John 17

 Read: John 17, Sing: The Power of the Cross & The Lord is my Salvation

Jesus prays for the church.

As we end today with our formal study it is remarkably fitting to leave off on our precious Savior praying for us. Its overwhelming. We get a snipette of what it looks like as Christ as our Mediator. Jesus transitions as He says, but also for those who will believe in me through their word. That is you and I friend. And all that have come before us and all who are yet to be called. All of us. Christ was thinking of and praying for us before His crucifixion. This is humbling, encouraging, shocking and awesome. He cares for you and for me. 

We could spend our whole lives studying these chapters 13-21. The Gospel. Truly the greatest thing that ever occurred in the history of mankind, and salvation the greatest gift ever given and ever received. Oh that our hearts would yearn for His goodness all of our days. That we would live in this great satisfaction that we are redeemed! In Matthew Henry's prayers even today it says: Give us to draw water with joy from these wells of salvation, Isaiah 12:3(ESV)  and now, O LORD God, let the word that you have spoken concerning your servants be established forever, and do as you have spoken. 1 Chronicles 17:23(ESV)

My heart is overwhelmed as I think of the weight of praying scripture through the Word's of the Lord the hours before the cross. Oh that we would draw with joy from the wells of salvation! That we would be satisfied in Him! That Jesus would be enough!!! That Jesus would be our Yes and Amen!

Jesus ends His prayer "I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them." This last statement is truly incomprehensible. Jesus came to glorify the Father, to make His name known, and then to show us the love of the Father that we may be partakers of it. He offers us not just salvation but union with the Father. Forgiven and adopted. 

My heart soars and breaks at the same time. A portion of the prayer Jesus says, " that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know you sent me and loved me." 2020/2021 has driven so many wedges in the church. Some that had been looming at the door and needed doing, some that simple reveal our disgusting sin nature and selfishness. But when I look, my heart grieves. Stats came out yesterday revealing less than 50% of Americans consider themselves affiliated with a church.(the article lumps in synagogues and mosques with this. Read article here.) That means there has never been more work to do, nor in the past 80 years the church deemed maybe as something not worth being part of. Are we teaching the gospel through our love of one another? We are so hell bent on ourselves that we can't see eternity. May we repent of this. May we stop insisting on our opinion being heard, and start praying for the gospel to flow out of our hearts and mouths and lives. In 100 years, what will it matter most...that you were able to share the good news of the Gospel through out love for one another.

Girl- go to heaven tired. Be exhausted, spent, overflowed and broken nailed....for His sake alone. To God be the glory, Great things He has done! So loved He the world that He gave us His Son!  May our broken country be moved by our praises. May we pray constantly and may the love of God be our motivation. May it start in our home. Jesus IS enough. 

The night before His death, Jesus prayed to the Father, 2000 years later, those who profess Christ are beneficiaries of that prayer. His disciples went, and preached the good news.  May this Easter we be brought back to the Cross, and the empty grave, and reset ourselves and our hearts that they may draw with joy from His Salvation.