Thoughts on the Gospel of John (147) - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2024

You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. These things I command you, that you love one another.
John 15:16–17

Thoughts on the Gospel of John (147)
The Lord could call His disciples “friends” because He had initiated them into the confidential communications of His Father. They were thus in a particularly close relationship with Him. And yet He continued to be their Lord and Master. They were friends, but He had chosen them, not they Him. This is different from purely human friendships, which result from a mutual choice.

Jesus had already spoken twice about the fact that He had chosen His disciples (ch. 6:70; 13:18). Our verse for today is mainly about the relationship that friends have and the purpose for which they were chosen. They were destined to bear lasting fruit. While the Lord is in heaven, the disciples in this world were to reflect His characteristics in their practical lives. And this is exactly what happened. The New Testament reports in many places that the disciples and the apostles of the Lord set a good example in their behaviour.

The Lord then leads to the topic of prayer. One might think that the disciples received a blank cheque here. “Whatever you ask ...” is indeed very broad. But answered prayers are only assured if they are prayed “in My name”, not if they revolve around selfish desires.

Once again the Lord repeats His commandment that His disciples should love one another. He foresees how necessary this commandment would be for the future. Don’t we Christians have to admit to ourselves that we have paid too little attention to it?


Today’s reading: 2 Samuel 19:1-24 · Titus 2:9-15