Category: Gospels
Jesus prayed for us!
Scripture reading for May 28th: John 17:1-26
John records Jesus’ longest prayer that was written in Scripture. This prayer is a wonderful example of the heart of the Son of God. It is very instructive for us and shows how thoughtful Jesus was and how He prayed His way through the cross and for those who followed Him.
First, Jesus prayed for Himself and declared victory by faith in a full completion of the work that the Father had given Him to do. “Father, the time has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son may glorify You.”. . . “I have brought You glory on earth by completing the work You gave Me to do. And now, Father, glorify Me in Your presence with the glory I had with You before the world began.” (John 17:1, 4-5) Jesus desired to be back in the holy presence of His Father. He asked His Father to glorify Him with the glory He possessed before the world was formed. He understood that the time had come to finish the work and through prayer, declared it done!
Next Jesus prayed for His own disciples. He had been given these by the Father and had systematically revealed the Father and His word to them. Jesus declared to His Father that these disciples had accepted His word and believed that Jesus came from the Father. (John 17:6-19) “I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, protect them by the power of Your Name–the Name you gave Me–so that they may be one as We are One.” (John17:11) Jesus cared for His disciples and asked specifically for their protection while they were in the world. Jesus had sent them into the world as He had been sent by His Father. The world would hate them and the ‘evil one’ would persecute them.
“My prayer is not for them alone, I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as You are in Me and I am in You.” (John 17:20-21) Jesus specifically mentioned all who would come to faith, including us! He prayed for our unity in relationship with the Holy Trinity. His ultimate request was that we would be in His presence for all eternity to behold His glory! (John 17:34) Wow! What a Savior!
Grief turned to Joy!
Scripture reading for May 27th: John 16:1-33
“I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. So with you; Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” (John 16:20-22)
Jesus spoke plainly about His coming departure and the grief that would come over the disciples as they witnessed the unfolding of events. They did not fully understand what He was saying, but He knew that the Holy Spirit would help them understand fully and remember what He taught them. He encouraged them to be patient and look for the joy that would follow.
Jesus likened the disciples joy at His resurrection to that of a mother who had just had a child. The time immediately preceding the birth would be filled with pain and anguish. The birth pains had to come before the baby was introduced to the world. So Jesus had to go through the battle with the ‘prince of this world’ and face the last enemy, ‘death’! But the ‘prince of this world’ had no hold on Him. (John 14:30) The ‘prince of this world’ must be driven out! (John 12:31) This battle would involve the cross for Jesus and the ‘prince of darkness’ would attempt to hold Him in death. However, Jesus would be victorious and emerge from the grave with the keys of death and hell! (Revelation 1:18) He would spoil the principalities and powers of darkness, and make a public show of them openly by the cross! (Colossians 2:15)
When these disciples experienced Jesus in resurrection, their grief would be turned to a joy that no one could take away! They would know God the Father was true and the Gift of the Father would teach them all things. They would understand that death had no hold on them either and live with a new boldness to share the love of God in Christ Jesus! Christ’s victory would assure them of their victory! Are you living in this joy? Why not put your faith in Jesus Christ and experience it for yourself?
The True Vine!
Scripture reading for May 26th: John 15:1-27
The teaching of Jesus about the Vine would have been a familiar theme to students of the Old Testament. In Isaiah 5:1-7 we have a prophetic song of the vineyard that spoke of Israel as the vineyard of the Lord and the men of Judah as His delightful plant. (Isaiah 5:7) God’s complaint was that the vine of Israel was unfruitful in obedience to the Lord because they broke His commands. Jesus, in this last night of teaching, stated that He was the true Vine and that His disciples were the branches.
“I am the True Vine, and My Father is the Gardener. He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me.” This parable was very easy to understand in the Hebrew culture and in many cultures around the world because grapes are grown in many places. God is the Gardener and Jesus is the True Vine because He is the only begotten Son of God. He came in perfect obedience to the Father and would bear much fruit. God as owner of the Vineyard is looking for fruit and prunes the vine for maximum fruitfulness.
“I am the Vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to My Father’s glory, that you produce much fruit, showing yourselves to be My disciples.” (John 14:5-8) Jesus stressed the importance of abiding in Him. It was only through a relationship with Him that they would produce fruit. They would have access to ask the Father for whatever they needed, and God would grant it. What a promise to those who stayed attached!
My peace I leave with you!
Scripture reading for May 25th: John 14:15-31
Jesus, knowing that a short time remained with the eleven remaining disciples, began to teach them about the Gift of the Father. He told them He would ask the Father to give them another Counselor like Him who would be with them forever. (John 14:16-17) This Counselor would be known as the Spirit of Truth who would live in them and those who would believe on account of their witness. Those in the world would not have this Gift or understand anything about Him.
This Counselor was not just a vague spirit, but a true person. This third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, was a special gift to Jesus’ disciples. He would be sent by the Father at Jesus’ request. He would help them by reminding them of everything that Jesus had taught them and then would teach them all things. These things Jesus instructed the disciples about so that they would have peace through the coming storm of events.
Jesus was prophesied to be the “Prince of Peace” and “Wonderful Counselor” by Isaiah. (Isaiah 9:6) Jesus’ teachings were marked by unusual wisdom and people everywhere marveled at His ability to speak like no one else. When Jesus had asked these disciples if they wanted to leave Him, Peter had spoken up that Jesus had words of eternal life and there was no one else like Him. (John 6:68)
As Jesus prepared to leave these men, He granted them His peace. This peace was beyond anything the world could offer. It was a supernatural peace granted by the only One who can give sinful humans peace with God through forgiveness of sins. “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27) He and they would soon face tremendous spiritual conflict with the ‘prince of this world’, Satan. Jesus assured them that this prince had no hold on Him. He was going to fully obey the Father and demonstrate that obedience to the world.
Do you live in this supernatural peace given by Jesus Christ? It is available today to those who follow Him and put their trust in His word. This peace comes with Jesus’ perfect love that drives out all fear and is revealed to us by the Holy Spirit!
The new command!
Scripture reading for May 24th: John 13:31-14:14
“My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for Me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.”
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.“ (John 13:33-35)
Jesus knew that after Judas left to betray Him, the final hours had come. He reaffirmed to these faithful men that He was going away and that where He was going, they could not come now. He would be going to the cross, and willingly laying down His life. They had other things to do before they would also give their lives for the Gospel!
Jesus was emphatic about a new commandment that He was giving to them. The act of keeping this commandment would particularly mark them as Jesus’ disciples. It was not an optional requirement, but something that they must do as His disciples. This command was all about showing love for one another. Love is the fulfillment of God’s laws. Jesus was setting an example for them in showing love by laying His life down for them as well as for the sins of the whole world. He commanded them to learn to give this kind of self-sacrificing love to each other.
When we love someone with God’s love, we desire the very best for them. We consider them better than ourselves and act for their highest good. We speak truth to them and would never steal from them or lie to them. We would never stay angry with them without resolving the differences. We would never covet their property, power, or position, but would rejoice with them in the good things God had done for them. We would seek to bless them and encourage them to be all that God wants them to be and help them with needs. We would not compete with them, but would seek to help them be the best.
This kind of love marked Jesus Christ as the Son of God. It is the Father’s heart that His children have this love for each other. Do all men know that you are Jesus’ disciple because of your extravagant love?
The full extent of His Love!
Scripture reading for May 23rd: John 13:1-30
Sometimes it is hard to understand how God can love us who are such a mess. Jesus had quite an ordinary bunch of disciples that He had to love as well. They were competitive, impulsive, one betrayed Him, all would deny Him, and most of them struggled with understanding and believing what Jesus was teaching them. On the night He was betrayed, John records that Jesus revealed the full extent of His love to them.
“The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under His power, and that He had come from God and was returning to God; so He got up from the meal, took off His outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around His waist. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciple’s feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around Him.” (John 13:2-5) Jesus, God in human form, humbly took the place of the lowest slave and knelt before each of those He had chosen. He gently washed their feet and carefully dried each one.
As Jesus came to Peter, Peter objected! Jesus told him that he would not understand what He was doing now, but later he would. Peter finally agreed and asked Jesus to wash all of him. Jesus finished washing all the feet and then put His robe back on and addressed the disciples.
“Do you understand what I have done for you?”, He asked them. “You call Me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, not is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” (John 13:12-17)
Jesus was loving these disciples fully by showing them His heart and an example that would help them win the world. We who follow Jesus today are the result of their obedient service! Show someone the full extent of Christ’s love today by serving them!
Jesus lifted up; prince of darkness driven out!
Scripture reading for May 22nd: John 12:20-50
Jesus was in an intense spiritual battle with the prince of darkness as He approached the final days on earth. Many people had welcomed Him into Jerusalem crying “Hosanna” and great crowds looked for Him and many followed Him. The religious leaders were plotting His death and one of His own disciples was preparing to betray Him. He knew from His Father that He was to willingly lay down His life for His people and for the whole world.
A group of Greeks came to the disciples and wanted to see Jesus. “Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves Me must follow Me; and where I am, My servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves Me.” (John 12:23-26) Jesus was saying that His time to die was near. Anyone wanting to follow Jesus, must be willing to follow Him, even to the point of giving up their life. Curiosity and commitment are two different things. The Father would honor commitment.
“Now My heart is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your Name!” As Jesus prayed, suddenly a voice from heaven spoke, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” (John 12:27-28) The Father had spoken to encourage those who were listening to His Son.
“Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” (John 12:31-32) As Jesus was encouraged by His future glorification, He explained the purpose and manner of His death. He would be nailed to the cross and lay His life down while bearing man’s sins. Judgment would come on the world and the prince of this world, Satan, would be driven out! Death would be defeated and all men would be drawn to Jesus Christ!
The world has gone after Him!
Scripture reading for May 21st: John 11:54-12:19
Jesus’ miracle of raising Lazarus caused quite a stir! Many Jews who had come to comfort Mary and Martha believed in Jesus as the Christ. Others went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. The Sanhedrin was convened to discuss what to do with Jesus. These religious leaders were jealous and concerned that all the people would believe in Jesus and that this would stir up the Romans who would destroy their Temple and nation.
During the discussion, Caiaphas, the high priest spoke to the group. “You know nothing at all! You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.” (John 11:50) John recorded that this statement was a prophetic word that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation and for the other scattered children of God to bring them together as one. This is how they came to the conclusion that they would seek to kill Jesus. (John 11:51-53)
It is interesting that Jesus’ greatest miracle brought the religious leaders together to kill Him. Caiaphas spoke prophetically, guided by God, to tell the plan of God for the Jewish nation and the world. Even though these men did not believe that Jesus was the Christ, God used their positions and authority to promote His plan of redemption!
Jesus again returned to Bethany six days before Passover and went to Lazarus’ home and ate with the family at a banquet in His honor. (John 12:1-2) Here He was anointed by Mary with expensive perfume. Jesus knew and stated that Mary did this to prepare Him for burial. A large crowd had come to see Jesus and Lazarus. This caused the chief priests to make plans to kill Lazarus too. They were worried about the many who were putting faith in Jesus and Lazarus’ miracle was drawing them!
Jesus’ entered Jerusalem the next day as the crowds welcomed Him with “Hosanna!”, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” and “Blessed is the King of Israel!” (John 12:13) John records that Jesus fulfilled Zechariah 9:9: “Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion; see, your King is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.” It is interesting that the religious leaders were oblivious to prophetic fulfillment, and worried, “Look how the whole world has gone after Him.” That is God’s heart!
Lazarus’ wake up call!
Scripture reading for May 20th: John 11:1-53
Death is something that we will all face, unless the Lord returns before we go through that experience. Death has swallowed nearly 100 percent of all human beings. The Bible records two in the Old Testament that did not see death: Enoch and Elijah. Several were raised from the dead in both the Old Testament and New Testament. One of the most notable is found in today’s reading in John Chapter 11: Lazarus!
Lazarus was the brother of Mary and Martha. Jesus often stayed at their house in Bethany, just a short walk from Jerusalem. Lazarus became sick and the family sent for Jesus to come. Jesus purposely waited two days before traveling to see him. Jesus had escaped stoning in that area right before this and the disciples were concerned about returning. Jesus told them that Lazarus had fallen asleep and that He was going to wake him up. The disciples did not understand that Lazarus had died so Jesus told them plainly. He would raise him up so that they would believe! (John 11:11-14)
When Jesus and the disciples arrived in Bethany, they found that Lazarus had been dead for four days. Mary and Martha and the community were grieving. Both Mary and Martha told Jesus that they knew that if He had been there, their brother would not have died. Jesus saw their grief and was deeply moved with compassion and troubled in His spirit. (John 11:33) Jesus began to weep Himself. Comments were made by many of the mourners concerning Jesus’ show of emotion. “See how He loved him!” and “Could not He who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?” (John 11:36-37)
As Jesus, deeply moved, came to the tomb, He commanded the stone be taken away from the entrance. Martha was concerned that there would be a bad odor from the decaying body. Jesus spoke: “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” (John 11:40) Jesus thanked the Father for hearing His petition, and then called out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” (John 11:43) Lazarus appeared, wrapped in grave clothes and strips of linen! What a sight to behold and what joy for those grieving! Jesus held power over death and still does! Be sure your name is in the Book of Life for a “wake-up” call!
Tell us plainly: Are You the Christ?
Scripture reading for May 19th: John 10:22-42
Jesus had an ongoing debate with the Jews in religious leadership. There were some who believed in Him and there were others who wanted to kill Him. One of the main reasons that they wanted to kill Him was that they believed that He claimed to be God. Any man claiming to be God was blaspheming God in their eyes. The only one who wouldn’t, would actually be God!
“Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. The Jews gathered around Him, saying, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in My Father’s name speak for Me, but you do not believe because you are not My sheep. My sheep listen to My voice; I know them and they follow Me. I give them eternal life and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of My hand. . . I and the Father are One.” (John 10:24-28,30)
Jesus had told them plainly on several occasions that He was one with the Father and that the miracles He did were from the Father. Here Jesus tells them to believe Him because of the miracles. Miracles were prophetically a mark of the Messiah, especially opening of blind eyes! (Isaiah 35:3-6) Jesus had just healed a man blind from birth. This had caused a great stir because He did this miracle on the Sabbath, violating the rules of the religious leaders. Their pride in their religious rules had kept them blind to Jesus as the Messiah!
Jesus returned to the sheep and shepherd illustration. He told these Jews that they did not listen to Him because they were not His sheep. His sheep would hear His voice and Jesus would give them eternal life. As a good Shepherd, no one would snatch them out of His hand. He was able to keep them from all harm! The reason for this was that Jesus and the Father were one! This sent these leaders into a rage and they picked up stones to stone Him. (John 10:31-32) Have you decided who Jesus is yet? Jesus has plainly spoken and the miracles He did are true. Will you worship Him or stone Him?