Contemplative Bible Reading

John 17:25 (New Living Translation)

25 “O righteous Father, the world doesn’t know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me. 26 I have revealed you to them, and I will continue to do so. Then your love for me will be in them, and I will be in them.”

Except for accounts of the crucifixion, these are the last-recorded words of Jesus. He summarizes His earthly ministry with these sentences.

• the world doesn’t know God
• the followers of Jesus know that God sent Jesus to earth
• Jesus revealed God to the followers
• God’s love for Jesus will be in the followers
• Jesus will be in the followers

Is it any wonder that this small group of followers were able to change the world? From the outside, at least, it looks like they changed the world. It was really God working through them that changed everything.

I suppose little has changed since then. God works through the followers of Jesus today, and, when we allow it, we change the world. As the poet once wrote,

praise God from whom all blessings flow

God, help me to continue the work of the followers.