QT Sharing (3 Apr)

Scripture Reading: John 17:13-26

13"I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17Sanctify[a] them by the truth; your word is truth. 18As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

Jesus Prays for All Believers

20"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21that 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. 22I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 24"Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. 25"Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them."

In this world but not of this world. A 'light' in this dark world but never will the 'light' become the darkness of this world. This is who Jesus is. And as followers, we are also called to be the light for the world. By knowing the word(truth), we set ourselves against the world. It is not so much that we have become the enemies of the world and that we should start to fight against or retaliate against the world. What it simply means is when we know the truth, we ceased many of our worldly ways and instead follow the truth which conflicts with many ways of the world. In that case, should we start to worry? Nope! Because we can see that even as God had sent Jesus in the world and died on the cross, we know that God is in control. So likewise, as we are sent into this world, we may face trials and tribulations but our hope is in the truth. And as we set our eyes on the truth, we will be sanctify(make holy; set apart)

From v20 onwards, Jesus talks about being united in one so that the love and the truth of God can be make known to the world. In v26, "I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them." The word 'in order' really struck me. In order for the love of God to remain in us and Jesus to remain in us, the name of God needs to be make known. I am not sure if I am interpreting it correctly. But I just feel that if truly God's love and Jesus is in us, then we will want to make Jesus known to other people. If we by mouth claim that we are Christians and we love Jesus but yet not proclaiming His name to the world, then it is time to really reflect.

Lord, forgive us for our unwillingness to talk about You. There may be many reasons why we never share about You but never will be valid reasons. I ask that You grant us a bold heart to speak forth Your name, to tell others about the truth. Even as we have entered into the Holy Week, we just want to be reminded of Your goodness and love for us. And if there is an opportunity to share with others about what You had done for us on the cross, we will testify for You.