Key Thought

Today's Prayer

Give me courage and strength, O God, so that I can follow Jesus no matter what challenges, difficulties, or hardships come my way. Please, never ever let me outlive my love for your Son or for you. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Today's Verses in Context

When they finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these {other men love me}?" Peter answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Then Jesus said to Peter, "Take care of my lambs. " Again Jesus said to Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Then Jesus said to Peter, "Take care of my sheep. " A third time Jesus said, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was sad because Jesus asked him three times, "Do you love me?" Peter said, "Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you!" Jesus said to Peter, "Take care of my sheep. I tell you the truth. When you were young, you tied your own belt and went where you wanted. But when you are old, you will put out your hands and another person will tie you. That person will lead you where you don't want to go." (Jesus said this to show how Peter would die to give glory to God.) Then Jesus said to Peter, "Follow me!" Peter turned and saw the follower that Jesus loved walking behind them. (This was the follower that had leaned against Jesus at the supper and said, "Lord, who will turn against you?") When Peter saw this follower behind them he asked Jesus, "Lord, what about him?" Jesus answered, "Maybe I want him to live until I come. That should not be important to you. You follow me!" So a story spread among the brothers (followers). They were saying that this follower {that Jesus loved} would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die. He only said, "Maybe I want him to live until I come. That should not be important to you." That follower is the one that is telling these things. He is the one that has now written these things. We know that what he says is true. There are many other things that Jesus did. If every one of these things were written down, I think the whole world would not be big enough for all the books that would be written.

Related Scripture Readings

Jesus warned them not to tell anyone. Then Jesus said, "The Son of Man must suffer many things. He will be rejected by the older Jewish leaders, the leading priests, and teachers of the law. The Son of Man will be killed. But after three days he will be raised from death." Jesus continued to say to all of them, "If any person wants to follow me, he must say 'No' to the things he wants. That person must accept the cross (suffering) that is given to him every day, and he must follow me. The person that wants to save his life will lose it. And every person that gives his life for me will save it. It is worth nothing for a person to have the whole world, if he himself is destroyed or lost. If any person is ashamed of me and my teaching, then I will be ashamed of that person. I will be ashamed of that person at the time I come with my glory and with the glory of the Father and the holy angels. I tell you the truth. Some of you people standing here will see the kingdom of God before you die."

If a person will not carry the cross (suffering) that is given to him when he follows me, then that person cannot be my follower.

My friends, don't be surprised at the painful things that you are now suffering. Those things are testing your faith. Don't think that something strange is happening to you. But you should be happy that you are sharing in Christ's sufferings. You will be happy and full of joy when Christ shows his glory. When people say bad things to you because you follow Christ, then you are blessed (happy). You are blessed because the Spirit of glory is with you. That is the Spirit of God. Don't be like a criminal or a person who kills, steals, or bothers other people. A person will suffer for doing those things. None of you should ever suffer like that. But if you suffer because you are a Christian, then don't be ashamed. You should praise (thank) God for that name (Christian). It is time for judging to begin. That judging will begin with God's family. If that judgment begins with us, then what will happen to those people who don't accept the Good News of God? "It is very hard for a good person to be saved. So surely the person who is against God and is full of sin will be lost!" So those people who suffer like God wants them to should trust their lives to him. God is the One who made them, and they can trust him. So they should continue to do good.