Tag Archives: John

Deuteronomy 8-9, John 20-21

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Moses reminds the Israelites that it was God that had cared for them throughout the 40 years in the wilderness. He provided them with food, ensured their clothing didn’t wear out and their feet didn’t swell. He was giving the Israelites the land of Canaan because of the wickedness of the current inhabitants, not the righteousness of the Israelites.

This is a good lesson for us to remember. God hasn’t offered us salvation because of anything we’ve done. It is a gift, offered to us just as Canaan was offered to the Israelites. We’re constantly cared for and provided for, offered an incredible hope. We are among those “who have not seen and yet have believed” in the work that Christ did in order for us to have this hope.  It is up to us to respond to Jesus’ invitation to “follow me”, confident in the grace of God, trusting in His care, reflecting His glory to those around us.

Ecclesiastes 1, John 17-18

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In John 17-18, we read a prayer Jesus gave on behalf of his disciples, knowing that his crucifixion was fast approaching. “Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one… I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word… that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them”. This prayer was for all disciples, including us, that God would keep and love them. This thoughtfulness at a time of immense pressure really demonstrates Jesus’ true character and love for others.

This care for others even extended to those present at his trial, as Jesus patiently explains to them his purpose in life, “for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice”.

Such a stark contrast to the way Solomon viewed the world, “All is vanity.” We have a hope, thanks to the love that God showed to Jesus, and Jesus showed to us, something more than vanity, a relationship with God.  Even when “all things are full of weariness”, that hope remains. Let us cling to that hope, allowing it to strengthen and motivate us, just as it did for Jesus.

Deuteronomy 4, John 15-16

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Moses reminds Israel in Deuteronomy 4 that God was close by and ready to listen, “for what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the Lord our God is to us, whenever we call upon him?” God is unique and all powerful, “the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other”.

This special relationship with God is something that Jesus talks about in John 15-16, as he prepares his disciples for the time when he is no longer with them. These chapters are filled with the ideas of God’s love and Jesus’ love. “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love… that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”  Later on, Jesus says to his disciples, “the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me, and have believed that I came from God… I am not alone, for the Father is with me.” Just like Jesus, we are never alone; God is with us, ready to hear when we call upon Him.

John 13-14

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In John 13-14 we see Jesus’ love for his disciples, even at a time “when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father”. These chapters continue to show insight into Jesus’ thoughts and character, rather than merely recounting events that occurred during Jesus’ ministry.

John comments “having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end”, and Jesus demonstrated that love by washing the feet of his disciples. Jesus uses this opportunity to reinforce his teaching about the importance of service, “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet”.

Jesus explains that love for others is a defining characteristic of discipleship. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” We’re called upon to follow Jesus’ example, “whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do”, and by so doing we demonstrate our love for Jesus, “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me”.

John 12

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Jesus continues his metaphor about light and darkness in John 12. In the context of explaining to the crowds at the Passover feast about his impending death, Jesus says “the light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you… believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.”

Later, Jesus said “I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness”. Darkness is not just the opposite of light, it is the absence of it. Without the light of the gospel message, we are without hope, without understanding of the future, as Jesus also points out, “The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going”.

Paul picks up on some of these ideas, exhorting the Ephesians to “walk as children of light”, since they were “at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord”. As children of light, our future is clear. It is up to us to share that hope with those around us.

 

Proverbs 27, John 9-10

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“Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit”.  This natural process reflects a spiritual process.  It takes time and effort to maintain a tree and subsequently enjoy the result.  Similarly, our spiritual fruit requires time and effort to maintain and grow. “As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man.” Our internal spiritual development is seen in the way we act.

Jesus could describe himself as the good shepherd, because his actions reflected that idea.  Just as a good shepherd is willing to put the safety of the sheep above his own life, so Jesus was willing to sacrifice himself in order to protect the sheep that he led. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

As sheep, we must be familiar with the voice of safety, “I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father… there will be one flock, one shepherd”. It is up to us to be familiar with the voice of the true shepherd, to follow him, to find safety and rest and eternal salvation.  Jesus says “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” Maintaining our relationship to the good shepherd is like tending a fig tree, requiring a frequent and continual commitment.

John 8

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In John 8, Jesus says “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Having previously described himself as the source of living water, Jesus now focuses on the outward impact. Drinking living water is something we do for ourselves, but the light of life affects those around us.

The Pharisees missed the point, but Jesus goes on to say, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free… everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin”. Following Jesus’ example can set us free from slavery to sin and its inevitable result of death. “If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death”. On a day when much of the religious world is celebrating the resurrection of Jesus, we are reminded that we share that hope of resurrection ourselves.

John 7

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Often we picture Jesus’ ministry as being full of miracles, rebuking the rulers of the day, teaching the crowds through parables before retiring to mountains to pray most of the night. But John 7 reveals some of the difficulties Jesus faced during his ministry.

It is clear that Jesus usually attended the mandatory feasts, as the law required (Exodus 23v17). But as the Feast of Booths approached, Jesus remained in Galilee instead of going to Judea. The rest of his family went, and the Jews “were looking for him at the feast”. Despite Jesus telling his disciples “I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come”, Jesus secretly went to the feast. During the feast, Jesus visits the temple and began teaching, provoking amazement that he understood the scriptures, despite having “never studied”. Two attempts were made to arrest Jesus during this feast, but “his hour had not yet come”.

Jesus taught that he was keeping God’s will, that his teaching was from God. “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me”. He continued his theme about living water on the last day of the feast, proclaiming “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink”. Like Jesus, our life is not meant to be easy, but we are meant to follow his example, following his teaching, and be sustained by the living water.

John 6

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In John 6, Jesus gives some “hard sayings”, which turned away many of his disciples. These hard sayings centred around Jesus’ teaching that “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” Just as the things we eat and drink become part of us, so Jesus’ teaching and example must become part of who we are. “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you… For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink”.

Jesus had recently fed the 5000, and crowds were following him to be fed again. They had missed the point, “you are seeking me… because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life”. This lesson applies to us as well. It’s easy to fall into the daily routine of work, eat and sleep, but our focus needs to be elsewhere, on the spiritual food that can nourish our spiritual development. “Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever”.

John 5

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In John 5, we learn that the Jews sought to kill Jesus, believing that he referred to God as “his own Father”. Jesus responds to them, correcting their reasoning. He was not equal with God, for “the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise”. Our relationship with God is meant to be like this, a sincere imitation of God’s character, following His example as a child does their parent.

Jesus also says, “I can do nothing on my own”, a sentiment that applies to us. We can’t even breathe without God, but it is encouraging to see Jesus express his absolute reliance on God as well.

Jesus further rebukes the Jews, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.” The OT scriptures described many aspects of Jesus’ life, but Jesus pleads with the Jews to just look at what he was doing, and follow that example. Let us “seek the glory that comes from the only God”, following Jesus in copying God’s character, for “whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life.”