Pastor's Corner: Jesus' graduation speech

If your church has been following the Revised Common Lectionary for the Easter season, then you've been hearing and reading a lot from John 15-17 in the last few weeks. In this section of John's Gospel, which we call the Farewell Discourse, Jesus is eating his last supper with his friends and disciples. After he's washed their feet and hung up his towel, Jesus sits back and starts talking, and he doesn't stop talking for five chapters. He reflects on their "adventures" in ministry over the last few years, he talks about the future that's awaiting the disciples, and he prays for them. He looks...