He had leaned back against Jesus at the meal.

He had kept silent and never asked anything.

He had turned away from Jesus during the meal.

Stay close to Jesus and bring him honest questions when you need clarity.

Step back from Jesus until you can sort everything out on your own.

Keep going only after every detail is already explained.

Let other people ask the hard question while you stay silent.

If you would like to receive Jesus, pray this with me: Lord Jesus, I admit my sin and my need for your mercy. I turn from my sin and from living at a distance from you. I believe you died for my sins and rose again. I confess you as Lord, and I trust you to lead me into your love. Amen.

Come Close to Jesus

Lord, revive your Church to follow Jesus closely, to love him personally, and to bring honest questions to him instead of hiding in fear or distance. Make us a people who are known by nearness to Christ and faithful attention to his voice, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Revive Us to Follow Closely

Give thanks for Jesus' personal love for his followers; for the freedom to ask him direct questions; for the grace to keep walking with him even before every answer is clear.

Thank You for Jesus' Loving Nearness

Begin by naming one place where you feel unsure, then ask Jesus for grace to keep following closely, and finally bring him one honest question about your next step.

How to Pray When You Need Clarity

Lord, teach me to stay close to you when I do not understand everything. Make me humble enough to ask you plainly, and steady enough to keep following instead of drifting away, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Teach Me to Keep Following

Lord, encourage the believers who quietly keep following you. Let them know you see them, love them, and hear their honest questions, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

For Faithful Followers

⸀Ἐπιστραφεὶς{e-pi-stra-FEES###eh-pee-strah-FEES###having turned} ὁ{ho###hoh###(the)} Πέτρος{PE-tros###PEH-trohs###Peter} βλέπει{VLE-pee###VLEH-pee###(He) sees} τὸν{TON###TOHN###the} μαθητὴν{ma-the-TEEN###mah-theh-TEEN###disciple} ὃν{HON###HOHN###whom} ἠγάπα{ee-GA-pa###ee-GAH-pah###(He) loved} ὁ{ho###hoh###(the)} Ἰησοῦς{ee-ee-SOOS###ee-ee-SOOS###Jesus} ἀκολουθοῦντα,{a-ko-loo-THOON-ta###ah-koh-loo-THOON-tah###following} ὃς{HOS###HOHS###who} καὶ{KAI###KAI###also} ἀνέπεσεν{a-NE-pe-sen###ah-NEH-peh-sehn###reclined} ἐν{en###ehn###in} τῷ{TO###TOH###the} δείπνῳ{DEEP-no###DEEP-noh###supper} ἐπὶ{e-PEE###eh-PEE###on} τὸ{TO###TOH###the} στῆθος{STE-thos###STEH-thohs###chest} αὐτοῦ{af-TOO###ahf-TOO###his} καὶ{KAI###KAI###and} εἶπεν·{EE-pen###EE-pehn###said} Κύριε,{KEE-ree-e###KEE-ree-eh###Lord} τίς{TEES###TEES###who} ἐστιν{es-TEEN###ehs-TEEN###is} ὁ{ho###hoh###the one who} παραδιδούς{pa-ra-di-DOOS###pah-rah-dee-DOOHS###is betraying} σε;{se###seh###you}

John 21:20 — DynamicTAB

More on this verse