The Truth is Ours

John 17:14-19

These verses in John 17 are part of Jesus' prayer to his father right before he is arrested on trumped up charges, betrayed by Judas, one of his closest friends.  Yes, Jesus is God, and he knows what is going to happen.  Yes, he is also fully human, and he knows how very hard, how unspeakably hard, both physically and spiritually, his 'trial' and crucifixion are going to be.

So what is the focus of his prayer?  The focus is his disciples - those he has poured his life into the past three years:

"My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one." (verse 15).

So, dear friends, these verses are for us as well.  For those of us who have said, Jesus, I want to follow you.  I want you to be the Lord of my life.  I believe that you died for me, and I accept the gift of eternal life - not that I can ever earn it with my good works.  Forgive my sins, and help me to live a life that pleases you.

So what is Jesus praying for us?

-that we are protected from the evil one.
-that we are sanctified by the truth
-that we are sent into the world, a world that will not embrace our message

So.....how does this sound?  Not exactly like "all will be well, success will be yours," does it?  But what a gift to be sanctified by the truth!  Every day, we have the opportunity to read God's word - which is truth - and to share that message with the world.  A world that is hurting and searching for meaning.

How can I do that today?  How can you do that?  Let's ask Jesus to show us each day how we can bring hope and healing to this broken world.  We are assaulted by such sadness and grief:  two celebrity suicides just this week.....fears that world powers will use nuclear power.....Christians who are persecuted simply for saying that Jesus is Lord....and, closer to home, friends who are hurting, marriages that are failing, children who are frightened and bullied.

Lord, we have the truth!  Thank you for this gift.  Help us to share that truth and to rejoice in your salvation, Amen.