Each devotion consists of a short Bible passage taken from John 13-17, followed by a few questions for meditation and a suggestion for prayer. Don’t be discouraged if you are beginning these after Lent is well underway or if you miss a few days. Each devotion stands on its own so you can begin or begin again whenever you are able.

Week Six — March 17-23

Each day before you begin, take a couple of minutes to sit in silence, emptying your mind of “to do” lists (you may need to write things down as you toss them) and extraneous thoughts. If there is sin you need to confess, do so and thank God for his forgiveness. Pray that the Holy Spirit will reveal God’s truth to you.

Monday

Read John 17:14-19

In these verses, Jesus once again talks about the interrelationship between the disciples, himself, and the world. Describe those relationships. If Jesus is sending the disciples into the world in the same way that the Father sent him, how should the disciples engage the world? In what ways are you engaging the world as Jesus did?

So far Jesus has prayed for God to protect the disciples so that they may be one (vs 11b) and experience the full measure of his joy (vs 13). What does he ask God to do for them in this passage? In what areas of your life do you feel threatened by Satan? What do you think it means to be sanctified or “set apart” by God’s Word? What aspects of your life need to be sanctified?

Prayer

Thank God for all the ways he has protected you from evil. Ask him to equip you to engage the world as Jesus did.

Tuesday

Read John 17:20-23

Jesus concludes his prayer by focusing on all those people who will believe the truth about Jesus because of the disciples’ message, both oral and written. And that includes you! What does Jesus ask for future disciples? Of all the things he could ask for (protection, power, peace, love, etc.), why do you think he prays for unity?

In this last conversation with his disciples, Jesus has repeated over and over again that he is in the Father and the Father is in him and that all he has (his love, his words, his glory) has come from the Father. This is the kind of unity Christians are to display. How do you think this draws people to Jesus? As you spend time this week remembering the costly sacrifice Jesus made for you on the cross, think about the specific ways you might live out this unity Jesus prays for.

Prayer

Confess to God any ways in which you may have contributed to disunity in the body of Christ. Ask him to unify your fellowship in such a way that others may see Jesus and believe in him.

Wednesday

Read John 17:24-26

For the first time in his prayer, Jesus uses the word “want.” What is his heart’s desire for those the Father has given him (including you)?

Three words are central to this passage: glory, love, and know. How are they interrelated? What is the connection between Jesus continuing to make himself known to you and how full of God’s love you are? Through what means is your knowledge of God growing deeper? What people has he put in your life to help you grasp his great love for you? How can that love overflow to others?

Prayer

Thank God for the promise of being with Jesus some day and seeing his glory. Thank him, too, for his deep commitment to help you know him and live in his love.

Thursday

Read John 13-17

In order to get the big picture of the passages we have studied for the past five weeks, read John 13-17 in The Message. Consider one or more of the following questions:

• What impresses you about Jesus? about the Father? about the Spirit? about the disciples?
• Is there a command for you to obey?
• Is there a sin to confess?
• Is there a promise you’d like to hold onto this week?

Prayer

Ask the Holy Spirit to remind you of Jesus’ words when you need them. Pray that the Lord will help you live out these truths.

Friday

Read John 18-19

Chapters 13-17 have been building to a climax. On this Good Friday, take time to read John’s account of the arrest, trial, and execution of Jesus in John 18-19. Meditate on this passage. Close your eyes and try to picture the various scenes. Where you do you see yourself in them? What insight does this give you into the story?

Prayer

Take time throughout the weekend to thank God for loving you so much that he sent his son into the world to die.

Saturday/Sunday

Read John 20:1-18

What strikes you about John’s account of the resurrection? How did each person who saw the empty tomb respond?

Think how countercultural it was for Jesus to appear first to a woman. Women were not even allowed to give testimony in a Jewish court of law, but here is Mary Magdalene witnessing the greatest miracle of all. Jesus connects with Mary very personally in this resurrection encounter, but he does not allow her to stay there celebrating the good news. Instead, he gives her a job to do: go and tell. Think about ways in which you will both celebrate the good news of the resurrection and share it with others in the week ahead.

Prayer

Thank God for his goodness. Celebrate with Psalm 150:

Praise the LORD.
   Praise God in his sanctuary;
   praise him in his mighty heavens.
Praise him for his acts of power;
   praise him for his surpassing greatness.
Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
   praise him with the harp and lyre,
praise him with tambourine and dancing,
   praise him with the strings and flute,
praise him with the clash of cymbals,
   praise him with resounding cymbals.
Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
   Praise the LORD.