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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion February 10, 2008 A Prayer of Love |
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Frontline Devotion for Sunday February 10, 2008 by Matthew Pensinger
Reprinted from May 28, 2006
John 17:6-19
The gospel of John makes several references in the course of its story to “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” This is the person that Jesus, while hanging on the cross, charges with taking care of his mother; it is also the person that John 21:24 identifies as the writer of or the basis for the writing of the gospel of John. The person is referred to in that same way several times in the last eight chapters of this gospel: the disciple whom Jesus loved.
Of many possible symbolic and literal interpretations that can be given to this “disciple whom Jesus loved” and what his presence means in the story, my personal favorite is this: the disciple whom Jesus loved is supposed to represent you. You are the one whom Jesus loved, whom Jesus still loves, whom Jesus will always love. Of all the identities and roles and positions and titles you might have, that is the simplest and most important one: you are the one whom Jesus loves. I think there’s a song about knowing that, isn’t there?
I bring this up in light of these verses from John 17 because they are a part of Jesus’ praying for his disciples and for those who would come after them; it is the very last thing that Jesus does in the gospel of John before he is arrested. This prayer of Jesus for the disciples and for “those who will believe in me through their word” is filled with love and concern. Jesus prays that God will unify the disciples and build them up. Jesus prays “that they may have my joy be made complete in themselves.” Jesus asks that they be sanctified and protected “in your name” and “from the evil one,” in language that recalls the Lord’s Prayer. Jesus prays “that they may be one, as we are one,” and later he prays again “that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” In his last hours of ministry, in a time that must have been filled with stress and fear, Jesus prayed for his friends out of his great love for them. Jesus prayed for the disciples, and for me, and for you.
Earlier in the gospel of John, Jesus exhorted the disciples that “just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.” The verses today remind us of a part of what that means: just as I have prayed for you, you also should pray for one another. Praying is of course good for us as individuals: good for our souls, good for our spiritual discipline, good for participating in our ongoing conversations with God. But maybe even more importantly, praying is good for each other; we need each other’s prayers. Take some time today, maybe even right now, to pray, as Jesus did, for those whom you love. And take some time to remember who it is that loves you.
Let us pray: Lord God, strengthen and sustain your people as we pray to you. Intercede for us with sighs too deep for words when we do not know how to pray as we ought. Make us into one in your name. Protect and sanctify all those who are in danger, in despair, or in any need. Fill us with your love for all the world, and encourage us as we work and as we pray for those whom we love; in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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All are welcome to join and share in our Devotional Ministry on the "Frontlines" of the world. Frontline Devotions are sent via email daily. Sign up by clicking on the box to the left. Pastor Dave welcomes feedback. Contact him at pastordave@goodshepherdonline.org. |
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