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JOHN 17 UNITY IN GOD’S KINGDOM

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March 31

JOHN 17
20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. 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.”-JOHN 17:20-26

JOHN 17 UNITY IN GOD’S KINGDOM
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
As you receive the call of God to be part of his children
The word of the Lord will bring you to closer to heaven
The steadfast love of God will flow through you
You will begin to walk in love with your neighbors
Your old nature will be transformed to the new creation
This brings unity to you, the Father, the Spirit and the Son.

The prayer of Jesus for his people continues on as he pleads the Father to bring unity among his people. He likens it to the unity that exists between him and his Father. When there is harmony between two or more people, the relationship can thrive because of the presence of peace, love, joy. This kind of loving relationship happens only if one is anchored on the love of God. Jesus humbly asks his Father, who is the source of love to bring unity to those whom he has chosen.
Because all of God’s people still live in a corrupt and fallen world, division and conflict may be inevitable. The promise of the Spirit will bring about the work in each believer’s heart so that they can live in harmony with each other amidst the challenges of the world.

REFLECTION
• What are challenges with “unity” when you have unequally yoked relationships?

JOHN 17 PURIFY THEM BY YOUR WORD

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March 30

JOHN 17
11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 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. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. – John 17:11-19

JOHN 17 PURIFY THEM BY YOUR WORD
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
There is no other way to keep oneself free from evil
Only the word of truth is what will expose the devil
If you dwell and meditate on God’s word day and night
You will be purified and will discern what is not right
Those who do not receive and keep the word of God
They will be enslaved to follow the ways of the world.

Jesus continues his prayers for those who were chosen by God. He pleads with God to keep his own people pure because even though they are living in this world, they don’t really fit in it. They belong to the kingdom of God which is the total opposite of the systems of the world. The world follows the “selfish nature” where the self is the center of the universe. God’s kingdom is about “selflessness” and service. They are two opposing systems. The disciples were taught all the things that belong to God’s kingdom and it will be a challenge for them to be in the midst of worldly ways or systems. To preserve and purify them, Jesus asks God to keep them sanctified by his truth.

REFLECTION
• Why would it be hard for Christians to live holy lives if they don’t meditate on Gods’ word? What would be their challenges?

JOHN 17 JESUS PRAYS FOR HIS OWN

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March 29

JOHN 17
6 “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. 8 For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. 9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. – John 17:6-10

JOHN 17 JESUS PRAYS FOR HIS OWN
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
When you belong to Jesus’ sheepfold
Rest assured that he is praying for you
Because you kept his word and believed in him
Your old is gone since you were washed from your sins
Those who weren’t chosen by God, denied his word
Jesus didn’t pray for those who belong to this world.

This prayer of Jesus contains a hard saying to some who believes that the whole world will be saved. When Jesus intercedes only to those who belong to his Father, he was only praying for those whom his Father chose. Many false religions and teachings think that the whole world is saved but some bible verses disagree with that notion such as these:
• Ephesians 1:4 -Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.
• 1 Peter 1:20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you
• 2 Timothy 1:9 Who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began.
These verses show us that God knows all his elect even before he created the world. Some religions teach that we choose God, but clearly it is His choice, not ours.

REFLECTION
• What verses in the bible says that Jesus died only for some people and not all?

JOHN 17 CHRIST’S OBEDIENCE GLORIFIED GOD

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March 28

JOHN 17
When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. – John 17:1-5

JOHN 17 CHRIST’S OBEDIENCE GLORIFIED GOD
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
When Jesus’ time was nearing, he prayed to his Father
He wanted to make sure that he is giving him all the glory
He revealed to his disciples the reason for his coming
It was to give eternal life to all whom God has chosen
The disciples were to know only the One true God
They were also to glorify him, since he is the Only Son.

In this account, we hear Jesus explaining the purpose of his coming on earth, that is to glorify his Father. Now that his hour is coming, he tells them that as he finishes his work for the Father, he is glorifying him and the Father will glorify him back. The work that Jesus did was to die on the cross and when he did, it will be his way back to go to sit besides his Father on his right hand. Barclay’s study bible asks How did the Cross glorify God? It’s response is “The only way to glorify God is to obey him. A child brings honour to his parents when he brings them obedience. A citizen brings honour to his country when he obeys it. A scholar brings honour to his teacher when he obeys his master’s teaching. Jesus brought glory and honour to God by his perfect obedience to him. The gospel story makes it quite clear that Jesus could have escaped the Cross. Humanly speaking, he could have turned back and need never have gone to Jerusalem. As we look at Jesus in the last days, we are bound to say: “See how he loved God! See to what lengths his obedience would go!” He glorified God on the Cross by rendering the perfect obedience of perfect love.”

REFLECTION
• Why do you think obedience is the best expression of worship?

JOHN 16 THE UPSIDE OF SUFFERING AND TRIALS

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March 27

JOHN 16
25 “I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. 26 In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; 27 for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 28 I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”29 His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! 30 Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.” 31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32 Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. 33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” – John 16:25-33

JOHN 16 THE UPSIDE OF SUFFERING AND TRIALS
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
Do you wonder why there is so much trouble in life?
Why do we have to suffer, be distressed and face trials?
Count it all joy when you have trials of every kind
For it produces steadfastness and endurance
Suffering is a training ground for growing your faith
Without it, you will not develop resilience and strength.

Jesus’ last words to his disciples prepared them for the coming life ahead when Jesus leaves them to offer his life for the salvation of mankind. Earlier, Jesus was talking in figures of speech, but in this account, he was plainly saying that he is leaving them to be joined to the Father. After his death, he cautioned them that when the hour has come for him to die, they will be facing much trouble. When they are in trouble, they may be challenged to continue to be faithful to their loyalty to him because there will be a lot of resistance against the truth that they have learned from Jesus. He prepared them for a life of suffering, misery and pain. They have to expect it and remember all his teachings.

REFLECTION
• How come many of us have trouble accepting that suffering can be good for us?

JOHN 16 SORROW WILL TURN TO JOY

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March 26

JOHN 16
19 Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’? 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. 21 When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. 23 In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.– John 16:19-24

JOHN 16 SORROW WILL TURN TO JOY
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
Blessed are they who endure a life full of sorrow
For the Lord promised comfort to all those who do
All of you who are carrying heavy burdens, rejoice!
Jesus died for you that you may live and have joy
Christ promised a new life to all those who love him
Repent, turn to him so you’ll be freed from sin.

Jesus gave hope to his disciples when he explained to them what he meant when he said “A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while you will see me.” He was talking to them about his death and how they will be full of sorrow, but he also comforted them that the sorrow will soon be joy. He was speaking of his sacrifice on the cross which would mean his death. He will no longer be with them physically, but later on, when he dies, he will come again (meaning his resurrection) and the Holy Spirit will be in their midst. At the time that Jesus was explaining this to them, they still could not fully fathom what he meant. He was giving them hope so that they will not mourn like those who don’t know God. They will experience the love, grace and mercy of God during his sacrifice on the cross. They will realize how much they are loved by him.

REFLECTION
• Why did Jesus liken his death to a woman giving birth to her child?

JOHN 15 IF THE WORLD HATES YOU

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March 22

JOHN 15
18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. – John 15:18-22

JOHN 15 IF THE WORLD HATES YOU
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
If you are ridiculed and ostracized by those unbelievers
Do not fret for you are not alone in your struggle
Jesus himself was hated by those who don’t know him
Rejoice that you have been chosen by him to be free from sin.

Once again, we witness Jesus’ love for his disciples by preparing them for what is going to happen when he is no longer with them. He warned them that they will be hated by the world. In the bible, the world represents the kingdom of Satan. This kingdom does not acknowledge Jesus as their king, but they bow down to their evil king, Satan. The kingdom of God is about selflessness while the kingdom of the world is about selfishness. They are two opposing kingdoms. In this account, Jesus prepares them to expect that those who belong to Satan’s kingdom will definitely hate them. Because their concept of life is very different from God’s ways, they will loathe anyone who dares to be different from what the norm is. While Jesus was on earth, he was hated by the Jewish leaders because he was a threat to their “law-based” rules which were very different from what they know.
So, if you are a believer and encounter people loathing or hating you, be joyful. God has chosen you to belong to his righteous kingdom and not to the evil kingdom of Satan. As a believer, shouldn’t we expect hatred from this world because they do not know the way of true love since they do not know God?

REFLECTION
• Why do some Christians struggle with hatred from the world?

JOHN 15 THE GREATER LOVE

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March 21

JOHN 15
12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another. – John 15:12-17

JOHN 15 THE GREATER LOVE
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
Jesus laid down his life to show love that is unconditional
The greater love he showed is one that is sacrificial
He doesn’t love like the world does which is transactional
It looks after its own self and isn’t selfless to serve others
God commands us to love one another if we truly love him
By this, we will manifest the result of being freed from sin.

Jesus continues to reassure his disciples before his sacrifice on the cross. He gives his last will to them. They were commanded to love one another. The love he expects from them is the same love as he will give them when he sacrifices his life on the cross. What does it truly mean to lay down one’s life for a friend? It doesn’t literally mean that we kill our bodies or save them from death. It is a figure of speech which means for us to be selfless and not selfish. Because our nature wants to focus on the self and not on others, it can be truly challenging for us to follow the Spirit’s call. Jesus explains to his disciples that God chose us first so that we are able to love because it flows from his own love for us. He calls his disciples friends and no longer servants because they now know what the Father wants them to do and servants are usually not privy to their master’s motives or activities. Jesus taught them everything that the Father commands them so that they can continue to live like his own children too. It can be challenging to love one another especially those difficult people, but if God’s love flows in your heart, you will be able to.

REFLECTION
• What are the challenges of loving someone when they don’t know God?

JOHN 14 LET NOT YOUR HEARTS BE TROUBLED

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March 19

JOHN 14
25 “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. 28 You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, 31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.
– John 14:25-31

JOHN 14 LET NOT YOUR HEARTS BE TROUBLED
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
If you will only know how much your Father in heaven loves you
Your hearts will not be troubled for he loves unlike the world
His love is unconditional, steadfast and never lets you down
The world’s love is transactional, selfish and conditional.

In this account, Jesus reiterates his former promise of the Helper, the Holy Spirit and the peace that he alone can give. It is not a “peace” that the world gives. Usually when we humans think about peace, it is more about an act of avoiding or not talking about something that will spark up a confrontation. Most people want to keep the peace just so they do not rock the boat and still appear good. The peace that Jesus was talking about here is a result of the flow of the love of God in those who believe in him. It is a fruit of the Holy Spirit rather than a manufactured kind of peace that we humans do.
When Jesus told them to rejoice now that he is soon going to his Father and leaving them, he was reassuring them that the hour is coming when all these promises will be given to them because of his coming death. He foretold them that the purpose for his coming on earth is now going to happen and that Satan has now begun to use Judas to betray him. So, he knew it was coming, so he asked them to come to the garden to pray with him.

REFLECTION
• What troubles your heart in this world that you need to bring to the cross?

JOHN 14 THE PROOF OF YOUR LOVE FOR GOD

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March 18

JOHN 14
15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. 18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me. – John 14:15-24

JOHN 14 THE PROOF OF YOUR LOVE FOR GOD
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
To love God, we are expected to keep our covenant with him
That means that we strip off our old nature and habitual sins
To say you love God and keep your old thinking is a lie
The proof of that love is your obedience to his word and laws.

In this account, Jesus gives his disciples the promises that the Father has for them when he leaves. He was assuring them that even though they won’t see him and be with him as they did, they will have more benefits. They will have the Helper which is the Holy Spirit to be with them forever. The Spirit of truth is another promise that he assured them with. The world won’t know it, but they will. The other promise is that they will not be orphans for the Father in heaven has adopted all those who believe in him.
There are conditions that Jesus laid down on them to keep the covenant promise between God and his people. If they love God, they need to follow his commands and his word. A covenant has two parties that comply with the agreement in order for the promises to happen. If God’s people cannot keep their end, it is to their own detriment.

REFLECTION
• What can you say about Christians who live double-lives by keeping sins close by?