John 17
Dear RTB’ers,
John 17, Jesus praying for Himself, His disciples, and us…! After teaching and speaking with His disciples, Jesus took the time to speak with His Father, and John recorded His words for all of us to read centuries later. Personally, I am touched when I read this chapter; to me, it’s Jesus at His most personal moments, His most personal words. And as I’ve often said, I can imagine myself being one of His disciples and reading His words being applied to me (as one of the disciples), but then I hear Him speaking further directly for me today, I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word (v. 20), and that blows me away! And then I think of Peter and Paul and Philip and other disciples and all His followers sharing the word with the world down through the centuries, all the way to us today – and that also blows me away!
So, a couple of verses to highlight… And this is eternal life, that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. (v. 3) If we know Jesus and the Father, through knowing Him, we have eternal life. Period. Done. It’s now, not just Heaven later. It’s here now, daily, forever.
I have given them Your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. (vv. 14-16) Here in the USA we do not feel the world’s hatred as much as Christians in many parts of Africa and Asia, but it’s there nonetheless, more subtle, more quiet – the world’s resistance to live by God’s Law and not their own fascinations. It affects us probably a lot more than we can know or imagine.
Finally, as noted above, verse 20. Have a great day, y’all!!
Blessings!
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