And now I am coming to you, and I say these things in the world so that they might have my joy in their hearts in all its fullness.

It was now the day before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. He had always loved those in the world who were his own, and he loved them to the very end.

Jesus knew that the Father had given him complete power; he knew that he had come from God and was going to God.

I did come from the Father, and I came into the world; and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father."

After saying this, he was taken up to heaven as they watched him, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

and said, "Galileans, why are you standing there looking up at the sky? This Jesus, who was taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way that you saw him go to heaven."

He must remain in heaven until the time comes for all things to be made new, as God announced through his holy prophets of long ago.

He reflects the brightness of God's glory and is the exact likeness of God's own being, sustaining the universe with his powerful word. After achieving forgiveness for the sins of all human beings, he sat down in heaven at the right side of God, the Supreme Power.

For Christ did not go into a Holy Place made by human hands, which was a copy of the real one. He went into heaven itself, where he now appears on our behalf in the presence of God.

I gave them your message, and the world hated them, because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world.

Just as I do not belong to the world, they do not belong to the world.

I sent them into the world, just as you sent me into the world.

"If the world hates you, just remember that it has hated me first.

Remember what I told you: 'Slaves are not greater than their master.' If people persecuted me, they will persecute you too; if they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours too.

I have told you this so that you will have peace by being united to me. The world will make you suffer. But be brave! I have defeated the world!"

"Listen! I am sending you out just like sheep to a pack of wolves. You must be as cautious as snakes and as gentle as doves.

Unfaithful people! Don't you know that to be the world's friend means to be God's enemy? If you want to be the world's friend, you make yourself God's enemy.

We must not be like Cain; he belonged to the Evil One and murdered his own brother Abel. Why did Cain murder him? Because the things he himself did were wrong, and the things his brother did were right.

We know that we belong to God even though the whole world is under the rule of the Evil One.

Righteous Father! The world does not know you, but I know you, and these know that you sent me.

You must be perfect---just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Instead, be holy in all that you do, just as God who called you is holy.

You call him Father, when you pray to God, who judges all people by the same standard, according to what each one has done; so then, spend the rest of your lives here on earth in reverence for him.

Each one of the four living creatures had six wings, and they were covered with eyes, inside and out. Day and night they never stop singing: "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was, who is, and who is to come."

Who will not stand in awe of you, Lord? Who will refuse to declare your greatness? You alone are holy. All the nations will come and worship you, because your just actions are seen by all."

While I was with them, I kept them safe by the power of your name, the name you gave me. I protected them, and not one of them was lost, except the man who was bound to be lost---so that the scripture might come true.

I do not ask you to take them out of the world, but I do ask you to keep them safe from the Evil One.

What my Father has given me is greater than everything, and no one can snatch them away from the Father's care.

The Father and I are one."

Protect me as you would your very eyes; hide me in the shadow of your wings

from the attacks of the wicked. Deadly enemies surround me;

"I watch over it and water it continually. I guard it night and day so that no one will harm it.

They are for you, who through faith are kept safe by God's power for the salvation which is ready to be revealed at the end of time.

From Jude, servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James--- To those who have been called by God, who live in the love of God the Father and the protection of Jesus Christ:

To him who is able to keep you from falling and to bring you faultless and joyful before his glorious presence---

Help us, O God, and save us; rescue us and forgive our sins for the sake of your own honor.

The LORD is like a strong tower, where the righteous can go and be safe.

They would tremble like water boiling over a hot fire. Come and reveal your power to your enemies, and make the nations tremble at your presence!

My people cry out to me, 'Even though our sins accuse us, help us, LORD, as you have promised. We have turned away from you many times; we have sinned against you.

Remember your promises and do not despise us; do not bring disgrace on Jerusalem, the place of your glorious throne. Do not break the covenant you made with us.

But I did not, since that would have brought dishonor to my name, for in the presence of the people among whom they were living I had announced to Israel that I was going to lead them out of Egypt.

But I did not, since that would have brought dishonor to my name among the nations which had seen me bring Israel out of Egypt.

When I act to protect my honor, you Israelites will know that I am the LORD, because I do not deal with you as your wicked, evil actions deserve." The Sovereign LORD has spoken.

This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven: May your holy name be honored;

For the scripture says to the king of Egypt, "I made you king in order to use you to show my power and to spread my fame over the whole world."

I pray that they may all be one. Father! May they be in us, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they be one, so that the world will believe that you sent me.

I gave them the same glory you gave me, so that they may be one, just as you and I are one:

The Father and I are one."

When that day comes, you will know that I am in my Father and that you are in me, just as I am in you.

And may God, the source of patience and encouragement, enable you to have the same point of view among yourselves by following the example of Christ Jesus,

so that all of you together may praise with one voice the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

By the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ I appeal to all of you, my friends, to agree in what you say, so that there will be no divisions among you. Be completely united, with only one thought and one purpose.

Christ is like a single body, which has many parts; it is still one body, even though it is made up of different parts.

In the same way, all of us, whether Jews or Gentiles, whether slaves or free, have been baptized into the one body by the same Spirit, and we have all been given the one Spirit to drink.

There is one body and one Spirit, just as there is one hope to which God has called you.