John 17 - Jesus prays

Jesus prays just prior to His arrest.  He prays for Himself, His disciples, and then, for "all who will believe" in Him.  He prays for our unity, that we may be "one" as He and the Father are one.  He also indicates that His work is both nearly complete and yet ongoing (v. 26) as He enables us to experience the love of the Father as He dwells in us.  Amen to that!

Memory verse: "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." John 17:26

John 16 - "You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy"

Chapter 16 is certainly a mixed bag.  We begin by reading Jesus say, "a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God".  He follows that by reminding the disciples of the promised arrival of the Holy Spirit, who will guide them into truth and make things known.  The final section, from verses 17-33, is the ultimate bad news/good news scenario.  Jesus promises grief - weeping, mourning and pain.  He then promises that grief will turn to joy, and the word joy (or rejoice) is used five times in that one paragraph.  Sounds like the dominant theme is that they must remain hopeful, because joy is coming. 

The verse I've memorized is the last verse of the chapter, 16:33, a pretty good summary of the entire coversation - "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world."

Amen to that.

John 15 - A Powerful Analogy

Regardless of how well you understand agriculture, the image of the vine connected to the branches makes sense to everyone.  Apart from the vine, the branch will die.  Period.  It will die, certainly, but it will also shrivel up and become waste. 

Knowing that, and being able to grasp that, why do we find it a struggle to 'remain in his love' sometimes?