Today’s Reading: John 16:5-33; Psalm 52

“But now I am going away to the one who sent me, and not one of you is asking where I am going. Instead, you grieve because of what I’ve told you. But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you.” – John 16:5-7

Jesus keeps mentioning this Advocate that will soon be sent to the disciples. Jesus will be leaving them soon, but he wants his followers to know that they will not be alone. Over and over again, he explains to them the role the Spirit will play in their lives. Let’s take time this morning to recognize the presence of the Holy Spirit and the role this Advocate plays in our lives.

THE SPIRIT LEADS US INTO ALL TRUTH.

“And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives WITH you now and later will be IN you.” – John 14:16-17

The most common weapon the enemy uses against us is lies. In fact, Jesus referred to him as the Father of Lies (John 8:44) because he loves to confuse us through deception and false thoughts. He spreads misinformation about Jesus and about Christians, discrediting our faith and twisting our intentions. If he can get this world to believe that faith in God brings bondage instead of freedom, he can deceive us into remaining slaves to sin.

The lies of the enemy have made their way into our schools, the church, our homes, and our thought life. So many people today find themselves questioning the truths of scripture, and the father of lies celebrates the resulting confusion and conflict. We need to pray for the Spirit of Truth to guide our thoughts and strengthen our faith according to the heart of the Father so that we will not wander away from the one and only Truth.

“But I will send you the Advocate—the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about me.” – John 15:26

THE SPIRIT IS OUR GUIDE, TEACHING US AND REMINDING US OF THE WORDS OF JESUS.

“When the Father sends the Advocate as my representative – that is, the Holy Spirit – he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.” – John 14:26

The Spirit is that still small voice we hear — the voice that reminds us of the words of Jesus, or who speaks peace over our fear and anxiety. When we have a decision to make or when we search for understanding of something we have read in the bible, the Spirit is available to guide our thoughts and teach us what we need to know.

JESUS COMMUNICATES WITH US THROUGH THE SPIRIT, MAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO REMAIN IN FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM.

But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ. – 1 John 2:27

And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us. Those who obey God’s commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us. – 1 John 3:23-24

“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, ‘The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me.’” – John 16:13-15

THE SPIRIT CONVICTS US OF OUR SIN, REMINDING US THAT RIGHTEOUSNESS IS AVAILABLE FOR US.

“And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me. Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more. Judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged.” – John 16:8-11

I am so thankful for the work of the Holy Spirit in my life. It is the voice of the Holy Spirit that convicts me of my sin and guides me into truth. It is through this Spirit of truth that I hear from Jesus. It is the work of the Spirit that changes me and strengthens me, producing fruit in my life – the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

Did you catch that first fruit? He produces love in me! Isn’t that great?!! The love the Spirit produces in me is what makes it possible for me to do as Jesus commands – to love each other. The Spirit produces the love of Christ in me and, when I do what He has asked me to do, I remain in that love! As the Spirit produces love in me, I remain in the love of Jesus and He remains in the love of the Father.

Lord, thank you so much for the gift of the Holy Spirit — the Advocate who is daily guiding me and teaching me. Thank you for the blessing of the fruit I experience from the indwelling of the Spirit within me. This love I now have access to is daily empowering me to love others as you love them. And thank you for the role the Spirit plays in helping me resist temptation and frees me from the bondage of my sinful nature. Because of your Spirit, I do not have to sin. Praise God for this wonderful gift! Amen.

Today’s Reading: John 15:9 – 16:4; Psalm 41

“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.” – John 15:9-10

This week we have talked about Jesus’ instructions for us to trust him, to believe in him, and to obey him. Yesterday we studied the analogy that God is the gardener, Jesus is the true vine, and we are his branches. In these verses, Jesus helps us see how our connection with him becomes the source of our obedience to what he is asking us to do.

WHEN WE STAY CONNECTED TO THE VINE, WE FIND THE SOURCE OF LOVE NEEDED TO CHOOSE OBEDIENCE.

“I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.” – John 15:11-14

The greatest commandment we have received from the Lord is to love God by loving others. Not only did Jesus give us an example of what love looks like by the way he lived and also by the way he died, he provides a connection with him that resources us with all the love we need to walk out this command to love each other. Not only do we have the love of Jesus running through our veins, the Lord also fills us with joy!

WHEN WE REMAIN IN HIS LOVE, WE EXPERIENCE AN ABUNDANCE OF JOY, AS WELL AS A FRIENDSHIP WITH JESUS.

“I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. This is my command: Love each other.” – John 15:15-17

We have all been chosen for a relationship with Jesus. God has a plan for each of us to experience this connection with the vine that changes us forever. Yes, our obedience is about submission to the authority and wisdom of God, but it is also about our love for the One who calls us his friend. When we remain in His love, we are able to produce an authentic love for others. And from this love, fruit is born.

EVEN THOUGH THE NATURAL OUTFLOW OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS IS AUTHENTIC LOVE AND OVERFLOWING JOY, THE WORLD WILL HATE US JUST AS THEY HATED JESUS.

“If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. Do you remember what I told you? “A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you. They will do all this to you because of me, for they have rejected the one who sent me.” – John 15:18-21

Have you experienced this yet? Have you found yourself despised or criticized for your faith? It can be discouraging when the love we are showing the world is rejected, but Jesus said to expect this. If they reject God and despise the name of Jesus, they are also capable of hating us for what we believe and for how we live.

“If I hadn’t done such miraculous signs among them that no one else could do, they would not be guilty. But as it is, they have seen everything I did, yet they still hate me and my Father. This fulfills what is written in their Scriptures: ‘They hated me without cause.’” – John 15:24-25

If they can hate Jesus for no good reason, we can expect that the world will also hate us without cause. It will not feel fair, because it is not fair. It is helpful for us to remember that God does not promise us earthly justice. Jesus warned us that the world will neither understand our faith nor tolerate our righteous living. Many of his followers walked away from Jesus because they did not want to experience this persecution, and we have that same choice to make. Jesus did not warn us about this rejection in order to cast fear into our hearts, but rather to strengthen our faith for what is ahead.

“I have told you these things so that you won’t abandon your faith. For you will be expelled from the synagogues, and the time is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing a holy service for God. This is because they have never known the Father or me. Yes, I’m telling you these things now, so that when they happen, you will remember my warning.” – John 16:1-4a

IF WE WANT TO REMAIN STRONG AGAINST THE HATE WE RECEIVE FROM THIS WORLD, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE REMAIN CONNECTED TO THE VINE.

Our relationship with Jesus is what strengthens us when times get tough. It provides us with the love we need to respond in love even when we are receiving hate; it provides us with the joy we need when this life brings us sorrow and pain. When we remain in His love, we are never alone because Jesus gives us the gift of the Holy Spirit.

“But I will send you the Advocate—the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about me.” – John 15:26

Lord, thank you so much for the encouragement we receive when we spend time in your word. Thank you for preparing us for our toughest moments through your words of exhortation as well as the gift of the Holy Spirit. Thank you for this time in your presence, healing us from what we have experienced and preparing us for what is ahead. We are grateful this morning for the love you provide through this connection so that we can show love to those who hate us, and for the joy that fills our hearts when there is no earthly reason to be happy. May our relationship with you be evident to those around us, and may you be glorified through our faith today. Amen.

Today’s Reading: John 15:1-8; Psalm 128

“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you.” – John 15:1-3

Here is another analogy used by Jesus to help his followers understand the relationship between God the Father and Jesus, and the relationship we were created to experience. It’s an analogy that helps us understand the actions of God by using a simple everyday concept.

If you have a plant in your home, you know that it requires some care on your part. You water the soil, and the plant receives nutrients from both the soil and sunlight. You prune the parts of the plant that are keeping the plant from growing, whether that is a dead flower or dry leaves. If you don’t remove these, they continue to take nutrients needed by the rest of the plant. If you want optimal growth, you need to tend to the weakest parts in order to strengthen the rest of the plant.

“Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.” – John 15:4

In the same way, we need to remain rooted in Christ in order to remain healthy and experience spiritual growth. We were not created to replicate the actions of Jesus or obey his commands by our own strength. No, we were created for a relationship with the gardener and for a strong connection with the vine — the source of everything we need. When we stop trying to do things for God and instead allow God to do things through us, we experience a grapevine relationship with God. He prunes away what we do not need, sometimes cutting away that which is preventing us from growing. This loss isn’t always easy, but we can trust that the gardener is still tending to our needs, even in the midst of our grief or loss.

“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” – John 15:5

I AM CREATED TO BEAR FRUIT.

Our purpose in life is to be used by God for Kingdom purposes — to bear fruit. This can only happen when we remain connected to the vine. When I spend time each morning reading God’s word and saturating in His presence, I not only experience the encouragement and nourishment that I need, I am also equipped to be used by God in the lives of others. My perspective changes from what I want to do to what God wants to do through me.

“Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned.” – John 15:6

I AM COMMANDED TO BEAR FRUIT.

Let’s consider Jesus’ analogy again. A branch that stops producing fruit is cut off from the vine. It is no longer useful to the plant; it is taking nutrients without using them for growth. Perhaps the gardener first does a little pruning, encouraging this portion of the plant to perk up and come back to life. If the branch continues to be fruitless, if it is not remaining in this connection with the vine, it will eventually dry up and wither. No longer a useful portion of the plant, the branch will be removed and cast aside.

There is a part of me that is uncomfortable with this analogy. We know we serve a God of grace who is patient with us, and it can be difficult to see Him as the gardener who is pruning off the branches. But it helps me to realize that living a fruitless life is a choice we make. When we live as if we do not need that connection with the vine, we are choosing to be less than God created us to be. Without the nourishment of a current relationship with Jesus, we begin relying on ourselves instead of trusting in God.

WHEN I CHOOSE NOT TO BE CONNECTED TO THE VINE, I LIVE A WITHERED AND DRIED UP VERSION OF THE BRANCH I WAS CREATED TO BE.

“But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great joy to my Father.” – John 15:7-8

Let’s not focus so much on the last half of this sentence that we miss the context provided in the first half – IF you remain in me and my words remain in you, THEN you may ask for anything you want and it will be granted. Are we experiencing God answering our prayers? If not, perhaps we should consider whether or not we are connected to the source. Are we living each day in relationship with the vine, saturating in the presence of the Holy Spirit so that evidence of this relationship can be seen by others? Are we remaining in this connection to the true source of life?

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with my Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask for anything in my name, and I will do it!” – John 14:12-14

Jesus, thank you so much for our time together this morning. Thank you for the reminder that I am to remain in this connection all day long, relying on your strength and responding to your Spirit. Lord, use me today in the lives of each person I come in contact with. Fill me with your Spirit so that my words are not my own and my response to every situation is filled with your grace and truth. Prune away anything in my life that is keeping me from being all you created me to be, and make me into the fruitful child of God you want me to be. Amen.

Today’s Reading: John 14:18-31 and 15:9-17; Psalm 50

“If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth.” – John 14:15-17a

IF YOU LOVE ME, OBEY MY COMMANDMENTS. – John 14:15

It’s a simple but very strong statement made by Jesus. He goes on to explain what it looks like for someone to respond to their love for Jesus by obeying what He has told them to do and how He has told them to live.

“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. This is my command: Love each other.” – John 15:9-17

YOU ARE MY FRIENDS IF YOU DO WHAT I COMMAND. – John 15:14

This is another strong statement made by Jesus. If you truly love me, if you are really my friend, you will obey what I command. He then goes on to clearly define what He is commanding His friends to do – Love each other! Love each other the way I have loved you. I am about to lay my life down for you, my friends. That is the kind of love I am asking from you – to love me with that kind of love and to love each other with that kind of love.

That is a strong request for Jesus to ask from us – no, not a request but a command. Some people are easier to love than others. We are human and Jesus is asking us to do something that stretches us beyond ourselves. But Jesus does not ask us to love in our own strength. We could, for a very little while, but our love for others would not last long if we are trying to produce something from nothing – love for someone who is hard to love, who possibly does not give love in return.

We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. – 1 John 4:16

Jesus goes on to explain how this is going to work. He is going to remain in the Father and we are going to remain in Him and He is going to remain in us through the gift of the Holy Spirit. This connection is where the Father and His Son make their HOME with each of us. It is in this connection that Jesus reveals Himself to us because He loves us and we love Him, therefore God loves us! Let’s look at the Scripture that draws the picture of our connection with God the Father and Jesus the Son.

“When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in the Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them…All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our HOME with each of them. Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me.” – John 14:20-21, 23-24a

ANYONE WHO DOESN’T LOVE ME WILL NOT OBEY ME. – John 14:24a

Obey me because you love; love by obeying. His instructions are simple and his gift of the Holy Spirit is generous. He does not ask us to do something he has not equipped us to do. Let’s open up our hearts and allow God to make His HOME in us.

“If you keep to my path,
I will reveal to you the salvation of God.” – Psalm 50:23b

Today’s Reading: John 14:6-17; Psalm 106

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!” — John 14:6-7

The disciples were confused. Thomas spoke up — How can we know the way if we don’t know where you are going? Jesus replied — You know the way because you know me and I am the way. Philip was next. “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied” (14:8). Don’t you know who I am?! Try to understand. If you know me, you know the Father because the Father is in me.

“Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do.” – John 14:10-11

YOU CAN BELIEVE IN ME.

The disciples had seen Jesus heal the sick, raise the dead, feed the multitudes, calm the storm, and more. It was important that they take their experience of Jesus and allow it to build not just their faith but also their understanding. Just as Jesus was able to do all of these things because the Father was in him, the disciples would be able to do even more if they could just fully believe!

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it! – John 14:12-14

Here is a verse that has been misinterpreted over and over again. We have to consider the context in order to discover the promise. Jesus would continue to do amazing things on earth, but he would be doing it through his disciples — through those whom he had called, those who believed, and those who lived out their faith through their obedience. He would remain actively involved, answering their prayers and equipping them for this call.

“If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.” – John 14:15-17

The Holy Spirit was already among them and would soon be living within them, working through them so that they could continue to be the hands and feet of Jesus. And the same applies to us today. Jesus wants to do miraculous things in the lives of those around us, but it requires both our faith and our obedience. No one can find their way to the Father except through Jesus, and he has called us to carry that message to those who are lost — to introduce them to Jesus so that they, too, can be filled with the Holy Spirit and be available for Jesus to work through.

If you know me, if you believe in me, if you love me, if you obey me, ask for anything in my name and I will do it. When the Holy Spirit lives in us, we are available to be used by God for the sake of His Kingdom. Praise be to the One who lives in us and works through us. To God be the glory! Great things He has done and continues to do. Amen.

I BELIEVE IN YOU, LORD.

Praise the Lord!
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
His faithful love endures forever.
Who can list the glorious miracles of the Lord?
Who can ever praise him enough?
There is joy for those who deal justly with others
and always do what is right.
Remember me, Lord, when you show favor to your people;
come near and rescue me.
Let me share in the prosperity of your chosen ones.
Let me rejoice in the joy of your people;
let me praise you with those who are your heritage. – Psalm 106:1-5

Today’s Reading: John 14:1-7; Psalm 21

“I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” – John 14:27

The disciples were unaware of what was ahead, but Jesus knew. He spoke the words he wanted them to remember when times ahead became difficult – TRUST ME. When you are faced with uncertainty or confusion, do not be troubled or afraid. Place your trust in me and I will give you peace of mind and heart.

YOU CAN TRUST ME.

Peace of mind and heart — what a wonderful gift! I can look back at so many moments in my life when the weight of uncertainty and the possibility of loss threatened to undo me, but then the Lord gave me a sense of peace that was unexplainable. Whatever is going on in your life right now, I pray for God to give you peace over your thoughts and anxiety, as well as peace over your fear and confusion. When your first response is to be angry, I pray that the Lord gives you the gift of calm as you trust in Him.

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.”

“No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?” – John 14:1-5

Thomas was probably not the only disciple who was feeling a sense of panic or confusion, but he was the one willing to speak up and ask the question. They had spent the last three years following Jesus and now he was going on ahead of them. Instead of following him, they were going to have to wait patiently for Jesus to return. Jesus knew they were troubled, so he spoke words of truth over them, revealing his identity to them once again.

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!” — John 14:6-7

Here is another amazing gift from Jesus — the experience of God! By placing our trust in Jesus, we find ourselves experiencing the way, the truth, and the life. We have always been known by God, but choosing to follow Jesus, the Way, opens up our lives to the covenant relationship for which we were created.

These last few years, God has taken me on a journey of faith and trust. When faced with an unfamiliar situation, I can hear God say, “Trust me.” When faced with a tough decision, I can hear God say, “Trust me.” When asked to let go of something God has given me, I can hear God say, “Trust me.” When asked to walk away from the known into the unknown, I can hear God say again, “Trust me.” So again this morning, I place my family in God’s hands and choose to trust Him with what is next. I choose faith in the God who keeps saying, “Trust me.” He is worthy of my trust and it is in Him that I put my hope.

I CAN TRUST YOU, GOD.

But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. – Psalm 56:3

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. – Proverbs 3:5-6

Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths.
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior and my hope is in you all day long. – Psalm 25:4-5

When what is ahead is unknown, we can submit to God’s sovereignty and say – I trust you, Lord. Show me your perfect ways and teach me how to walk the path you have set before me. Guide me in what is true and teach me what you need me to learn. You are my God and you are my Savior. I place my hope in you no matter what today brings. I trust you — all day long.

This morning, I pray that you hear God’s voice saying, “Trust me.” I pray the response of your heart is to say with confidence – You are God, my Savior, and my hope is in YOU all day long!

Praise the Lord! For he has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving. The Lord gives his people strength. – Psalm 28:6-8a

But I am trusting you, O Lord, saying, “You are my God!” My future is in your hands. – Psalm 31:14-15a

Today’s Reading: John 13:31-38; Psalm 58

Jesus, our Savior, poured out his life as a sacrifice for our sins. He knew what was ahead and willingly accepted the role of the sacrificial lamb. His body would be broken and his blood would confirm the covenant between Creator and creation. The next few days would be difficult and he encouraged his disciples to trust God through the pain.

As soon as Judas left the room, Jesus said, “The time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory, and God will be glorified because of him. And since God receives glory because of the Son, he will give his own glory to the Son, and he will do so at once. Dear children, I will be with you only a little longer. And as I told the Jewish leaders, you will search for me, but you can’t come where I am going. — John 13:31-33

Jesus was talking about dying, and Peter was beside himself. He did not understand what was happening or why it needed to happen. He had more questions than he had answers. He wanted to know where Jesus was going. He couldn’t imagine life without his friend, his teacher, so he desperately tried to come up with a way to stop his world from spinning. He tried to negotiate and volunteered to die in Jesus’ place.

“I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?”

Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.”

Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”

Jesus answered, “Die for me? I tell you the truth, Peter – before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.” – John 13:34-38

As much as he was willing, it was not part of the plan for Peter to die for Jesus. If Jesus had allowed Peter to have his way, it would have changed the plan of salvation. God sent His Son as the Passover Lamb and it was time to become a sacrifice for the sins of all mankind, even if it meant saying no to his loyal follower.

It is not easy to get a “no” from God. It comes with all the emotions of disappointment, frustration, grief, and more. The next thing to happen in our life often feels out of our control, but it is in these moments that we learn to let go and truly trust in God. Perhaps that is what you need to do today.

“If you trust me, you are trusting not only me, but also God who sent me. For when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me. I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark.” – John 12:44-46

We often walk away not understanding the bigger picture of God’s plan — why He allows some things to happen and others not to happen. But we are His children and He is our Savior, and in that we find our HOPE. Let’s sit at His feet and learn from the One who willingly died for us. Let’s trust God and allow Him to be the light that shines into our situation; let’s pray for Him to replace our confusion with clarity.

Today’s Reading: John 13:18-30; Psalm 101

But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said, “That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” Not that he cared for the poor – he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself. – John 12:4-6

What happened to Judas? When Jesus invited him to be one of his disciples, Judas left everything to follow this man who could heal the sick and raise the dead. I often wonder if Judas was ever “all in” — did he ever fully believe that Jesus was the promised Messiah, or was he just there out of curiosity.

We know from John 12:6 that Judas often took money that belonged to the other disciples, evidence that he lacked integrity. When Mary poured expensive perfume on the feet of Jesus, Judas objected to her display of affection and called it wasteful. He could not wrap his mind around someone loving another person with that kind of extravagance. And here Jesus was, kneeling in front of Judas and washing his feet. Jesus was displaying his extravagant love for Judas, yet he missed the opportunity to reciprocate that love. While others were humbled by this gesture, Judas was seeking his own gain.

“Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill this passage of Scripture: ‘He who shared my bread has turned against me.’ I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am. Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.”

After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.” — John 13:16-21

The disciples were confused, so one of them leaned back against Jesus and asked him who would betray him. When Jesus dipped the piece of bread in the dish and then handed it to Judas, he revealed the heart of one who had been their brother for the last three years. Not only was Judas about to betray Jesus, he was betraying the friends who had done life with him. When Judas reached for the bread, he made the choice to walk away from the fellowship that had been available to him. Because his heart was not fully surrendered to Jesus, he was now available for Satan to enter and use (13:27).

Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests and asked, “How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?” And they gave him thirty pieces of silver. From that time on, Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus. – Matthew 26:14-16

Judas went out seeking an opportunity to gain financially and he found it. Judas had spent all of that time following without ever becoming an authentic follower of Jesus.

What is our response today to the extravagant love of Jesus? Are we fully surrendered and committed to follow Jesus wherever he might lead us, or are we seeking self-gain? When attending church becomes routine or a social opportunity, we begin to critique the church and its leadership. It makes it easy for us to jump from one church to another when we are attending for self-gain instead of looking for an authentic worship experience — not an experience where I am entertained, but one where my heart is fully focused on God. I want God to be pleased with my worship of Him. I want to love Him extravagantly, humbly worshiping him with a heart of integrity.

To the faithful you show yourself faithful; to those with integrity you show integrity. — Psalm 18:25

I will sing of your love and justice, Lord.
I will praise you with songs.
I will be careful to live a blameless life—
when will you come to help me?
I will lead a life of integrity
in my own home. – Psalm 101:1-2

Today’s Reading: John 13:1-17; Psalm 134

Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end. — John 13:1

What a beautiful verse! Jesus was aware of the suffering he was about to experience, yet his focus was on those he had come to love. They had walked beside Jesus on this journey of life, listening to him teach the crowds, watching him heal the sick, and standing in awe as he raised the dead. Jesus was aware of how difficult the next week would be for those who had daily been by his side. They were more than just followers, they were friends; at one time they had been fans of Jesus, but now they were family.

Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. — John 13:3-5

Jesus knew where he had been and he knew where he was going, but he was present in this moment with his disciples. Today was about them and Jesus chose to be intentional in order to teach them one more time. When he was gone, they would be able to look back at this moment and know how much he loved them. They would also know how to show this same kind of love towards others.

When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. — John 13:12-17

Now that you know these things, will you do them? With knowledge comes the responsibility to take action. The life of Jesus should be studied for the sake of allowing it to change our lives. It is not just about gaining an understanding of the scriptures, it is about living out our relationship with Christ so that Jesus can continue his ministry both in us and through us.

He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
“No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” — John 13:6-8

As Jesus was washing the feet of the disciples, he took time to help the one who was struggling to understand. He sensed Peter’s discomfort and took the time to patiently reveal what needed to happen. Clarity would come later; now was the time for obedience. Peter needed to decide if he was willing to submit to God’s plan, no matter how uncomfortable. If he chose pride, it would keep him from fully experiencing all that was ahead. He had shown his willingness to give when he walked away from his fishing boats to follow Jesus, but Peter also needed to learn how to receive, because Jesus did not just want to do something through Peter, he wanted to do something in Peter.

“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. — John 13:9-11

Following Jesus requires surrender. Are you willing to walk this journey with Jesus even when you lack the clarity to know where he is taking you or what he is doing? He is drawing us near to him in order to minister to our needs before He uses us to minister to the needs of others. And after we have allowed him to cleanse us, Jesus wants us to humbly love others in the same way he loves us. Are you all in? Feet, hands, head, all of it!

Today’s Reading: John 12:12-50; Psalm 92

As Jesus was leaving Bethany to head to Jerusalem for the week of Passover, crowds began to meet him. Everyone wanted to see Jesus.

Many in the crowd had seen Jesus call Lazarus from the tomb, raising him from the dead, and they were telling others about it. That was the reason so many went out to meet him – because they had heard about this miraculous sign. Then the Pharisees said to each other, “There’s nothing we can do. Look, everyone has gone after him!” – John 12:17-19

BECAUSE OF THE MIRACLES

The crowd was excited to greet Jesus because of all of the miracles they had either seen him perform or heard others talk about. They were drawn towards Jesus in anticipation of what he might do next. Some came with their own needs, hoping for a healing; some came out of curiosity, hoping to see something spectacular. Some believed that Jesus was the promised Messiah while others were still undecided.

A large crowd of Passover visitors took palm branches and went down the road to meet him. They shouted,
“Praise God!
Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hail to the King of Israel!”
Jesus found a young donkey and rode on it, fulfilling the prophecy that said:
“Don’t be afraid, people of Jerusalem.
Look, your King is coming,
riding on a donkey’s colt.” – John 12:12b-15

We still see this reaction today — a what-can-Jesus-do-for-me approach to religion. But when we follow Christ with the expectation that life will be full of blessings and nothing will ever go wrong, we have a crisis of faith when life gets hard. And, as all of us can testify, life definitely gets hard.

But despite all the miraculous signs Jesus had done, most of the people still did not believe in him. This is exactly what Isaiah the prophet had predicted:
“Lord, who has believed our message?
To whom has the Lord revealed his powerful arm? – John 12:37-38

DESPITE THE MIRACLES

Despite the fact that the lame were walking and the mute were talking, many remained skeptical. Despite the fact that the blind could see and the deaf could hear, many still struggled to believe that Jesus Christ of Nazareth could possibly be the promised Messiah. Their understanding was limited to the temporary things of this world instead of looking beyond to the eternal.

“Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels – a plentiful harvest of new lives. Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. Anyone who wants to be my disciple must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.” – John 12:23-26

As we finish up our Thanksgiving traditions and begin our celebration of Christmas, let’s maintain an attitude of thankfulness for all Jesus did for us through his birth, life, death and resurrection. Let’s live for how Jesus can work through us, rather than what God’s blessings could do for us. Let’s recognize the many blessings we daily have because of the generosity of our God, and let’s trust Him for all that He has yet to provide. Eyes focused on heaven, let’s praise the Lord for all He has done for us!

BECAUSE HE IS GOOD

It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
to sing praises to the Most High.
It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning,
your faithfulness in the evening,
accompanied by a ten-stringed instrument, a harp,
and the melody of a lyre.
You thrill me, Lord, with all you have done for me!
I sing for joy because of what you have done.
O Lord, what great works you do!
And how deep are your thoughts.
Only a simpleton would not know,
and only a fool would not understand this:
Though the wicked sprout like weeds
and evildoers flourish,
they will be destroyed forever. – Psalm 92:1-7