Father, Your Word makes it clear that all have sinned and fall short of Your glory, and having done so our payment should be death; but in this first week of advent You have reminded us that You are a loving, good, and gracious God, who has given all who believe in Your Son – life instead of death! And with that promise comes the hope of eternity with You in Your Kingdom – the New Jerusalem – yet to come! As we wait for our Redeemer’s return, may Your Spirit teach us and keep us faithful to pray for peace, prosperity, and security for Your people, both here and around the world – Thank You for the Love God Greatly ministry that not only enhances our relationship with You, but for the focus they place on reaching and transforming women with Your Word in every nation and tribe! You know me Father, You know my passion for all things Christmas – but the trees and lights and shopping, the hurry and busyness to get things done clamor for our attention daily. Help me/us to make sure to not allow – what can be the joys of the season – to distract me/us from the first advent – the coming of the Christ child – the reason for the season.
Thank You for the encouragement of Advent to focus and refocus our hearts on Your promises God. The promise we read of in week one, of peace and of no more tears or sorrow or pain and suffering, was one we can never hear enough. However, to those who are currently in challenging seasons of their lives, it was a particularly wonderful reminder and source of encouragement.
Jesus, help us to live today and every day, preparing for Your return. Help us to know what boundaries to set in order to be guarded from trading the peace You came to bring for the busyness of the season and the demands of every day life.
Holy Spirit – Prepare our hearts as we begin the second week of Advent. As Jesus did with His disciples, open our minds to understand The Word that we will read, and help us to grow by it, to live it out, and to share it for the glory of Your Holy and powerful Name! – Amen, so let it be!
Today’s Reading: Luke 21:25-36; SOAP: Luke 21: 27-28
Then they will see the Son of Man arriving in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 But when these things begin to happen, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
Observation – Precursors
As I read the first lines of the opening verses (25-26), leading up to the focus passage (27-28) – two things struck me – the first was how familiar or similar the events sounded to what we read and hear in the news today. The second was one word – “signs”. When I read that word – the passage of the wise men following a star that led them to Bethlehem where the Christ Child lay popped in my mind. It hit me, just as the wise men studied and watched – staying alert to the things that would reveal the one they were waiting on and knowing when to travel with their gifts for the “King” – we too can study and know the signs and wonder. No, we will not know the day or the hour – for not even Jesus knows this, but we can know He is coming and we can tell others about Him. We can, and should, stand (be alert) to what God has revealed in His Word, the precursors – so to speak.
Actually to come close to understanding and truly appreciating the focus passage, it helps greatly to read verses 8-26 , where you will read warnings about false prophets, the persecution of disciples, and the desolation of Jerusalem – before coming to the wonderful news that Jesus is coming again, in power and great glory!
The Focus Passage – verses 27-28
Then they will see the Son of Man arriving in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 But when these things begin to happen, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
Luke 21:27-28
I’ll be honest with you, I don’t truly or fully understand what this means and will not begin to explain it. However, what I do know is that –
Jesus is the Son of Man
He is comingagain to complete the redemption of His people
He will be seen arriving in a cloud
Note: God’s presence is often accompanied by clouds. A cloud guided the Israelites by day (Exodus 13:21). God protected Moses from His glory with a cloud (Exodus 19:9). And God appeared during Jesus’ transfiguration in a cloud (Mark 9:7). God seems to use our literal heavens as a metaphor for the spiritual heavens in which He lives. Clouds, then, act as a kind of threshold between the realms. (Bibleref.com)
He will arrive in power and great glory
God’s word makes it clear that there will be signs
Those who remain should be paying attention
Standing, alert, with heads raised, and minds and hearts surrendered and ready for the redemption that is coming
Application :Intentional, alert, and ready
As for me… the application is just what is advised in verses 27-28 :
Look for the signs and wonders of God (be intentional with God’s Word, familiar with and focused on the promises of His return and the knowledge and hope He has given)
Stand up ( be alert)
Raise your heads – despite the events or the condition of the world around us, we know He is coming again and can live with that certainty rather than the hopelessness and panic of the world around us (be ready and help others be ready by making Him known)
Want more?
One of the greatest perks of purchasing the devotional journals for the LGG studies is that it helps spread God’s Word in every language. However, the devotion that follows each days Scripture reading is my second favorite perk. I found today’s especially helpful and wanted to share it with you. Hope you enjoy!
Before His death Jesus spoke of His return. He let His followers know that even though he would leave this earth for a time, He would return to power and great glory. He explained some of the signs that would happen before His return, alerting His people to them so they would be expectant of His coming.
During the Christmas season, we focus on the birth of Christ, which was His first coming. He has come and has delivered us from sin and death. But what Advent reminds us, year after year, is that we still live in brokenness and long for His second coming. It is this longing we remember during Advent as we look forward to His return.
The day of our redemption is drawing near. Advent is the season of intentionally waiting as we slow down our lives, our hearts, and our schedules to reset and remember what we are truly waiting for. The world tells us we need to attend parties, buy gifts, experience all the seasonal attractions, and wear all the ugly sweaters. What Jesus tells us is that we must watch, set aside time to pray, and be ready!
Jesus told His disciples not to allow their hearts to be so weighed down with the worries of life that His return comes as a surprise. Instead, we are to continually turn our eyes and hearts to Him, staying alert and ready for His return. We are to live with great purpose, as a light in our dark world. That may mean saying “no” to a few parties, activities, or gifts. It may mean laying down our expectations and yielding to God’s will. It may mean waking up early to spend time alone with Jesus and letting Him fill our longing hearts with His love and life. Whatever it may be, we can know that it is worth it. May we live expectant, faithful lives, always prepared for His return.
LGG, The God Who Restores, wk1/d5 devotion – p54
For even more visitLove God Greatly – You won’t want to miss this beautiful analogy!
Your Turn: Reflection
How can you live today to prepare for Christ’s return?
How will you set boundaries or guards this season to trade the busyness and urgency of the world for the peace of Christ?
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end! Revelation 22:13 NET
Observation and More
I find John’s opening words in chapter 21 captivating. So I hope you will indulge me for just a minute or two before we look at the focus verse. I mean how can we read and not address John’s descriptive word picture of, “a new heaven and a new earth, because the first heaven and earth had ceased to exist.” If that isn’t enough to draw you in, surely the description of seeing the holy city and the new Jerusalem descending out of heaven from God, made ready like a bride adorned for her husband” captures your attention. Then, as if you need any more enticement, you hear the voice of the “husband”, the one seated on the throne talking about God’s home being among humans and saying [God] will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death will not exist any more – or mourning, or crying, or pain, for the former thing have ceased to exist. – Look,” He says, “I am making all things new!” Then John says, “[The One on the throne] also said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the one who is thirsty I will give water free of charge from the spring of the water of life.” Oh how beautiful and hope-filled are these words and all the ones which follow.
You Are On God’s Mind
Not too long after reading these captivating words this morning and soaping the focus verse, I was going through my email and opened one from a ‘blog’ I follow, written by Anne-Graham Lotz, the daughter of Billy Graham. This particular blog focused on a verse from Revelation 1:8 – which says:
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Revelation 1:8
I say it again and again, how sweet is the timing of our God?
Much like being caught up with John’s word picture of the new heaven and earth, I was taken up with Anne’s own word picture of the title, Alpha and Omega …, namely how it, as she wrote, “describes the eternal omniscience of Jesus Christ.” She went on to explain, “The alpha is the first letter and the omega is the last letter in the Greek alphabet. Through the alphabet all of our words, all of our wisdom, and all of our knowledge are expressed. Jesus is the beginning and end of the alphabet, the summation of all wisdom and knowledge.”
However, what filled my heart with joy was the way she described what the omniscience of Christ means to her personally? Anne wrote, “It means [we] have always been on His mind. Think of it: The most important Man in the universe has always been thinking of [us]! Wonder of wonders! [We] have never been out of His thoughts! Even as He hung on the cross, He was thinking of [us] by name! Dying for [us] by name! …” – The passage we read today and the passage Anne wrote about obviously correlate – and together prod my heart to ask – in response to Anne’s word picture , am I, as part of the church, always thinking about Him? Is He always in my thoughts, even when life is hard or when I’m in the middle of a mountain-top experience? And, in response to John’s word picture – how am I, as part of the bride of Christ, adorning myself for Him?
The Focus Verse
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end! Revelation 11:13
Jesus Christ, is:
The Alpha and the Omega
The first and the last
The beginning and the end
Jesus is eternal
There is no one like Him, no one who came before Him – no one who will come after Him. He was there in the beginning, when God spoke the world into place and when we were created.
In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God-
John 1:1
Application: What does this mean to me?
I love how the prophecy doesn’t end with the beautifully enticing description of the City – but with a focus strictly on Jesus and His return! As wonderful as the ‘Eternal City’ will be – the reality and beauty of the Eternal King is to be our focus, always on our mind and forever our hope. When He is, we will adorn ourselves appropriately – with the fruit of His Spirit [Galatians 5:22-26]. We will be found living and loving like Him [John 13:34] , showing grace and mercy to others, making allowance for each others faults, and forgiving anyone who offends us [Colossians 3:12-13]; and above all, we will clothe ourselves with love and let the peace that comes from Christ rule in our hearts. The message about Christ, the Gospel, will fill our lives. We will teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives, sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts, and whatever we do or say, we will keep in mind that we are representative of the Lord Jesus, meant to bring glory to the Father, [Colossians 3:14-17].
Your Turn: Reflection
How are you adorning yourself for Christ?
What part does Christ play in your thoughts, in your life, in your consideration of all things?
Prayer: My Response to God’s Word
Father, You were there before time began – and it is a beautiful thing to know that Jesus was there with You; and to know that though He died for my sins, He has never ceased to exist! He is eternal and has given me eternal life. Oh, what victory we have in Jesus! The Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end – the One who was and is and always will be!I long to be forever in Your presence but until that time – until we are face to face, help me live and love like Jesus so the lost will see and hear and be saved, and You will receive the glory! In the Restoring and Majestic name of Jesus, who will make all things new – Amen!
At that time a root from Jesse will stand like a signal flag for the nations. Nations will look to him for guidance, and his residence will be majestic.
Isaiah 11:10 NET
Observations: The Root of Jesse and a signal flag
The root from Jesse represents the Messiah, Jesus Christ. He is the shoot, the bud, the root out of the stump of Jesse. (See verse 1 and Acts 13:22-23).
The Root, our Messiah, would be a banner or a “signal flag for the nations”.
He will be one who stands out and is sought after. (see: Luke 2:32; John 3:14-15, 12:32: Romans 15:12; and Revelation 5:5)
Application: How then should we live?
There are probably many more, but the applications that came to mind were –
Celebrate the birth, the life, and the death of Jesus, who came from the stump of Jesse.
Wait with confident expectation knowing that He will one day come again. In this we can trust and rejoice.
Keep the celebration for His first coming flowing and the anticipation growing for His second coming by staying grounded, rooted, and fixed on Him. This means faithfully dwelling in and living out His Word. Remember, it is living and active, a light to our feet, a weapon against sin and discouragement as we wait, and it is the power of God that leads to the salvation of all who believe!
Prayer: Response to God’s Word
Father, how great You are! Jesus what a beautiful gift You are, a signal flag of HOPE, assurance, and guidance as we wait for Your return. Holy Spirit, who rested upon Jesus and now lives in us, You fill us with POWER and HOPE as we wait for what is to come; and You stir us to celebrate and rejoice as we remember Bethlehem and the gift, Your gift, of the baby in the manger. Strengthen us as we wait, keep us faithfully living and loving like Jesus, and use us as salt and light in this dark world. Blessed be the name of the Lord, the God who restores! Thank You in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior – Amen!
I invite you to join me for the journey through our upcoming study, The God Who Restores, which begins on November 28.
A perfect follow-up to Come, Lord Jesus, Come, The God Who Restores Bible study journal will lead us through the season of Advent, a season of waiting and great expectation of the coming back of our eternal King.
Advent[isn’t just] a season of waiting, but of remembering, and rejoicing. We wait for Christ’s return, celebrating His first coming even as we wait and long for His return. We remember the brokenness of our world and how He will bring restoration and wholeness when He comes. And we praise Him, remembering the joy we have as we place our hope in Christ.
You’ll find everything you need for the journey right here beginning November 28. Invite a friend along for the journey by sharing this post, or plan to do this one with your family to get the whole house celebrating the true meaning of Christmas. To make it extra special check out the journal details below and how your order potentially gives life to women around the world.
This study journal includes daily readings and SOAP verses, devotions to aid in understanding, as well as reflection questions and highlights from a global Love God Greatly branch. Perfect for personal or small group study, The God Who Restores will offer you encouragement in your walk of faith.
The God Who Restores Bible study journal includes:
– Four-week reading plan
– Daily Scripture readings
– SOAP journaling pages
– Daily devotionals
– Two-week Bridge reading plan
– Weekly challenges and reflection questions
– Global highlight: LGG Chinese Branch
– Beautiful full-color photography
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He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! 21 May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s holy people.
Revelation 22:20-21
Beautiful Observations
Jesus, the one who testifies to these things John has written, confirms His impending return. This of course closes the New Testament much the same way that Malachi’s words closed the old, with a promise that Jesus, “the sun of righteousness” (Malachi 4:2) and the “bright morning star” (Rev. 22:16) is coming soon! To which John responds, and we often find ourselves echoing: “Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!”
For me those could have been the closing words, but what John says next is somehow more beautiful. For, what better prayer could there be than for God’s sustaining grace(s) to be with His people as they wait. 1Paul Tripp writes of six different types of grace and acknowledges that there are even more. Grace is grace though, right? Well, yes. However, within that one word there is a treasure trove of gifts. Gifts like forgiveness from sins, acceptance into His family, His forever presence, His glorious grace-gift of freedom from the bondage of sin, and the grace of our faith made complete2– no more sin or sorrow, when “Everything will be restored, and we will worship in the presence of this amazing God of grace.” Until then, there is the grace-gift of enablement, which comes to us through His divine power and gives us everything we need to live a godly life.3
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. James 1:2-4
By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. 4 And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. 2 Peter 1:3-4
So What Does This Mean for us?
It means that …
we can trust that He will return (2 Corinthians 1:20)
we serve a God of Grace(s) (1 Peter 5:10, and others)
by His grace we are forgiven (1 John 1:9) and of accepted into His family (1 John 3:1-2)
He is always present with us (John 14:16)
He has equipped us with His power and strength to do what He has called us to do (2 Peter 1:3-4)
We’ve been set free from the law of sin and death (Rom 6:14-15)
and that will one day our faith will be made complete (Phil 1:6)
So again, I echo a prayer of John’s – as we wait upon His faithful promise – “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with all of His Holy People.” – And to this I say amen!
And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you (and this by His Grace), will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
Philippians 1:6
Response to God’s Word
Father, God of Grace and mercy thank You for sending Jesus as a gift of salvation to all who believe. May those who have not yet believed – hear, believe, and be saved; and may those of us who have believed stand firm in our belief and faithful to Your calling, to make Christ known, as we wait on Your perfect timing and love. For we know that You have not forgotten, nor are You slow in keeping Your promise as some count slowness, but You, in Your goodness and love, are patient, not wishing that any should perish but that all should reach repentance! This is my prayer in Jesus’ Name – amen!
Your Turn: Reflections
What are you most excited about when you think of what life will be like when Jesus comes back?
Want More?
If you would like more of a reflection on our journey this week please visit the following devotional links from the team of Love God Greatly. – You’ll also find a sneak peek at our next study!
“Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”
Revelation 22:12-13 NLT
Simple Observations and Findings
“SOON”: While we have covered this word before, I believe it is worth repeating for a fuller understanding or clarification. According to BibleRef.com, the word is from a Greek word that more accurately means “quickly”, and has more to do with ‘how’ He’s coming than ‘when’. His return will be sudden and unpredictable (Matthew 24:36)
“My reward is with me …” My best understanding of this is that Christ comes with the power to reward both the saved and the lost – according to the choices they have made. The lost, those whose deeds reveal their denial of Christ, will receive the “punishment” they deserve, the reward of God’s wrath. The Saved, those who have, by faith alone, trusted in Jesus Christ to save them from their sins, will receive their inheritance of eternal life, the reward of God’s grace.
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. (Romans 1:18)
For it is by grace you have been saved through faith and this is not from yourselves it is the gift of God not by works so that no one can boast.(Ephesians 2:8-9)
“pay each one according to what he has done.” What have you done? Have you chosen Jesus or have you chosen the world? We know that there is evil in our world, but we also see the “fruit of God’s grace in His people” throughout the world as well. Do your “deeds” identify you as one who is evil or do they reveal God’s grace? Whatever they reveal the one path leads to eternal punishment and the other to eternal life.
For all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory. (Romans 3:23)
For the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” Perhaps this one seems self-evident but I found it helpful to truly observe it and not just take it for the popular phrase that it is.
Jesus has always existed.
He’s eternal, no true beginning and no end.
He was with God in the beginning
He is God
He identifies Himself as the God of the Old Testament (Isa 41:4, 6, Isa 44:6, and 48:12)
He is the finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2; John 1:1, 14; Matthew 5:17; and Ephesians 2:8-9).
Response to God’s Word
Jesus, what a wonder You are! The Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. Not only will You reign forever but you will come back soon and pay each one according to their deeds. Send a revival through our land Father so that the lost will know life rather than the eternal punishment of death. Open their eyes and ears, their hearts and minds to the message so that they might believe and by faith be saved. Cause us to be alert to those around us who need to hear the message so that they might share in the inheritance of eternal life that You have promised to those who believe. We wait on You Jesus, we wait on You. –
Your Turn: Reflections
Knowing that you will one day be rewarded for how you lived your life, are you motivated or concerned? Why?
“Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world.I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown.
Revelation 3:10-11 NLT
Observations Only
I am by no means an adept student when it comes to the book of Revelation. However, as is the practice of SOAPing Scripture I can make observations and pray for Him to give enlightenment through His Spirit who was sent to teach us and to remind us of everything Jesus said.
There is a “testing” (a great tribulation) that will come upon those who belong to the world.
The church of Philadelphia obeyed Christ’s command and persevered.
Christ will protect [them] from the great time of testing.
Christ encourages the believers that He is coming soon.
He encourages them to “Hold on to what [they have]”
They [we] have JESUS!
He is the Way, the Truth, and the life (John 14:6)
With Jesus on their side their crown is protected
because Jesus cannot be overcome for He has already overcome the enemy
He is [our] Righteousness (1 Corinthians 1:30)
So How Do We “Hold On”? (Application)
To endure, it seems we must fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart – or as He said of Philadelphia – so you will “endure steadfastly
Like the Psalmist we must set the LORD always before us, keeping Him at our right hand so that we will not be shaken (Ps. Ps 16:8)
Response to the Word: (Prayer)
Father- Thank You for Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. The One who is the way, the truth, and the life. He is my righteousness, my crown, and joy! Help me (us) to hold on to Jesus – t be diligent in our faithfulness – to keep our eyes on Him who is our righteousness and salvation and eternal life! This is my prayer in Jesus’ Name –
Your Turn: Reflections
What do you believe Jesus means in Revelation 3:10-11?
“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. 28 Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, who is greater than I am.”
John 14:27-28 NLT
Real and Lasting Hope Brings Peace
I love that Jesus, who is getting ready not just to die but hang on a cross for sins He did not commit, is so compassionately concerned about the effect of His leaving that He promises the disciples a gift. The gift is peace of mind and heart, so they will not need to be troubled or afraid. His is a peace that comes from more than just words, it is a peace that is distinctly different than the world offers because it comes with real and lasting hope in the promise that He is coming back!
A Repetitious Warning and A Personal Connection
Again, in conjunction with Jesus’ impending departure, He encourages the disciples not to be troubled [distressed] or afraid. The encouragement is always the same and meant to carry a lot of weight – “I am coming back.” I love reading this particular conversation in the NET which translates it with a much more personal tone, using the pronoun ‘you’ nine times in the two short verses. To me, this emphasizes that this was not an open message to just anyone but rather specifically for His disciples, which we are.
““Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; I do not give it to you as the world does. Do not let your hearts be distressed or lacking in courage. You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I am.”
John 14:27-28 NET
What Does This Mean For Us?
The promise of His return and the promise of His peace being different than what we can find in the world means that…
I don’t have to be troubled or afraid.
I can choose peace over fear and distress.
I need to choose God/Christ over the world.
I can/will be glad that He is with the Father.
Because He is with the Father, I have the Spirit 24/7, 365 days of the year.
Because He gave His life for me, I can count on His promise to come back for me.
Response to the Word:
Father, How great You are! Even greater than we truly understand, for even Jesus says You are greater than Him. Not only have You given us the Spirit in Jesus’ absence, but Jesus offers us peace – indescribable and everlasting – so that as we wait for His return, we are not alone and have no need to fear or be distressed – but rather we can stand firm in the courage that comes from knowing He will return!
“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.4 And you know the way to where I am going.”
John 14:1-4 NLT
Distressed
Do you ever let your heart get distressed, which according to the oxford language dictionary, means extreme anxiety, sorrow, or pain? – Before you answer too quickly, let’s look at some other synonyms for the word, such as worried, fearful, troubled, sad, tortured, and miserable. Please note that all of these fit the conversation of our text, where Christ has been talking to His disciples, telling them that one of them would betray Him, Peter would deny Him, and then that He would be leaving them.
Jesus said, “The time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory, and God will be glorified because of him. 32 And since God receives glory because of the Son, he will give his own glory to the Son, and he will do so at once. 33 Dear children, I will be with you only a little longer. And as I told the Jewish leaders, you will search for me, but you can’t come where I am going.
John 13; 31-33 NLT
Jesus’ Encouragement
Naturally, their hearts would have experienced at least one of these emotions. He was their friend and teacher whom they undoubtedly, trusted but had also come to depend on. No doubt their hearts would be distressed at the news that He was going away. Without question, fears, sorrow, anxiety, and pain would arise. Given time to dwell on it, their minds would become troubled, even tortured and miserable at the thought of it – and unable to think of anything else. So Jesus, knowing that they would have these emotions but not wanting them to dwell there, speaks out of love and compassion to encourage them. His encouragement is the promise that while they can’t go with Him now, He would be preparing a place for them and would return and take them with Him so they would always be together.
… I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.
John 14:2b-3 NLT
While some of the synonyms and the word itself are defined, in part, as extreme sorrow or pain, I do not believe that Jesus is asking or encouraging them to be happy, but rather, He is calling them to be brave. It would be near to impossible to wear a facade of happiness in the death of one so loved and important to them, but they must rise above all of the emotions and be braveenough to continue on in His mission. I dare say without this encouragement (repeated until they finally understood it), they would have wallowed in depression rather than bravely pressing on as He called them to. Easier said than done? Without question! However, don’t miss that in His opening words of this passage, He gave them the answer to the bravery they would need. “Do not let your hearts be distressed. You believe in God: also believe in me.” In other words, ‘you trust God; therefore you trust me,’ for they knew Him to be “God.” John made this clear in his unforgettable statement in the first verse of His gospel, which reads: “In the beginning the Word already existed! The Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Their bravery, and ours, depends on knowing and trusting Jesus as God.
Jesus not only told themhow they could be brave but just after telling them He was leaving them, He explainedwhy they needed to be brave with these words, “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” Jesus had just called them to prove to or show the world that they were His disciples. Why? Because it would prove that they knew Him, which means they knew the way to the Father – which was the mission, showing the world the “WAY” to the Father.
“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
John 13:34-35 NLT
What This Means For Us
As believers, we are Jesus’ disciples waiting for His return. Therefore, we are called to the same bravery and should, despite these tumultuous times in which we live, not let our hearts be distressed – overcome with fears and anxiety or the torture and distraction that can come from waiting on Him. Instead, we should bravely press forward to carry out His Mission to make the Father. and the “Way” to the Father, known. For, to quote the words of Paul, “But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?” Romans 10:14
What do we know that we can share?
We know the WAY.
We know the love of Jesus and that it is meant to be imitated so that others will know Him too.
We know that He died, rose from the grave, lives with God in Heaven, and WILL COME AGAIN!
We know that when He returns, He will take believers to be with Him.
We know that we will forever be with Him, where He dwells.
We know that the “wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.“ Romans 6:23
We know that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. (Joel 2:28)
Response to the Word:
Father, how very good You are to provide Jesus as the payment for the penalty of our sins. How awesome is His encouragement to the disciples that He is coming again and will take us to live with Him, where He dwells with You! We are blessed to be a part of this promise and look forward with HOPE to that day. We take strength from the HOPE in this dark and sinful world, where your Word is trampled on and Your ways mocked and ignored. We long to be with You Both, but we know Your agenda is that all would come to know You and that our agenda is to make You known. May we be found faithfully loving others as Jesus has loved us, proving to the world that we are His disciples and ultimately leading them to You. And in all of this, may You be praised and glorified as we wait on You! – AMEN!
Your Turn: Reflection Question
When Jesus was speaking about returning to Heaven, what did He say He was going to do there?
Me From the Inside Out 