Meditation on John 17:13-26 it

Meditation on John 17:13-26 It was difficult to read these words, knowing that they were what Jesus was thinking at the end of his worldly life -- but he is joyful, as we are joyful in his sacrifice. He gave the Word to his followers, and for this his followers, hid disciples were hated. But we can revel in the rejection of the people of the world, for we are, as Jesus says, not of the world any more than he is (14).

Jesus prays for us to be protected from those that are evil, so that we may carry on His word that he has given to us, our sacred gift. He wants us to be sanctified and holy -- we have the truth! We have the word! We are sent into the world by Him. He gave us the Word and we are to give it to the rest of the world.

I am inspired and feel the glory that Jesus has given us -- the same glory that God the Father gave to him. I understand the promise of complete unity in verse 23 -- that Jesus is in us as the Father was in him -- that we are all unified in the glory of Jesus, but I do not have an easy time feeling that unity. I do not feel separate from the world, as if I am living in spiritual space.

The concerns of the world of oftentimes overwhelming and don't allow me to feel the unity in Jesus and the Father that was promised. I am not sure if I need to separate from the world to feel this unity or if I can manage in the world and feel the connection. The love of Jesus is easy to feel -- whenever I need to enter into a moment of prayer or meditation or reflection on His word, I can feel myself surrounded in love.

The more people I share the world with, the more people I share my own story with, the more I feel the love and the spreading of the love to others. These verses were of extreme comfort to me as I meditated upon them. I am humbled that Jesus keeps us in his thoughts and prayers.

I discovered that I need that attention, that knowledge that Jesus is paying attention to someone like me -- someone who can't even manage to keep promises to myself, never mind promises to Jesus and God, which are so easy to make and so easy to break. This love is everlasting, though, and it will not fade or stop over time.

When I look up at the stars and all of creation, I feel how small and insignificant I seem to be, but then I remember that Jesus took special note of me, as he has all of his disciples. When I called out to Him in my need, He answered wit his sacrifice and, as in these verses, his own please to the Father to remember the believers.

How can we be afraid when Jesus himself is imploring that we all be remembered and protected and loved, that we have a special place in the world and in His heart. My thoughts were led mostly outside of myself, and I prayed for all of those whom I know who have not accepted Jesus as their savior, including close family, to learn to know the joy, love, holiness and protection as I feel it.

Even if my experience of those feelings isn't perfect, and I do feel as if I have moments of backsliding and letting myself and my God down, those moments are nothing compared to the moments of love and complete acceptance. I want everyone I know, everyone I see, to be able to experience these moments along with me, and to be able to live life with the knowledge that.