{"id":2411,"date":"2017-08-07T04:41:44","date_gmt":"2017-08-07T04:41:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.biblestudies4you.com\/?page_id=2411"},"modified":"2017-08-07T04:41:44","modified_gmt":"2017-08-07T04:41:44","slug":"devotions-from-johns-gospel","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.biblestudies4you.com\/?page_id=2411","title":{"rendered":"Devotions from John’s Gospel"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Devotions from the Book of John.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Each of the Gospels tell of different incidents in the beginning of the life and ministry of our Lord, and it is hard to put it into consecutive order. Matthew tells of His birth, His baptism and temptation before going into the sermon He gave on the Mount; Mark tells of John Baptist\u2019s ministry of repentance and baptism\u2026of the baptism of our Lord, then His time in Galilee when He met and called Peter and Andrew, then James and John, and later on the rest of the twelve. Luke gives a full account of His birth and then of John\u2019s preaching and ministry, and finally his imprisonment. Then he tells of His baptism and temptation and how the people of Nazareth rejected His teaching. John tells us nothing of His birth, but launches straight into the ministry of John the Baptist, our Lord\u2019s baptism and the calling of the first four disciples\u2026..<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>The Word.<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John 1:1-3<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

John begins his Gospel with a statement that cannot be argued with\u2026.In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word WAS God! He then goes on to show what the Word did\u2026\u201dAll things were made by Him and without Him was not anything made that was made\u201d\u2026\u2026<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

We read later in the Bible that it was God\u2019s Son Who made the\u00a0 universe, making the earth within it to be the home of human beings who would be able to fellowship with Him. This One is the brightness of God\u2019s glory and the exact mage of His Person, because He is part of the Godhead (Hebrews 1:2-3)<\/em>. We are told so many things about the Word of God\u2026.there is the Living Word who is our Lord Jesus Christ, and there is the written Word which we have as the Bible.<\/p>\n

God\u2019s Word, both living and written, is powerful, even today, and pierces into our very being, speaking things that do not leave us alone until we act on them . Everything that we say and do is open before God and His Word, and we cannot escape it (Hebrews 4:12-13)<\/em> .<\/p>\n

Jesus Christ, the Living Word, Came forth to man from His Father God, <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Word is full of power indeed, But we must read and to it take heed.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>The Word is Light.<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John 1:4-5<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

John now expands what he knows about this One. He lived with and walked beside this One for three years, and is himself described as the \u201cone whom Jesus loved\u201d. For three years he watched what He did and heard what He said, and saw Him rise from the dead and then rise into heaven. Now he writes, \u201cIn Him was life and the life was the light of men\u201d\u2026\u2026<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

It is because of this One that man has life and understanding, and can share in the light of God. Man is made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26)<\/em>, in that he can reason, fellowship with others and more importantly, have fellowship with God, his Maker.<\/p>\n

There is a dark side to things, and man is meant to be a\u00a0 light shining bright against this dark backdrop,\u00a0 light that reflects God\u2019s greater light of goodness and love. Man des not have this light coming from himself, man is meant to be a reflection of God\u2019s light in the way he lives. This is only possible through Jesus Christ\u00a0 living within that man. No other created being on earth has that capability, and no other created being on earth stands up in rebellion against its Maker either! All the animal and plant life follows exactly the pattern that God laid down for it when it was made, but man was given a free will to follow God or not.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Jesus Christ, who made and redeemed man, Sent him forth according to plan,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Man now has to make a choice, To praise or not , God with his voice .<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***<\/p>\n

Enter John Baptist<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John 1: 6-8<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

John\u2019s birth was an unlikely one, having parents deemed too old to ever have children\u00a0 (Luke 1:6-7),\u00a0 and he grew up to be a \u201cdifferent\u201d sort of man. He liked his own company and lived out in the desert, eating locusts and honey from the wild bees (Mark 1:1-6)\u2026..<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John no doubt, had been told by his parents how he was a child specially sent by God, and as he was growing up h must often have pondered about this. The day came when he felt led by God to start preaching, and people flocked to hear him. He wasn\u2019t promoting himself or some new doctrine, he was telling the people that the Messiah was about to arrive on the scene, and that they were to prepare themselves for Him by repenting of their sin and being baptised.<\/p>\n

John\u2019s job was to tell people that the Coming One was the Light of the World, and would show them the true way to God. Man was created to have fellowship with God, and has always had a desire deep within to know Him\u2026with some, this desire has been squashed and eventually gone unrecognised, but others have followed it until it came to fruition.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Jesus Christ gives heaven\u2019s Light, To bring man out of sin\u2019s dark night,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Many did not understand, Bt others came and made God\u2019s band.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>God\u2019s Sent One.<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John 1: 9-14<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

John doesn\u2019t mention anything about the birth of Jesus Christ, but gets straight to the point. This is the Tue Light that he is writing about, the One who came as the God Man to earth to redeem mankind back to God. He is the True Light that can totally identify with man and all his troubles\u2026..<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

There was not one problem that Jesus Christ did not experience apart from sin. Because of this, He is able to help us today as we go through the trials and troubles of life. Here he was, the Creator of all things, and of the people who surrounded Him, and yet people didn\u2019t recognise this; He came to His own chosen people, the Jews, and they didn\u2019t want Him. What rejection! Not even his own brothers believed in Him until after the crucifixion!<\/p>\n

These ones received salvation and the position of sons of God\u2026what a wonderful gift! They had availed themselves of the second birth which gave them new life in Christ, an eternal life with God that will never cease.<\/p>\n

John goes on then to give his own testimony of his time with this wonderful One\u2026even though He was a human being, there was a glory there, a glory of the Eternal Father God, and He was full of grace and graciousness in His dealings with others, and completely truthful. If people thought differently, the problem was with them, not in Him.<\/p>\n

If we feel that He is far away from us, it is we who have moved or allowed some sin of resentment or\u00a0 untruthfulness to creep in, it is not He Who has moved from us. Let us always remember this, and cry out to Him in confession and have that closeness restored once more. (1 John 1:9). <\/em>Let us not allow our pride to keep us from enjoying His fellowship.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Jesus Christ has come to earth, To give each human second birth,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u00a0 now is up to each\u00a0 down here, To keep that fellowship still near.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>John Baptist\u2019s Witness.<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John 1: 15-23<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

John\u2019s job was to announce the coming of the Messiah, and He was there among the people as a humble carpenter doing daily work just like everyone else. But now it was God\u2019s time for Him to come out and to do the work that His Father had sent Him to do\u2026.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John knew this\u2026.we wonder if they had spoken together of this beforehand. They were both men in their prime, aged thirty, with the wisdom of maturity and yet still with the energy of youth. They were ready to do God\u2019s work.<\/p>\n

John already had a following as a preacher of righteousness, and he told the people that there was One who was coming after him who had actually been before him! This was probably all a bit puzzling to the people, but John made it very clear that this One was from God, and He would show this by His life.<\/p>\n

The religious leaders were expecting the Messiah to come, but not as a mere humble carpenter from the little-known town of Nazareth\u2026they thought He wasn\u2019t even well educated ! They thought maybe John was the one, but he made it very clear that he was only the announcer of this Coming One, he wasn\u2019t even\u00a0 Elijah come back to life or any of the other old prophets! When they asked him again who he was, he said he was what the prophet Isaiah had called \u201ca voice crying in the wilderness to make their ways straight\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0Jesus Christ was come indeed, To fulfil man\u2019s deepest need,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John announced that He was here, That He would always remain near.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>John Baptising.<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John 1: 24-34<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Pharisees were puzzled\u2026.\u201cWhy are you baptising people then, if you aren\u2019t the Messiah or one of the prophets?\u201d they asked. John was at the river Jordan and people were coming to him to be baptised to show their repentance of sins. Jesus came to him there too while he was doing this\u2026..<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John doesn\u2019t actually tell us of His baptism, but we read of it elsewhere. Jesus asked John if he would baptise Him too. John was puzzled, he knew this Man had no sin to repent of, he knew that this was God\u2019s\u00a0 pure and perfect Messiah. \u201cI need to be baptised by You\u201d, he said when Jesus made His request, \u201cNot for me to baptise You!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo it\u201d Jesus said, \u201cIt becomes us to fulfil all righteousness\u201d. So John baptised Him and as He came up out of the water, John saw God\u2019s Holy Spirit descend in the same manner as a dove upon Him and heard God\u2019s voice proclaim from heaven, \u201cThis is My Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased!\u201d (Matthew 3:13-17)<\/em>. This was all the confirmation that John needed to be sure that Jesus was the Son of God, and that he could preach this with all confidence. This was indeed the Lamb of God who had come to be the sacrifice for man\u2019s sin!<\/p>\n

\u00a0Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, The One and only Truth and Word,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

God\u2019s Holy Spirit fell on Him, Remained and filled Him to the brim. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>The Disciples Come.<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John 1: 35-51<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

John was watching Jesus the next day and said to two of his disciples who were with him, \u201cLook, here is the Lamb of God!\u201d One of those listening was Andrew, and \u00a0he and his friend followed Him home. They stayed with Him\u2026we wonder what the conversation was! <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Andrew was convinced that Jesus was indeed the Messiah, and he went to find his brother Peter and tell him bout Him. Peter too, went to see Him, and Jesus said, \u201cYour name should be Cephas\u201d, and Peter was known by this name (which means \u201ca stone\u201d) as well.<\/p>\n

The next day, Jesus met Philip and asked him to follow Him as well. Philip was so impressed, that he went to his friend Nathanael and said, \u201cWe\u2019ve found the One who Moses and the prophets wrote about!\u201d<\/p>\n

Nathanael\u2019s response was, \u201cCan anything good come from Nazareth?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCome and see!\u201d said Philip, so Nathanael went with him to meet Him.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re an honest man!\u201d were Jesus\u2019 first words to Nathanael.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow do you know me?\u201d asked Nathanael.<\/p>\n

\u201cI saw you under the fig tree before Philip went to you\u201d, was Jesus\u2019 reply.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh Master!\u201d Nathanael cried, \u201cYou are truly the Son of God!\u201d<\/p>\n

We wonder what it was that Nathanael was pondering on under that fig tree\u2026was he in some deep thought about the future? What was bothering him? Whatever it was, it was enough to convince him that Jesus was the Prophet he was waiting for.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Jesus Christ was King indeed, Nathanael then would take all heed,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

To the\u00a0 things He said that day, He then followed Him all the way. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>The First Miracle.<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John 2: 1-11<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

John\u2019s narrative from here on reads as though all the disciples were with Jesus\u2026.he doesn\u2019t tell us about the call of any of the others, in fact from a careful look at all the records of this, it seems there may have been several meetings between Jesus and His disciples before they followed Him as an entire group all the time\u2026. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

We have the account here of this wedding in Cana where everything was going well until they ran out of wine. Over the years, Mary knew that Jesus could provide things when they were needed, so she went to Him and said, \u201cThey\u2019ve run out of wine!\u201d<\/p>\n

Although His reply seems rather harsh, yet she understood that He was telling her that He would take care of things, and to let Him do things His way. She went to the servants and said, \u201cWhatever He tells you to do, do it!\u201d<\/p>\n

So when He told them to fill the water pots with water and then take them to governor of the feast, they obeyed. We wonder what their thoughts were when the Governor took the first sip and exclaimed, \u201cThis is beautiful wine!\u201d He called the bridegroom over and said, Usually people put out the best wine first, but you\u2019ve kept the best until now!. Amazing!\u201d<\/p>\n

What a challenge this is to us! How often things have looked hopeless, and we\u2019ve been cast on God for the problem, and then we have to wait and see how God will work things out! We have to learn to obey the principles that are given in God\u2019s Word, and stand firm on them. It may not be easy, and others won\u2019t understand, but this is what trusting God is all about.<\/p>\n

Jesus Christ is faithful still, If we do His royal will,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

He will never let us down, If we do not pout or frown.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>Cleansing the Temple<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John 2:12-25<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

We see here the beginning of the public ministry of our Lord\u2026He had demonstrated His power in the miracle of turning the water into wine, and now He moved across to Capernaum briefly with His mother, brothers and disciples. Capernaum was on the shores of the Sea of Galilee\u2026.we wonder if this was when He saw and called James and John to leave their fishing and follow Him\u2026. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John doesn\u2019t dwell on his call, but goes on to tell of our Lord\u2019s trip to Jerusalem and what He found when He got to the temple. Things had got so slack in the sacrificing of the animals at the temple, that the agents who handled them had moved right into the temple court with them. There was noise, smell and confusion as the selling and bargaining went on in the place where there should have been peace and quietness with the priests going about their tasks of presenting the sacrifices to God.<\/p>\n

Jesus went into the midst of this busyness, and had a small whip with Him which He used to chase the animals out and tipped the money changer\u2019s tables over saying as He did so, \u201cTake these things away, and don\u2019t make My Father\u2019s house a place of business!\u201d<\/p>\n

The religious leaders asked what He thought He was doing and He made one of His cryptic comments that He was so famous for\u2026.\u201dIf you destroy this temple, I\u2019ll raise it up again in three days!\u201d They thought He was talking about the temple building, but He was actually referring to the temple of His body and His death and resurrection three days later. So many times in His ministry, He used physical things which the people understood to teach them spiritual truths! This was one of them.<\/p>\n

\u00a0The temple was built for worship and prayer, But greedy men had\u00a0 their business there, <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

It had to be cleansed and fit for the Lord, Then praise to Him could be freely poured. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>Concept of New Birth.<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John 3: 1-21<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

We now read of Nicodemus, one of the religious leaders who came to Jesus one evening to talk to Him. We are not told why he came at night, and it is not for us to give reasons why he did. The main thing is that he came, and his first words were an acknowledgement that Jesus was come from God\u2026.. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

This is where each one of us has to start in our relationship with Him\u2026He is the ONLY way, truth and life (chapter 14:6)<\/em> to God the Father. Jesus immediately went straight to what Nicodemus was really wanting to know\u2026He said, \u201cYou have to born again to see God\u2019s kingdom!\u201d<\/p>\n

This concept was totally foreign to Nicodemus\u2026\u201dHowever can that be? I\u2019m a grown man!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re a teacher of the people and yet you can\u2019t understand that I\u2019m talking of a spiritual birth, not a physical one? Remember how Moses put the snake on the pole in the wilderness so the people could look at it and live when they were bitten? Just as the snake was lifted up, so must I be lifted up to bring spiritual healing. All you have to do is to believe with all your heart that I am He, God\u2019s only begotten Son, and you will have everlasting life! If you don\u2019t believe this, you will remain condemned and in the darkness that you\u2019ve been born in. I have come as a light to the world, but men love darkness rather than light in case their evil deeds are shown up!\u201d<\/p>\n

There, the record of the conversation ends. But we have one more indication of Nicodemus\u2019 heart belief\u2026he helped in taking down Jesus\u2019 body off the cross after the crucifixion. Then he fully understood the meaning of Jesus\u2019 illustration of the snake being on the pole!<\/p>\n

\u00a0Parables were used to fully explain, God\u2019s truths to men so they would gain,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Understanding of deeper things, Things that to God glory bring. \u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>John Understood.<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John 3: 22-36<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Jesus moved around from one end of the country of Israel to the other. He moved to the area of Judea, and taught the people, calling for repentance of sins and baptising people there. John too, was moving around baptising people as he had not yet been imprisoned\u2026.. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John\u2019s disciples were a bit concerned about the fact that Jesus was baptising people too, and told him this. John reminded them that he had always said that the Messiah would come after him, that he was only like the friend of the bridegroom standing by him. He was watching Him increase while he (John) knew he must decrease in the face of this One who had come from heaven.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe is far superior to any prophet on earth, He is the actual Son of God! People must believe on Him, Jesus Christ, to receive everlasting life, and if they don\u2019t then God\u2019s wrath and judgement will be on that person for ever!\u201d John told his disciples, and with that the conversation ceased.<\/p>\n

These are serious words and are still valid today, two thousand years after they were spoken. This is still the message for today and we must take heed to it if we want to be sure of entering God\u2019s presence for ever. The alternative doesn\u2019t bear thinking about. We really have no option at all\u2026.believe in Jesus Christ or be damned for ever!<\/p>\n

\u00a0Jesus Christ has come to earth, To give to man the second birth,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Man has no option but to\u00a0 believe, Eternal life will then receive! <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>The Needy Woman.<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John\u00a0 4:1-15<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Jesus left the area of Judea and headed north again for Galilee. Instead of skirting around the area of Samaria which most Jewish travellers did, He insisted they were going to go through it. He had an important mission there, a date with an unnamed\u00a0 woman\u2026..<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

It was midday when they reached the town of Sychar, and Jesus sat on the edge of the well, knowing that this woman was about to come and draw water from it. The disciples went off into the town to buy some lunch, and so He was alone when she arrived.<\/p>\n

\u201cCan you give me a drink?\u201d Jesus asked.<\/p>\n

We wonder what attitude this woman had when she replied\u2026was she being smart or was she being saucy? \u201cHow come that you being a Jew, asks me, a woman of Samaria, for a drink? Jews don\u2019t speak to Samaritans!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you knew Who I am, it is you who should be asking Me for Living water to drink!\u201d He said.<\/p>\n

She was puzzled and didn\u2019t understand what He was getting at.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou haven\u2019t got anything to get water with\u201d, she said, \u201cAre you greater than our ancestor Jacob who gave us this well?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are going to get thirsty again after drinking this water\u201d, Jesus said, \u201cthose who drink of the water that I give will never thirst again!\u201d<\/p>\n

Now her attention was really caught. Never get thirsty again?<\/p>\n

\u201cSir\u201d, she said unbelievingly, \u201cCan you give me this water to save me coming out here\u00a0 each day to get it?\u201d<\/p>\n

The woman was still thinking in terms of the physical, and what a saving of time and work it would be if she didn\u2019t have to come and get her water each day!<\/p>\n

\u00a0Jesus Christ gives the water of life, Water that satisfies and ne\u2019er gives strife,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The water of life brings the greatest of peace, \u00a0Gives\u00a0 life eternal that never will cease.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>Light\u00a0 Dawns.<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John\u00a0 4:16-30<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Jesus now confronted the woman with her style of life. We too have to face our need if we are to come to know the Lord in a meaningful way. She had to face the fact that she was a sinner, and in the same way, we have to come to Him and confess the same thing\u2026.until we do this our hearts are no different to what her\u2019s was!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

It was time to change her thinking, so Jesus told her to go and bring her husband there.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t have one\u201d, she said.<\/p>\n

\u201c No, you don\u2019t\u201d, He agreed, \u201cYou\u2019re right, you\u2019ve had five husbands and the one you\u2019ve got now isn\u2019t your husband at all!\u201d<\/p>\n

The woman cringed. She knew He was right. How did He know? \u201cYou must be a prophet!\u201d she said, \u201cYou Jews say that Jerusalem is the place to worship, but we\u2019ve always worshipped here in this mountain!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI tell you that the time is coming when people won\u2019t have to go to a PLACE to worship God, they will be able to worship Him in their spirits\u00a0 because God is a Spirit and this is how He wants people to worship Him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Light seemed to dawn on the woman and she said, \u201cI know that the\u00a0 Messiah is coming who will tell us everything we need to know\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am He\u201d, Jesus said simply. More light dawned on the woman then and when the disciples returned\u00a0 with the food, she left her water pot there, and ran back to the city. She told the men congregated there, \u201cCome and see a Man at the well who has told me everything I ever did\u2026.. this must surely be the Christ!\u201d<\/p>\n

We wonder what they may have been talking about, because they immediately followed her out to see what she was on about.<\/p>\n

Until we face the truth that Jesus gives, We never more will be able to live,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

In His presence and light divine, That He freely gives within to shine.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>The Needy Men.<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John\u00a0 4: 27, 31-43<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

The disciples had returned with the food they had bought and were amazed to see Jesus talking with this woman who had come to the well. \u201cWhat\u2019s He talking with HER for?\u201d they wondered, but no-one had the gumption to say so\u2026. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Then we come to another passage where our Lord talks in spiritual terms about things the disciples thought were physical.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaster\u201d, they said, \u201cHave some of this food we\u2019ve brought\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have food to eat that you don\u2019t know about\u201d, was all He said.<\/p>\n

They looked at each other, \u201cHas someone else brought Him food?\u201d, they wondered.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy food is to do the will of My Father\u201d, He said, \u201c and to finish the work He sent Me to do. You think that it is another four months before the harvest is ready, but I tell you it is ready to reap now! You will be able to gather fruit for eternity\u2026.others have sown the seed and you can enter into their work too \u00a0in the harvest, and you will both rejoice together!\u201d<\/p>\n

By this time the woman had returned and the men with her. They listened to what He had to tell them, and then said to the woman, \u201dNow we know what you were talking about! We believe on Him because of what He says, and know now that He is truly the Messiah!\u201d<\/p>\n

They crowded around Him, drinking in His every word. He stayed with them for two days, teaching them what they needed to know.<\/p>\n

What a wonderful time that would have been for them, a time they would never forget as long as they lived! They knew they had met the Saviour of the World!<\/p>\n

\u00a0God meets with\u00a0 those who have deep needs, Teaches them, and also leads,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Opens eyes to see His truth, Gives to them eternal growth.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>Healing the Boy.<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John 4:44-54<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Jesus and His disciples left Samaria after two days of intensive teaching and continued their journey to Galilee. The people there were ready to listen to His teaching because they had seen what He did in Jerusalem at the Passover feast, and heard Him there\u2026..<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

When He arrived back in Cana\u00a0 where He had performed the miracle of turning the water into wine, word quickly got around that Jesus was back in the area. There was a certain official in Capernaum whose son was very ill, and he was beside himself to know what to do. When he heard that Jesus was back, he went immediately to see Him and begged Him to come and heal the boy.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlease come before my son dies\u201d, he cried.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can go home\u201d, Jesus said, \u201cYour son is alive and well!\u201d<\/p>\n

The man believed what Jesus said, and went straight back home. He had the utmost confidence that what Jesus said was right. His servants came to meet him on the way and told him that the boy was quite healed.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen did he start to improve?\u201d the man asked.<\/p>\n

They told him the time of the previous day when he started to improve, and the man knew then that it was the very same time that Jesus had told him his son would live! The man then knew that Jesus was no ordinary healer, he believed in Him along with everyone else in his household.<\/p>\n

We too, can think of times when our prayers have been answered the way we want them to be, and how thankful we were! But there are other times when our requests have not been granted\u2026.we must always remember that our prayer WAS answered, but with a \u201cNo\u201d for God\u2019s own reasons. Sometimes we can look back and see the reason why, but other times none of it makes sense. We still have to rest in God\u2019s wisdom and Master Plan for our life, and praise Him for Who He is!<\/p>\n

\u00a0Jesus Christ , the great healer of all, Healing our body, and also our soul,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Answering prayer in His own way, For all our good every day. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>The Man at the Pool.<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John 5:1-15<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Jesus once more went to Jerusalem for a special feast. He had in mind one special man, a man who had been lying unable to help himself for thirty eight years. We aren\u2019t told anything else about him, and are not even told his name\u2026he comes into John\u2019s narrative here and then disappears again\u2026.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

But Jesus knew he was there. We are told that there was a great crowd of handicapped people sitting around this pool at Bethesda waiting \u00a0for the water to move\u2026they believed that an angel came down periodically and stirred it up, then whoever was able to get into the water first would be healed.<\/p>\n

This man was there waiting and hoping that somehow he would be able to get into the water at the right time. But he had no-one with him to help him. He was one of the dregs of humanity, with no-one to care about him. This was the one who Jesus was coming to help. We wonder what he thought about\u2026did he think about God at all? Did he yearn for some sort of relationship with Him? We aren\u2019t told.<\/p>\n

Jesus went to the pool that day and asked him,\u00a0 \u201cDo you want to be healed?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t get into the water in time\u201d, the man said, \u201cSomeone always gets in ahead of me!\u201d<\/p>\n

Jesus said, \u201cGet up and pick your bed up and go!\u201d<\/p>\n

The man didn\u2019t hesitate, he did just that. The religious leaders told him he had no business to be carrying his bed as it was the Sabbath. When they found out that it was Jesus Who had told him to do this, they plotted once more to kill Him. But it was not His time to die yet, and they couldn\u2019t touch Him. Later on Jesus found this man in the temple and told him to not sin any more unless some things worse would come on him. We know that leaving God out of one\u2019s life is the worst thing we could do.<\/p>\n

Some things to notice about this man\u2026.he knew his need, he believed what Jesus said\u00a0 and obeyed without arguing. Then the first thing he did was to go to the temple, we presume to give thanks. We too, have to recognise our need as sinners and to believe and obey His word before we can be healed of our soul\u2019s diseases. Then we are to find a place of worship where we can meet with God and give Him thanks. What a difference this made to this man\u2019s life! And we will find it makes a difference to us too, as we then follow His ways\u2026we are new creatures in Christ! (2 Corinthians 5:17)<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0Jesus Christ can make us whole, And give us each a different role,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Newly made in Him we are, Praising Him, of Him aware.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>The Jews\u2019 Hatred.<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John 5: 16-47<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

The religious Jews hated the works and words of our Lord. They thought He was a charlatan but couldn\u2019t deny the acts of healing. The more the people thronged around Him, listening to His teaching, the more they hated Him. But when He claimed that God was His Father, that was the last straw and they began plotting to kill Him\u2026<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

They had no concept of God as their Father or the fact that He is a loving God; they didn\u2019t even recognise that God could raise the dead back to life, and when He said that He could as well, they were incensed.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Father doesn\u2019t judge people, but has given His judgement to the Son. People will honour the Son\u201d, He said, \u201cJust as they honour the Father. Truly, truly, I say to you\u201d, He carried on, \u201cThose who accept My word have everlasting life and will not come into condemnation but\u00a0 have passed from death to life\u201d.<\/p>\n

He went on to speak of His authority from His Father God, and of the resurrection when all men would be raised back to life to face God in judgement. \u201cI can\u2019t do anything by Myself\u201d, He said, \u201cIt is God\u2019s will that I do what I\u2019m doing!\u201d<\/p>\n

He reminded them about John the Baptist. \u201cYou were willing to listen to his teachings\u201d, He said, \u201cHe bore witness to Me. But I have greater witness than even John, the things that I am doing bear witness of Me. My Father in heaven also bears witness to Me. The Scriptures\u00a0 which you believe also bear witness of Me\u2026..even Moses wrote of Me! If you won\u2019t believe what he wrote about Me, how are you going to believe what I say?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0Jesus Christ hid nothing from the Jews, He plainly told what they would lose,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

If they continued to refuse His Word, And not own Him as their Lord.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>Feeding the Crowd.<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John 6: 1-14<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Jesus was back in the Galilee region again, and was teaching the crowds that followed Him. They weren\u2019t so much interested in what He taught as they were in seeing the miracles He performed on diseased people\u2026they were more interested in what they could get out of Him for themselves!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Aren\u2019t we all like this! \u201cWhat is there in this for me?\u201d is our cry! \u201cI want to see for myself !\u201d This \u00a0particular day people got far more than they were reckoning on. Matthew tells us that Jesus and His disciples had received the news of John the Baptist\u2019s death and then gone off across the lake to a deserted place\u00a0 (Matthew 14:12:21)<\/em>. We can imagine the disciples wondering why this had happened to John when there was still so much preaching to do! It would have been a time of mourning for them. But the crowds saw them go and ran around the shore line to follow them up the hill where they had gone for peace and quiet.<\/p>\n

Jesus saw the great crowd and felt compassion for them, and healed the sick\u2026.this went on all day and by the time it was evening, the disciples were getting hungry and tired and said to Him,\u00a0 \u201cSend them away to get food\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, you feed them!\u201d Jesus said to them. Andrew said, \u201cThere\u2019s a lad here with five buns and two fish, but that\u2019s only enough for one!\u201d\u00a0 (Luke 9:11-17)<\/em> . It wasn\u2019t much but our Lord took it and gave thanks then distributed it to the crowd\u2026there was an abundance of food and they picked up twelve baskets of left-overs!<\/p>\n

There are several lessons for us to learn from this incident\u2026little is much in the hands of the Lord! Never underestimate what you can do with His help. When God supplies, there is always more than enough, and what a good lesson in not leaving litter in a place!<\/p>\n

\u00a0Jesus Christ supplied the need, For the people to have a good feed,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

There was far more than enough, For God knows how to supply good stuff!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>The Storm!<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John 6:-15-21<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

The people were so amazed at the provision that Jesus had supplied, that they said, \u201cThis is indeed the prophet that God is going to send! Let\u2019s make Him our King!\u201d thinking how nice it would be to have someone to provide their food miraculously for them! <\/em><\/strong>\u00a0But that is not how God operates. Neither was it the right time. Jesus dissuaded them and went further up the mountain on his own to pray\u2026.. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>Night was beginning to fall. Jesus told His disciples to go across the lake in one of the boats while He sent the people away. So they went down to the shore and set off in their boat leaving Jesus still up the mountain. The weather changed as they were halfway across and they were finding it heavy going with a head wind. As they were struggling with making headway, they saw a figure walking on the water near them. They cried out in fear thinking they were seeing a ghost, when a familiar voice said, \u201cDon\u2019t be afraid! I\u2019m here!\u201d<\/p>\n

Peter immediately said, \u201cLord, if it\u2019s really You can I come to You?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCome\u201d, said Jesus, and Peter clambered out of the boat and found that he too was walking on the water. But it was still dreadfully rough, and as he took his eyes off Jesus, he began to sink down into the water.<\/p>\n

\u201cSave me Lord!\u201d he cried and Jesus put out His hand and took hold of him, helping him back into the boat. The wind stopped immediately, and they found themselves miraculously at the beach where they were heading to\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 (Matthew 14: 24-33; Mark 6:47-51)<\/em>. At this demonstration of His power, they were full of amazement and worshipped Him on the spot.<\/p>\n

There are several points to notice here\u2026Jesus knew when He sent them off what was going to happen, He knew the storm was going to come, and He didn’t prevent it. It was for His purpose of teaching them this lesson. So often when we find ourselves in a bad situation, we think we have made a wrong decision, but the Lord knows all about it, and can we learn some of our most valuable lessons through these storms that He allows us to go through\u00a0 (Romans 8:28)<\/em>. We realise that He is with us at ALL times, good and bad, but we have to keep our eyes on Him to keep afloat!<\/p>\n

Another thing to notice is that ALL storms have an end\u2026.when we are in the middle of a hard situation, there seems no light at the end of the tunnel, but once we see the Lord with eyes of faith, we are at the beach we were heading for. God always remains faithful to His people, and it is up to us to remain faithful to Him! We are in this storm together!<\/p>\n

Jesus Christ knows what will come, As He gently leads us home,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

He is there to help and guide, Will always be along our side.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>The Bread of Life.<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John 6: 22-71<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

The next morning, the people looked for Jesus again and when they couldn\u2019t find Him, they set off around the lake to find Him. Jesus went straight to the point with them\u2026\u201dYou\u2019re only looking for Me because you got a free feed yesterday!\u201d He said, \u201cYou should be looking for the eternal food from the Son of Man\u201d\u2026..<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

This wasn\u2019t what they were expecting to hear and they asked how they were meant to do God\u2019s work then? Again, the answer wasn\u2019t what they expected to hear\u2026.\u00a0 \u201call God expects from you is to believe on the One He has sent\u201d.<\/p>\n

They immediately got on the defensive\u2026. \u201cGive us a sign then so we can believe You!\u201d\u00a0 (They completely forgot the miracles they had already seen Him do!) We then come to the famous discourse on the Bread of Life\u2026.\u201dI am the Bread of Life\u201d, Jesus said, \u201cYou\u2019ve seen Me and what I do but you don\u2019t really believe in Me!\u00a0 All those who come to Me, I will never throw away. I\u2019ve come to do my Father\u2019s will, and He will never allow anyone who comes to Me to be lost. Those who will believe on Me will have everlasting life!\u201d<\/p>\n

The local religious leaders began to complain, \u201cWho does He think He is? We know He is only the son of Joseph the carpenter, how can He say He came down from heaven?\u201d Jesus reiterated that He was the living bread from heaven, and that those who came to Him would live with Him and He would be with them for ever. \u201cJust as your ancestors ate the manna and lived, so you will live if you eat of Me\u201d, He said.<\/p>\n

This was too much for many of those listening to Him, and even His disciples muttered about it\u2026.\u201dThis is too hard!\u201d they said.<\/p>\n

But Peter spoke up and \u00a0said, \u201cWhere else can we find the words of eternal life if we leave Jesus? We believe and are sure that You are the Son of God!\u201d<\/p>\n

This can be our confidence too\u2026it is no use just believing ABOUT Him, we have to believe and put our faith and trust IN Him\u2026our head believes about Him and our actions and very being take Him in just as our physical body takes in bread to live.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Jesus Christ has come to men, To bring God\u2019s life to them again,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Men respond and take His Word, And obey what they have heard.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>Opinions Divided.<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John 7: 1- 53\u00a0\u00a0 <\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Jesus continued teaching and healing in the Galilee region, and then when the time for the feast of tabernacles (which devout Jews still kept) came, His brothers said, \u201cWhy don\u2019t You go up to Judea and do Your miracles there?\u201d <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

His brothers didn\u2019t really believe He was anyone special, even at this time! But He didn\u2019t go with them to Jerusalem as there were so many men there who wanted to get rid of Him. It wasn\u2019t His time to die yet\u2026\u2026He went there secretly instead.<\/p>\n

The people were looking for Him, and then one day He appeared in the temple teaching. The people were divided in their opinion of Him. \u201cHe is a good man!\u201d some said. Others said, \u201cNo, He is deceiving the people!\u201d<\/p>\n

Jesus spoke of doing God\u2019s will, of circumcision, and about judging others. Then He announced yet again, that He had come to do God\u2019s will, and said that He had been sent by God. The Pharisees heard about this and tried to arrest Him, but it wasn\u2019t the right time \u00a0and they couldn\u2019t touch Him. On the last day of the feast, Jesus spoke and said, \u201cIf anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink! If you believe in Me, you will have the living water!\u201d<\/p>\n

Once again, the people\u2019s opinion was divided\u2026some said, \u201cThis is the Prophet that is to come!\u201d Others said, \u201cChrist isn\u2019t supposed to come from Galilee, He is supposed to come from Bethlehem!\u201d<\/p>\n

Officers were sent out to arrest Him and when they returned without Him, the priests said, \u201cWhy haven\u2019t you brought Him?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe haven\u2019t heard anyone else speak like He does!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re deceived too!\u201d the priests said in disgust.<\/p>\n

Nicodemus spoke up again, \u201cWe can hardly arrest anyone who hasn\u2019t committed a crime and gone to court first!\u201d<\/p>\n

So the whole thing came to nothing for then, and they dispersed. His time was not yet come.<\/p>\n

\u00a0They didn\u2019t understand the things He said, As He spoke of water and of bread,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The rulers wished to take him then, But could not on Him\u00a0 lay a hand.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>Sin Condemns.<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John 8: 1-11<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Jesus went back to the temple again the next day, and He continued to teach the people. The religious leaders thought they would catch Him out this time. They\u00a0 were full of self-righteousness as they brought a woman to Him who had been found in the very act of committing adultery\u2026. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

We wonder why they didn\u2019t bring the man as well, after all it takes two to commit adultery! \u201cMoses told us that this woman should be stoned for doing this!\u201d they announced, \u201cWhat do You say?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jesus didn\u2019t answer them but bent over and wrote in the dust on the ground. Again, we wonder what He wrote, and if they could see it! They asked Him the same thing again, and this time He stood upright and said, \u201cThe ones among you who have never sinned can throw the first stone!\u201d and then bent down and continued to write in the dust.<\/p>\n

The woman\u2019s accusers were convicted by the words of Christ, and one by one they left the place until there was only the woman left. Jesus stood up again, and said, \u201cWhere are your accusers? Are there any left to accuse you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo-one Lord\u201d, she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cNeither do I accuse you,\u201d He said, \u201cBut go and sin no more\u201d.<\/p>\n

This is a small picture of what it is going to be like when we all face God at the judgement day. These men knew deep down when faced with God\u2019s holiness in the Person of Jesus Christ, that they too were sinners, and they were no better than this woman. They didn’t need the judgement of Jesus Christ. They judged themselves and left His presence. So will those do who can\u2019t claim the blood of Christ to take away their sins in that coming day.<\/p>\n

Another thing to notice is that the woman acknowledged Jesus as \u201cLord\u201d, and in doing this she was forgiven and given a second chance. How thankful we can be that there is a\u00a0 second chance for those who confess their sin! Let\u2019s make sure that each one of us have done this.<\/p>\n

Jesus Christ forgives all those, Who come before the door will close,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Those who come, their sins confess, Will then receive His righteousness.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>Jesus Frees from Sin.<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John 8: 12-37<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Jesus continued teaching in the temple, and made His famous statement\u2026. \u201cI am the Light of the World\u2026anyone following Me won\u2019t be in darkness but will have the light of life!\u201d Jesus continued speaking about His Father and once more they took exception to this\u2026.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWhere is your Father?\u201d they demanded rudely.<\/p>\n

Jesus replied, \u201cIf you REALLY knew Me, you would know My Father as well!\u201d<\/p>\n

They were badly wanting to arrest Him there and then, but were powerless to touch Him. \u201cYou will die in your sins\u201d, He told them. \u201cIf you don\u2019t believe who I really am, (the I AM which they recognised as God\u2019s Holy Name) you will die in your sins!\u201d<\/p>\n

The leaders who should have known better, couldn\u2019t understand what He was on about because they didn\u2019t believe what He said, but many of the ordinary people did, and followed Him. But even they didn\u2019t understand much, and He told them that they were to continue in His teachings and then they would know the truth which would make them free.<\/p>\n

The religious leaders butted in again, \u201cWe\u2019re Abraham\u2019s descendants and aren\u2019t in bondage to anyone (they must have forgotten the Romans!) so how can we be made free?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jesus then spoke plainly, \u201cAnyone who sins, is in bondage to sin! You can\u2019t be free from sin unless the Son (of God) makes you free. You want to kill Me because you don\u2019t believe what I\u2019m saying!\u201d<\/p>\n

This principle is just as true today as it was then. We aren\u2019t sinners because we sin, we sin because we are born sinners! Paul wrote, For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 6:23),<\/em> and While we were yet sinners Christ died for us (Romans 5:8)<\/em>. He is truly the only One Who can set us free from the bondage of sin!<\/p>\n

Jesus Christ can save from sin, If we will but let Him in,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

He will cleanse from every stain, For this is why to earth He came.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>Accusations.<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John 8: 38-59<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Jesus continued talking to the ones who were still sceptical\u2026. \u201cYou can only be free from your sin if the Son (referring to Himself) makes you free. I know that Abraham is your ancestor, but you are wanting to kill Me because you don\u2019t believe My word. I\u2019m telling you what My Father wants you to know. You don\u2019t know Him!\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

They got mad at this and said, \u201cAbraham is our father! We weren\u2019t born because of fornication! God is our Father!\u201d This was a slur on the fact that Mary was pregnant before her marriage to Joseph.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf God were your father you would love Me!\u201d Jesus said, \u201cYou can\u2019t understand what I\u2019m saying because the devil is your father. He is a murderer and a liar, and you can\u2019t believe the truth which I\u2019m telling you!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re just a Samaritan and a devil!\u201d they said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m telling you truly\u201d, Jesus said, \u201cIf you believe what I\u2019m saying, you will never die!\u201d<\/p>\n

This was too much for them. They were taking His conversation from a purely physical point of view, while He was talking to them from a spiritual point of view\u2026they didn\u2019t have a clue what He was on about. We are told too, that it is the Spirit of God that shows a person the things of God, and that they can\u2019t be understood without His insight\u2026someone who hasn\u2019t the Spirit of God has never been born again and CANNOT understand these things (1 Corinthians 2:10-15)<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Jesus continued\u2026.\u201dYour father Abraham rejoiced to see the day when I would come, and was glad!\u201d<\/p>\n

This was far too much for them to comprehend\u2026\u201dYou aren\u2019t even fifty years old, and you reckon you\u2019ve seen Abraham?\u201d they said.<\/p>\n

Jesus made the great statement whether they were ready to hear it or not\u2026.\u201dBefore Abraham was, I AM\u201d<\/p>\n

They weren\u2019t\u00a0 prepared to accept this, and started picking up stones to throw at Him, but He suddenly became invisible and they couldn\u2019t see Him among the people. His time to die was not yet.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Jesus Christ spoke truth to them, They would not take this at all\u00a0 from Him,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Shut their ears to His Word, Would not accept Him as their Lord.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>Blind Man Sees.<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John 9: 1-41<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

This whole chapter is about this un-named man who had been born blind. The disciples asked Jesus who had sinned, the man or his parents, as to why he was born blind. \u201cNeither\u201d, Jesus said, \u201cThe work of God will be shown in his blindness. The day is coming when it will be too dark to work. While I am here, I am the Light of the World!\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

How true this statement is! Our Lord is still the Light of the world through His people. He then spat on the ground and made a paste from the spit and dust, put it on the eyes of the blind man and told him to go to the pool of Siloam and wash it off. He did this, and was able to see! The neighbours couldn\u2019t understand what had happened\u2026.\u201dHow is it that you can now see?\u201d they asked him. He told them what had happened, and they took him to see the priests. They immediately were on the defensive\u2026..this happened on the Sabbath day! Some said that Jesus must be a sinner and others asked how a sinner could do miracles, so there was a division because of it.<\/p>\n

They couldn\u2019t agree so they asked his parents what had happened. They said to ask him, he was old enough to speak for himself! They were afraid of\u00a0 being put out of the synagogue if they said anything about Jesus doing this miracle. The man didn’t\u00a0 want to be drawn into the argument any further, and he said simply, \u201cI don’t\u00a0 know anything about Him being a sinner or not, all I know is that before I couldn\u2019t see, and now I can! If He wasn’t\u00a0 from God, how could He do a miracle like this?\u201d<\/p>\n

They got annoyed with him then, and told him to leave. Jesus knew that this had happened and He found the man and asked if he believed on the Son of Man.<\/p>\n

\u201cWho is He Lord?\u201d the man asked.<\/p>\n

Jesus said simply, \u201cYou are looking at Him\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cLord, I believe\u201d, the man said, and worshipped Him there and then.<\/p>\n

Some of the Pharisees there said, \u201cAre we blind then?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you think you can see when you can\u2019t then your sin remains!\u201d was all that Jesus said.<\/p>\n

And that remains true today. If we think that what we think is the truth without checking out what God says, then there is\u00a0 no hope for us!<\/p>\n

\u00a0Jesus Christ is the truth for men, We need to be told this again and again, <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Tis only through Him we can see, And with Him live eternally. \u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>All We Like Sheep.<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John 10: 1-6<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Jesus is speaking here and He used an illustration that they all understood. Everyone was used to seeing sheep being looked after by the shepherd, so they knew exactly what He was referring to\u2026..<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThere is only one way to get into the sheepfold, and that is through the door\u201d, He said, \u201cIf anyone tries to get in another way, he is a thief and a robber!\u201d<\/p>\n

The point of this passage is that the sheep are being carefully looked after in the sheepfold by the shepherd and they will not go out until He takes them. They won\u2019t follow anyone else because they don’t know the voice of strangers, they will only know the voice of their shepherd. What a beautiful picture this is of the care of our Shepherd for us! The problem is never with the Shepherd, it is always the sheep who go astray!<\/p>\n

We read in the Old Testament that we are all like sheep who go astray (Isaiah 53:6)<\/em>\u2026.we seem to prefer to follow each other rather than our Shepherd! Those who have had sheep to look after know the frustration of bringing them to a gateway to go through only to have them all mill around afraid to take the first step through. Yet when one of their own takes a leap through the gateway, they all follow suit and one sees these silly animals all leaping over an invisible bar\u00a0 as they finally do what the shepherd wants them to.<\/p>\n

How many times have we seen some charismatic teacher come into a district with wrong teaching, and the\u00a0 people all flock to hear him! When the Shepherd wants them to learn something from His Word, they hesitate before embracing it\u00a0 because it doesn\u2019t conform with the latest fashion or idea. The challenge for us is how much are we prepared to follow our Shepherd, and to flee from the voice of the world that tries to squeeze us into its mould?<\/p>\n

\u00a0Jesus Christ is our Shepherd dear, He will always keep us near,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Then we have nothing to fear, While we see Him by us here.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>Our Great Shepherd!<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John 10:7-18<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Jesus continued His teaching on the Shepherd and the sheep\u2026.\u201dI am the door of the sheep\u201d, He said, \u201cAll those who come through Me will be saved, and I will care for them and feed them\u201d\u2026..<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

What a wonderful promise this is of our Shepherd\u2019s provision and care! Not only that, He told them then that He was prepared to give His life for His sheep. Looking back, we can see that this is what He literally did when He died on the cross.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo-one else will do this for the sheep\u201d, He said, \u201cEveryone else will run off when they see danger ahead. I am the good Shepherd,\u201d He continued, \u201cI know My sheep and they know Me\u201d. Then He stated again that just as He knew His Father and was known by Him, so He was prepared to lay down His life for His sheep.<\/p>\n

Not only that, but He continued, \u201cI have other sheep not in this present fold, and I will bring them together too, and there will be one flock and one Shepherd\u201d. What a wonderful promise this is! Not a whole lot of divided folds, but one complete fold, all united in their love for the Shepherd, and all cared for by Him!<\/p>\n

He finished off His talk this time by saying, \u201cThis is why My Father loves Me because I\u2019m prepared to lay My life down for the sheep. No man is going to take My life from Me, I\u2019m going to lay it down Myself and I\u2019m going to take it again. This is in agreement with what My Father wants Me to do\u201d.<\/p>\n

What an amazing statement! Wicked men thought they had power over Him to execute Him, but it was only in accordance with God\u2019s eternal plan that was put in place BEFORE the world began! It was God\u2019s plan A right from the beginning, there was no plan B to be needed!<\/p>\n

\u00a0Jesus Christ was God\u2019s loved Son, He was the great obedient One,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

He came to do His Father\u2019s will, Which He totally fulfilled. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Leaders\u2019 Hatred<\/u>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John 10:19-42<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Jewish leaders were divided in their opinion about Jesus. Some said that he was mad, and others asked how He could do these wonderful healing works if He wasn\u2019t from God. So they didn\u2019t agree among themselves\u2026.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

He was still in Jerusalem teaching in the temple, and His teaching was still bothering them \u201cWhy don\u2019t you tell us plainly who you are?\u201d they asked, \u201cAre You really the Messiah?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t need to tell you,\u201d He said, \u201cWhat I\u2019m doing is proof of Who I am. But you refuse to believe them because you aren\u2019t of\u00a0 My sheep. My sheep listen to\u00a0 Me and follow Me, and I give them eternal life and no-one can take that away from them.\u00a0 My Father gave them to Me and He is keeping them safe in His hand. My Father and I are One !\u201d<\/p>\n

Once again, the Jews got mad and picked up stones to throw at Him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve only done good things for you,\u201d Jesus said, \u201cWhy do you want to stone Me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve made out You are equal with God\u201d, they said, \u201cThat\u2019s why we\u2019re stoning You, it\u2019s because You are blaspheming!\u201d<\/p>\n

They tried once more to arrest Him, but He disappeared from them and went to the place where John had done his baptising. Many people followed Him there and listened to His teaching and watched His\u00a0 miracles. \u201cEverything that John said about this Man is true!\u201d they said, and many there believed on Him.<\/p>\n

\u00a0The Jews \u00a0were mad and tried to stone, God\u2019s only Son who could alone,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Give to them the life and light, Showing to\u00a0 them God\u2019s great might.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>Why?<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John 11:1-16<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Jesus had very close friends in the town of Bethany not far from Jerusalem. There were two sisters and a brother and it seems that they had never married and\u00a0 that Martha, the eldest sister, was in charge of the household. We read of them in Luke\u00a0 10:38-42 where Mary sat at the feet of Jesus listening to what He had to say while Martha was busy in the kitchen\u2026.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 Here we read that Lazarus was very ill, and that Martha sent a message to Jesus to come quickly and help them out. We are told specifically here, that Jesus loved this family, each one of them individually. When He received this message, He said, \u201cThis sickness is so the glory of God can be seen in His Son,\u201d and stayed another two days where He was. Then He told the disciples that He was going back to Judea where the Jews had tried to stone Him before.<\/p>\n

They couldn\u2019t understand why He would want to go into the danger zone again, but He said He had to go to see Lazarus and wake him out of sleep. They thought he was talking about being asleep, but then He said plainly, \u201cLazarus has died, and I\u2019m glad that you will be able to see what\u2019s going to happen to help you believe in Me.\u201d<\/p>\n

We see here how God works in people\u2019s lives to bring them to a knowledge of Himself. None of this made sense to them, and we often see things happening in our lives that don\u2019t make sense. But everything that happens is to teach us another facet of God working in our lives.<\/p>\n

Thomas dolefully said, \u201cWe might as well go and die with him too!\u201d<\/p>\n

The disciples seemed to be so dense at times, and yet we are no different. We must pray for enlightenment, to try to see past our disappointments to see what God is trying to teach us at times like this. Everything that happens in our lives that is not of our own\u00a0 making, is for a purpose\u2026..let us make sure that we don’t\u00a0 allow the disappointments of life to swamp us and drive us into depression!<\/p>\n

Jesus Christ has plans or us, Plans that bring us to what He pleases,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

All that happens is to make us strong, As to Him we now belong.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>Miracle Beyond Belief!<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John 11:17-27<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

By the time Jesus and the disciples got to Bethany, Lazarus had been dead for four days. The funeral was all over and he was buried in the tomb. But the sisters were still in deep mourning with all the other friends and relations still at the house comforting them\u2026.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

A message reached the sisters that Jesus was coming at last, but it was too late for them. We can imagine how impatiently Martha must have been waiting for His arrival, and her grief that He didn\u2019t get there before Lazarus died. How often we think that God is moving too slowly for us! We have to remember that God\u2019s timing is always perfect (Psalm 18:30)<\/em>, and learn to curb our impatience.<\/p>\n

Martha rushed off to meet the new visitors, and her first words were, \u201cLord, if You\u2019d only been here my brother wouldn\u2019t have died! But I know that whatever You ask God, He will give it to You.\u201d\u00a0 We wonder what was in the back of her mind when she said that. But she had the utmost confidence that now that Jesus was there, everything would be alright!<\/p>\n

\u201cYour brother will come back to life\u201d, Jesus said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know he will do that when all are resurrected at the last day\u201d, she replied.<\/p>\n

Jesus then made another great \u201cI am\u201d statement. \u201cI am the resurrection and the life, even if a person is dead, if he believes in Me he will live. Those who believe in Me will never die. Do you believe this Martha?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I do Lord,\u201d she said, \u201dI know that You are the Son of God who is to come!\u201d<\/p>\n

This was from Martha who hadn\u2019t seemed to listen too much to what He had said, but she knew deep down Who He really was. This shows us that we aren\u2019t always right in our assessment of where people are at. Some wear their heart on their sleeve as it were, while others keep their thoughts to themselves. But we know that Martha was a hospitable lady who loved to entertain others (John 12:2)<\/em>\u2026.she felt that this was her gift while Mary was quite different.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Jesus Christ the healer of all, Keeping his own from making a fall,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

He gives comfort and joy to those, Who look to Him when deep in their woes.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Great Sorrow turns to Great Joy!<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John 11:28-44<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Martha went back to the house and told Mary that Jesus had arrived near the town. She went out to meet Him and fell at His feet when she arrived saying the same words that Martha had said\u2026 \u201cLord, if You\u2019d only been here, my brother wouldn\u2019t have died!\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

All the friends at the house had followed her, thinking she was going to the grave. Jesus said simply, \u201cWhere is the grave?\u201d and they all went to it. There was such an outpouring of grief from everyone that Jesus Himself was overcome and wept with them\u2026.not at the fact that Lazarus had died, but simply at the hopelessness of the people mourning him. There was no hope that one day they would see him again\u2026.what a difference to those who die in Christ today\u2026relatives and friends have that sure and certain knowledge that they are with Christ which is far better!\u00a0 (Philippians 1:23; 1 Thessalonians 4:13)<\/em>. The Jews there were saying to each other, \u201cCouldn\u2019t He have healed Lazarus if He had been here?\u201d<\/p>\n

By this time they had arrived at the burial place, and Jesus said to them, \u201cRoll the stone away\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cLord, it\u2019s four days since he died, and by this time, he\u2019ll be stinking!\u201d said Martha horrified at the idea.<\/p>\n

\u201cDidn\u2019t I tell you that if you only believe, you\u2019ll see the glory of God?\u201d Jesus asked. The stone was rolled away, and Jesus stood at the mouth of the cave and\u00a0 prayed saying, \u201c Father, I know that You always hear Me, but I\u2019m praying for the benefit of the people here.\u201d Then He said in a loud commanding voice, \u201cLazarus, Come out!\u201d<\/p>\n

To everyone\u2019s utter amazement, they saw Lazarus walk out, still bound up in the grave clothes. \u201cTake them off him\u201d, Jesus said, \u201cand let him go\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Jesus Christ the Life Giving One, Is truly God\u2019s Beloved Son,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The One to give life to those all, Who heed and obey His loving call.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>The Aftermath.<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John 11:45-57<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Once more this miracle left the people divided. Many who saw this happen believed that Jesus was indeed the Messiah, while those who didn’t went off and told the chief priests what had happened\u2026.. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The religious leaders were dismayed by this news. They couldn\u2019t deny that a great and genuine miracle had been performed, but they felt that their position was being threatened. \u201cIf the Roman authorities get to hear of this\u201d, they said, \u201cThey\u2019ll come and take away what privileges we have left!\u201d<\/p>\n

Caiaphas was the high priest, and he now spoke up. \u201cLet\u2019s get rid of Him once and for all\u201d, he said, \u201cIt\u2019s better that one man should die rather than the whole nation perish at the hands of the Romans!\u201d<\/p>\n

Little did he know how true and prophetic his words would prove to be! But it would happen in a totally different way and for a different purpose than he thought. Jesus would indeed die for the whole of the nation and also for the whole of the world, in that ALL peoples, tribes and nations who would believe in Him after His death would have eternal life\u00a0 (John 3:16; Romans 5:6-21)<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Just as Christ was the \u201cone man who was to die for the nation\u201d,\u00a0 so it was part of God\u2019s eternal plan that this would happen, and these religious leaders would have a part to play in it unwittingly. So they actively looked for Him after this to arrest Him, but He had taken His disciples to a small town near the desert where they stayed until it was the time for the Passover Feast. His time was not quite yet.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Jesus Christ the Son of God, Went where none other had ever trod,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

On the lonely path ahead, Just as He had always said.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>Mary\u2019s Understanding.<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John 12:1-11<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

A week before the Passover was due to begin, Jesus came back to Bethany where Martha and her sister and brother lived. A communal supper was prepared at Simon\u2019s house (he had been healed from leprosy by Jesus), and they were all there, with Martha serving as usual. Lazarus was sitting down making conversation with the others (we wonder what they were talking about!) Mary isn\u2019t mentioned as yet\u2026\u2026 <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The meal began and everyone was there when Mary came in and went to where Jesus was sitting. She had brought\u00a0 a box of very expensive ointment that she had and opened it up\u00a0 putting some of it on His head (Mark 4:3-9)<\/em> and then rubbing it on the feet of her Lord. The perfume of it filled the room.<\/p>\n

Judas Iscariot, who was always conscious of money, said, \u201cWhat a waste of money! It could have been sold and the money given to the poor people!\u201d<\/p>\n

But Jesus understood what was behind Mary\u2019s action, and spoke up in her defence. \u201cDon\u2019t criticise her!\u201d He said, \u201cYou have always got the poor with you to do good to! But I won\u2019t be with you for much longer. She has done this ahead of time for my burial\u201d.<\/p>\n

Then He gave Mary a wonderful promise, \u201cWherever the Gospel is preached in all the world, this action of Mary\u2019s will be mentioned as a memorial to her!\u201d<\/p>\n

He knew and appreciated this action of Mary\u2019s which she had done out of love for Him, understanding what lay ahead. She seemed to have had more perception than even the disciples had at this time.<\/p>\n

There were many people at this feast who had come out of curiosity to see Lazarus, the man who had come back from the dead, and they went away more firm in their belief of Jesus than ever. But the chief priests were more angry than ever at the way people were taking notice of what had happened in recent days, and they started talking about putting Lazarus to death as well as getting rid of Jesus.<\/p>\n

It was after this feast, that Judas went to the priests and promised to take them to where Jesus was so they could arrest Him for the sum of thirty pieces of silver\u00a0 (Matthew 26:14-16)<\/em>. The net was tightening.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Jesus Christ knew Mary\u2019s thoughts, As to Him the cream she brought,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

He knows too our heart\u2019s desires,\u00a0 He knows all and never tires.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***<\/p>\n

The King Arrived!<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John 12:12-19<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

These were momentous days\u2026tensions were rising and people felt that something was about to happen. Our Lord knew exactly what lay ahead of Him, and He knew that much prophecy concerning Himself would be fulfilled in the next short while\u2026. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The people were on a high level of expectancy, and when they heard that Jesus was going into Jerusalem\u00a0 they gathered on both sides of the road as He approached. But He wasn\u2019t walking this time\u2026He was riding on a young donkey! He had asked two of His disciples to go into a nearby town and there they would find a donkey with its young colt beside it\u2026they were to take the colt and bring it to Him (Matthew 21:2-3)<\/em>.<\/p>\n

The disciples must have wondered whatever He was going to do with this animal, but it led quietly and didn\u2019t flinch when clothes were put on its back. Then Jesus got on it, and it quietly walked at His bidding even though it had never been ridden on before\u00a0 (Zechariah 9:9)<\/em>. The people were calling out as they went along the road and were waving palm branches, and yet that donkey never balked at all! It was amazing!<\/p>\n

\u201cHosanna to the Son of David!\u201d the people called out, \u201cBlessed is He that comes in the Name of the Lord! Hosanna!\u201d<\/p>\n

The procession made its way into the city, and everyone was asking, \u201cWho is this coming?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJesus of Nazareth\u201d, the crowd answered.<\/p>\n

This whole procession was a bit of a mystery to the disciples\u2026they didn\u2019t realise that they were seeing the fulfilling of prophecy, and it all came back to them much later how everything was falling into place according to the Scriptures. So it is for us\u2026.it is only when looking back that we can realise the significance of things that have happened in the world\u2026at the present time it is only conjecture and wondering if this is the time we have been told about.<\/p>\n

The procession continued into the city and they made their way to the Temple, still waving their palm branches and calling out\u2026.even the children joined in the celebrations! It didn\u2019t go unnoticed by the authorities! They said, \u201cThe whole world is going after this fellow\u2026we have got to get rid of Him soon!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0Jesus Christ came as their king, The people did their praises bring,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cHosanna to David\u2019s\u00a0 Son, He\u2019s come at last, the Holy One!\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>In the Temple.<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John 12:20-43<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Jesus arrived at the Temple and the other Gospel writers tell us\u00a0 that He went in and once again found the merchants all selling their wares and animals for sacrifices right there (Mark 11:15-18). Just as He had done at the beginning of His ministry, He strode into the courtyard, and tipped over the tables of the money changers and drove out the animals and doves, saying with authority as He did so, \u201cIt is written My house is a place of prayer and you have made it a den of thieves!\u201d <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

There was a group of Greek people who had come to worship at the temple and they found the disciples and said they would like to meet Jesus. We aren\u2019t told whether they did or not, but they would have been in the crowd when Jesus said, \u201cUnless a seed falls into the ground and dies, it stays just a seed, but if it dies it will grow and have fruit. Those who love their life will lose it, but those who put their life (desires and wants) to death, will gain it in eternal life. If anyone follows Me, My Father will honour them. I\u2019m upset and troubled at what lies ahead\u2026..Father save Me from this hour\u00a0 even though it is what I came for! Father, glorify Your Name!\u201d<\/p>\n

Suddenly the people heard a great noise\u2026.it was God speaking directly from heaven\u2026 \u201cI have both glorified it and will glorify it again!\u201d The people heard the Voice but didn\u2019t catch the words\u2026some of them said it was thunder, while others thought it was an angel talking to Jesus.<\/p>\n

Jesus spoke to them\u2026\u201dThis voice didn\u2019t come for Me, but for your benefit. The prince of this world is going to be thrown out and if I\u2019m lifted up, I will draw all men to Me!\u201d<\/p>\n

No-one understood what He meant. \u201cYou keep saying that the Son of Man must be lifted up\u2026who IS this Son of Man?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Light is only with you for a short while longer\u2026make sure you walk with Me because if you don\u2019t, you\u2019ll be in the darkness not knowing where you are going\u201d, Jesus said.<\/p>\n

Most of the people there that day didn\u2019t believe what He was saying, and this too was a fulfilment of Isaiah\u2019s prophecies when he said \u201cwho has believed our report?\u201d But there were some who believed, even from among the religious leaders.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Jesus Christ was not afraid, He\u2019d come to see sin\u2019s debt was\u00a0 paid,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The time was near to go through this, \u2018Twas something that He couldn\u2019t miss.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>The Light and\u00a0 the Word<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John 12:44-50<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

We see here how God and His Son are indeed One\u2026\u201dHe who sees Me, sees the Father,\u201d Jesus said, \u201cAnd whoever believes what I say, believes the Father\u201d. The concept of God being the Father, wasn\u2019t in the Jews\u2019 vocabulary until the Lord Jesus brought it\u2026..<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

He\u00a0 also brought light to man\u2019s understanding, and opened their eyes to see spiritual truths and concepts they had never thought of before . He had come to save the world, not to condemn it, but if a person refused to believe what He said, then they would be condemned in the Judgement Day by the words that He had spoken.<\/p>\n

Everything that He spoke came from the Father\u2026He didn’t speak His own words but what His Father wanted Him to say. Everyone who believed what He said, would receive eternal life. He was totally obedient to God\u2026.the only human being who has ever been that. We read of Job who was a just and perfect man and one who hated evil (Job 1:1)<\/em>, but he didn\u2019t reach the same standard, nor did David who was a man after God\u2019s own heart (Acts 13:22)<\/em>. God says that ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23)<\/em>, but that Jesus Christ alone was without sin (Hebrews 4:15)<\/em>. What a perfect child He would have been! Never to pout or answer back, never to do or say a mean thing! Adults can cover up, but children never do\u2026.they let it all out in their screams and yells! Yet He was never like that, it just wasn\u2019t in Him!<\/p>\n

\u00a0Jesus Christ alone without sin, Perfect in all, without and within,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

He was the One who for sin did pay, So we could be\u00a0 in heaven one day.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>The End Looming!<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John 13:1-17<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

John doesn\u2019t tell us how Jesus and His disciples came to be in the room where they celebrated the last passover together, but we can read about that in the other Gospels. He starts off when they are all sitting at the table together after having eaten the celebratory supper, and after Judas had left the room\u2026..<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>To the utter surprise of the disciples, Jesus got up from His seat, removed His coat and called for (or got) a basin of water and a towel. Then He began to wash each of the disciples\u2019 feet. This was a rite that was usually performed as people arrived (maybe it had already been done), and it seems that none of the disciples made any comment until Jesus came to Peter.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre You washing my feet too?\u201d Peter asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t know now why I\u2019m doing this;\u201d Jesus said, \u201cBut you will know why later on.\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh no !\u201d Peter exclaimed, \u201cYou aren\u2019t going to wash MY feet!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you don’t want Me to do this now, you wont have any further part with Me!\u201d Jesus replied.<\/p>\n

This thought was more than Peter could bear and he said, \u201cWash my feet then Lord, and also my hands and head !\u201d<\/p>\n

Peter seemed to be missing what Jesus was getting at, and He said, \u201cNo, Peter, you only need your feet to be washed to be clean. Now you who are here are clean but not all of you\u201d. He was referring to Judas who had already been to the priests to betray Him. He went on to say, \u201cYou call me Master and Lord, and so I am, but this is an example I am leaving with you to wash each others\u2019 feet. A servant is not greater than his master, and you will be happy if you have this serving attitude.\u201d<\/p>\n

What a challenge this is to us! Do we have this same serving attitude of wanting to help others? It reminds us of other words of our Lord Jesus \u2018that it is better to give than to receive.\u2019 (Acts 20:35)<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0Jesus Christ gave an example to follow, One that was not empty or hollow,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

He showed by His deeds and did as He said, In His footsteps we too must tread.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>Judas\u2019\u00a0 Foul Deed. <\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John 1:18-30<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Jesus \u00a0went on to say, \u201cI know you all, and one of you has turned against Me\u2026.this fulfils the Scripture that says, \u2018He who has eaten bread with me has turned on me\u2019. I\u2019m telling you this before it happens so when it does happen you will believe on Me\u201d. There was silence for a moment, and Jesus seemed to be troubled in Himself\u2026\u2026<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

He carried on saying, \u201cI\u2019m telling you truly, that one of you is going to betray Me to the authorities.\u201d The disciples looked at each other wondering what He was referring to. John turned towards Jesus and said, \u201cLord, who is it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the one I give the sop to,\u201d Jesus replied. (This was a special part of the meal.)<\/p>\n

Jesus dipped the sop and passed it to Judas Iscariot. \u201cWhat you are going to do, do quickly\u201d, Jesus said to him. Judas knew at that moment that Jesus knew what he had already done, and his heart was hardened as he allowed Satan to take him over. The other disciples didn’t have a clue what Jesus was referring to, and they thought that He must have previously given Judas instructions on what to get, seeing he held the money bag.<\/p>\n

But Judas knew what he was going to do, and he left the room immediately and went out into the darkness of the night. Not only was it dark outside, but it was also dark in Judas\u2019 soul\u2026.he had given in to the temptation of Satan and was determined to follow it through.<\/p>\n

We wonder what he was thinking as he hurried to see the priests, and tell them to come with him and he would take them to where Jesus would be. He knew where they would be going after the meal was over. Perhaps he thought that Jesus would just vanish from their sight as he had seen happen once before, or that perhaps He would just walk away while the priests stood helplessly looking after Him. Judas had seen that happen too. Or perhaps he just didn’t care as long as he got the money. He little realised that he was fulfilling prophecy himself as he took the group of officials out to the mount of Olives.<\/p>\n

Jesus Christ knew Judas\u2019 part, He knew what was in his heart,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Darkness reigned within that night, As Judas turned from Jesus\u2019 light.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>Jesus Christ Glorified.<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John 13:31-38<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

We might wonder how Jesus could be glorified in the events that were to immediately follow. But He was about to fulfil the purpose for which He came to earth, the purpose of becoming the Saviour of the World. It was His obedience to His Father\u2019s will that glorified both Him and His Father. He was about to open His heart to His disciples\u2026.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u00a0 are going to see the Son of Man (meaning Himself) glorified\u201d, He said to them, \u201cI\u2019m only with you for a short time longer and I\u2019m telling you that you won\u2019t be able to come where I\u2019m going.\u00a0 But I\u2019m giving you a new commandment before I go\u2026.make sure you love one another, and everyone else will be able to tell that you are My disciples.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLord, where are you going?\u201d Peter asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t come now\u201d, Jesus replied, \u201cBut you will come later.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy can\u2019t I come now?\u201d Peter burst out with, \u201cI\u2019ll lay down my life for Your sake!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWill you Peter?\u201d Jesus said, \u201cI tell you truly that before the rooster crows three times tomorrow morning you will have denied that you know Me three times!\u201d<\/p>\n

The others all agreed that they wouldn\u2019t either\u2026what a lesson to us! We might have great ideas of what we will do for the Lord, but when the time comes we fail miserably! We can only do great things through the power and help of Jesus Christ, and our Lord knew exactly what lay ahead for them all whereas they didn\u2019t have a clue!<\/p>\n

They felt that something momentous was about to happen, and started arguing among themselves who would have the top place in the new regime that they thought was about to come\u00a0 (Luke 22:24)<\/em>. Jesus gently rebuked them, and then gave them the beautiful discourse that John alone records. We can take heart from this, that even though we let the Lord down by our attitudes, He never leaves us, and will always encourage us if we allow Him to.<\/p>\n

Jesus Christ knows the thoughts of all, Even when we stumble and fall,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

He gently lifts us\u00a0 as He sees, And helps us His Father once more to please.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>Don\u2019t Be Afraid!<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John 14:1-12<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Jesus \u00a0knew their troubled thoughts, and how the future was unknown to them. \u201cDon\u2019t be troubled\u201d, He said, \u201cYou believe in God\u2026.believe also in Me\u201d. This is where we have to start in our search for comfort, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. So many people believe in God, but won\u2019t have a bar of Jesus Christ\u2026.He is only a swear word to them. They will never find comfort without believing and trusting in Him\u2026..\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIn My Father\u2019s home, there are many places to live,\u201d He went on, \u201cI\u2019m going to prepare a place for you, and then I\u2019m going to come back again to get you. You already know where I\u2019m going and how to get there.\u201d<\/p>\n

People today think that Jesus is still building these homes, but He still had the work of the cross to do ahead of Him when He spoke these words, and without this work completed, no-one would be able to be with Him. We know that He is the way, the truth and the life to get to these homes that are waiting for His people.<\/p>\n

The disciples didn’t really understand what He was meaning at this time, and Thomas spoke up\u2026. \u201cLord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?\u201d Jesus gave him that wonderful answer that has already been quoted\u2026 \u201cI am the way, the truth and the life. If you know Me, you know the Father too.\u201d<\/p>\n

But they still didn’t understand. \u201cLord, show us the Father\u201d, Philip said.<\/p>\n

Jesus looked at him and said, \u201cDon\u2019t you really know Me yet Philip? Those who see Me, see the Father. Don\u2018t you believe that I am in My Father and My Father is in Me? Everything I\u2019ve said and done has come from My Father. Believe what I am saying, and you will be able to do these things that I\u2019ve been doing and more besides, because I\u2019m going back to My Father.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jesus Christ, and Father God, Together are the wondrous God,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Lord of all that\u2019s made in earth, Giver of the second birth. \u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>Words of Comfort.<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John 14:13-15<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Jesus continued talking\u2026 \u201cWhatever you ask in My Name, I will do it.\u201d We tend to think that this is an open cheque as it were, to get what we want. We almost demand of Him to grant our requests because we say \u201cIn Your Name\u201d, but let\u2019s look at what exactly is involved in this statement\u2026.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

To act in the name of anyone, means that we must be totally in agreement together. It implies one greater person and one lesser who has been appointed for a certain task on behalf of the other one. When we come to the Lord with our requests, do we come totally in agreement that the answer we get will be the right one? We are told to make our requests known to God with thanksgiving for the answer we will be given, THEN we will know God\u2019s peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:6-7)<\/em>.<\/p>\n

We have seen times when we have begged God in absolute faith that He will do what we ask because we tack on the end of our request \u201cIn Jesus\u2019 Name\u201d, and it hasn\u2019t happened as we wanted. We have asked what WE wanted, but have we asked what HE wants for us? Have we asked with a thankful heart for all He has already done for us and for what He is going to do in our lives as a result of this request?<\/p>\n

We come to the crux of the matter next\u2026 \u201cIf you love Me, then keep My commandments!\u201d Jesus said. This means that we will live how He wants us to, and agree totally with what He gives us, and in doing this we can know His wonderful peace.<\/p>\n

Jesus Christ promises much, His loving words and comforting touch,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

On our side we loyally wait, The best will come, it\u2019s never late.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>The Comforter.<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John 14:16-31<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Jesus now expands His teaching to His disciples\u2026.\u201dYou will have another Comforter who will come and be with you for ever; He is the Spirit of Truth and those who don\u2019t know Me can never know Him. You will be comforted by Him, and I will come to you through Him\u201d\u2026.. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

These words are just as true for us today as they were when they were spoken to the disciples. \u201cBecause I am alive, you can have everlasting life,\u201d Jesus went on, \u201cThe world can\u2019t understand or see these things, but you can know that My Father and I are with you. If you understand these things, you will love Me and keep My commandments\u2026what I am telling you is what the Father wants you to know. It all depends on you\u2026if you love Me and keep what I say, then We will show Ourselves to you.\u201d<\/p>\n

What a wonderful promise this is! We know in ourselves that when we confess our sins to God, that He has cleansed us, and we are able to have fellowship freely once more with Him. None of us are free from sinning, and just as we need a daily shower to keep our bodies clean, so we need this daily spiritual cleansing too (1 John 1:6-10)<\/em>.<\/p>\n

He went on to talk more about this Comforter\u2026.\u201dHe is the Holy Spirit who the Father will send in My Name. and He will teach you all things and bring what I\u2019ve said to your remembrance. Because of this I\u2019m leaving My peace with you, so there is nothing to \u00a0worry about or be afraid of! You\u2019ve heard Me say that I\u2019m going to leave you, and if you really loved Me, you would be glad that I\u2019m going to My Father\u2026.He is so much greater than I am! I\u2019m telling you this now so that when it happens you will believe in Me. I haven\u2019t got much more time to talk with you because the ruler of this world is coming but he won\u2019t have any power over Me.\u201d<\/p>\n

We need to remember this. Even though the power of darkness was about to surround them all, yet it was only within God\u2019s boundaries and according to His will. So when we feel we are drowning in circumstances beyond our control, it is only within what God is allowing for His purposes as in the case of Job (Job 1:8-12)<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Will it be pleasant? No! Will it last for ever? No! So it is up to us to stay strong and firm and look to Him for the strength we will need.<\/p>\n

Jesus Christ comforts His own, He gives it freely as He alone,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Can bring to us all that we need, Let\u2019s follow Him in word and deed.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>Abiding in Christ.<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John 15:1-7<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Jesus now went in to His talk about being the true Vine, and how we are the branches. We must abide in Him (remain attached to Him in our attitudes) to have the full benefits that He will give us. These promises are totally conditional\u2026.they all depend on us! <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201c I am the True Vine,\u201d He said, \u201c and you are the branches! My Father is the husbandman. You can be clean by listening and doing to what I say. You must abide in Me (our part) and I will abide in you (His part)\u2026.you can\u2019t bear fruit for Me unless you do.\u201d<\/p>\n

We have to remember that it is no use doing anything good that will receive merit from God unless we take Him on board with us. When we do this, we can bring forth much fruit for Him\u2026.He is our captain and we can\u2019t do a thing without Him.<\/p>\n

So we can see that if we don\u2019t do this,\u00a0 all our good works count for nothing. We will wither away if we don\u2019t remain attached to Christ\u2026.notice that it is men that gather \u00a0these withered branches up and burn them. If our deeds don\u2019t match our words, people won\u2019t take any notice of what we say anyway!<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you remain attached to Me, you can ask for anything and I will do it for you!\u201d Jesus carried on. This continues on the thought we had before in that we must ask in His Name, and according to His will. Indeed, we will be afraid to ask for anything that He does not want for us\u2026the Psalmist could say\u2026\u2019Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart\u2019 (Psalm 37:4)<\/em>. This is because His desires then become our desires.<\/p>\n

Sometimes we ask for things for others that we know they should be doing (or NOT doing!), but they are far away from the Lord and determined to go their own way. These prayers often don\u2019t work because we cannot cut across another person\u2019s will. But if we ask anything for ourselves with a sincere heart, and the desire to do and be better, then these prayers are always granted. We desire what God desires for us in this case and have a tender and obedient heart.<\/p>\n

Jesus Christ, the living Vine, We can make Him truly \u201cmine\u201d,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

We must do all that He says, To keep us from the evil one\u2019s snares.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>True Love.<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John 15:8-27<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Jesus went on to point out that to follow His words and ways are glorifying to God\u2026.this is how we can abide in Him. We can see how important it is to do this to have the joy of the Lord in our very being. Christ\u2019s new command is to love one another as we would love Him\u2026.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

We might cry out that it is far more easy to love Him, in all His goodness and faithfulness than it is to love our fellow believers who let us down! We have to remember that to complain about other Christians, is complaining against Christ! He said to Paul on the road to Damascus, \u201cWhy are you persecuting Me?\u201d when Paul was persecuting the Christians!\u00a0 (Acts 9:4-5)<\/em>.<\/p>\n

What wonderful words we read next\u2026. \u201cYou are My friends if you do what I tell you! You are more than servants, because I\u2019ve told you everything that I know. I\u2019ve chosen you so that you can go and bring forth fruit for Me.\u201d Wonderful words, but look how hard the next ones are\u2026.\u201dI\u2019m telling you that you must love one another. I\u2019m telling you too, that the world will hate you because it hates Me without a cause!\u201d<\/p>\n

We can see from this that there is a cost to following the Lord\u2026.not only do we have to take the hatred of the world, but we are told to love each other, and this is sometimes the hardest thing of all\u00a0 to do!<\/p>\n

\u201cThose who hate Me, hate my Father also\u201d, Jesus went on. We know too that this is very true\u2026.there are many people who will acknowledge God but refuse to admit that our Lord Jesus is God\u2019s Son. They will admit that He was a good man and a great teacher, but refuse to say that He is the Son of God! This is the mark of those who are true believers and those who are not.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut the Spirit of Truth which I will send to you, will comfort and strengthen you to testify of Me\u201d, Jesus said, \u201cand you will be able to tell others what you know about Me because you\u2019ve been with Me all this time!\u201d<\/p>\n

We are not alone! We have the Holy Spirit with us to help us!<\/p>\n

Jesus Christ will help His own, He does not leave us all alone,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

He has loved us to the end, He is our true and faithful friend.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>Remember These Things.<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John 16:1-21<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Jesus once more told His disciples that He was going to leave them, and that hard times lay ahead. \u201cI didn\u2019t tell you these things at the beginning\u201d, He said, \u201cBecause I was with you then, and now I am about to leave you. But I will send you the Spirit of Truth who is the Comforter, and He will remind you of these things\u201d\u2026.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cHe will guide you into all truth, and will not speak of Himself but will glorify Me. He will show you the things of Myself and My Father. You won\u2019t see Me for a little while and then you will see Me again before I go to My Father.\u201d<\/p>\n

The disciples were puzzled by this. \u201cWhatever does He mean?\u201d they asked among themselves, \u201cHe\u2019s going to leave us and then He will see us, it doesn\u2019t make sense!\u201d<\/p>\n

Jesus knew they didn\u2019t understand, and He said, \u201cIt\u2019s like a woman in her labour pains, they get worse and worse and then the baby is delivered and she doesn\u2019t remember the pain any more for the joy of the baby beside her! You are sad now, but you will be glad again later on. Remember, whatever you ask the Father in My Name, He will give it to you. You haven\u2019t had to do this before, but ask and you will receive and be joyful!\u201d<\/p>\n

What a wonderful promise! Whatever we ask for, whether it be strength to break a bad habit, or patience to deal with hard times, or wisdom to know what to do for the best, or to have a better attitude in difficult circumstances, \u00a0God will do it!. Each person has to ask for themselves. We can\u2019t ask for the next person, much as we would like to at times, but we can ask for ourselves. It is all between us and God. We must ask and we must WANT it to happen\u2026.so often we can see the faults in other people but can\u2019t (or won\u2019t) see them in ourselves to correct them.<\/p>\n

\u201cI came from My Father, and now I am about to return to Him\u201d, Jesus said once more.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, now we can see what You mean!\u201d they exclaimed, \u201cNow are we sure that You know all things, and we believe that You came from God\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201c Do you really believe? It won\u2019t be long before you will be scattered, every man to his own, and will leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. I\u2019ve told you these things so you will have peace. You will find that you will have tribulation in the world, but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world!\u201d.<\/p>\n

Little did they know at what a cost it was going to be !<\/p>\n

Jesus Christ has paid it all, The cost of sin in bitter gall,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

He loved His own unto the end, He is the sinner\u2019s greatest friend!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>The Lord\u2019s Prayer\u00a0 (1)<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John 17:1-9a<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Jesus now spoke to His Father in heaven at this most critical time in His life. He knew what lay ahead. He knew what it was going to cost Him. His sensitive soul cringed from the thought of all the waves and billows of God\u2019s wrath poured over Him in payment for man\u2019s sin, disobedience and rebellion. Yet here, He is not thinking of Himself, He is giving an account of His work on earth to His Father and praying for His disciples\u2026..<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

His first thought is to glorify His Father in heaven\u2026what a lesson to us! How much do we think about giving God the glory? When we are in pain or things are going wrong, how much does God come to the fore in our thoughts?<\/p>\n

Then He spells out what eternal life really is\u2026.it is far more than an endless existence, it is the ability to know God, the Eternal One, and Jesus Christ who He sent. Not to just know ABOUT Him, but to actually KNOW Him! We are able to make a start in this right now in this life, and we will never come to an\u00a0 end of it! It will carry on into the eternities of eternity, something which is beyond our comprehension in this life. We are told that our eyes haven\u2019t seen nor our hearts conceived the wonderful things that God has in store for His people (1 Corinthians 2:9)<\/em>. What a wonderful future lies ahead for those who know the Lord here and now! It is just the same as a caterpillar grub has no idea what it will be like for it to have wings and fly when it turns into a butterfly!<\/p>\n

Now He gives an account of His work on earth\u2026.\u201dI have glorified You on earth\u201d, He said, \u201cand have\u00a0 finished the work You gave Me to do. I have shown Your Name to the men You gave Me here\u2026.they have kept Your Word and believed that I came from You. Now I am praying for them as I am about to leave them\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Jesus Christ lays bare His soul, Before His Father Who alone makes whole,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

His own lay heavy on His mind, As He prayed\u00a0 for peace for them to find.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>The Lord\u2019s Prayer (2).<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John 17:9-26<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Jesus continues His prayer for the disciples\u2026\u201dI\u2019m praying for them, not for the world, because they are Your\u2019s and You have given them to Me. I\u2019m going to be leaving them, and I pray that You will keep them united as we are. While I was with them, I kept them (all but the wicked one), and now I am leaving them I pray that they will have My joy within them\u2026.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

We see the care the Lord Jesus had for His own, and it is still the same today. When we squabble amongst ourselves, it grieves Him\u2026.the thing that He wanted more than anything for His people was that they would be one\u2026united in all their aims and ideas. Alas! We do not see that today\u2026.the church is split into so many different groups, all with different ideas on how to conduct things. Yet, all must agree on the core things of salvation or they do not belong to the true church of God.<\/p>\n

His prayer now turns to the spiritual protection of His people\u2026. \u201cThe world hates them because they aren\u2019t part of it; I pray that they will be kept from the evil one. Your truth will sanctify them (set them apart as different) and I am sending them out into the world\u2026I pray for those who will also believe on Me through their preaching. I pray again that they will all be united in You, so that the world will be able to see You have sent Me.\u201d<\/p>\n

He reiterated this thought again and again\u2026 \u201cthat they may be one , even as We are One. Father I want them to be with Me and to see My glory which You have given Me, because You have always loved Me, even before the world began! O righteous Father, the world doesn\u2019t know You, but I do, and these have known that You sent Me. I\u2019ve told them Your Name (the things that You stand for) that they may understand Your great love for Me and also for them!\u201d<\/p>\n

We see that God\u2019s glory and His love are intertwined, and that they are part of His character along with His holiness and justice\u2026we cannot major on one facet of His character at the expense of the others. Let us never forget that we are one with Him and one with each other\u2026.none of us are more right than others, we are different yes, but all God\u2019s people are loved by Him. Let us glorify Him in this and not criticise others.<\/p>\n

Jesus Christ loves all His own, Prayed for them to seek Him alone,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Be united in all His ways, And seek His Face for all our days.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>The Arrest of Jesus.<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John 18:1-13<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Jesus \u00a0finished His prayer which had made a deep impression on John who was able to remember it many years later when he wrote it down as it came to his mind by the Holy Spirit. The group left the place where they had eaten the Passover, and made their way across the Kidron Valley to the Garden of Gethsemane where they often went\u2026.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Judas had a fair idea of where they would all be as they often went there, and he gathered together another group of men to go and arrest Him. John doesn\u2019t mention the prayer time in the garden, or the agony of our Lord as He contemplated what lay ahead in the next few hours. The main group stayed in the garden, and the Lord took Peter, James and John and went a little further on where He began to agonise in prayer to His Father.<\/p>\n

\u201cFather, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me\u201d, He prayed, \u201cNevertheless, not what I want, but Your will be done !\u201d His agony was so great that His sweat became like great drops of blood (Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:39-46)<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Peter, James and John were so tired that they had dropped off to sleep while waiting for Him, but they woke up with a start when Jesus said, \u201cCome on, get up. The soldiers have come to get Me!\u201d<\/p>\n

It was dark, and the soldiers were carrying lights and torches, and there was some confusion as they approached where Jesus was. But He went towards them saying, \u201cWho do you want?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJesus of Nazareth\u201d, they replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cI AM\u201d He said. As He spoke these words, the power of God surrounded them and the soldiers all fell over backwards onto the ground . As they hastily scrambled to their feet not knowing what had hit them, Jesus asked again, \u201cWho do you want?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJesus of Nazareth\u201d, they said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I\u2019ve told you already that I am He,\u201d Jesus said, \u201cHere I am, but let My friends go.\u201d<\/p>\n

Peter came to the fore now with his sword ready, and slashed wildly at the nearest man, cutting off his ear. \u201cPut away your sword Peter,\u201d Jesus said, \u201cThese things must be,\u201d and he touched the man\u2019s ear and it was instantly healed (Luke 22:50-51)<\/em>.<\/p>\n

The soldiers tied Jesus up and led Him away, back into the city. The disciples quietly melted away into the darkness, all except for Peter and John who followed at a distance to see what would happen.<\/p>\n

Jesus Christ was taken that night, He yielded to them without a fight,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Taken as a lamb to be killed, That\u00a0 the Scripture might be fulfilled.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>The Beginning of the Trial<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John 18:13-27<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Jesus was taken to the house of the high priest, and then surrounded by the group of accusing and hostile men. John had some connection to the high priest and went in with them, but Peter hung around at the door. It was dark and it was cold, and after a bit John went out and took Peter inside where it was warmer\u2026<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

As he went in, the servant girl at the door said, \u201cAren\u2019t you one of this Man\u2019s disciples?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot me\u201d, said Peter and then went over to the fire.<\/p>\n

Meantime, the high priest was interrogating Jesus about His teaching. \u201cI\u2019ve always spoken in public\u201d, Jesus said, \u201cAsk those who heard what I said!\u201d As he said this, one of the officers standing nearby struck Him on the face.<\/p>\n

A maidservant going by, looked hard at him and said, \u201cThis man is one of them too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I\u2019m not!\u201d said Peter loudly.<\/p>\n

Another one standing at the fire said to Peter, \u201cDidn\u2019t I see you in the garden with the disciples just now?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot me\u201d, said Peter\u00a0 and he began to curse and swear saying, \u201cI don\u2019t know the man!\u201d<\/p>\n

Suddenly, clearly and distinctly, a rooster was heard to crow outside. Jesus turned and caught Peter\u2019s eye across the room, and he remembered what had been said earlier, and his bold words about never denying the Lord. He immediately left the room and went outside weeping bitterly. (Luke 22:54-62) <\/em><\/p>\n

Jesus had known all along what Peter would say\u2026.what a lesson to us to be careful what we boast about!<\/p>\n

Jesus Christ knew Peter\u2019s heart, Knew what he\u2019d do right from the start,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

But He loved him just the same, Even though he\u2019d denied His Nme.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>The Trial Before Pilate.<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John 18:28-40<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

The priests felt they weren\u2019t getting what they wanted by continuing their interrogation, so they took Jesus off to Pilate, the Roman governor, for the sentence they wanted. It was very early in the morning by this time, the day before the main Passover, so the priests wouldn\u2019t go into the building to keep from being defiled and then unable to eat the Passover,\u00a0 but stood outside\u2026..<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Pilate went out to them and asked what the accusation was against this prisoner. They wouldn\u2019t give a straight answer, so he told them to go and judge Him themselves. Then they said that they weren\u2019t able to condemn Him to death as it wasn\u2019t lawful\u2026.only the Romans could do this. It seems that they already knew that there was going to be a crucifixion held that day, and wanted Jesus to be included.<\/p>\n

So Pilate went back inside and said to Jesus, \u201cAre You the King of the Jews?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you really want to know?\u201d Jesus asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat have You done?\u201d Pilate asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy kingdom is not of this world, or else My servants would fight,\u201d Jesus replied, \u201cthis is the reason I came into this world, that I should spread the truth. Those who want to hear the truth will listen to Me.\u201d<\/p>\n

This wasn\u2019t what Pilate wanted to hear, and he felt very uneasy in the presence of this Man standing before Him.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is truth?\u201d he muttered. He went outside to the Jews again and said, \u201cI can\u2019t find anything wrong with this Man at all! But you have a custom to let a prisoner go\u2026.shall I this Man go?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot this Man!\u201d they all cried out, \u201cLet Barabbas go instead!\u201d<\/p>\n

Barabbas was a notorious criminal who was waiting on death row with two others and due to be executed that very day.<\/p>\n

Jesus Christ endured His trial, Standing there in truth, upright without guile,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Pilate tried to let Him go, But the rest all cried to kill Him so.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>The Sentence.<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John 19:1-16<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

As we read the four Gospel accounts and the ancient prophecies of this event, \u00a0there emerge four plus different pictures that together make a whole. As we read the Old Testament prophecies, we see the full brutality\u00a0 of the whippings and scourgings that they gave Him that day\u2026.things that the New Testament writers don\u2019t say. His face more marked and bloodied that any other human being had ever been, it was pulped by the beatings He received around His head (Isaiah 52:14), His back was cut to ribbons by the cruel Roman whips that had bits of steel embedded in them (Psalm 129:3)\u2026. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

We see that they actually pulled His whiskers out, and spat on His face\u2026.we can\u2019t imagine people acting like this in\u00a0 a manner worse than animals (Isaiah 50:6)<\/em>. Worse than all this physical pain that they inflicted on Him,\u00a0 was the spiritual agony of knowing that His Father would turn His back on Him as He took the weight of the world\u2019s sin upon His soul. Even though His Father was in Him through this ordeal (2 Corinthians 5:19)<\/em>, He knew that He (the Father) could not bear to look upon this sin\u00a0 (Habakkuk 1:13) <\/em>that He (Christ) was bearing for every single person on earth, and that His \u00a0(God\u2019s) face was turned away from this spectacle. We cannot begin to imagine what our Lord suffered to pay the price of our sin!<\/p>\n

Pilate ordered His whipping, and the soldiers found a purple robe somewhere that they draped over Him while mocking Him, and someone else made a rough circle of a sharp thorny plant which they jammed onto His Head. Pilate took Him out to the priests again, and said, \u201cLook at your King! I don\u2019t find anything wrong with Him!\u201d<\/p>\n

All they could do was to shout out, \u201cCrucify Him! He has to die because He said He was the Son of God!\u201d<\/p>\n

This made Pilate more afraid than ever, and he tried again to let Him go. \u201cIf you do this , you aren\u2019t Caesar\u2019s friend!\u201d the priests shouted out. Now Pilate\u2019s position was in danger. \u201cTake Him then and crucify Him!\u201d He said and called for a basin of water, \u201cI\u2019m washing my hands of the whole matter!\u201d he said as he washed his hands in front of them all (Matthew 27:24)<\/em>. \u201cHis blood can be on us and our children!\u201d they cried out.<\/p>\n

Little did they know what a curse they were bringing on themselves and their nation for saying this! We have seen down through the years how the Jews have been a hated nation, expelled from countries and imprisoned in torture cells and even today the surrounding nations are still calling for them to be wiped off the map!<\/p>\n

Jesus Christ so patient and kind, Now thrashed until no more could find,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Mocked and despised, unwanted and weak, On Him their anger and wrath they did wreak.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>The Crucifixion<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John 19:17-42<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

As we see things\u00a0 unfold, we remember that there was every human emotion tied up in this event\u2026Judas full of remorse at what he had done; Peter in bitterness of soul for having let his Master down; Pilate uneasy at his part in this whole thing, with his wife extremely upset at her husband\u2019s involvement, to say nothing of the women followers\u2019 (including His mother) horror at this turn of events\u2026.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John doesn\u2019t mention the visit to Herod that Luke tells us about (Luke 23:6-12)<\/em>,\u00a0 nor the fact that He was unable to carry the weight of His cross on His sore and bleeding back\u00a0 (Mark 15:21)<\/em>, nor the conversation between the thieves crucified with Him and His comforting words to the repentant thief (Luke 23:39-43)<\/em>. He doesn\u2019t say anything about the darkness that fell over the whole scene for three hours from midday while our Lord paid the price of man\u2019s sin and His Father turned away from Him, nor the fact that the veil in the temple was torn from the top to the bottom (not man\u2019s doing) and the great earthquake that happened when He gave up His spirit to God and died (Matthew 27:51-54)<\/em>.<\/p>\n

But he does tell of how he went to stand beside the cross along with the Lord\u2019s mother and some of the other women, and the care that Jesus showed for His mother even in that dark hour of His suffering, in charging John to look after her. Even in these events, prophecy was being fulfilled when He said, \u201cI\u2019m thirsty!\u201d and they gave Him some vinegar to suck, and when His leg wasn\u2019t broken because He was dead already (Psalm 34:20)<\/em>. But some thoughtless soldier thrust his spear into His side and that too was a fulfilment of prophecy (Zechariah 12:10)<\/em>.<\/p>\n

We see how Joseph of Arimathea came out into the open, and begged Pilate for the body to be released to him along with Nicodemus and how they wrapped the body up with spices and lay it in Joseph\u2019s own new tomb, and then went home to keep the Sabbath Day which was on the point of beginning. This too had been foretold hundreds of years earlier when Isaiah said that He was with the wicked (the thieves) and the rich in His death (Joseph), having borne the sin of many and was now able to make intercession for those who had transgressed and sinned (Isaiah 53:9, 12)<\/em>. How much we have to be thankful for in these events that happened so long ago!<\/p>\n

Jesus Christ means all to those, Who turn to Him, those\u00a0 who He chose,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

His blood will cleanse all those who turn, Those who seek His Word to learn.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>All it Meant.<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

What did all this mean? What did it achieve? Was it all a dreadful mistake? Many of those who went sorrowfully home that day from the scene must have been wondering these things. For them there was no sign of the victory that was won during these events they had just witnessed\u2026. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Yet some could see a glimmering of something great that had just happened. The Roman centurion in charge of the event, as Jesus gave up His spirit and died crying out \u201cIt is finished!\u201d\u00a0 said, \u201cTruly, this was the Son of God!\u201d\u00a0 (Mark 15:39)<\/em>.<\/p>\n

The priests would have thought that it was a good job done\u2026.they had now got rid of this teacher with His radical teachings. Little did they know that it was just the beginning of something that is still carrying on until today! We wonder what the ones in charge of the inside of the temple thought when they saw the inner veil torn from the top\u2026they would not have realised that the way to God was now made open for all those who would believe in the One they had just got rid of (as they thought) As we read Hebrews chapter nine, we see how that the tabernacle that Moses had made, and then the temple with all the sacrifices and rituals that were necessary before a person could be clean before God, were done away with, when Jesus Christ offered Himself as THE ultimate sacrifice, without spot, to pay for man\u2019s sin.<\/p>\n

We read that God was in Christ as He hung on the cross, even though He turned His face away from the sin of mankind, reconciling the world to Himself (2 Corinthians 5:17-19)<\/em>\u2026.it cost Him (the Father) more than we can ever realise. We who are born in sin and live in a sinful world, just have no conception of how repugnant sin is to God! It was decreed right from the beginning that the soul that sins (disobeyed Him) \u00a0will die\u00a0 (Genesis 2:16-17)<\/em>. But now that Christ\u2019s suffering and death was all over and man\u2019s sin was atoned for to God\u2019s justice and satisfaction, our Lord could see the travail of His soul and be satisfied\u2026.He was (and is) now able to make intercession for the sinners who come to Him and point to His sacrifice that paid the debt of sin. A good job well done! (Isaiah 51:11-12)<\/em><\/p>\n

Jesus Christ has paid it all, All to Him we owe,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

He has shed the crimson tide, Now we can be as white as snow!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>What Next?<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John 20:1-18<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

John\u2019s account of the resurrection centres on what he saw and did that morning. The other Gospels tell of the group of women that had got up before daylight to go and attend to the body properly, as everything had been done in such a hurry on the day of the crucifixion\u2026..<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

As they hurried along the road, they wondered how they were going to get the stone at the tomb\u2019s mouth rolled away. The ground rumbled and shook again as there had been continuous aftershocks all weekend after the big one on the day of the crucifixion, and when they got there, they saw the stone was already rolled away and an angel was sitting there on it. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0(Matthew 28:1-8)<\/em>.<\/p>\n

The first that John knew about it, was when Mary Magdalene arrived panting and in quite a state at the door of the place where John and Peter were staying.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019ve taken away the Lord out of the tomb and we don\u2019t know what they\u2019ve done with Him!\u201d she cried when they answered the door. John and Peter immediately ran to the place, and went in to the cave where the body had been. Mary was right, there was nothing there except for the material that He had been wrapped in!\u00a0 They left the place more puzzled than ever and went back to the others.<\/p>\n

The other women had gone back home, not knowing what else to do, but Mary stood there outside the tomb crying to herself. She plucked up courage and looked inside the tomb once more, and this time she saw two angels wearing glistening white clothes, sitting there where the body had been.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you crying for?\u201d they asked her.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019ve taken Him away and I don’t know where to find Him,\u201d was all she could say.<\/p>\n

She went outside again, and saw another Person standing there. \u201cWhy are you crying?\u201d He asked. Mary still didn’t recognise Him, and thought He was the gardener. \u201cOh Sir,\u201d she said, \u201cTell me if you\u2019ve taken Him away and I\u2019ll go and get Him!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMary,\u201d He said gently, and with that voice, recognition came.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaster!\u201d was all she could say.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t touch Me,\u201d He said, \u201cGo and tell My brothers that I have risen and am going back to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God!\u201d<\/p>\n

What a wonderful statement that was! An all encompassing statement that takes in all God\u2019s people from all ages! He is our Father! He is our God! All those who have come to Him in repentance are part of His family, and He will never turn them away. We CAN be forgiven, and we never need to feel forsaken by God again!<\/p>\n

Mary ran back to the others, and they heard her story with disbelief, (Mark 16:11)<\/em> but she knew what she had seen and heard.<\/p>\n

Jesus Christ is risen indeed, He now is able to meet man\u2019s need,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

We are part of His family great, As for His coming we now can wait!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>Life Goes On.<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John 20:19-31<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

The disciples heard with disbelief what Mary had to tell them, and no doubt that was all they could talk about during that day. They were all gathered together again that evening behind closed doors, when two of their number who had gone home to Emmaus returned, panting from their haste to return and full of the great revelation they had just had\u2026..<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cHe IS alive!\u201d they said, \u201cWe\u2019ve just had the most marvellous time!\u201d, and they poured out their story of how they had met Jesus on the way and not known Him and then how they had dropped to it when He gave thanks for their meal. The group were also bubbling with news\u2026. \u201cWe know,\u201d they said, \u201cHe\u2019s been talking with Peter too!\u201d \u00a0(Luke 24:33-34)<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Suddenly in the midst of all this talking, Jesus appeared to them in the room, and we can imagine the silence that fell. Luke tells us that they were all petrified, until He convinced them that He was just the same as before, and yet not exactly the same. Even though He could show them the marks of the cross still on His body, yet He was in His heavenly body which wasn\u2019t subject to the laws of gravity, time or space. He could appear and vanish most unexpectedly. But He had flesh and blood, and could eat the same as they did\u2026.they were full of wonder and joy, hardly able to believe what they were seeing and hearing!<\/p>\n

Jesus told them that they would receive the Holy Spirit and would then, on the authority of God\u2019s Word, be able to say whether people they were counselling would have their sins forgiven or not. This is still the same today. We know that when a person comes to the Lord in true repentance, their sins ARE forgiven, and if they refuse, they still remain in their sins, and we can tell them this on the authority of Gods Word.<\/p>\n

Thomas wasn\u2019t there at this initial meeting, and when he heard about it, he scoffed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI won\u2019t believe it until I can actually touch His scars!\u201d he said with finality.<\/p>\n

A week later they were all together again in the same place, and Thomas\u00a0 was with them this time. The doors were tightly closed as they were the week before, and they became aware that Jesus was with them again.\u00a0 \u201cPeace to you all\u201d, He greeted them with, and then turned to Thomas, \u201cSee the marks on My hands and feet\u2026.feel them, and here is the scar in my side. Feel them and make sure that you know it is I !\u201d<\/p>\n

Thomas was speechless and then burst out with \u201cMy Lord and My God!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve been unbelieving until you saw for yourself, but those who believe without seeing will be blessed indeed!\u201d<\/p>\n

Each one of us today who believe, fall into this category. In a sense we have seen Him by faith, and are then convinced of the reality of Him. How thankful we can be that He has spoken to us and brought us to this point! The purpose of John\u2019s writing this account has been reached when we believe it all.<\/p>\n

Jesus Christ is live indeed, He tends and cares and meets our need,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Blessed indeed when we believe, And His eternal life receive!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>Fishing for What?<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John 21:1-17<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

The disciples had gone back north to their home territory, and decided to go back fishing \u2026.after all, what else was there to do? Nothing more had happened down in Jerusalem and there was no point in staying any longer, they thought. There were seven of them who went out fishing the first night, and they caught nothing. As they lifted their net, they saw a man standing on the shore line who called out and asked if they had caught anything.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cNothing!\u201d they said.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cTry putting it out on the other side\u201d, He said\u2026\u2026<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

They did that and this time there were so many fish that they could hardly pull the net in.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the Lord!\u201d said John to Peter.<\/p>\n

Peter immediately dived into the water, and swam to shore ahead of the others, and began to haul the net in to land\u2026there were 153 fish in the net and it hadn\u2019t broken!<\/p>\n

By this time they knew it was indeed their Master who was there on the beach, and He had a fire going with some cooked fish and bread for them to eat. This was the third time\u00a0 they had seen the Lord after His resurrection.<\/p>\n

\u201cCome and have something to eat\u201d, He said<\/p>\n

After they had eaten, we have the lovely passage where Jesus asked Peter in front of them all three times, \u201cDo you love Me more than this fishing?\u201d and then told him to feed His lambs and His sheep. Three times Peter affirmed in front of all the others that he did indeed love the Lord.<\/p>\n

Was this because three times Peter had denied the Lord at His trial? We know that there had already been a private meeting between Peter and his Lord\u00a0 (Luke 24:33-34)<\/em> but because he had publicly denied Him three times, now it was being put right publicly. This is an example to us for dealing with matters today\u2026.that which is known publicly must be put right publicly and that which is just between two people, only needs to be put right between them.<\/p>\n

Jesus showed them many things, How He provides their needs and brings,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Them into serving Him alone, Leaving all for His great throne. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>John\u2019s Last Word.<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John 21:18-25<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Peter had just affirmed for three times that he did indeed love the Lord, and Jesus said, \u201cWhen you were young you could do what you wanted, but when you are old others will take you where you don’t want to go. But for now, follow\u00a0 Me!\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Peter understood from this that He was referring to Peter\u2019s ultimate death. So, always curious, :Peter said, \u201cWell Lord, what shall this man (referring to John) do?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat is none of your business,\u201d Jesus replied, \u201cIf I want him to wait until I come again, it\u2019s nothing to do with you! You follow Me!\u201d<\/p>\n

What a lesson to us! What the Lord is doing with others, is nothing to do with us\u2026.our job is to make sure we are right before Him and to follow Him. So often we see the faults in others and don’t see our own shortcomings!<\/p>\n

Then the next lesson for us is to make sure that we correctly hear what has been said\u2026. we see how the others who heard this conversation immediately spread around that Jesus had said that John would not die. This was not what He had said at all. We have to be so careful that what we are repeating is correct.<\/p>\n

There were many other things that Jesus did and said at this time, that John thought it would be impossible to write them all down! But we have been told all that is necessary for us to know\u2026it is now up to us to follow these teachings the best that we can.<\/p>\n

John did indeed live a\u00a0 long and productive life, and has left us a wonderful legacy in his writings, both in this Gospel , his letters and finally in the book of Revelation.<\/p>\n

Christ has left us all we need, In writings of His words and deeds,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s up to us to do our best, Leaving to Him to do the rest! <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>Summing Up.<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

As we come to the end of John\u2019s Gospel, we are left with the disciples still at the lake of Galilee trying to go back to their old job of fishing. But the Lord had different ideas for them\u2026.He was going to leave them physically, but He wanted them to carry on His work\u2026. \u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

He was not going to leave them without help\u2026.He was going to send them His Holy Spirit to empower them, guide and strengthen them in this task. He told them to go back to Jerusalem and to wait for this to happen. Then they would know what to do.<\/p>\n

For forty wonderful days after the resurrection, they never knew when He would suddenly appear where they were. He came and went supernaturally, and Luke tells us in the book of Acts how He was eventually taken up to heaven as they were with Him. They saw Him going up\u2026.there was no doubt about where He now is. And to confirm it, two angels appeared to them and said that He would one day return in the same way that they had seen Him go (Acts 1:9-11)<\/em>.<\/p>\n

So the work began once the Holy Spirit had been given to them, and has continued right down to this present age. The mere fact that this is being read, is proof of this\u2026.each one of us has a part to play, even if in nothing else but by our attitudes to others!<\/p>\n

Jesus Christ is alive today, He\u2019s shown us His wondrous way,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Let us go on and obey His Word, Showing that He is our Lord.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ***<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Devotions from the Book of John. \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Each of the Gospels tell of different incidents in the beginning of the life and ministry of our Lord, and it is hard to put it into consecutive order. Matthew tells of His birth, His baptism and temptation before going into the sermon He gave on … Continue reading Devotions from John’s Gospel<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":1597,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2411","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/P69z0J-CT","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblestudies4you.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2411","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblestudies4you.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblestudies4you.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblestudies4you.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblestudies4you.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2411"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblestudies4you.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2411\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2412,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblestudies4you.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2411\/revisions\/2412"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblestudies4you.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1597"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblestudies4you.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2411"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}