Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them.  (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”)  When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”

Isn’t this so human.  “Follow Me”, Jesus said, and Peter turned and said but “What about him?”  We are called to follow Christ, yet we are constantly watching our brothers and sisters to see how they are doing.  We are responsible for our walk with God, our eyes should be on Him, our obedience to Him.  What He does with or for, others may be our concern in prayer, but it should not affect our walk with Christ.  Our walk is OUR walk.  As He chooses for us, He provides for us.  We are His testimony, His ambassadors.

Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

The Greek word for “blessed” here, means” to pronounce happy or blessed”.  Jesus did not hesitate to confirm Thomas’ belief by showing Thomas His hands and feet.  He also does not hesitate to pronounce that we are blessed and happy for believing without seeing.

Remember, when we are longing for the fulfillment of our faith, when our desire is to be done with this world, that Jesus has pronounced us happy an blessed even as we wait.

Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above…”  

This is profound.  Pilate would have no power  over Jesus at all, except that God the Father has allowed it, and Jesus Himself, surrendered to it.  I think it frightened Pilate to hear those words.  If he could have seen with spiritual eyes the 10, 000 angels guarding our Lord, Pilate would have dropped dead of fear on the spot.  But this is an eternal plan.  This is the fulfillment of prophecy, the final act of salvation.  The innocent, sinless, Lamb of God would die for the sins of all mankind and usher in the age of grace and forgiveness.

Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?”  “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.  “I am he,” Jesus said.  (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.)  When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.  Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?”  And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”  ‘I told you that I am he,” Jesus answered.  “If you are looking for me, then let these men go.”

Step back from the earthly arena, and look at the scene as though you were viewing it from heaven.  Those who are supposedly representatives of God, look upon Jesus and challenge Him.  They do not recognize Him, nor the truth or grace He has brought to this world.  Jesus and Isaiah said it best:  their eyes are blind; they cannot see.  Spiritual blindness is worse than physical blindness, because if a man is spiritually blind, his soul is dark.  Thanks be to God for the Light of Jesus to give us spiritual sight.

“My prayer is not for them alone.  I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.  I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one…”

The manifestaton of who God is in the person of Christ – we share in that.  Why?  So that we may be one as they are one.  What does that mean?  The Father and the Son are one in purpose, one in love, one in forgiveness. Through Jesus’ death on the cross and our subsequent salvation,  They have granted us the amazing gift of being a part of that: to be one with them in purpose,  in forgiveness,and in love.

…In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world.

The troubles come in waves – many and varied, demanding of our emotions, our thoughts, our tears.  They invade our prayers, take the joy from time with friends, even tarnishing the simple pleasures of life: a good cup of coffee, now spoiled by tears.  A warming cup of tea left to grow cold by anxious daydreaming.  But…we are commanded: TAKE HEART!  Be of good courage.( AMP)

Yes, you will have trouble.  Yes, you will have tears and trials.  Yes, you will suffer loss, illness, and broken relationships; but look up!  It is I, Jesus, I have overome the world and its struggles.  Take heart, be of good courage, because of ME.

If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love.  I have told you this so that my joy  may be in you and that your joy may be complete.  My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 

The Lord doesn’t leave us in doubt regarding His commands.  Obey them, and you will remain in my love.  Then… He tells us what the commands are.  My command is this: love each other as I have loved you.

Doesn’t that seem odd?  One command?  But this one covers it all.  If we love one another as He did, we won’t:  lie to one another, steal from one another, hurt each other, etc.

ONE command, and it covers everything.  As we obey that command, we remain in His love, so our source of love is never ending.  Give love away freely.  Our source will never dry up.