I am He

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

I AM HE

John 18:1-9

18:1 When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was an olive grove, and he and his disciples went into it. 2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas came to the grove, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. 4 Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, "Who is it you want?"  5 "Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "I am he," Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) 6 When Jesus said, "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 Again he asked them, "Who is it you want?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth." 8 "I told you that I am he," Jesus answered. "If you are looking for me, then let these men go."  9 This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: "I have not lost one of those you gave me."   

NIV

As we read this, it is interesting how we can picture this area, having stood there not too long ago. From the Mount of Olives this small olive grove, known as the garden of Gethsemane, lies below and to the right as we look upon Jerusalem, and it is just a short walk across the Kidron Valley. However, these thoughts are not part of the narrative relating to us that Jesus and his disciples had gone to this place often and thus Judas would have been there too and so he knew Jesus would retire to this little olive grove. When Judas and the soldiers arrived, Jesus did not hesitate to ask who they were looking for, as if he did not know. Jesus took the lead in this exchange, drawing all their attention to him, which has to make us see, he did not want any of his disciples engaged at this moment, protecting them from the attention of the soldiers. As we can see in the last part of this narrative when we are told this happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled. John recorded this statement of Jesus which we find in the sixth chapter. However, let’s look at what happened here in this olive grove. As Judas arrives, Jesus asks them who are they looking for and they say they are looking for Jesus of Nazareth. It is interesting they make the distinction he is from Nazareth. Nevertheless, Jesus makes one of those I AM moments. “I am he”. Judas was overwhelmed at that point. We would have to believe Judas came to some kind of realization of his evil behavior in his plot against Jesus. From all we know what happened in the life and death of Judas, it would make sense he felt shame and remorse over his involvement in the arrest of Jesus. But, by this time it was a done deal, the Pharisees had the support of the Roman soldiers, and Jesus was going to be in their grasp at last. After Judas had drawn back and fell to the ground, Jesus asked once more as to who it was they were looking for. Again they responded, “Jesus of Nazareth” at which Jesus made it clear to them he was that one, “I told you that I am he” and he also told them because they were looking for him, to let all his disciples go, not to arrest them. He was protecting them, as he does us. This is the part of the story where it gets personal for us. Jesus is the “I AM”. We have to go back to that which he said before.

John 6:35-40

35 Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40 For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." 

NIV

This is why he said to let his disciples go, and in that sense he has told the enemy who would arrest and destroy us, to let his people go. Just as Moses was a foreshadow of Jesus when he told Pharaoh, who had the people enslaved, to let my people go, Jesus tells the Pharisees to let his people go, and he tells Satan today, to let his people go. Jesus has set us free from bondage and he protects us from death. He will not lose us, he will not leave us nor forsake us. Because we look to the Son and believe in him we have eternal life and we will be raised up on the last day. All this happened and will happen because Jesus said, “I am he”

   

Answered Prayer

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

ANSWERED PRAYER

John 17:24-26

24 "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

25 "Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26 I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them." 

NIV

We come to the closing words of the prayer of Jesus for his disciples and for all who would believe because of the message. We can be confident that we will be where Jesus is because the Father does answer prayer and especially the prayer of Jesus, who is one with the Father. It would seem right to think Jesus prayed this for the reason of us knowing his prayer. He could have prayed in the Spirit, or silently, but be spoke his prayer out loud so John could hear and record it. Thus we can be sure of our destination of heaven where Jesus is right now. We will also see his glory, we will see Jesus in all his glory, not as a humble servant as he was when he was here on earth, but as the King of kings, the Lord of lords, the mighty and glorious victor over death. We will see Jesus as he was when he created all that is created. It is also a fact that although we are believers we are still in the world. Is Jesus referring to the world as all mankind, believers, and non-believers alike when he says the world does not know the Righteous Father? It would appear the ones who would know the Father sent Jesus would be only the believers, as non-believers would not accept that fact. Yet how can we be one with Jesus and the Father if we do not know the Father? What Jesus is saying is that the world did not know the true nature of the Father, but Jesus has revealed him to us. It is not possible for someone to know the Father unless he is revealed to them by Jesus. We can know the Father through Jesus, and we can experience the love of God because Jesus has shown his love to us. This love for us was demonstrated by the Father sending Jesus into the world to die on the cross for us so that whosoever believes will not perish but have everlasting life. This is the love of God shown to us through Jesus. He has revealed how much God loves us and that should once again give us great joy and peace. We have absolute assurance of our place in heaven. It has nothing to do with how good we are, or how many good deeds we do. It is only because we believe in Jesus that we have this assurance. He has prayed for our salvation and we are the living proof God answered the prayer of Jesus. If he answered his prayer, he will also answer ours because we pray in the name of Jesus.

Being One

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

BEING ONE

John 17:20-23

20 "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

NIV

There it is, Jesus is praying for us because we have believed in his message.  But his prayer is not that we will do well, or that we will have all that we want. Jesus prays that we all will be one just as he and the Father are one. He prays that we will be in each other as he is in the Father and the Father is in him. What does that look like, being in each other? The picture we see is how Jesus is in the Father and the Father is in Jesus. But still, what then does that look like? How do we explain the two of them being in each other? We know that is a certain mystery to the triune Godhead, but it is real and they are all God, yet each is his own person. We understand that somewhat as we see ourselves being created in his image. We are a spirit who has a soul that lives in a body. We cannot separate ourselves, so we are three in one, as God is.  Now, what do we do with that concept in regard to each other? When we marry, we believe that the husband and wife become one flesh and that what God has joined together, let no man separate. Still both of us, husband and wife have very distinct personalities, but God says we are one flesh. Still how does that all relate to Jesus praying that all of us believers would be one as he and the Father are one? Is seems his prayer has not been answered as it appears we all are not one but have divided ourselves up into factions, which we call denominations.  Even within a single church, we can find little groups, who simply do not entertain others and certainly are not one with anyone outside their little circle. Of course, not in our church, but others. So again, we ask, what does being one as Jesus and the Father are one look like? Then we have to grab hold of the idea of being one with God, with the Father and Jesus so that the world may know the Father sent Jesus, and the reason for his death on the cross for our sins. If we are not out there in the world doing that, would that imply we are not truly one with the Father and Jesus? As Jesus prays, he includes the fact he has given us his glory, so we can be one as he and the Father are one. We have all we need to truly be one with each other, we have his glory. Yet, Jesus continues to pray that we will come to complete unity, but for a specific reason. Our complete unity has the sole purpose of letting the world know that the Father sent the Son and he loves them as he loves Jesus. God so loved the world that he gave his only beloved Son so that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Again, we have to ask, what does complete unity look like? How does being one look like?

Not at Home Here

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

NOT AT HOME HERE

John 17:13-19

13 "I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

NIV

Continuing with this prayer of Jesus, he now turns to the concept of being in the world but not of the world. We know that he never was actually a part of the world as he created it in the first place. But he is speaking more of the point of reference with which he is currently in the world in bodily form, doing what people do as they live, but his mind and heart are focused on the things of heaven. He prays that same type of concept for his disciples, in fact, he says that they are not of the world anymore. He is surely setting the tone for the rest of their life while they are still in the world. That is the tone he sets for our lives as well. We will be going to the Father someday as well, and we say this to people so they can have the full measure of our joy about going to be with God. Sometimes it appears we believers sent mixed messages about having such joy about going to the Father. We say we love the Lord, and we are going to heaven when we die, but we spend as much effort as possible to delay our departure from this world. We are not of this world, just as Jesus was not part of this world. Jesus prays that the Father would not take them out of it, but protect them from the evil one. We are protected as well from the evil one, in fact, God provides us with his armor so we will have all his protection. Because we have been sanctified by God, set apart, made holy, we no longer focus on the world or the things of the world, but we focus, we have our center on heaven. This is our home, we are just passing through this world. Why do we want to accumulate so much of the world’s things? Why do we still find enjoyment in stuff? Why do we put so much importance on achieving success, or making our mark, or storing up wealth for ourselves? Why should all those things be so important to us, if we are not of this world anymore, and our desire is to be with God? Why do we consider all our “stuff” as a blessing from God? The fact that he has sanctified us made us holy and has given us his word, and his promise, sending the Holy Spirit to dwell within us, to seal us, to be our guarantee that we are going to the Father someday should be our greatest joy. This is what gives us peace, contentment, and reason to live our life fully for his pleasure and purpose. We have been sanctified by his truth, his word and we are no longer of this world. We walk around here, but this world is not our home, we are just passing through, our treasures are laid up beyond the blue. The angels beckon us from heavens open door, and we cannot feel at home in this world anymore.

Protected by His Name

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

PROTECTED BY HIS NAME

John 17:6-12

6 "I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11 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. 12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.

NIV

As we continue with the prayer of Jesus, he is praying for his disciples, as well as all who would believe in his name. Again we could get a little Calvinistic in thinking when Jesus is praying for those who the Father gave him, along with his mention of Judas, the one doomed to destruction. It appears God chose eleven to save and one to be doomed. Jesus said he did not lose any, except the one doomed to destruction so the scripture would be fulfilled. Jesus handpicked Judas from the start and from other accounts we know Judas was a thief, helping himself to money for the support of the whole group. This is a man who was never truly a believer in the first place, he was always doomed from the start. Now that sounds like the once saved always saved theology, and if a person backslides, they were never saved in the first place. But neither of those ideas are true. This is just the way it has to be in order for everything to happen the way it has to happen in order for God to reconcile his creation. All people can come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ if they choose to. His disciples believe now. Jesus has revealed the Father to them. But we too have had the Father revealed to us throughout the whole of his word. This is why we are included in this prayer. We know Jesus came from heaven and we know he returned to heaven and continually intercedes, prays, for us. God gave us to Jesus as well. This goes to the fact God gives every man a measure of faith, so we can believe. Some choose to ignore that faith, but for those who use their faith to believe, Jesus could say that the Father gave us to him. Also, we would have to believe those who reject that faith or suppress that faith by their evil deeds are doomed to destruction. Judas was one of those who rejected the faith, but Jesus brought him alone so the scripture might be fulfilled. That is not to say there are people like Judas in the church today, those who pretend to be followers to get the money from the purse of others. However, as believers, we have to also believe we are under the protection of Jesus. He keeps us safe from the enemy of our souls. We are under protection by the name of Jesus. We do not belong to the world, but we belong to God, we are his and he is ours. We are one who the Father as the Father is one with us, in fact, the Spirit dwells within us. We could not be closer to God than that. We are living not just in the presence of God, but we are living with God within our presence. We are in Christ and Christ is in us. We are in the Spirit and the Spirit is in us. We came out of the world, no longer it citizen, for we are in Christ and our citizenship is in heaven. We live in the protection of his Holy Name.

Completing the Work

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

COMPLETING THE WORK

John 17:1-5

17:1 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:

"Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

NIV

We have come to this prayer of Jesus and we need to take it a little at a time, as he has much to say in his prayer. Are his disciples nearby in order to hear all his prayers? It would appear they are right there with him as he had just finished telling them plainly that he came from heaven and was going to return to heaven. Although this is his prayer, he is still teaching his disciples and us through prayer. If Jesus prayed to be glorified for the sole reason of glorifying the Father, then would it not make sense that every blessing we receive from God should be for the purpose of bringing glory to him? If we do something in any way of ministry, that is serving one another or loving our neighbor as ourselves then it should bring glory to God, not to ourselves. Again, this goes back to receiving praise from God rather than from men. It often amazes me why Christians applaud certain types of ministry. Are they giving God applause or the performance of people? Would not a more appreciate response, rather than applause, be hands raised to heaven at the end of the performance/ministry? Do those who minister feel awkward hearing applause? Just a thought. Jesus now prays to the Father, telling him he granted Jesus all authority over all people to give eternal life to all those the Father gave him. Here, it is possible we could get a little Calvinistic, thinking only the ones God chose to give to Jesus receive eternal life. But that is not what Jesus says in this prayer. He has been granted authority over all people, not just the ones God has given him. Jesus has the authority to give eternal life to whosoever believes. Now, this is where it could get a little sticky. No one can believe without first using the faith God measured out to them. It still comes down to the sovereign God giving his creation the freedom to choose to believe or to refuse to believe. Those who believe can receive their eternal life that Jesus offers. Jesus even explains what this eternal life looks like, in that we may know the Father, the one true God and that we may know Jesus Christ, whom the Father sent. To know them is to have eternal life. If a person does not know Jesus Christ or the Father, how then can they have eternal life? Jesus is the only way, he is the only truth, and he is the only light that shines the light on the Father.  Jesus goes on to prayer that he has brought the Father glory by completing the work he gave him to do. Should that not be our prayer also? How can we bring glory to God if we fail to complete that work he has given us to do? When is our work complete?  Can we retire from the work God gave us to do? Even in our old age are we content to just sit around and let all the young people do the work? Then where are we giving God glory? No, we must continue to do the work God called us to and gave us the power to do, whatsoever that is. Jesus certainly reveals he was there with the Father from the beginning, and that should give us great confidence in knowing the plan of the Father and the Son has always been to have their creation live an eternal life in their presence. With man, there is no other way, but with God there in a way, one way to eternal life, and that is through Jesus Christ. Let us always continue to run the race, finish the course, completing the work God gave us to do.  

Take Heart

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

TAKE HEART

John 16:25-33

25 "Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. 26 In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. 27 No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 28 I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father."  29 Then Jesus' disciples said, "Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. 30 Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God." 31 "You believe at last!"  Jesus answered. 32 "But a time is coming, and has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. 33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." 

NIV

We cannot be sure why the disciples did not understand before or believe before for we have known all along what Jesus was saying. Of course, we have all the scripture and have read it numerous times and know the end of the story. They are living it out moment by moment in real-time as the events are unfolding. Jesus was speaking to them about them being scattered when he gets arrested and crucified. But they are not to stay scattered as we know they gathered in the room and waited until the Spirit descended upon them and then they were filled with power and spoke the word of God boldly. There is another truth that Jesus reveals to us in his conversation with his disciples. When he tells them they will leave him alone, he is speaking about his time of being tortured by the Roman soldiers and his crucifixion. Of course, John was there with Mary the mother of Jesus. But where were the others, afraid of getting the same treatment? We cannot be sure, but we do know Jesus told them although they would leave him, he would not be alone for his Father is with him. The Father never leaves him, he is with him always. God has always been with his people and he will always be with his people.

Deut 31:6

6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

NIV

Matt 28:18-20

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

NIV

We know the Father is always with Jesus and Jesus will always be with us as well, even to the end of the age. God will not forsake us nor will he forsake Jesus. When Jesus said his disciples would leave him, but the Father will always be with him, which included the time on the cross. God did not forsake Jesus in the hour of his death. Just because Jesus said,

Matt 27:46

"Eloi, Eloi,  lama sabachthani?"-which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"   

NIV

It does not mean the Father had forsaken him or turned his back on him as some would think, God could not look upon sin. If that were the case, then God could never look upon us, for we still have sin within us. But the Father has not left us, nor has Jesus left us, in fact, we have the Spirit dwelling within us, even in our moments of sin. On that cross, Jesus was simply teaching, as he always did and does. He was quoting from the 22^nd Psalm, which the people would have recognized.

Ps 22:1

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

NIV

This psalm is filled with prophecies about Jesus, about his birth, life, and this death, this scorn that was thrust upon him. Jesus was showing the people, teaching them that he is the Anointed One from God. What we can be assured of is that God will not forsake us. He will always be with us, even if we do not feel his presence, he is there. We will always remember the words of Daryl Scott when he said there is a difference between the conscious presence of God and the constant presence of God. God was always with Jesus, he never forsook him, and he will never forsake us, even in our difficult moments.  In this, we can take heart.

Ask and Receive

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

ASK AND RECEIVE

John 16:16-24

16 "In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me."  17 Some of his disciples said to one another, "What does he mean by saying, 'In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,' and 'Because I am going to the Father'?" 18 They kept asking, "What does he mean by 'a little while'? We don't understand what he is saying."

19 Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, "Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, 'In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me'? 20 I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. 21 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. 22 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. 23 In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.

NIV

Jesus has to be talking about his resurrection and his continued appearance to them in his glorified state. There are the ones who had witnessed his brutal treatment by the Roman soldiers and finally his crucifixion and his death. However, they also witnessed his resurrection and at that, they were filled with joy, just as Jesus told them they would be. There was going to be a little time they could not see him as he would be in the grave, but then they would see him again. The account of his resurrection in well documented, but here Jesus is telling them it is going to happen beforehand. He did not use the term, resurrected, but that is what he means. It is interesting that John writes in this manner as he is inspired by the Spirit. When he wrote this gospel all that is said and done was in the past. John already knew Jesus had resurrected and ascended, but he writes as one who is just as unaware of what is to happen, so to take us along the journey, revealing things as they happen. Yet we do know the rest of the story, as Paul Harvey used to say, “And now the rest of the story, Page two”. We know Jesus died, was buried and on the third day rose from the dead. Up from the grave, he arose, with a mighty triumph over his foes. We serve a risen Savior, his in the world today. He live, he lives; Christ Jesus lives today. On and on the songs portray the truth that Jesus is alive and he sits in heaven at the right hand of God. He has sent the Spirit to bear witness in our hearts of that truth. Because Jesus was resurrected, so it is that will we too will be resurrected to eternal life. His disciples did feel grief a little while, and we too can experience grief as we say goodbye to our loved ones on this earth. But only for a little while, for someday we all will be resurrected to stand before God to be judged according to what we did in our life. We believers will be judged according to our belief and will be invited into his rest. The non-believers will be judged according to their unbelief and will not be invited into his rest, but cast out into everlasting darkness. What is difficult to understand is we know and love some in this world who still do not believe, and yet on that day, they will be no weeping, no tears, for our joy will be complete. But this scene should inspire us to make sure we do not miss an opportunity to share the gospel message with those we know and those we love.  It is true, they have the freedom to accept or reject. God gave everyone that freedom in his sovereignty. But we can know for sure we will see him again and because he is with the Father we can ask the Father and he will give us what we ask for because we ask in the name of Jesus. We can ask and receive and our joy will be complete.  

Speak Spirit Speak

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

SPEAK SPIRIT SPEAK

John 16:12-15

12 "I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.

NIV

The person of the Holy Spirit is present with us today and he is the one who speaks truth into our hearts and minds. Although he first convicted us of our sin and need of repentance, he now resides within us revealing all we need to know about the Father, the Son, and himself, the Spirit of truth. No one can know the truth unless the Spirit reveals it to them. We might think that putting forth a great deal of academic effort gives us all the knowledge concerning God. We even have developed the term theology to depict the study of God. But there seems to be a difference between knowledge and truth. We cannot be certain, but it certainly appears the disciples were not theologians, as the Pharisees and teachers of the law would have been considered. Yet they did not receive or refused to accept the Spirit of truth and thus were void of truth. However, the simple, could we be bold enough to say, uneducated disciples, some just fisherman, tradesmen, were revealed the truth. True, Luke was a doctor, and Paul, by his own confession was a Pharisee and son of a Pharisee, so he would have known the law quite well. Of course, even fishermen were Jews and familiar with their history and the Law of Moses. Yet, not one of them could know the full truth without the Spirit. It is the same with us. No matter how much education we attain, we cannot know the truth unless the Spirit reveals it to us. That does not mean he does not reveal it through our studying or learning as much as we can. But there are cases when men without any formal training whatsoever have become great orators of the truth. The Spirit speaks into our heart and mind that which is from Jesus and Jesus has been given everything from the Father. This is one of those truths some have difficulty with. What belongs to the Father, belongs to Jesus and the Spirit takes what belongs to Jesus and makes it known to us.  All three of those persons are God, but they are not each other. Some would same that is a mystery we cannot understand, yet the Spirit reveals it to us, he makes it known to us. How can that then be a mystery if the Spirit makes it known? The only answer to that which seems plausible is men are looking to their own reasoning, their own knowledge, rather than listening to the Spirit. So speak Spirit, speak and we will listen.

The Counselor

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

THE COUNSELOR

John 16:1-11

16:1 "All this I have told you so that you will not go astray. 2 They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God. 3 They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. 4 I have told you this, so that when the time comes you will remember that I warned you. I did not tell you this at first because I was with you.

5 "Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?' 6 Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief. 7 But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; 10 in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.

NIV

We have to conclude some of what Jesus said what directed only to his disciples while much of what he said is directed to all who would believe. Still, we can see everything in a personal context. We have the words of Jesus, the truth of God so that we will not go astray. Surely we are not going to be put out of the synagogue, which is strictly for the disciples. But why would they even what to be in the synagogue? The Jews practiced worship to God but did not accept Jesus as being the Messiah. However, we know Paul always went to the synagogues first when he arrived at a new city to share the good news about Jesus. We also know the disciples were eventually killed for their faith in Jesus. There are people throughout the course of history and even today who are killed because of their faith. It is always possible and we have been warned it could happen. But again that would require people to hate us enough because we are so vocal about faith in Jesus Christ. Still, they were going to do great things for some time, being movers and shakers for the kingdom of God. Their power was not of human origin nor is ours. Jesus made it clear that when he left earth to return to heaven, he would send the Holy Spirit to empower his people. The fact is we cannot convince people to believe in Jesus or that they are sinners in need of repentance. We certainly can tell people about the good news, about Jesus being the truth, the light, and the way. But as for their conviction about their condition and need to come to Jesus, it is up to the Spirit. We can even be as bold to share what we term as Romans Road, giving them the pattern to salvation, but unless they are convicted by the Spirit, our words fall on deaf ears and a blind heart. Yet that does not relieve us from the responsibility of sharing the truth about Jesus. We are not the judge, nor should we prejudge who will accept the truth and who will reject the truth. We cannot assume either that people will just come to Jesus on their own, or because they see we are really nice people and ask us why are we so nice, so then we can tell them because we are Christians. If that is all we say, then it is meaningless because many who are lost believe they are Christians, but they have no idea of being a born again follower of Jesus Christ, or a need to repent of their sin and accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. No, we must share the good news, as well as live a life worthy of our calling. We have been silent too long, and now is the time to speak out. It might offend someone, and that is just the way it is. This being afraid of being offensive has kept us silent at times, and that is all the work of the devil. So let us speak up for our Lord. We have the power of the Spirit, we have been empowered with gifts, not just to use within the body of Christ, but to use in our lives in the world. The word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, the power to heal, the power to preach the good news, the power to evangelize, of prophecy, declaring the kingdom of God is near. Let us allow the Counselor to direct our words, our path, and our life.  

One or the Other

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

ONE OR THE OTHER

John 15:18-27

18 "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20 Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. 21 They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, they have no excuse for their sin. 23 He who hates me hates my Father as well. 24 If I had not done among them what no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have seen these miracles, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. 25 But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: 'They hated me without reason.'  

26 "When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. 27 And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.

NIV

One or the other, but it is certainly not both. We either love Jesus or the world. The world hates Jesus and the reason is that Jesus has exposes their sin, just as he did in us. But we saw it as sin and repented and accepted Jesus. So now although we seem to be accepted in the world, it really does not like us very much, unless it does not know we belong to Jesus. Jesus told his disciples they must testify about him as the Spirit gives testimony about him. We could say that was just for the disciples as he told them they had been with him from the beginning, which we certainly have not, or have we? If we take everything that Jesus said which was directed at these disciples then nothing is every directed toward us and all this faith thing is useless, for salvation would be just for his disciples. No, we have to know that everything Jesus said was teaching for anyone who would take up their cross and follow him. There are believers in parts of the world who are severely persecuted, even onto death. There has been, on occasion in this country very hateful men who have gone into a church armed and shooting as many Christians as possible. But for the most part we believers are no being persecuted as Jesus said, or hated as Jesus said we would because of him. Why is that? Are we not loud enough in our proclamation of Jesus? Do we conform too much to how the world lives and they know nothing about our faith? Have we whitewashed the gospel, or watered it down too much in order to not be too offensive? That is the trigger word, offensive. Oh, don’t offend anyone, which would not be appropriate. That may well be one of the schemes of the devil to keep us silent, to keep us from speaking the truth about Jesus and sin. If we did, maybe we would be hated, but then who would listen if we were hated? So we think if we just say a little, not too offensive, but just a little of the truth, take about God, not Jesus, then they will not actually hate us, and listen just a little to what we say. Is using the word, God, too generic? Lots of people believe God exists, but their theology about heaven and hell is not based on truth. They do not really understand what it means to be born again, or to have to repent of their sin, to even acknowledge they are sinners and in need of Jesus in order to gain eternal life. We have the Spirit who testifies to the truth within us, and he is there convicting others of their sins, but someone has to speak up and let them know what they need to do in order to be saved. But then the world might just hate us. That is alright because as long we are silent, they love us. We want the love of God, not the love of the world. It is one or the other.  

Love Each Other

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

LOVE EACH OTHER

John 15:9-17

9 "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit — fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 17 This is my command: Love each other.

NIV

We have moved from remaining in him to remaining in his love, although if we are in him we are in his love. But there is a condition of remaining in his love. If we obey his commands we will remain in his love. Would that mean if we fail to obey his commands he will not love us, or we are not remaining in his love? It is interesting both Greek words, agapao and agape are used interchangeably by Jesus. Loving in a moral or social sense and loving in a benevolent sense. Perhaps he was implying both or a complete full type of love, not half-hearted. This is how the Father loves him and he loves the Father and how God loves us, fully, complete, with all that he is. Remaining in the love of Jesus gives him great joy, it makes his joy complete and in doing so, it also makes our joy complete. What he is saying is we cannot find real lasting joy in the things of the world, chasing after those temporary moments or things. Our only source of pure joy is being in Jesus. This Greek word translated joy, means a cheerfulness, i.e. calm delight, when used as joy it is joyful, joyfully, joyfulness, joyous. What of this world can sustain that joy over the duration of our lives? This is being in his love, and he commands us to love each other. It is about loving in a moral social sense and in a benevolent sense. A complete type of love which Jesus demonstrates as the greatest love is to lay down our lives for our friends. Of course we know Jesus did just that, and we have not been called or are worthy to go to the cross to die for every ones sins, as Jesus was and did. But can we lay our life down in other ways for our friends? Was Jesus only talking about himself and his love for his people? He did say, or command his disciples to love each other as he loved them. Was that command just for those eleven, or was it meant for all of us. He certainly laid his life down for us, so we would have to believe he intends for us to love each other in the same manner he loves us. So then, how do we lay our lives down for each other? Could that fit with not thinking more highly of ourselves then we ought? Could that go alone with preferring others before ourselves? Could that mean the same thing as not being envious, jealous, greedy, self-serving, or getting angry, upset, having hurt feelings, all which are being more concerned with self than with others. Love has none of those negative qualities. When we follow Jesus and remain in him and his love, then we bear fruit. This fruit could mean the fruit of the Spirit, which we have seen, but it also could mean more souls in the kingdom. As we go forth loving people, as Jesus loves us, more people can be loved into the kingdom. This would have to go on the premise that Jesus meant we were not just to love each other as believers, that is, only love other believers, but that we are to love each other as human beings. That is we are to love sinners enough to put ourselves aside, and just love them, unconditional as Jesus loved us while we yet sinners. He did not say that he would lay his life down for only those who loved him, but for all mankind, so that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. So then we are called to love each other.

To Our Father's Glory

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

 TO OUR FATHER’S GLORY

John 15:5-8

5 "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. 6 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. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8 This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

NIV

Jesus continues his teaching about him being the vine and us being the branches. The truth he reveals to us is that if we are remaining in him we will bear much fruit. This is not an option, or a result of our effort. The result of remaining in Jesus is bearing much fruit. Anyone who is not remaining in Jesus cannot bear fruit. That might seem a little odd as it would appear some non-believers have certain qualities that are similar to fruit, but those fruit-like gestures are not the fruit of the Spirit. In fact, Jesus said that if a person is not bearing the fruit as a result of remaining in him, they are not bearing fruit at all, and as a result, they are thrown away and wither which then are picked up and thrown into the fire and burned. It comes down to either bear fruit of burn, and we cannot bear fruit unless we are remaining in Jesus. Apart from him, we can do nothing at all. The other benefit, if we could be so bold, is that we can have whatever we wish. In checking the Greek word translated as wish, we find that is exactly how it is seen, to desire, to rather have, to wish. That is pretty strong. How many believers take Jesus up on his words? If we remain in him, we will, not maybe, but will bear much, not a little, fruit and we can ask him for anything we desire or wish for and it will, not maybe, not if we pray just the right way, or do enough good deeds, or are checking off our lists, of do’s and don’ts, but just because we ask, it will be given to us. That is powerful stuff right there. Have we ever obeyed Jesus regarding this? That is a thought. We always take about obeying the commands of Jesus, at least the ones that suit us. But if we are not asking him what we wish, or rather would have, than is that not disobedience? Surely if we are remaining in Jesus, we would not be asking for something totally opposed to the will of God. But there is still a whole lot of things which are directly connected to the will of God that we may not be asking for. However the first and foremost of our desire is to remain in Jesus and bear much fruit. We would rather have Jesus than anything in the world. We desire to be with Jesus. We want his will to be accomplished in us. We want the Father to be glorified by our life. Jesus tells us it is to the Father’s glory that we bear much fruit, as in doing that we show ourselves to be his disciples. The only way we can do that is to remain in Jesus. Then we can be to our Father’s glory.

Remaining

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

REMAINING

John 15:1-4

15:1 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 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. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 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.

NIV

These are very well known words of Jesus. Many sermons have been preached from these words. Again we see Jesus speaking metaphorically calling himself the vine and Father the gardener and us the branches. The idea here is anyone who does not bear gets cut off. To be cut off would mean the branch is no longer connected to the vine and the branch apart from the vine would wither up and die. The only way to remain alive is to remain attached to the vine and in doing so must bear fruit. Now, of course, because we are fruit-bearing branches, the Gardener, the Father prunes us to we bear much fruit. It is for certain we cannot bear any fruit without the vine. This should give the fact that any so-called fruit, any appearance of love, joy, peace or any of the fruit of the Spirit from someone who is not a believer in Jesus Christ, not connected to the vine are false. It is impossible to bear any true fruit unless a person remains in Christ. On the other hand, because we are in Christ because we are remaining in the vine, we will bear fruit. It is not fruit we bear because we produce it. We bear fruit because we are in the vine, it is the Fruit of the Spirit. All the goodness of the branch is a result of what comes up to it from the vine. This pruning by the Father is altogether another matter. There are areas on the branches that need to be pruned to they will produce even more fruit. What that looks like is God working in our life to remove some the dead areas, the little saplings, or suckers, as tree experts call them, which take energy from the good areas of the branch. They do not produce anything, but just drain the life-giving sap from the rest of the branch. These are areas in our life which drain us, which are bad habits, useless endeavors, being attentive to the ways of the world. God prunes those areas out of our life if we are remaining in the vine and we bear even more fruit. It is all about remaining.

Come Now;Let Us Leave

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

COME NOW; LET US LEAVE

John 14:28-31

28 "You heard me say, '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, for the Father is greater than I. 29 I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. 30 I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold on me, 31 but the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me.

"Come now; let us leave.

NIV

The time is coming and Jesus is getting his disciples ready for what is about to happen. This is our great hope, and faith we have in the return of Jesus. It should not require much faith, just or hope as he has said that he will return. It is just a matter of believing him. In all reality, when we use the word hope, we are actually saying, I hope he is coming back, so then we don’t really believe him, we just hope what he said is true. Jesus told his disciples that he was going away, but he would come back to them. Of course, that could have just meant he would die and leave them but would be raised from the dead and return to them. But it is also true he left them when he ascended into heaven and when he did, the angels told his disciples that he would come back. We are waiting and ready for his return. We are also glad, as his disciples were supposed to be that he was going to the Father because the Father is greater the Jesus. This we have a difficult time understanding as the Father and Jesus are one, they and the Spirit are all God. The triune God, which in some sense is still a mystery. The other thing Jesus told them is a reality we have to deal with all our lives. He told them the prince of this world is coming, but he has no hold on him. He was speaking of the devil, the evil one who had entered Judas who would betray him to the Jews, that would ultimately bring about the plan of God. Jesus was actually using the devil for the purpose of God. The devil would not actually cause the death of Jesus, for he had no hold on Jesus. We know Jesus laid his life down for us, it was not taken from him. However, we have to also know and admit, the devil is still at his game of making every effort to take our life from us. He may not care about our taking our physical life, for we all are appointed once to die. The devil knows this physical body will die, he can wait for that. He is interested in our spiritual death, taking our eternal life. But he had no hold on Jesus, and he has no hold on us, but we still have to recognize his attacks on our eternal life. This is why God gave us his armor, so we can take our stand against the schemes of the devil. Jesus made sure His disciples knew the truth and thus we also have been given the truth. The devil is the father of lies, he never speaks the truth. We live now and for eternity by the truth, the word of God, Jesus. Jesus says that he is going to do exactly what his Father has commanded him to do. We know that was to die for our sins, to take our sin upon himself and carry it to the grave. Praise God, we are not condemned by our sin, rather we are saved from our sin. We have been set free. Now we wait for those words of Jesus. “Come now; Let us leave”

No Fear

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

NO FEAR

John 14:22-27

22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, "But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?" 23 Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. 25 "All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 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.

NIV

Again, this is just a small portion of everything Jesus has been telling his disciples about what is about to happen. All he said was during their time celebrating the Passover meal in the upper room. We pick up this conversation with the question of Judas (not Judas Iscariot). Jesus said he would show himself to those who love him and Judas understood that to mean he would not show himself to those who did not love him. Jesus sort of says it over again that if we love him we will obey his teaching. So we have to ask just what was Jesus teaching. It always comes back to the two greatest commands, to love the Lord our God with all our being and love our neighbor as ourselves. Yet, in the context, as we have already noted, he put the qualifier of sending the Holy Spirit as obeying his command. What command he was referring to was what he has just said about having faith in him and doing greater things than he has done? We have to believe the sending of the Spirit cannot be contingent on our ability to perfectly follow every command, otherwise, none of us believers would have the Spirit. It is by faith we are saved it is by faith we receive the Spirit and it is by faith that we live by the Spirit and stay in step with the Spirit. Again, that does not excuse us from making every effort, with the help of the Spirit, to obey the Lord’s command. Without making and excuse for our flesh, we have to face the reality that we will not attain perfection until we have been resurrected and are with the Lord. So in that sense, we do obey his teaching of believing and trusting in him and thus he and the Father will come to us and make their home with us. If someone does not believe and trust in Jesus they will not make their home with that person. The unbeliever will live without the presence of the Lord in their lives. That is sad. Jesus reminds them that the Father will send the Counselor, the Holy Spirit to them in Jesus’s name. The Holy Spirit will remind them of everything he has ever said to them. Again he makes sure they know the Spirit is coming to them, and we know they were mere men, not perfect either. But they loved Jesus and they believed in him and trusted him. Where else would they go? Who else would they trust? Jesus is the only way, he is the truth and he is the light. He is going to tell them one more thing and then the beginning of the end which brings the beginning of everything new. But for now, we will be content to know that Jesus gives us peace, this is like the Hebrew Shaalowm or Shalom. But it also has the meaning of the tranquil state of our soul assured of its salvation through Christ and so fearing nothing from God and content with our lot in life, of whatsoever sort that is. The world cannot give us that type of peace, in fact, the world generates just the opposite, discontentment, jealousy, and envy, always wanting more then we have, always wanting something different, something newer, or something better. What kind of peace is that? Never to be content, happy, satisfied, complete and whole. To be like that has to be a result of a large God-shaped void within them. However, that is not to say we believers are exempt from those feelings as we sometimes allow ourselves to be influenced by the world. Let us remind ourselves whose peace we need and have and learn to live in peace with God and ourselves. Then our hearts will not be troubled and we will have no fear.

The Counselor

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

THE COUNSELOR

John 14:15-21

15 "If you love me, you will obey what I command. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him." 

NIV

The question is; what did Jesus command? We might have taken this statement of Jesus out of context and made it all around everything he has ever said. However, if we take this statement within the context we have to back up to what he just said about asking him anything in his name, or about doing greater things he has done, or believing he and the Father are one. If obeying every command he has ever given is the condition for receiving the Spirit, then not a single one of us believers would have the Spirit. We could also go back a little more and see that Jesus told us not to let our hearts be troubled but to trust in God and trust in him. This is his teaching which he will talk about again which is why we receive the Counselor to be with us forever. Jesus says the world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. However, we know the Spirit for he lives within us because we received him due to our believing and trusting in Jesus. That is the only condition needed. The Greek word translated command means an authoritative prescription. If we love Jesus, we will follow his prescription for life. He said before long the world will not see him anymore, but we will see him. Because he lives, we also will live. That is the prescription for life. That is what we believe because we love him and that is why he sent the Spirit to be our Counselor, bearing this truth in our spirit, being a seal upon us guarantying our redemption. If eternal life was dependent on our absolute obedience to every command of God, we would never make it to heaven. Even the simplest command of loving God with all our being, and loving our neighbor as ourselves cannot be fully realized in our lives. We fail at that all too often, if we are honest with ourselves. We would be in a real pickle if in order to have the Spirit and eternal life we had to be perfect in our obedience to every command of God. This is not to excuse us from trying, but we have to see that in the context of this teaching of Jesus, the Spirit comes to those Jesus sends him to and those are the ones who love him and trust him, asking him and we know this because we do have the Counselor.

Asking Him

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

ASKING HIM

John 14:8-14

8 Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us."

9 Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? 10 Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. 12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

NIV

Jesus had just told them that if they knew and have seen him, they also know and have seen the Father and Phillip makes that bizarre request. What did Jesus just say? We have seen the Father? Alright, Lord, show the Father and that will be enough. What? Did he not hear what Jesus said? Maybe he did not believe what Jesus said. It seems Jesus was taken back a bit by the response of Phillip. “How can you say that”? Jesus then goes into a discussion of how He and the Father are one. This gives us the whole idea of the perfect triune aspect of God. Jesus does not include the Spirit at this time, but we know he does later. He does go on to explain all the miracles he did are a result of being one with the Father or having the Father in him and he in the Father. But here is the biggest issue it seems we need to deal with. Jesus told them and we would have to believe he meant everyone, that if we had faith in him we would do what he has been doing. In fact, Jesus says we will do even greater things then he did because he is going to the Father and that whatsoever we ask in his name, he will do it. Hold on just a minute! Did he actually say that we could ask for anything in his name? Yes, he did! Why then do we fail so much in asking for anything? Is it we really do not believe him? Yes, we also say that it has to be in accordance with his will.

1 John 5:13-15

 14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us — whatever we ask — we know that we have what we asked of him.

NIV

Maybe we get stuck on this issue, his will, and spend too much time trying to determine his will, rather than just asking anything in his name. Maybe we want to give ourselves an “Out” rather than simply believing. Granted, we most likely should not ask him to give us a million dollars or something really self-centered. Maybe we should be asking for things that bring glory to the Father. What about doing greater things than Jesus? What does that mean? What did he do? He healed, he taught, he spoke the truth, he brought glory to the Father. He fed people, he turned water into wine. He led people to God. That doesn't seem too much, does it? Why do we think we cannot do that also if we ask Jesus to do it through us? We do have to say we have had some super fabulous miracles in our lives. However, do we get caught up in the ideologies of the world too much and start looking to human effort, rather than faith in Jesus? It seems many believers spend much of their time trying to live a holy life, rather than doing greater things than Jesus did, by simply asking him for anything in his name and watching him do it. It seems it does appear easier to do things ourselves, then trust in Jesus. Sure, we know we cannot save ourselves and we have to believe in him for salvation, but after that, what else to we believe in him for? We think it is time to get back to pure belief. To start believing in Jesus for every aspect of our lives, doing greater things than he did, whatever that looks like, we are ready. We know that we are in Christ and he is in us and that we and the Father are one, we are one with Christ, we are united with God, so then we should be living as though we are, asking him for whatever brings him glory.

Way, Truth, Life

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

WAY, TRUTH, LIFE

John 14:5-7

14:1 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going." 

5 Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" 6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him." 

NIV

We already dealt with verses 1-4, but it is good to include them as so we can see the next words in context. Now that Jesus said that they know the way to the place he is going, Thomas responses that he does not know where Jesus is going so how can he now the way. Hasn’t he been listening? After three years of spending every waking moment in the presence of Jesus, hearing every word Jesus has spoken and it seems he hasn’t heard or understood a thing. Jesus, being the loving Savior that he is, explains it as plainly as it could be. He tells Thomas and of course the others that he is the way and the truth and the life. This is one of the most famous words Jesus has spoken. We know them, we quote them and we believe them. Why is it so difficult for some people to understand Jesus is the only way to get to the Father?  We should not even consider praying to God unless we pray in the name of Jesus. We certainly cannot go to heaven unless we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. It is not about being a good person. It is not about acting all holy and righteous. It is not about doing good deeds. Although all those things are good things, they will not gain us access to God or eternal life. Jesus is the only way. There is no other way. It is not as if we wanted to travel to some destination and we took a look at a map and found we could get to our destination several different routes. There is only one route, one path we have to take in order to get to the Father. Whoever said, “there are many paths to God” is simply a liar, or they are just a stupid or foolish person. There is only one path to God, Jesus. Jesus answers the question of the ages, “Who is God, what does he look like?” If we know Jesus, as we certainly can know him, we know God. Besides we have the entire Old Testament where God reveals himself to his creation through so many ways, it would be impossible, if we read with reason, not to know God. We not only know the character of God through his words and actions, we have the Spirit dwelling within us witnessing to our spirit who God is. People simply suppress that truth because they do not want to be accountable to God for their deeds which are considered, by God, as evil. This also does not mean because we know God and have the Spirit testifying within us about God and about Jesus being the only way to the Father, we are perfect human beings either and that we still have sin, which is again considered, by God, as evil. But we know it, we are convicted of that fact and we repent and try to live a life pleasing to him for we know he is the only way, he is the truth and he is the life. We cannot have any of that without Jesus. We cannot go that way, we cannot understand the truth, and we certainly cannot have life unless we go by the way of Jesus. All other ways are wrong, they are lies and they lead to death.

Final Destination

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

FINAL DESTINATION

John 14:1-4

14:1 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going." 

NIV

Our destination is not the grave, but a room in the house of God. That old song about there is a mansion just over the hilltop might make us think about all of us having some great mansion in the mountain of God, but the Greek word simply means an abode, a staying place. This implies a permanent place, someplace that will not be taken from us or that we would have to leave. Wherever and whatever we have in this temporal life on earth can be taken from us and it is for certain we are going to have to leave it. It seems there is a lot of troubled hearts over this temporal residence. Some people are filled with so much anxiety over so much that is only temporary. There can also be anxiety about what happens after death. Jesus tells us that we should not be anxious about what happens after we die. Because we trust in God and in Jesus, because we have put our trust in him, accepting him as our Lord and Savior, we are going to heaven. There is no doubt whatsoever. Jesus has told us that he has gone to prepare this place for us and that he is coming back to take us to be at home with him. So many times we plan trips to a certain destination, just as we most recently did when we went to Israel. So much planning, we spent over a year, getting ready. We had meetings at church, learning the spiritual significance of places we would be. We spent way more time in preparation than we did at the destination. But our final destination, heaven, is going to be quite different. Of course, we are now spending a lot of time in preparation for this final trip. But when we get there we will never ever leave it to return to our temporary residence again. Although we are spending much time getting ready, it really is just a jump in faith. It is not as though there is really anything else we need to do in order to make the journey with the Lord to that place he has prepared for us, other than putting our trust in him. We cannot buy this place, we cannot earn this place, we cannot repay him for this place he is giving us, we can only trust in him. Sure, we desire to live a life worthy of our calling. Yes, we desire to live in a manner that pleases him. Of course, we want to know as much about him and his word as we can. But the simple fact remains, in order to get to heaven we just have to trust in him. He is the only way we are going to make that trip. He is the only way we are going to get to that destination. We cannot even live a life worthy of him, without him. We are incapable of being pure and holy and righteous without him. Our whole life is completely dependent on him. He is the only way to our final destination. Some day we will be home at last.