The essence of intimacy is to know that we are known.  Jesus had just answered the questions the disciples had been discussing among themselves but had not asked Him (Luke 5:22).  When they realised that He knew their private conversation, their thoughts, doubts, questions and fears, they wondered - who else could have known other than God?  The miracles had not fully convinced them, nor had the wisdom of His teaching; but when He revealed their own deep internal thoughts, they knew that He understood them in an intimate way.

At the end of the Passover Supper, Jesus prayed aloud to Father God.  Although Christ’s suffering was just hours away, Jesus’ mind and heart were not dominated by the shame and pain to come.  He was consumed by the glorious prospect of fulfilling the Father’s commission and then being reunited with Him.  The work of salvation could only be completed by His death which would prove to be the most glorious proof of God’s love to the world.  It would enable sinful people to have eternal life, and share fellowship with God for ever in His glory.

It may seem strange that Jesus did not pray for the world, and even wanted to make that clear to the disciples who listened to His prayer.  But why?  Surely Jesus came because God loved the world so much that those who believe in Him would have eternal life (John 3:16).  Would Jesus not want to pray that the world would believe in Him?  

The world we live in is radically different from heaven.  The world, although made perfectly by God, has been polluted by sin, and is now inhabited by morally corrupt human beings who naturally resist God’s authority and contribute to their own and the world’s ongoing corruption.  Heaven is the Bible’s word for God’s dwelling where everything is perfect and holy and pure and right (Psalm 123:1).