June 17, 2026

Today's Reading: John 16:17-33

Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 17:1-28; Proverbs 18:1-20:4; John 16:17-33

“For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.” (John 16:27-28)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

How amazing are these words!?! Jesus is vouching FOR US! He is claiming us before our Heavenly Father. The Creator of the world. The Holy and Perfect God. The Author of Life. This is an amazing gift.

God the Father loves YOU. YOU belong to Jesus. In your Baptism, you are covered with Jesus - holy, blameless, and perfect. When God the Father sees you, He sees His Son, our Savior Jesus, and loves. In Communion, you are given Jesus’ Body and Blood for your salvation. You are a guest at God’s Table and get to feast on His gifts!

Jesus was at the creation of the world; Jesus is the Word. Jesus knew what the cost would be once sin entered into the world. Jesus knew He would have to leave His Father, take on flesh, live a blameless life, die a terrible death, and rise again. He knew this was the plan to save sinners from eternal death. And in these verses, as He talks with His disciples before His Death, Resurrection, and Ascension, Jesus is declaring that it is going to happen. He is declaring that you are loved.

As we live in this sin-broken world, it can be hard to remember that we are loved. It seems as though all around us, everything is coming apart. We sin daily. We are daily sinned against. Something always hurts. Something always seems to go wrong. Our feelings lie to us. The world would have us focus on just today and wallow in despair. The devil would have us believe the lies that we aren’t enough. But the Truth is not found in our feelings, the world, or in the lies of the devil. We are not without hope.

In your moments of brokenness, remember your Baptism. Remember that you are not alone. You are covered by Christ and are seen by God the Father. You have the Holy Spirit, and in faith, you pray and cry out to a listening and faithful God. You are loved. Cling to the Truth, even if (and when) your feelings would want to declare something else. Be in God’s Word; rejoice in the gift that is God’s Law and Gospel for you. Remember that you have been claimed by Jesus, and God the Father rejoices that you are His.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Christ, the way that leads unfailing To the Father’s house on high, Christ, the truth that frees the captive, Christ, the life that cannot die. Mediator to the Father, Sacrifice and great High Priest: Lead us to Your heav’nly mansions, There to share Your wedding feast. (LSB 540:5)

Deac. Sarah Longmire, Curricula Curator for Higher Things and Director of Family Life at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Lee's Summit, MO.