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Scripture |
John 14:15-2115“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. 17 This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you. 18“I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. 19 In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.” |
Devotional |
his past week our city, San Angelo, has been in the national news as people wait for the Court to decide if 416 children will remain in temporary custody of the state. Laurel A. Dykstra’s “Reflections on the Revised Common Lectionary, cycle A in Sojourner’s caught my attention, “Your Lawyer Will Be With You Shortly.” He writes: In the gospel of John, witnesses, testimony, and confession all have special significance. Scholars tell us that the whole of John can be read as a lawsuit-a courtroom drama. It should not be surprising to us , then, that at their last meal together Jesus promises his companions an advocate. Activist, Bible teacher, and former lawyer Wes Howard-Brook says the Greek word paraclete is a secular court term that indicates both an attorney for the defense and a comforter in suffering. So Jesus is sending not just a lawyer, but a good lawyer, one who cares and whose caseload is not so overwhelming that there is time to make a caring case.” 1 Watching as local attorneys and those from around the state came to the defense of 416 children, we see caring for each one of the children. The state bar is sending not just a lawyer but a good lawyer, one who cares, one who has made time for caring. Jesus promises that if we love him and keep his commandments he will send the Advocate, who will defend and comfort us. We will receive not just a lawyer, but a good lawyer to defend and comfort us. Our new attorney will defend us not in one case but forever. As Dykstra says, we have our individual personal lawyer to defend and comfort us. Can’t get any better than that. The only condition is that we love Jesus and keep his commandments 1 Laurel A. Dykstra, “Reflections on the Revised Common Lectionary , Cycle A, April 27.” Sojourners April 2008. p. 49
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