"If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. " John 13:17-18

Jesus and His disciples, --after He had washed their feet, and partook the Passover,, which now revealed Jesus' new promise that was instituted; and after much more instruction of the truth imparted to His dearest friends on the Earth, (all except Judas that is), -- sang a hymn together, and they then left the Upper Room to walk to the Mount of Olives and the Garden.

Jesus was well aware of His soon coming passion; His suffering; His taking His Father's cup, and drinking it for all of those whom the Father had given Him, and for all those whom the Father shall give Him. And He didn't have a pity party, but cared for His children, even with such agony and heaviness in His heart and soul.

What a Master these men had. What a Lord! What a Savior! What a God! What a Man! What a Friend! What a Brother!

And so Jesus went and prayed by Himself for a while. He poured out His heart to his Father. His Father of course loved each and every word His beloved Son spoke to Him, and loved Jesus with a perfect love, and great affection.

Jesus said in His prayer: "I don't pray for the world."

I think Jesus was including Judas in this statement. As well as all the others in the world, who were strictly of the world. All those whose father was the devil. All those who loved the world, and hated Jesus and the Father.

It seems the Lord's heart, as He lifted His eyes up toward heaven, was steadfastly bent toward all the children whom the Father had given Him, and would give Him. And so His heart was full of courage for them, because He knew the Father loved them; and He loved them as well. (There was, and is, no reason for this love really, especially for rebels like us.) Nevertheless, Jesus loved us, and loves us.
He first and foremost loved, and loves, the Father, and so would do all the Father asked Him. The Father's love was also upon us, His chosen. He, for that reason, charged His Son to take our sin and bear it; even becoming sin (2 Cor. 5:21); and being made a curse for us, the cursed-ones. This truth is beyond belief, really. The Gospel is staggering, and mind blowing! It's so much greater than what we hear from the Church pulpits in our day. That's a sad thing, because if the true Gospel were preached, and the Church received it; experienced it; and loved this good news for the greatness that it is, the Church would turn this world upside down. As it is, we are morally trying to have a fun time here on earth, (which isn't all wrong). But I digress, and go on a rabbit path.

Jesus loved all the OT saints who needed forgiveness for their sins. They also needed to be robed in righteousness; Jesus' righteousness. And this can only be found by faith in the death and Resurrection of Christ.
Jesus loved Abraham, Issac, and Jacob. He loved Gideon, Samson, and Deborah. Jesus loved Samuel, David, and Bathsheba. He knew He must die for them all, and all the saints/sinners. Jesus loved Andrew and Simon, and He loved James and John, and He loved all His disciples He had spent 3 years with, so He prayed for them. And He was about to give up his life for them on a cruel Cross, where He would be the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.

Jesus surely also prayed for unbelievers, didn't He. For He prayed for all those who would come to faith in the Word; in the truth; in the Gospel. He prayed for me. Amazing to think He was praying for me.

William Hendriksen says this:

"It is with reference to the elect that Jesus is making request, in order that the full merits of His redemption may be applied to them, namely, to the given ones (see on 6:37, 44; 17:6). It is for these given ones that He lays down His life (see on 10:11, 14); hence, it is also for them--for them alone--that He makes (is constantly making) this request. See also Rom. 8:34 ("He makes intercession for us"); ....

All this is particular, not universal. Nevertheless, the prayer of the Highpriest looks beyond the men who were in the Upper Room that night, as is clear from verses 20 and 21. ... He prayed for all His people, also for those who did not yet believe in Him, but were going to accept Him by true faith later on, as the result of sovereign grace.

However, the prayer for spiritual safeguarding, sanctification, and glorification is not for those who until the end of their life basely reject the savior. The words, "Not for the world am I making request" are very clear. .... (On the other hand, the Gospel must be earnestly proclaimed to all; Christ's death is sufficient for all; God draws His people from among all the nations of the world; He exercises authority over all; and is glorified in all.)"

A lot here. And I believe it's all incredibly true. Makes me think of Paul's words:

"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father......so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge".

And this love of Christ is His love for us. It's a deeper love than we will ever know.

May our Lord open our hearts and minds to see, and know, how great His love is for his children. Amen.