Tag: The Gospel of John

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My Kingdom Is Not From This World

Today’s Reading: John 18:1-19:42

 Jesus replied, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my servants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish authorities. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” 

John 18:36
Freeing

Jesus’ answer to Pilate’s question, “what have you done”, is simple – we are not on the same team. I’m a very logical person, I like things to make sense and if we don’t see eye to eye on something I’m probably going to try to convince you to see things from my position. However, as I read through our passage today – and specifically our focus verse (36), I discovered there was something freeing about Christ’s answer. He did not try to argue the case of the ‘world’ against Him, and His disciples did not fight on His behalf because He was doing what He was sent to do in the name of the Kingdom.

What About Us?

We cannot expect the ‘world’ to see things from our point of view. We are from/for different kingdoms. So, our battles belong to the LORD! Ours is not to argue points and demand agreement but to share the Gospel and love others like Christ loved us. Look at all of the examples from Christ’s life and you will find Him pointing others to the Father, performing miraculous deeds, loving sinners, healing the sick, teaching the believers, explaining His deeds – again, in ways that pointed to the Father. Jesus did not demand and argue – nor should we. Paul said it like this in 1 Corinthians 1:18, “The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing but it is God’s power to those who are being saved.”

Our Response

Father, this world is not my/our home. Like Christ, we are here on mission for You. Let us live with this in mind so that the things and arguments of this world don’t distract us from Your call upon our life. – In Jesus’ Name Amen!

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No Other Access

Today’s Reading: John 13:31-14:31

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

John 14:6 HCSB
Loving Others

I’ve had John 13:34 in my memory bank for many years, so while it isn’t our focus/soap verse I can’t just skip by it. Love is a key ingredient of Christ’s teaching. Actually, loving others was included in the answer He gave to a teacher of the law who asked Him what the most important commandment was. After explaining that the greatest commandment is loving God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength He went on to say that loving our neighbor was equally important. Suffice it to say Love was a vital part of His teaching and He intends for it to be a vital part of the believer’s life as well. To understand why it’s so important we only have to read the next verse which says, “By this (loving like Jesus) all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

You see it isn’t just nice to love one another like Jesus has loved us, it is our testimony for Him.

 Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. 30 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ 31 The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”

Mark 12:29-31
“How Can We Know the Way?”

Jesus was re-emphasizing the importance of love because it would be the very thing that identified them as His witnesses when He was gone. This naturally led to great concern over where He was going and answers they didn’t quite understand. This discussion led to our focus verse today which was Jesus’ answer to Thomas who asked: “Lord, we don’t know where you are going. How can we know the way?” The answer comes back to one we have looked at before, Jesus is the way to the Father for everyone who believes. So He makes the statement again that when we know Jesus we know “The Way”. He is not only the way to the Father, but He is the truth of the Father, in the flesh,(Psalm 119:142 and John 1:1). Finally, Jesus declares Himself to be the life from the Father, (John 3:16).

The answer to Thomas’ question is the same for us today. When we know Jesus we know The Way! While we rejoice in this we must take seriously the alternative – for those who do not know Jesus do not know the way and will have no access to the Father’s promise of eternal life. For this reason, like Jesus, we must be committed to our Father’s business – the saving of souls.

Personal Application

There are several noteworthy applications we can make from our focus/soap verse as well as others from today’s reading.

  1. Let’s look at our focus verse in John 14:6.
  • Examine how Jesus has loved you and love others like that. (13:34)
  • Be His witnesses (13:35)
  • Go “the way” of Jesus – the way of the cross. (Luke 9:23)
  • Walk in “the truth” – His Word is truth (Psalm 119:142)
  • Live “the life” of freedom that He came to give (Gal 5:1, John 10:10)
  • Enjoy the access we have to the Father. (Hebrews 4:14-16; Eph 2:18

What is the chief end of man? To glorify God and enjoy Him forever.

https://westminstershortercatechism.net/manschiefend/

2. I also want to make an application note on verse 11 of chapter 14, where Jesus tells Philip to believe – if not because of what He has told them – then because of all they had seen Him do. You see, it won’t always be what we say that leads others to believe – sometimes it will be because of what we do in His name – such as loving others as He has loved us.

3. The final application came at the end of the passage, 14:31 where Jesus says to His disciples – 

but I am doing just what the Father commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Get up, let us go from here.

Actually, it’s those last five words that hit me. It is so easy and comfortable to sit in the presence of Jesus, to talk with Him – listening to Him, asking Him questions, gazing into His eyes through His Word. But, at some point we must “get up” and go out from that place of safety and comfort to do what the Father has commanded us – and this so that others may believe. For “how will they believe if they do not hear?”

As we discovered earlier this week, we are His messengers and today we have seen that we are His representatives – so that others will know that we are His disciples. In this He is glorified (made known) – and in this the Father will be pleased.

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Out of the Darkness Into the Marvelous Light

Today’s Reading: John 12:12-50

 But Jesus shouted out, “The one who believes in me does not believe in me, but in the one who sent me, 45 and the one who sees me sees the one who sent me. 46 I have come as a light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in darkness

John 12:44-46

Clarification

In John 8:12, Jesus introduced Himself as “The Light of the World”, the One who would keep those who believed in Him from walking in darkness and give them life. He expounds on that truth in today’s passage, clarifying that not only did His LIGHT allow them to see in the “darkness” but it enabled them to see the Father who sent Him. To reject or look away from The Light is to reject salvation, the only true way to eternal life with God, John 14:6

Then Jesus spoke out again, “I am the light of the world! The one who follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 8:12
If They Do Not Hear

In Romans 10 Paul shares his longing for all of Israel to be saved but writes of the reality that they have rejected God’s way to make themselves right with Him because they continue to believe it is what they do that saves them. He continues on with his teaching that it is by faith and not by works. It’s by believing what you hear and making a profession of that belief that salvation comes, and he clarifies that this is true for “everyone”, Jew or Gentile, who believe. In verse 14 of Romans 10, Paul then raises the question: How can they believe if they do not hear?

These writings of Paul came to mind as I read through John 12, specifically verses 17 and 18 where he wrote that the crowd who had seen Lazarus come out of the tomb were continuing to testify about it and because of this the crowd in Jerusalem went out to meet Jesus because they had heard about Him performing the miraculous sign. Knowing it was time for Him to be glorified, Jesus uses an analogy with His disciples in conjunction with His statement about being glorified: “…unless a kernel of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it produces much grain.”

What stands out to me here is that by the death of Jesus, many more were saved and are still being saved today! Because His Light continues in and through us. When we “continue testifying” about Him (17-18), what He’s done for us, what we’ve seen Him do for others, and what He says He’s going to do it impacts others. When we fail to testify about Him, when we love the praise/approval of man more than the praise/approval of God (42-43), we impact others. The question is – what goal have we set before us? God’s approval or man’s? God sent His Son to be The Light of the world and He has called us to be lights of the world – how can we be anything less?

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.

Matthew 5:14
The Light

In our focus/SOAP passage today Jesus once again is heard pointing people to the Father, saying that to believe in Him was really to believe in the One who sent Him, and not only that but to see the One who sent Him. Jesus wanted them to know – He wants everyone to know that He is the LIGHT, reflecting and allowing all who believe to see their way out of the darkness to the Father.

Application

Jesus has “shone” me the way to the Father – because of His LIGHT I can see the Father. Because I have heard from The LIGHT and seen The LIGHT – I AM SAVED!

Because I am saved I am called to share Jesus with others – to make Him known in word and deed and actions- I am called to be the light of the world

Prayer

Father, Thank You for Jesus, the Light! The Light that You sent to seek and save the lost out of darkness into the glorious light!! THE LIGHT that led me to You! Hallelujah! What a Savior!

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Caiaphas and the Prophesy

Today’s Reading: John 11:45-12:11

(Now he did not say this on his own, but because he was high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the Jewish nation, 52 and not for the Jewish nation only, but to gather together into one the children of God who are scattered.)

John 11:51-52
Instigators

Verses 50-52 are a great example of how God uses both those that are His and those who do not belong to Him to accomplish His purposes. First, let’s first focus on what happened to bring the Pharisees back into the picture. To see that we need to start in verse 45, where we read how many who had been with Mary when Lazarus was raised to life were now believers in Jesus. However, there were others who had also witnessed the event and reported it to the Pharisees which of course stirred up trouble for Jesus and struck fear and concern in the Pharisees hearts. Because of their concern they called the Sanhedrin together to decide what to do to keep more people from believing in Jesus. Note, the basis of their fear was that if more people turned to follow Him they would lose their “sanctuary and nation”, (48).

Caiaphas

Caiaphas was not just a priest that met as one of the council but he was the high priest that year. A high priest that is described by Bibleref.com as a “hardened non-believer”. Neither his prophecy nor his intentions were honorable but rather self-seeking. Bibleref.com describes it like this: ‘Caiaphas means this (50) in a worldly, political sense: that it’s better to have a troublemaker executed rather than let that person disrupt the peace.”

In verses 51-52 we find an explanation from John as to why Caiaphas even made the statement, which basically was because of his position as High Priest. He spoke true words but had no idea how true and what truth they pointed to – see John 3:16.

Application in the Here and Now

When people follow us to Jesus they may see and hear and be saved while others rile against the work He does – or the work we do in His name. We will either be instruments of peace and leading others to Christ, such as Mary in verse 45 or we will be instruments of division and crucifixion such as those who reported the things Christ was doing to the Pharisees, who planned to kill Him, (53).

Prayer

Father – How great your are! Your ways are beyond my understanding. Your love and Your plan are beyond my comprehension. Use me for Your will. In Jesus’ Name – Amen!

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An Abundant Life with the Good Shepherd

Recommended Reading: John 10:1-21 and SOAP: John 10:9-11

9 Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. 10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. 11“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. 

John 10:9-11
From lurking danger to safe pasture

Jesus uses two more “I AM” statements in this passage to teach the people who He is. We’ve become quite used to the conversational style lessons of Jesus that John presents in His Gospel, however, today’s passage appears to be more of a one-sided, lecture style lesson – and boy is it a doozy! It’s packed with sheep, a shepherd, and a gate, there are thieves, robbers, a wolf and danger lurking just outside the gate, but there is also safe pasture and the good shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep.

The Gate and the good shepherd

To understand verses 9-11 you will really need to read what comes before it as Jesus begins in verse 1 developing the scene and setting His listeners up to understand His message. The hope is that when He transitions to the analogy of Him being both the gate (or the door, as it says in some translations) and the good shepherd they will be able to acknowledge and even fully embrace the person that is standing before them as the One whom God sent to save them. You see, the people who were listening would have not only understood His references to the sheep pen, the shepherd, the sheep, and the dangers – but even better, when He began to say that He was the gate/door and He was the good Shepherd they would have started realizing the deeper meaning of what – or should I say who He was claiming to be. He knew that many of them would remember the prophecy from long ago about the Shepherd that God would send to tend His flock, Micah 5:4. He wanted them to know that just like the gate of the sheep pen was the only way in and out for the sheep – He was ‘the only way’ to God for the people. He also wanted them to know Him as ‘the Good Shepherd’ who will not only keep them safe but one day lay down His life for them.

The Warning and the hope

Within the analogy came a warning – one of danger from the predators whose goal was “to steal and kill and destroy” the sheep. He called these predators thieves and robbers, and He talked of strangers and wolves, warning them that unless they were under the care of the true Shepherd and knew the difference between the stranger and the Good Shepherd they would be attacked and scattered like sheep by a wolf. There wasn’t just a warning though, we also find a promise and hope . Jesus calls Himself the gate and promised His listeners that if they entered through Him they would be saved. So you see, while the thief came to steal, kill, and destroy. The Good Shepherd came to give them the hope of abundant life, the hope of knowing and being known by Him. The hope that as the Good Shepherd He would one day lay down His life for them. 

What did Jesus mean by "abundant life'?  Gotquestions.org answers the question like this: "Abundant life is eternal life, a life that begins the moment we come to Christ and receive Him as Savior, and goes on throughout all eternity. The biblical definition of life — specifically eternal life — is provided by Jesus Himself: “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” (John 17:3). This definition makes no mention of length of days, health, prosperity, family, or occupation. As a matter of fact, the only thing it does mention is knowledge of God, which is the key to a truly abundant life. (For the full meaning of 'abundant life in Christ' visit https://www.gotquestions.org/abundant-life.html)
The Sheep

I’m sure you picked up on it by now – the sheep – they are us – the believers, those who have chosen to follow Christ. We must not miss what He says about us in this analogy. We know His voice … we don’t recognize or listen to the stranger’s voice … instead we run away from the stranger … the Good Shepherd calls us by name … He knows us and we know Him … we follow Him … we are safe … and He came to give us an abundant life. I believe when we seek to apply the Scriptures this sometimes calls for introspection, in this case asking ourselves does Christ’s description of the sheep sound like me? If not, why not and what can I do to align myself with His description?

The Prayer

Father, thank You for sending Jesus to be our door to You and for giving us such a Good Shepherd who loves us and protects us from the thieves and robbers. Jesus, thank You for being such a Good Shepherd, for loving Your sheep, for calling us by name, for spending time with us so we know Your voice. Thank You for teaching us and going before us, and for keeping us safe. Thank You for laying down Your life for us and for giving us an abundant life of joy and peace and hope of our security for eternity. – In Your Name I pray – Amen!

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Stay the Course

Read John 6:16-24

They had rowed three or four miles when suddenly they saw Jesus walking on the water toward the boat. They were terrified, 20 but he called out to them, “Don’t be afraid. I am here!” 21 Then they were eager to let him in the boat, and immediately they arrived at their destination!

John 6:19-20
Missing Jesus

In our last reading (John 6:1-15), after feeding the 5000 Jesus had slipped away to the other side of the lake to be alone. We aren’t told what the disciples did after He left but we can surmise from the gathering that they could have been ministering or resting or tending to things that needed to be done. Whatever the case, “when evening came” they began to miss Jesus and started across the lake to be with Him. Despite the strong winds and rough sea they did not turn back but stayed the course of getting to where Jesus was.

Our passage tells us that as they rowed closer to where He was they looked and saw Him coming towards them, walking on the water. You can imagine their shock and how it would have startled them to see Him – or anyone for that matter – walking on the waters of the stormy lake. Jesus sensed their fear and spoke peace to them, assuring them it was Him and they had no need to be afraid. It is clear from the rest of the passage that just to know it was Jesus brought them peace. What a beautiful example of the calming peace of His presence.

Move Toward Jesus?

Do you ever find yourself missing Jesus? Maybe you reach the end of the day and realize you haven’t seen Him for awhile, you wonder where He has been? You’ve been busy with work or kids or both or perhaps you’ve been enjoying a much needed day of rest or dealing with some of life’s demands. Whatever the case you begin to realize you lost sight of Him at some point in the day. What now? Do you just wrap up the day and decide to get with Him tomorrow – or do you head toward Him as soon as you notice the space between you? Or maybe the scenario is a little different – maybe you’ve been pulled away from Him by cares of the world or by the desires of this life and you realize that you are no longer walking with Him. So now what? Do you stay where you are – missing Him but not wanting or knowing how to return – or do you move toward Him?

No matter which scenario is yours – move toward Jesus. Draw near to Him and, like the disciples, you will find Him drawing near to you. You may be tired from the day but move toward Him and the relief of stress and the hope and comfort that His presence brings. If the way between you is dark and the winds of the world are blowing or the waves of life are rough just keep moving toward Jesus. Listen, hear Him say – “It is I. Do not be afraid.” Let the calm of His voice and His presence flood your soul for there is no darkness or impending danger so great that it will keep Him from you.

Prayer

Father, thank You for introducing me to Your Son and for revealing Your love, Your grace, Your mercy, and the life giving peace of His presence. Keep me ever near Him – for He is my way to You. Alert me when or if I drift – so that I might always be moving with or toward Him and never away. In His name –Amen and Amen!