"You did not
choose me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will
last."
In Biblical days a disciple usually chose a rabbi to follow. Jesus,
however, selected the disciples that followed him. This is evidenced in the fifth chapter
of Luke when he chose Simon Peter, James, and John. He told them to follow him and he
would make them fishers of men. It is told they left their boat and nets where they laid
and followed him.
In John 15 Jesus tells his disciples they are no longer his servants
but his friends. He said "You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you
to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last." They were to carry on after he was to be
crucified. He was well aware of his role in this world. He was beginning to prepare his
disciples for what they would face for the rest of their lives. To love him, as they did,
meant the establishment would ultimately hate them. They would face many adversities, and
he prepared them for that by sharing the vision the Father had given to him.
Jesus was heading toward Jerusalem and time was short. He wanted them
to know he was preparing them to spread the good news and expected them to bear fruit.
Jesus told his disciples, as he tells us, that he enables us to bear
fruit. If we pray, the Father will give us whatever we ask in his name.
Prayer is still effective in our congregation 2000 years later. This
means that not only did he choose and prepare his disciples well, but also that he still
wants us to pray in his name. For as long as we are in communication with God, we are in
communion with him.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank you for sending your Son into this
world to be our Savior. Even though we sometimes stumble, we thank you for always being
there for us! We pray that the Reformation Lutheran Church Prayer Chain continues to
comfort those who need you. In Jesus name. Amen.
