Not of this world!
Scripture reading for April 29: John 17
“But now I am coming to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them Your Word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one. They are are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; Your Word is Truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.” John 17:13-18
Jesus was sent by His Father into the world that He had made. He came to earth as a man even though He was God’s eternal Son. His mission was to reveal the Father to His lost children and to seek and save them from eternal destruction and give them eternal life by adopting them into God’s family again. The ‘seed’ that would bring new birth and adoption was God’s Word and Jesus brought that Word to the world. His disciples had received Him and His Word and Jesus asked the Father to protect them from the evil one by sanctifying them through His Word of Truth.
Jesus emphasized that His disciples were not of this world. They had been part of the world system, but through believing God’s Word and receiving Jesus as Lord they were now citizens of heaven. They had been sanctified, that is ‘set apart’, for God’s use and family. As the Father had sent Jesus into the world from heaven to seek and save lost people, now Jesus also sent the reborn sons and daughters of God into the world to finish His Work. Jesus in love for His disciples, prayed these truths over them in His last hours here in the world.
Is it comforting to know that Jesus Christ has prayed this prayer for His disciples and for all to come through them? How is your world view of this earth and it’s people changed through Jesus’ prayer? Would you say that you are actively going into this world to complete Jesus’ mission of reaching the lost?
Prayer: Father God, Thank You for answering Your Son’s prayer for us who follow Jesus Christ. We are certainly not of this world and look forward to our eternal home with our heavenly Father and Jesus. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit again this day to empower me to reach the lost with Good News! Amen.
“Do you now believe?”
Scripture reading for April 28: John 16
“Now we know that You know all things and do not need anyone to question You; this is why we believe that You came from God.” Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave Me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with Me. I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:30-33
Jesus’ disciples had just experienced the last Passover meal with Jesus where He had shared with them the coming events. One (Judas) would and had betrayed Him. Peter would deny Him three times. And now, all of them would be scattered and forsake Jesus during this coming trial. Jesus would give His body and blood as atonement for sin, demonstrating the love of God His Father for each of them and for the whole world. He had shared an extensive teaching on the Holy Spirit, the Father’s Gift of Comforter, Helper, and constant companion. He told them that they would be able to ask in His Name for anything, and it would be done. They would go through sorrow, but their sorrow would be turned to joy.
They had professed to believe in Him and felt that Jesus had demonstrated His knowledge of all things. They claimed to know that He came from God. But now Jesus declared all of their coming fearful reactions to His crucifixion. “Do you really believe?” was Jesus question for them. He had told them all these hard truths that they might believe in Him and have peace in the midst of the trial and afterwards. He declared peace over their lives and assured them of His own victory over death and the world! The rest was up to them to choose faith and begin believing, asking and living a life of peace.
What claims, promises, or declarations of Jesus have opened your eyes to truly believe in Him? “Do you now really believe?” What indications of believing stated by Jesus can you list as confirmation that you are living by faith?
Prayer: Father God, I have often wrestled early in my faith life with whether my faith was sufficient. Thank You for assuring me through Your Word that I am Your child through faith in Jesus Christ. Let Your peace in my daily life be a reason that others ask me for the reason! I gladly will share Jesus Christ! Amen.
Appointed to go and bear fruit
Scripture reading for April 25: John 15
“”This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in My Name, He may give it to you.”” John 15:12-16
Following Jesus is not something that we dream up for ourselves. Jesus taught that no matter how sinful or how noble our lives may have been, coming to Jesus is because of the Father’s mercy in choosing us and drawing us to repentance through His goodness. The ultimate goodness of God is found in His sending of His Only Son, Jesus Christ, to live among us and then to willingly offer His own life, body and blood, for us. This is the greatest act of love ever demonstrated to us as self-centered sinners.
Not only did God appoint us to salvation through His Son Jesus, He also sent us out (“go into all the world”) to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all people and nations. (Matthew 28:18-20) This is how we are to ‘bear fruit’ that will remain. These souls will be our ‘treasure’ in heaven. When someone is ‘born again’, they become new creatures in Christ and then possess the gift of eternal life. One of the greatest gifts to His followers is the Holy Spirit to dwell within us. The Holy Spirit helps us to pray and intercede for those needing salvation. The Holy Spirit directs the gifts needed to produce the fruit that remains–saved souls! The Holy Spirit gives each believer spiritual power to be a witness of Christ. Full joy awaits the believer!
Have you responded to the call of Jesus to inherit eternal life? Has God’s choice of you brought you to repentance and receiving of His Holy Spirit in new birth? Are you obedient to His appointment to go into your world with the precious message of God’s love for each person? Fruit that abides awaits!
Prayer: Father God, thank You for choosing me and desiring all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. I receive Your appointment to go daily into my world and pray for fruit that will remain, souls awakened to eternal life! Your joy is in me as I rejoice in these new eternal believers! Amen.
Believing and asking and peace!
Scripture reading for April 24: John 14
“”Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in My Name this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My Name, I will do it. If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”” John 14:12-15
People who simply live in the natural world are often quite negative and pessimistic about life and its circumstances. They are bombarded each day by negative news and sights and sounds of trouble, violence and pain. Jesus had just told His disciples about His betrayal and coming crucifixion. He told of Peter’s coming denial after Peter had boasted of his willingness to die for Jesus. (John 13:38) But Jesus countered all this negative news with some encouraging instructions and powerful truths.
Jesus promised those who believed in Him that they would do the works that Jesus had been doing, but even greater works because He was going away to His Father. He told them that they had the privilege and authority to ask for ‘anything in My Name’, and He would grant the answer to their prayers! They were instructed not to live with troubled hearts or live in fear during difficult times. (John 14:27) Faith in Jesus would be the key to this optimistic world of possibilities, good works, healing, deliverance and greater works (in number) than even Jesus had done. Faith would involve asking in Jesus’ Name and obedience to His instructions and commands. Jesus promised peace in the troubles to His followers.
Do you ever find yourself weighed down with trouble in your hearts or fear? Do some of Jesus’ statements cause you to have fear about your own loyalty? Are you countering the fear and troubled hearts by believing and living victoriously in peace?
Prayer: Father, forgive me for becoming troubled in heart over the bad news that often overwhelms my senses. May these words of warning and of truth in believing in Jesus Christ daily bring me into Your promised peace and the power to do the greater works that You want to see through my life. Amen.
Demonstration of love
Scripture reading for April 23: John 13
“Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside His outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around His waist. Then He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around Him.” John 13:1-5
As Jesus Christ came to the final hours of His time on earth, He wanted to impress on His disciples His love for them and His command to love others by selfless serving. Jesus knew this was the final hour and He would soon depart and leave them. He knew that one of His disciples, Judas, had already betrayed Him for money. As an example to them all, Jesus took off His outer garments and put a towel around his waist and began to wash the feet of His disciples. This was not His place or responsibility according to the tradition of the Jews. This job belonged to the lowest of servants or slaves.
When we think deeply about this story, we realize that Jesus washed the feet of Judas as well that night and offered Judas mercy and intercession in this act. He announced shortly after, during the Passover meal, that one of His disciples would betray Him. This troubled His disciples and caused them to examine themselves and one, John, asked, “Lord, who is it?” (John 13:25) In response, Jesus said it was the one to whom He gave a morsel of bread dipped in the cup. He gave it to Judas. It was at this point that Satan entered Judas and he left to complete the betrayal.
This story is often used at Holy Communion, a meal of remembrance and thanksgiving, to help us as followers of Jesus Christ to examine ourselves and our own hearts. Are we humbly serving others and following Jesus, who laid down His body and blood for us? Do we harbor any betrayal of our Lord?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your demonstrated love for Your disciples and people. As I remember Jesus’ sacrificial love and service for me, a sinner, I am thankful and humbled. Deliver me from deception and the delusion of Satan. Use me to wash others feet or serve them as Jesus demonstrated. Amen.
The Word: Judge or Salvation?
Scripture reading for April 22: John 12
“I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in Me may not remain in darkness. If anyone hears My Words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. The one who rejects Me and does not receive My Words has a judge; the Word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. For I have not spoken on My own authority, but the Father, Who sent Me has Himself given Me a commandment–what to say and what to speak. And I know that His commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told Me.” John 12:46-50
Jesus plainly declared that He was the ‘Light of the World’ Who came to reveal the Father and His great love for lost mankind. In declaring the Gospel and calling people to repentance, His message was rejected by many of the religious Jews. They judged Him by His Words to be a blasphemer and impostor worthy of rejection and death. But Jesus was patient with them. He reassured them that He did not come into the world to judge them or others in the world. His goal was to see as many as would believe saved by faith and trust in His Word. Those who chose not to believe but judge, these would have a judge: The Words spoken by Jesus! This was the true light of Truth shining from God’s Son, the Savior.
Not only was Jesus not there as a judge, the Father sent Him with the message of salvation and eternal life through repentance and faith. Jesus’ Words were a light to all who were in the darkness of sin or religious self improvement. He called out to them to simply believe. He performed miracles and gave supernatural signs that God was present with Him by healing the blind and lame, casting out demons, and even raising the dead to life again. He did all this at the Father’s command to fulfill His will. Many believed in Him but did not confess Him for fear of religious leaders.
What have you done with the Words of Jesus Christ? If Jesus’ Words will be our judge on the last day, what will be His verdict about our believing them? Can you say with Jesus, “What I say, therefore the Father has told me.”?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for giving Jesus the Words that He has declared to us in perfect obedience. I want to stand at the last day with no fear of judgment or death. I love my Father and Savior Jesus and His saving Word of the Father’s love and mercy! Amen!
Death and sleep analogy
Scripture reading for April 21: John 11
“After saying these things, He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep but I go to awaken him.” The disciples said to Him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He meant taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him. So Thomas, called the twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.” John 11:11-14
The world has many views of death and what happens when someone dies. Every person knows that they will die and there is a universal fear of death because of the understanding that God places in each human heart. Every person is aware of eternity and eternal life. Each person is aware of the judgment that they will face upon leaving this earth. Ecclesiastes 3:11 states that God has placed eternity in man’s heart. Hebrews 9:27 states that man is appointed once to die and after that comes the judgment. There is a fear of punishment in each heart, because all have sinned and have guilt and accountability before God. (Psalm 53:1-3) The soul that sins will die.
To His disciples, Jesus stated that His friend Lazarus had fallen asleep. Jesus knew that he had died but He also knew God’s divine purpose and what the Father was going to demonstrated to His disciples. Death for the believer is like his body being asleep. It rests in the grave awaiting the resurrection. At the resurrection, Jesus taught, the dead would hear the voice of God and those that hear (His sheep) will live. They would enjoy eternal life and not come into judgment. (John 5:24-25) Thomas, one of the disciples, evidently did not understand what Jesus had just said. He followed Jesus expecting death!
What is your world view concerning death and what happens to those who believe in Jesus? Does this account of Jesus raising Lazarus from death after four days stretch your faith? Can you identify with the world view of Thomas: Let’s follow Jesus and die with Him?
Prayer: Father God, As I have recently faced the death of one of my godly friends, this view of a temporary sleep is comforting to me. I am thankful that my life is in Your hands and the hands of Jesus, the Good Shepherd. Help me to follow Jesus today and view life as opportunity and death as gain. Amen.
“I and the Father are One.”
Scripture reading for April 18: John 10
“So the Jews gathered around Him and said to Him, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe.” The works that I do in My Father’s Name bear witness about Me, but you do not believe because you are not among My sheep. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, Who has given them to Me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are One.”” John 10:24-30
Jesus spoke plainly to the Jewish religious leaders about Who He was and His mission as the Good Shepherd gathering the lost sheep. His powerful statement declaring “I am the Good Shepherd” (John 10:11,14) and declaring Himself the ‘Door’ for the sheep would have spoken powerfully to these who knew the Scriptures of their day. He stated plainly that as the Good Shepherd, He would lay His life down for the sheep. They, as shepherds of God’s flock, were acting as hirelings who did not love the sheep or care for them. Jesus would lay down His life and take it up again because of authority granted by His Father. These statements caused great discussion and division, some accusing Jesus of being demon possessed or insane.
Jesus told the Jews that they had made a choice not to believe. He had told them He was the Good Shepherd promised by Scripture. He had demonstrated this by amazing miracles, recently healing the man blind from birth. He told them that they did not hear His voice as the Good Shepherd or believe because they were not His sheep. Jesus’ sheep know His voice and follow. Jesus gives them eternal life and they will never perish. No one can snatch them from Jesus’ hand because the Father had given them to Him. Jesus and the Father are one!
Have you struggled to hear Jesus’ teaching that He is the Good Shepherd Who calls His sheep to follow Him? From this passage, what steps could you take to hear Him better? What does Jesus mean when He declares that no one can snatch His sheep from His hand? Is this comforting to you?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for allowing me to hear the call of Jesus as my Good Shepherd. I am comforted by His protection and strong hand to hold onto me. Use me to share this Good News of Jesus as our Good Shepherd by sending me out among the wolves to gather Your sheep. Amen.
Seeing the Light!
Scripture reading for April 17: John 9
“As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of Him Who sent Me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the Light of the World.” Having said these things, He spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then He anointed the man’s eyes with the mud and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.” John 9:1-7
Jesus loved to do miracles that showcased the goodness and mercy of His Father. He declared that He was ‘the Light of the World” that came to drive out darkness. This man, blind from birth, would help Jesus to display the ‘works of God’. This man’s eyes apparently hadn’t formed correctly during his time in his mother’s womb. Jesus chose to make mud and apply it to his eyes, in a creative miracle. The man’s faith was in obeying Jesus’ instructions to wash in the pool of Siloam. As he washed, his eyes were opened and light flooded his formerly darkened world!
We often ask the wrong question when confronted with sickness, disease, or deformity. We wonder about root causes and this is not necessarily bad to seek after. But Jesus used these same things as opportunities to display the heart of His Father to heal and show mercy leading to a revelation of God’s goodness and eternal life. God ‘sent’ Jesus into the world as it’s ultimate “Light!” Jesus sent the blind man with mud in his eyes to the pool of Siloam (sent) to experience Light. He sends His disciples with Good News that will bring light to all who believe!
Have you ever asked questions about why certain sicknesses or deformities happen to good people? How does this account of Jesus’ answer and demonstration of God’s mercy help you? Have you responded to Jesus in His ‘sending’ of His followers to share this light?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your demonstration of mercy and the opening of my eyes to see the glorious Light of Life in Jesus Christ. Thank You for sending Jesus and then for sending me out to share the Good News of a Savior Who brings light to the world! Amen.
Truth? or Lie?
Scripture reading for April 16: John 8
“Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of My own accord, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear My Word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because no truth is in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”” John 8:42-44
Jesus confronted those religious leaders who were seeking to trap Him and kill Him. As God does nothing by judgment without first warning those in danger, so Jesus spoke plainly and explained to them their deception through Satan’s lies. (Amos 3:7) He plainly told them they were under their father the devil and doing his will. He warned them that the devil was a murderer from the beginning, as Cain killed Abel after the fall of man. They were blind to the light of Jesus and God’s Word because they were under the devil’s fatherhood and lying nature. Their deception was turning them into murderers because of the lie they believed. Only the truth would make them free! (John 8:32, 36)
Jesus taught that when God is our Father, we love Jesus! Jesus came from God as His only Son as One sent on a mission to reveal the Father and His amazing love for mankind. Jesus was sent to the Jews first, descendants of Abraham, but they could not bear to hear Jesus’ Words. They would need to humble themselves and repent of their murderous ways and their pride in clinging to the devil’s lies. They would have to confess and repent to receive God’s Fatherhood. Jesus laid out the Father’s world view to lead them to freedom from the devil’s lies.
Have you ever believed something so strongly that you hated anyone who would threaten that belief? Why was it hard for these religious people to hear Jesus’ plain but convicting truth? In what way was the devil behind the deception? Is this still the case in our modern culture?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for sending Jesus as the ‘Light of the World’ to illuminate my heart through the truth of His Word. Thank you for drawing me to true repentance from the lies of the devil. Deliver me from the evil one today for Yours is the Kingdom and glory for ever and ever! Amen!