John 16:7-11 Walk By the Spirit so that I do not give into the power of the Flesh

But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.  And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment;  concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me;  and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me;  and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.

The ministry of Jesus was about three years on earth, yet there are about six billion persons who profess Christianity in the world today.  This is due no doubt  to the work of the third person of the trinity who is the person of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus promised His believers that I am going to send another person to you who will be your Helper.  Not another of a different kind of person, but another of the same kind of person who will guide you into all righteousness and He will not leave you but instead will indwell you.  In order to receive His maximum benefit, we need to abide in Him just as He abides in us.  And then He will unleash His power and men will say greater is He that is in you than He that is in the world.  He will not abandon us, because those who God called, He also justified so that in That Day we would not fall away is with some, but will hold fast to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  He who began a good work in us will continue the work until the Day of Jesus Christ's return.

Daily Prayer:  Lord, You gave everything over to us so that our faith will be complete.  Even though it  is hard, let us walk by the Spirit so that we do not give in the the desires of the flesh.  And help me to do this by dying to my own self-will and surrendering to Yours.  In Jesus name I pray Amen.

John 16:1-6 Ignorance is a Sin, Salvation a Free Gift

“These things I have spoken to you so that you may be kept from stumbling.  They will make you outcasts from the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God.  These things they will do because they have not known the Father or Me.  But these things I have spoken to you, so that when their hour comes, you may remember that I told you of them. These things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you. “But now I am going to Him who sent Me; and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’  But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.

Ignorance is a sorrowful and dangerous thing.  It can result is great destruction leaving the offender with a clear conscience.  You may ask who killed Jesus of Nazareth?  Certainly our sins were the cause, but the persons on the scene were the Jewish people who Jesus came to save.  The Romans crucified Jesus, but were willing to let Him go if it weren't for the Jewish elite crying "Crucify Him."  Even today, most of the Jewish rate remain with hard hearts against Him.  Some of the Jews have listened to reason and have been converted to Christianity, but the vast majority will only recognize that Jesus was a Jew and not a Savior.

Lord Jesus, as the Scriptures say, the day is coming when every knee will bow and acknowledge You as Lord.  Not as a prophet ( even though You are that also ) but the eternal Son of God who came into the world to take away our sins and offer us a new life.  Hasten not, come Lord Jesus!  Amen.

John 15:18-27 What It Means To Identify With Jesus

If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you.  If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.  Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also.  But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.  He who hates Me hates My Father also.If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would not have sin; but now they have both seen and hated Me and My Father as well. But they have done this to fulfill the word that is written in their Law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’“When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me,  and you will testify also, because you have been with Me from the beginning.

This is the progression of Jesus Christ: Jesus, who is the Living Word, was send by the Father.  Jesus and the Father indwell each other and are One.  Jesus chose disciples who became apostles after Jesus's ascension and they wrote the Bible (God's Word) which is the Written Word and they gave it to the world.
We who are Christians have received the Word and are related to the apostles and Jesus by it.  Those who became Christians did so because they identified with Jesus and were called out of the world.  Jesus is the Shepherd of those who are His and Satan controls those in the world who were not called.  Those who follow Satan acquire his judgment and those who are called by Jesus by believing in Him are spared judgment and inherit the Kingdom of Heaven.

Daily Prayer:  I am thankful for all of eternity for being chosen by the Living Word.  I have not strength or wisdom of my own by in Christ Jesus, I can do anything through the One who strengthens me.  In Jesus name I pray Amen.

John 15:15-17 We Have Been Called and Set Apart

No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.  You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.  This I command you, that you love one another.

The Lord loves us so that He makes us His family.  The Jews were "family" because the descended from Abraham, but Christians are family because they were called by Christ.  Christ called us not into a life of
slavery, because a slave is indifferent to the desires of his master. Instead, Jesus made us family who loves one another as He first loved us.  This separation from the world is called consecration or the calling and setting apart believers from the world. 

Daily Prayer:  Lord Jesus, you indeed are the Son of God and the Son of man.  You have chosen me and all Christians to be Your own and by doing so we live a life of works that glorify your and your Father in heaven.  This is my calling and my life.  In Jesus name I pray Amen.

John 15: 1-14 The Royal Law of Christ

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vine-dresser.  Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.  You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.  Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.  I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.  If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned.  If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.  My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.  Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.  If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.  These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.“This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.  You are My friends if you do what I command you.
Previously we understood that Jesus took the sins of the world on Himself so that we could be forgiven and find new life with the Father and Himself.  But a new plant cannot grow unless it is nourished.  This is what Jesus is telling us her.  Now that we have new life, we need to abide in Him and He in us for us to do works which glorify the Father.  The Latin term for this is perichoresis which describes the mutual indwelling between Jesus and the believer.  This is also what Jesus was speaking of in John 15 (High Priest Prayer) when Jesus says Father just as I and You are One, let I and they be one, just as we are one.  Finally it speaks of the Royal Law of Christ.  One day I was debating with members of the Mormon Church and I was reminding them that the Christian is not under the Law because Jesus fulfilled it.  But they rightly said that we are not under the Law of Moses, but are under the Royal Law of Christ which is to love one another against which there is no law.

Daily Prayer:  Lord, it is a joy to know that You and the Spirit live in me, making my life in the world fruitful. No longer are my words my guard, but Your words are my guard.  No longer do I need revenge, but love as You loved me.  No longer can I dwell in sin, because You dwell in me.  I have received the ultimate love and protection, I in You and You in me.  Amen.

John 14:27-31 Take Refuge in Christ Before the Day of the Anti-Christ

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.  I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me,  but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me.

When Jesus speaks about peace, these are life-long verses for you.  This is because that Jesus is declaring the true holder of peace and His peace is different from the world's.  His peace is an enduring one which won't slip away.  Then He warns them of the prince of this world who is Satan.  Jesus' kingdom is not of this world by Satan make his home here.  He is held back now until that Day when he will be given unbridled control for those who did not seek their refuge in Christ.

Daily Prayer:  Lord Jesus, give us the wisdom to seek refuge in You before that Day of the anti-Christ.  On that Day, let us be found in the protection of Christ resurrected where no enemy of the King can come.  In Jesus name I pray Amen.

John 14:15-26 The Spirit of God Indwells the Life of the Believer

“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—  the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.  I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.  Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.  On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.  Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.  Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.“All this I have spoken while still with you.  But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

Jesus understands the frailties of humankind.  He realized to the extent they depend on Him.  So Jesus asks that the Father send the Spirit of Truth to believers, not only to be with them, but to be in them.  He is to function as a Helper for the believer.  He comes not to glorify Himself, but to Jesus and the Father.  He exhorts obedience to the Law of Christ because by doing do it demonstrates the believers love for the Savior and as a result the Father pours out His love of this His child.  The Bible says that once the Spirit of God begins a good work in the life of the believer, He will continue until it comes to completion in the believers life.

Daily Prayer:  Lord, it is true that You started a good work in me and have been faithful carrying out Your work in me.  Let all who receive this message receive Your spirit so that their life will be one which glorifies You.  In Jesus name I pray Amen.

John 14:13-14 Whatever You Ask In My Name, I Will do

Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.

What do you think? Will Jesus do anything you ask in His name?  My experience with this verse is that people (especially Christians) say "Whatever you ask which is according to the will of God, Jesus will most certainly do.  But that is not what He says.  In various other places in the gospels Jesus says whatever you ask in full faith, never doubting, He will most certainly do.  So the central problem with all of us is one of doubt.  Even though Jesus has done nothing to make us doubt him, our earthly experience is one that breeds doubt.  Being the first raised from the dead to eternal life, Jesus calls us our friend and our brother.  What brother would not help his brother or sister and what friend would not help a friend.  We must learn to ask Jesus for faith so that our experience with Him will be according to what He declares.

Daily Prayer:  Lord Jesus, there is nothing that I need that You don't give.  Today give me full faith, the king that believes and never doubts.  The faith of Elijah and those who came before me, who could say that it will not rain and shut up the skies and You bring his declaration to pass.  In Your holy name I pray Amen.

John 14:7-12 Oneness with the Father

If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”  Jesus said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?  Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works.  Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.

In Jesus' world, things don't change, even from eternity past.  Jesus is in the Father and the Father is in Jesus.
He and the Father are One.  In the same way, if you name the name of Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, then the Spirit of God will indwell you so the Spirit and you are One.  That does not mean that the Spirit participates in your sin, but it does mean that your sins are forgiven you based on the blood of Jesus.

Daily Prayer:  Jesus, I do try and believe that I succeed in living for You.  I have been sanctified by the Spirit and testify for You with my tongue.  By You and the Spirit that lives in my I have been saved and forgiven from and of my transgressions.  In Your holy name I pray Amen.

John 14:1-6 Tending To The Lost

“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.  In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.  If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way where I am going.”  Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?”  Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

Earlier in the gospel, Jesus presents Himself as the Good Shepherd.  A shepherd does not leave it to his flock to find their own way.  If he does not lead them, they would scatter.  So it is with the Good Shepherd.
Those who are his, know his voice and follow him.  In the same way, where ever he takes his flock, he has provisions for their care and safety.  This is why Jesus says "I go to prepare a place for you."  And as the shepherd He declares, "I am the way, the truth and the life.  Nobody comes to the Father except through Me."  This is why there are not many ways to God, only one.

Daily Prayer:  Sovereign Savior, there are many who are Yours who give the appearance of not hearing Your voice and get lost in their ways.  They believe in You as Savior, but don't know You.  Draw near to these who are lost and recover them to be among those who know You.  Do not leave them in this hostile world because they need protection from the Evil One.  In Jesus name I pray Amen.

John 13:36-38 Maturity in Faith

Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?” Jesus answered, “Where I go, you cannot follow Me now; but you will follow later.” Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You right now? I will lay down my life for You.” Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for Me? Truly, truly, I say to you, a rooster will not crow until you deny Me three times.

When Jesus speaks, He speaks the truth.  We don't quite understand Him because our lives are a blend of truth and speech of the flesh.  Jesus had said to the Pharisees, "Where I go, you cannot come."  They concluded He would kill Himself.  Now Jesus tells His disciple to the same thing and he questions, "Why not?"  He was a lot closer to the truth when he said, "Lord, I will lay down my life for You."  But Jesus, knowing the power of the flesh questions him, "Will you."  Jesus understood that commitment to  Him is a process and that Peter still had lessons to learn before he could fulfill that vow.

Daily Prayer:  Lord Jesus, You are a Savior indeed.  Even though You are full man and full God, You did not permit Your flesh keep You from the Cross!  Instead You proclaimed, "Not my will, but thy will be done.  Because of the cross, keep me steadfast in faith and follow You step by step until I reach Your goal for my life.  In Your holy name I pray Amen.  

John 13:21-35 ":Love One Another, Even As I Have Loved You

When Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, that one of you will betray Me.”  The disciples began looking at one another, at a loss to know of which one He was speaking. There was reclining on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.  So Simon Peter gestured to him, and said to him, “Tell us who it is of whom He is speaking.”  He, leaning back thus on Jesus’ bosom, said to Him, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus then answered, “That is the one for whom I shall dip the morsel and give it to him.” So when He had dipped the morsel, He took and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.  After the morsel, Satan then entered into him. Therefore Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.”  Now no one of those reclining at the table knew for what purpose He had said this to him.  For some were supposing, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus was saying to him, “Buy the things we have need of for the feast”; or else, that he should give something to the poor.  So after receiving the morsel he went out immediately; and it was night. Therefore when he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him;  if God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and will glorify Him immediately.  Little children, I am with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’  A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.  By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

The enemies of the Christian may often be those found in their own home.  You need not go far to find trouble.  Its not that this person beats you or is openly oppressive to you, but when they set their face against God they become your enemy.  But Jesus exhorts us to act in compassion and love so that we are found worthy in His Day.  And our love is greatest when we teach the gospel, because it is the Good News of forgiveness and redemption found in Christ Jesus.

Daily Prayer:  Lord, You have said in the Book of God that He who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved and thy house.  I take that to mean that is one member is saved by the blood of Jesus, You will draw near to the whole house so that they may find the faith to believe.  Draw near to so  many broken households so that by you families may be saved.  In Your holy name I pray Amen.

John 13:1-20 Copying The Life Of Our Savior For Good Works Found In Him

Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.  During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him,  Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself. Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.  So He came to Simon Peter. He said to Him, “Lord, do You wash my feet?”  Jesus answered and said to him, “What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter.” Peter said to Him, “Never shall You wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”  Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.”  Jesus said to him, “He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.”  For He knew the one who was betraying Him; for this reason He said, “Not all of you are clean.” So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you?  You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.  For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. ¹Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him.  If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. I do not speak of all of you. I know the ones I have chosen; but it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats My bread has lifted up his heel against Me.’ From now on I am telling you before it comes to pass, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am He.  Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”
Throughout this gospel, Jesus was saying that His time has not come.  In today’s lesson, He declares that His time has come to return to the Father.  But He did not leave us as orphans.  He declares that whomever He sends, if they receive them, then they have received Jesus who sent them  Furthermore, they also receive God who  sent the Son who sent representatives in His name.  We cannot live a life of revenge.  Instead we should live a life of service and love, because these are the qualities of the Savior.  Those who are not against Him are with Him proclaiming the gospel or Good News of the Salvation, forgiveness, and eternal life found in Jesus.
Daily Prayer:  Lord, let me live a life of a little “I” and a big “You” exalting You for all You have done and continue to to as the Great High Priest.  Build me up to a life of service found in Your Name so that your life and teaches can be found in me.  In Your holy name I pray Amen.

John 12:44-50 Jesus Speaks the Words of the Father

And Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me, does not believe in Me but in Him who sent Me.  He who sees Me sees the One who sent Me.  I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness.  If anyone hears My sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.  He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day.  For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak. I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me.”

It is important to recognize the unity of the holy trinity (God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit).  While all three are God of God, it can be rightfully said that God the Father is the center piece of deity.  This is why Jesus said that He does not speak of His own accord, but He speaks the words of the Father.  He goes on to say that those who have seen Him have seen God who sent Him.  This is why the Bible says that Jesus is God who dwell among us.  Jesus is the King, but He is also the Servant.  Because of who He is, His work on the Cross is sufficient to save the sins of the world, if only they give Him credit for who He is – God.

Daily Prayer:  Lord Jesus, You are indeed King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  Your mercy is far greater than Your judgment, but Your judgment is very real if people say the final “no” to Your saving grace.  Draw us close to you so that all will believe.  In Your holy name I pray Amen.

John 12:35-42 Faith Saves, Religion is for Man

So Jesus said to them, “For a little while longer the Light is among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes.  While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light.” These things Jesus spoke, and He went away and hid Himself from them.  But though He had performed so many signs before them, yet they were not believing in Him.  This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet which he spoke: “Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”  For this reason they could not believe, for Isaiah said again,  “He has blinded their eyes and He hardened their heart, so that they would not see with their eyes and perceive with their heart, and be converted and I heal them.”  These things Isaiah said because he saw His glory, and he spoke of Him. Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue.

The theme of today’s message is that faith saves, but religion is for man.  The people had God with them.  The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, full of faith and truth.  Jesus gave signs and wonders demonstrating that God is in Him.

Many believed in Him but did not confess Him because they feared the rulers would exclude them from the synagogue.

Daily Prayer:  Lord Jesus, you have said that whoever confesses You before men, You will confess to Your father in heaven.  Give us the faith and the boldness to confess You in the world and make intentional efforts to make Your Name known.

By doing do, it will avoid the deflating words in That Day that You say to some “I never knew You.”  In Jesus name I pray Amen.

John 12:12-32 God Said, " I Will Glorify Him And Will Glorify Him Again

On the next day the large crowd who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,  took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel.”  Jesus, finding a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written,  “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your King is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.”  These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things to Him.  So the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead, continued to testify about Him.  For this reason also the people went and met Him, because they heard that He had performed this sign.  So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are not doing any good; look, the world has gone after Him.” Now there were some Greeks among those who were going up to worship at the feast;  these then came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and began to ask him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”  Philip came and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip came and told Jesus.  And Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.  Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him. “Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour.  Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came out of heaven: “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.”  So the crowd of people who stood by and heard it and were saying that it had thundered; others were saying, “An angel has spoken to Him.”  Jesus answered and said, “This voice has not come for My sake, but for your sake   Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.”

These are rich passages declaring the Pharisees understood that unless they plotted to kill Jesus, all men would accept Him because nobody can do what He does unless God is in Him. The crowd was excited that Jesus came to the great celebration of the Passover, because previously people did not know where He was.  But He enters Jerusalem on the colt of a donkey fulfilling the prophecy that the king would ride in on the colt of a donkey.  God Himself spoke to the people saying “I have glorified Him and will glorify Him again. People did not understand what they had heard, but Jesus said that God spoke not for His sake but for theirs.

Daily Prayer:  Blessed is he that sees and believes, but more blessed is he who does not see, yet believes.  This is the age we live in.  The age of grace.  Jesus, we do not see You in person, but have all the benefits of Your life and resurrection.  We have the value of knowing Your earthly life from its humble beginnings to it’s glorious end.  And now I believe upon Your name and am heir with You to all You  possess.

In Your holy name I  pray Amen.

John 11:37-44 Jesus is the Great "I Am"

But some of them said, “Could not this man, who opened the eyes of the blind man, have kept this man also from dying?” So Jesus, again being deeply moved within, came to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone was lying against it.  Jesus said, “Remove the stone.” Martha, the sister of the deceased, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there will be a stench, for he has been dead four days.”  Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”  So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised His eyes, and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.  I knew that You always hear Me; but because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me.”  When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth.”  The man who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

Seven times in the Gospel of John, Jesus declares “I am…”  I am the bread of life, I am the good shepherd.  I am the gate.  I am the way, the truth and the light.  In today’s context, I am the resurrection and the life.  Whoever comes unto me will not perish, but have everlasting life.  The life that Jesus restored to Lazarus here was temporary, because he will die again.  But upon his passing, he will inherit eternal life.  And this is the life he offers us, the readers today.  And this inheritance can occur now, the pension of life everlasting if you take hold of Jesus Christ as your Savior.  Amen.

Daily Prayer:  Lord Jesus, You came not just for those told about in the Bible but for all people everywhere.  What we don’t understand is that You knew us before the beginning of time.  Strengthen our faith so that we can place total faith in You for all things, even if they are out of the grasp of humanity.  In Jesus name I pray Amen.

John 11:16-35 Jesus In His Humanity

So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days.  Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off;  and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary, to console them concerning their brother.  Martha therefore, when she heard that Jesus was coming, went to meet Him, but Mary stayed at the house.  Martha then said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”  Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”  Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies,  and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”  She said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world.” When she had said this, she went away and called Mary her sister, saying secretly, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.”  And when she heard it, she got up quickly and was coming to Him. Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha met Him.  Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and consoling her, when they saw that Mary got up quickly and went out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there.  Therefore, when Mary came where Jesus was, she saw Him, and fell at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled,  and said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept.

Events in the Bible are not without purpose.  When Jesus heard of Lazarus' illness, he remained away for two more days and Lazarus died.   Now Jesus returns to a hostile Judea and witnesses the lamenting of Martha and Mary and their family and friends over Lazarus passing.  Jesus knew that Lazarus passing was so that He would raise him from the dead which is a sign that Jesus is indeed God.  But Jesus was moved by the sorrow of the people and in particular Mary and the Bible reports that Jesus wept.  You may ask why He wept.  It is evidence that He is also truly man and has all of the emotions of a man.  His title is Son of Man, but also Son of God.

John 11: 1-16 The Death and Resurrection of Lazarus

Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.  It was the Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.  So the sisters sent word to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.” But when Jesus heard this, He said, “This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.”  Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.  So when He heard that he was sick, He then stayed two days longer in the place where He was. Then after this He said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.”  The disciples said to Him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone You, and are You going there again?”  Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”  This He said, and after that He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I go, so that I may awaken him out of sleep.”  The disciples then said to Him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.”  Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He was speaking of literal sleep.  So Jesus then said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead,  and I am glad for your sake that I was not there, so that you may believe; but let us go to him.”  Therefore Thomas, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, so that we may die with Him.”

Jesus loved Martha and Mary and their brother Lazarus.  When Jesus was away from Judea, Lazarus became severely ill.  Yet even when notified, Jesus stayed two days longer inspite of Lazarus’ illness.  Even though Jesus was away from Judea do to its hostility toward Him He says to His disciples let us go to Judea.

To the disciples surprise they question Him.  Jesus speaks to them in parables contrasting the light of the day to the darkness of the night.  He says He is going to wake Lazarus, but they did not understand that He meant wake him from the dead.  So Jesus says plainly that Lazarus is dead.  This miracle is a pre-curser to the cross.  Jesus needs to exhibit that He can raise the dead into life because He will resurrect from the dead, but not only to die again, but to eternal life.

Daily Prayer:  Lord, it is important to us to know that eternal life is a  present possession.  We don’t have to undertake a physical death to have it.  Eternal life means that we have been spared a second death, that is death of the soul, once our body dies.  And resurrection by You means that all will resurrect, so to companionship with You and those who don’t recognize You will raise to everlasting contempt.  Let all of us who understand spread the Good News of the gospel which is salvation through You.  In Jesus name I pray Amen.  

John 10:22-39 Jesus' Miracles Manifest God's Glory In Him

At that time the Feast of the Dedication took place at Jerusalem;  it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple in the portico of Solomon.  The Jews then gathered around Him, and were saying to Him, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.”  Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me.  But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep.  My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;  and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.  My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.  I and the Father are one.” The Jews picked up stones again to stone Him.  Jesus answered them, “I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?” The Jews answered Him, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God.”  Jesus answered them, “Has it not been written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’?  If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken),  do you say of Him, whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?  If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; but if I do them, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father.”  Therefore they were seeking again to seize Him, and He eluded their grasp. The Jews picked up stones again to stone Him.  Jesus answered them, “I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?”  The Jews answered Him, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God.”  Jesus answered them, “Has it not been written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’?  If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), do you say of Him, whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?  If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me;  but if I do them, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father.”  Therefore they were seeking again to seize Him, and He eluded their grasp.

In the New Testament, the miracles Jesus did in God’s name were a sign of who He is and who sent Him.  The Jews loved the miracles but didn't love Him.  Instead they conspired against Him and sought His life without even knowing that that was the purpose of His coming.  That is to lay down His life for His believers because nobody can take them out of His hand or His Father’s hand.

Daily Prayer:  Lord, all of the saints from Adam to myself have been set aside for  Your glory and the Father’s glory.  We believe in you because we know You.  Not because of the outward miracles done in Your earthly visitation, but because of Your assume works done every day!  Though You were crucified, You remain alive today for any discerning heart who will believe in You because of the faith them by You.  In Jesus name I pray Amen.