Today’s scripture: John 17:1-26 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (David Zier):
Verse three really struck me more than it ever has. In the NRSV, it is stated as follows,
“And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you sent.”
The NIV presents it similarly, but with more emphasis on the verb “is” using the word “Now.”
“Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”
The concept of eternal life can seem a little obtuse sometimes. When does it start? What does it look like? As I was trying to pray through what this notion of “eternal life” meant that Jesus is speaking about here, it reminded me of how we can sometimes think of the future or the past more easily, and miss the opportunities we have here in the “now” because we are living in it.
There are two different words for “know” in the Greek language. “Oida” is a word that suggests one has a complete knowledge of something, or by perception, such as sight. When we learn something from observation, we oida. Paul writes in Romans 11:2b “Do you not know (oida) what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel?” This is a full knowledge of something that is written.
But there is another word used in Greek that is also translated as “know.” This is “ginosko.” This is a different kind of ‘know’ in that this means a progression of knowledge, implying an active relationship between the knower and something getting to be known. This can also be viewed as “understand, or understanding.” It is more of a progression.
If I don’t get caught up in the “tense” about eternal life, thinking too cerebrally about when does that start, and I just read what Jesus says as it is presented, he is saying ‘NOW’ is eternal life. “This is eternal life, that the people may know you God, the only true God.” The word used here is “ginosko.” To me, Jesus is telling me to be on a path of understanding, on a path of knowing God, having a relationship with God, as this is the path of eternal life.
When I think of it in this way, it makes more sense to me why my relationship with God is so important. Understanding I am loved and accepted and forgiven is huge in terms of living a more abundant life. But what helps me live into that abundance that Jesus tells me about is knowing that eternal life that begins now. Jesus is really asking me to do as he has done, and to join him in that eternal life as I grow in my understanding of God. The only way I can do that is to be in relationship, and integrate more of my life into God’s glory, just as Jesus.
Thought for today: Jesus, help me cultivate that “Now” factor in my life today about “knowing” you through an even deeper relationship, where I am growing and entering more deeply into that eternal life.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.