John 17:1-26
What an amazing look at the heart of Jesus. Jesus' prayer in John 17 is so passionate and comprehensive. It conveys so much and reinforces my faith and acting on it. It spoke to me in a number of ways and that generated more than a few questions like: Am I glorifying Jesus through my life? Are non-believers seeing Christ and believing because of me? (I'm still processing these BTW.)
So did John 17 get you thinking too? What about? Tami W.
Tami, I love your blogs. John always gets me thinking. We glorify Jesus when we attempt to live as Jesus lived. You may have heard this before, yet I will say it again. When you live your life as a Christian, you touch many that you never know. I have seen this in my own life, as I walk with Jesus. We are different and it is noticable. God Bless.
Thank you for the time you have put into your blog, Tami. As for me, I am going through a severe crisis in faith right now and trying to read the Word at all is very difficult. I have been a Christian for approx. 19 years now and this is the first time that God has felt this far away. I know that alot of what I am going through presently is due to coming off of some psychiatric medicine that I have been on for about a year (I am diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and bipolar), but am frustrated that right when I feel like I am trying to do the right thing, God feels the farthest away, never mind feeling like Jesus is in me showing me God's love. Well, sorry for rambling, maybe someone else can relate and know they are not alone.....
Tami asked if John 17 got me thinking...yes! I looked through for things that Jesus said about ME..because I am one of "them also which...believe on (Jesus)". Among the facts I found, these were the most incredible to me: vs. 11: God is keeping ME through His own name...pretty incredible credentials! vs. 18: Jesus has sent ME into the world! vs. 26: God puts His OWN love in ME...amazing.
Hi Carole. Your comment really made a mark on my mind. Replacing every "they" and "them" with "ME" made me realize how Jesus has always been loving us and looking out for us. I also realized how special my role is in this world: Jesus Himself sent me!
Jennifer: I am also in a crisis right now. And knowing how God values me makes me realize that things aren't so bad after all. No matter if the entire world forsakes me, God will always be with me because He puts His own love in me. Hence, He is never far away.
The only trouble I have with this passage is the same as that of Tami's: Am I glorifying Jesus through my life? Do I deserve all the love God is giving me? Is my life worth an eternity?
Jesus says yes! If only I could prove it...
Hi Tami,
All of John 17 is wonderful and says volumes, and when I read the last 3 verses I smile a little more.
John 17:24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. 26 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.”
Today the 11th I am hoping all P4 readers had a great Mothers Day!
Jerry