Blaze Culliton \\ The Lord commands us not to not love the world or things in the world, a command which relates to the second and tenth commandments from the Old Testament. The commandments remind us that we are sinners in need of a Savior provided in Christ Jesus, who redefines the identities of those who believe in Him as those whose sins are forgiven, who know the Father and Him who was from the beginning, have overcome the evil one, are strong, and those who the word of God abides in. May we walk in the light as He walks in the light, finding our identity in those truths and obeying all that He commands.

Caleb Drahosh \\ As the hour of Jesus' death draws near, He prays to the Father, with whom Jesus has perfect unity and fellowship. He begins praying for Himself, that the Father would glorify Him now that His work is accomplished. Jesus has been given authority over all things, and gives eternal life to those the Father has given to Him. We are to pray that Christ would be glorified in us as our lives give evidence to the relationship that we have with God that only comes through Christ.

John Baumgartner \\ The Law of God—the Ten Commandments—is for us. God gave His Law to teach His people how to live according to righteousness, never seeking to earn our place before God, but always trusting in Him alone for our righteousness. And nevertheless seeking to live according to these commandments by working hard to hear them, learn them, and do them.

Caleb Drahosh \\ God called Abraham from his father's house to a land that He would show Abraham. An adventurer, Abraham left his homeland at great cost to gain what could not be gained by staying. Similarly, Jesus left His Father's house to come to earth to gain what could not be gained by staying. The adventure of Abraham and the advent of Christ paints the picture of Jesus' words, "whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."

Caleb Drahosh \\ After telling His disciples that He has overcome the world and encouraging them to pray to the Father in His name, Jesus Himself prays. He prays with confident assurance as one who is in perfect fellowship and unity with the Father.

Caleb Drahosh \\ Jesus, after commanding His disciples to love one another, tells them that they will be hated by the world. And although things will seem bleak, as a woman who is in labor perceives things to be, great joy is on the horizon. Peace is given because Jesus has overcome the world.

Caleb Drahosh \\ Jesus is clear that His followers will be hated by the world. Those who belong to Christ no longer belong to the world and will be treated just like Jesus was treated: persecuted, cast out, and killed. But Jesus does not leave His own alone. He sends the Holy Spirit to help the Christian bear witness to exactly what Jesus came to do.

Caleb Drahosh \\ The love that Jesus has for His own is a covenantal love. He chooses us and sends us out to bear fruit that lasts. Love that is merely infatuation or affection based knows nothing of sacrifice. But Jesus commands that His followers have sacrificial, committed, humble love for one another.

John Baumgartner \\ In this section, Peter concludes his discussion of the theme of submission to authority and ties it together with the theme of suffering for righteousness sake. He ties these two themes together by showing us that Jesus Christ perfectly lived according to both. Jesus Christ can empower us to live in the same way, if we live acknowledging that He is the Lord of all authorities who submitted Himself to suffering for righteousness sake.

Caleb Drahosh \\ What does the life of one who is joined to Christ look like? It looks like a fruit-bearing branch attached to the life-giving vine, Jesus Christ. The Father removes branches that are fruitless and prunes those that bear fruit. In order to abide in Christ and be fruitful the believer must live according to the commands of Christ.