3/30 John 16-21

Chapters 16-21 of the Gospel of John provide a very insightful and revealing account of Jesus’s death and resurrection. The beginning, in particular, stood out to me. Jesus speaks of the world’s sin, unbelief, when he says “in that they refuse to believe in me, about who was in the right” (John 16:9), referring to the coming events and his arrest. What manifests Jesus’s glory and power, in my opinion, is when Jesus tells his disciples that “because the Father himself loves you, for loving me” (John 16:27). To me, John uses this moment between Jesus and his disciples to convey a message about how if someone believes in, loves, and follows Jesus, they will be in God’s favor.  Chapter 17 of this gospel uncovers the great love that Jesus has for his followers, which is shown in the way he prays for them. Jesus says “It is for them I pray. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you” (John 17:9). To me, this again exemplifies that Jesus will reciprocate his love and loyalty to those who show it to him. This same concept is exemplified in Jesus’s interactions with Peter at the end of the gospel. After Jesus asks whether Peter “loves” him for the thirds time, Peter replies “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you” (John 21:17).  When Jesus replies to Peter’s three professions of love, he returns the favor in a way, entrusting Peter with ruling his flock. This is another example, like before, that Jesus looks after and is loyal to those who love him.