Read John 17.

But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves. (John 17:13)

Jesus wept. Jesus was troubled. Jesus mourned over Jerusalem. Jesus was rejected and persecuted and put to death. But most of all, Jesus was filled with joy. Weeping lasts for a night, but the morning is filled with joy. And he prays for us, that we may have his joy, complete, in ourselves.

Dawn is breaking. The day is at hand. Fasting is done; now is the time to feast. The day of resurrection! Jesus prayed, “I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.” Beloved, let us love one another.

God’s love never ends. If you have God’s love in yourself, that love will never end. The Spirit of God, the Spirit of love, cannot die. When you are united with God, your body may die, but you cannot die. That love can only grow. Be filled with joy. May your joy be complete. O splendor of God’s glory bright, come in your radiance from above.


Harry Plantinga

Harry Plantinga is a professor of computer science at Calvin University and the director of ccel.org and hymnary.org.