Death, Life and Love
“My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” John 17:15-23
I’ve had two or three times in my life when I almost did or should have died. I will spare you the details but not the result: I was shaken. I felt like I was brought back to life. And I experienced the love of God in a fresh and different way. I did not deserve to live because of the poor decisions I made. Yet here I was.
As we celebrate Easter today, Resurrection Sunday, meditate on these words of Jesus. He wants us in the world, because the world needs to see and know who He is. And that happens through us. He wants us to be uniquely different by God’s Word transforming us. He is praying for us, for our unity with one another and with Him and the Father. We are in them through Jesus and He is in us by His Spirit. And ultimately the world will know not only that Jesus was sent by God but that He loves us in the same way He loved His Son. I know it. I feel it. I want to shout it!
Mary’s sorrow turned to joy and excitement. The apostle’s fears turned to courage. History is dated by Him and His life. And many throughout history have died with praise on their lips all because of Jesus.
Since He is praying for those who will believe, let’s continually tell the message, “He lives. He lives. Christ Jesus lives today. He walks with me and talks with me, along life’s narrow way.”