Friday, May 15

John 17:6-8 

Jesus prayed: “I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you, for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you, and they have believed that you sent me.” 

Jesus continues his High Priestly Prayer today by speaking about the disciples…and about US! Jesus told the first disciples about YHWH, about the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph, and how that God has now sent his only Son into the world so that all who believe may be saved. 

Jesus acknowledges that he has taught the disciples about God, who God is and what hos love and salvation means for all who follow him. He reminds God that those who follow keep God’s word; and then he reminds God that his followers are now family, grafted into the vine that is the Kingdom of God. All disciples are no longer slaves, but heirs! Children of God! We are family with Jesus as our sibling! (Galatians 4:7) 

All we who follow Jesus now have the words of God (the Holy Scriptures!) and the truth that God so loved the world that he gave his only son that all who believe will have eternal life (John 3:16). 

This prayer that Jesus is praying over the first disciples is the same prayer that Jesus is praying over us disciples today! We are the ones with the Word in our heart and a burning desire to share that Agape-Love of God with all those around us! 

– Pr. Elizabeth

Jesus, we do believe that you were sent by God! We thank you for our Bibles which hold the history and message of your Love for this world. Make me bold today and help me find a way to glorify you through my words and actions! Amen