John 15:11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
This world is all about hierarchies and power dichotomies. Who’s in charge? Who has power? Who are the underlings? But Jesus strives for another way. Not only does He want us to have His joy, for His joy to be complete in us, but He calls us friends, not servants. He is all about changing the narrative of power structure.
John 15:15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
He could absolutely have kept the title of “Big Boss,” but He calls us friends, He invites us in. I think He does this originally with the disciples because He knew He would not be able to stay with them and He wanted them to be as passionate about the Kingdom cause as He was. He wants the same for us. He wants His kingdom to be our kingdom, His mission to be our mission.
John 15:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.
Lord, Thank You for choosing me and appointing me so that I could bear fruit. Thank You for calling me friend, for treating me as co-heir to God’s kingdom. Thank You for the trust implied by those actions. Help me to live up to that trust. Amen.
John 15:17 This is my command: Love each other.
Have a blessed day.