a job so she can feed her three children.    

Shito, a grandmother, desires to put her grandchildren through school but doesn’t have the money.      

Rosina, whose father recently died, wants to become a hairstylist to support her siblings.  

Anita, an eighteen-year-old girl, shares through tears that she needs prayer for relief from her sickle cell anemia.    

As we sat on blue plastic chairs under the dust and shade, I listened to these women and marveled at their strength. I had just watched many of them, so desperate for financial provision, put coins in the offering box during worship. I saw Anita, although facing daily chronic pain, lift her hands while we sang. 

As I sat with them, I couldn’t help but think about the words of Jesus in John 16:33, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”       

Jesus shared that encouragement with his disciples on the night before his crucifixion. On a Thursday during Passover, what we now call Maundy Thursday, he encouraged them, and in the midst of everything that was about to unfold, he then paused to pray. 

John 17 recounts what scripture calls “The High Priestly Prayer,” one Jesus prayed that night even before praying in the garden of Gethsemane. This prayer is only found in John and is a beautiful reminder of Jesus’ heart for us. 

Although exhausted and afraid, Jesus prays for the sanctification and protection of his disciples (John 17: 6-19), knowing that what’s to come will be difficult for them. Then he switches his attention to someone else. John 17:20 says, 

“I do not ask for these (his disciples) only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word… so that the world would believe that you have sent me.” 

Today, 2,000 years later, we are those who would later believe. Hours before his betrayal and torture, Jesus prayed for you. He also prayed that the world would believe that Jesus is the Son of God. His heart, even unto death, was that the world would know how much he loves them, even those who would live two millennia later. 

If Jesus prayed for you and me, then he also prayed for our Togolese friends, Bubunay, Comla, Fiden, Shito, Rosina, and Anita. He prayed for Pastor Francis and Benedict, for the seamstresses of the House of Peace and their families. He prayed for all of us. 

Jesus concludes his prayer to the Father by saying, “I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.” 

The Togolese women I met know that Jesus has overcome, and they know how deeply he loves them. I watched Anita worship God during the service with her hands stretched out because she knew that despite her pain, she is free in Christ by his love and sacrifice. She knows her dignity comes from him. The others knew it too, and it humbled me to be so encouraged by their faith. 

In the midst of the fear, the pain, the agony, Jesus prayed for us. His death was just the beginning, and as we move closer to Easter, we are reminded that he truly has overcome through his death and resurrection. 

This week, I encourage you to reflect on the impact of knowing that Jesus had you specifically in mind and prayed for you before his death. Take time to thank him that he has overcome the world. Then take time to pray for our Togolese friends, whose troubles, although overcome by the blood of Christ, are still very real. We will see you next week! 

Further reading: John 17

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Emily Mewborne has been with Francis + Benedict since September of 2022 and now serves as Director of Strategic Partnerships and Programs. She is passionate about relational ministry and sharing stories of faith, resilience, and hope from communities like those in Togo. She has visited Togo four times and plans to go more in the future!