John - Chapter 12, Part 4

REJECTION BY THE OT COMMUNITY WHICH ARE THE JEWS

JOHN 12:37-50

Now we are allowed to see the change of scene that brings us to the end of the public ministry of Jesus Christ. John takes us into the sacred circle of the disciples and the conversations as Jesus prepares to leave them.

• This closing section of John 12 summarizes His ministry and explains it in four strong truths:

• His appeal to His Father who had sent Him (44-45-49)

• Himself being the light of the world (46)

• The danger of unbelief (47-8-49)

• The end of faith (50)

The Holy Spirit moved John to teach that the guilt of all the unbelief rested squarely upon the shoulders of Israel, without excuse. In order to tie together the OT and the NT in a seamless narration John reverts back to the words of the prophet Isaiah to complete the circle for it was here that these things were predicted.

Isaiah 53 teaches that He would be despised and rejected of men. Next Isaiah 6 is quoted to show how God blinds His people because of their unbelief.

The Lord had performed signs of His divine authority and power of almost every kind. He healed the sick, removed demons, controlled the wind and waves, walked on the sea, converted water to wine, revealed to men & women their inner thoughts, and raised the dead. His miracles were done in the light of day in front of many witnesses, including at times the temple leaders. In spite of all these signs, they did not believe on Him. (37)

Is there a lesson here for our own day? If even the hearers of Jesus Christ and those who had seen His power did not believe, are we surprised that there is so much unbelief in our own time? The Jews did indeed fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah but did so in ignorance. BECAUSE they did not believe, the prophecy was made true. BECAUSE the nation rejected Jesus as the Messiah, the people as a whole were judged as blind by God and left to their darkness and the hardening of their hearts.

Just as Isaiah had predicted, “He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart...” so that now because they WOULD not see, now they CANNOT see.

By refusing the light they would now live in darkness.

What God did to His chosen ones He will surely do or has already done to those of our modern time of unbelief. This may be a strong clue as to the approach of the end of His patience just as Paul taught in his end times sermon in 2 Thess 2:11-12:

“And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believe not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness”.

We should also recall the teaching of Heb 2:3:

“How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?”

Remember that these Jews were in fear of the consequence of belief, which was viewed by the temple leaders as heresy. Remember that the man who was given his sight by Jesus was expelled from the temple, and his own parents were in fear of the same. This fact is not overlooked in the end of all things as we are taught in Rev 21:8 that the very first of the eight classes of those who are to be cast into the lake of fire are the fearful.

Jesus teaches in verse 43 that these loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. He places a truthful accusation against those who did not receive Him.

In verses 44-50 Jesus directs His voice loudly (He cried) against these and makes sure they fully understand that their rejection of Him is a rejection of the Father who sent Him. It will be the WORD who is one with the Father who will pass judgment.

Many have judged the Word to be unworthy of their heart or spirit but in that last day it will be their hearts and spirits that will be found unworthy of the Word.

John - Chapter 13, Part 1

CHRIST WASHES THE FEET OF THE DISCIPLES

JOHN 13:1-17

The new subject introduced in chapter 13 is one of cleansing. The disciples themselves, each one, must be cleansed to take the next step in the Gospel plan and the group (community) must be cleansed of the one who will betray Jesus. Both these cleansings are in preparation of receiving the Holy Spirit.

We remember that Jesus came to His own and they did not receive Him and we remember that those few who did accept were brought into a new status of becoming children of God. At the end of chapter 12, the closing of His public ministry, we are told in verse 36 that He departed and hid himself from them, meaning from the nation.

Now in chapters 13-17 we will see Jesus in the most intimate fellowship with His disciples, revealing to them the place they held in His love and that this love would continue even after He returns to the Father. He loved these men “to the end” (1), and this meant even after He had returned above. In this effort, Jesus to a degree brings His disciples into heaven in spirit, revealing the communion of togetherness and of love.

Here in these first few verses, as they are together before the Passover Feast, His eye seems to be on things above as He knows His hour has come (1) and also His eye is on those who are truly His own (4). Jesus is carefully showing that He is that which the laver in the Tabernacle pointed toward. That laver was for purifying by washing before entering the holy area, and now Jesus is that washing incarnated. 

Remember that in chapter 12 the feet of Jesus were anointed, and now the feet of the disciples are to be washed, removing from them the dirt and grime which defile them as they walk for Christ in the days to come. We should note that this cleansing was by water. The blood of Christ will cleanse from sin soon as the cross is only days away, and that cleansing is for the standing before God, but the water is to cleanse to allow a pure condition, as in Numbers 19, which teaches of “water of purification”. Once more the OT is revealed in the NT.

After all the conflicts that have been shown to us so far in John, Jesus now comforts His own heart by pouring out love on those who are truly His. Here comes clear the teaching of Paul in 1 Cor 6:19 “Ye are not your own”. How is it that we are not our own any longer after we accept in faith?

First, we belong to the Lord by the Father's eternal election, a love gift from the Father to the Son, planned before the foundation of the world.

Second, we belong to the Lord by His right having redeemed us. He paid the purchase price and bought us for Himself.

Third, we belong to the Lord by the effectual call of the Holy Spirit. If anyone be in Christ we are a new creation, new born of the Spirit.

In this love, which is holy, none can stand defiled by the grime and dirt of this world. So Jesus prepares these few who are His by cleansing them Himself. After supper had ended He takes on the role of the lowest of servants, removing His own outer clothing and girded with a towel, He began to wash the feet of the disciples.

He knew His hour had arrived. As He began this most humble task, Peter asks Jesus why. And we see His answer in verse 8 by saying that “... If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me...”. This word “part” is meant to be understood as fellowship or inheritance. It is the same word Jesus uses in Luke 10:42 when Mary sat at the feet of Jesus while Martha served and Jesus said that Mary had chosen the good part.

The beginning of the church was a little over 50 days away and the lesson of this moment of self humility by the Lord was well taught by Paul in Eph 5:25-26:

“Christ loved the church and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word”.

As in other cases, Peter speaks too quickly and asks why. Jesus sweetly explains that he may not understand it now, but will understand it hereafter. (7) Peter says that Jesus will NEVER wash his feet. But Jesus in a kind rebuke teaches him that it is proper so that Peter will have fellowship with Him (part). In typical Peter fashion, he now asks Jesus to wash his feet and his hands and his head. Jesus tells him that only the feet are necessary, in order that the walk will be clean.  Only one who ever walked here was not in need of cleansing, and that was Jesus. 

But Jesus warned that not all were clean after the washing of their feet. Verses 2 & 27 both teach that Satan entered Judas. Jesus teaches in verse 10  and verse 11 also teaches that He knew who would betray Him, but did not call his name. We remember that we learned in the miracle of the raising of Lazarus that Jesus calls His sheep BY NAME.

The last lesson of this passage is found in verse 16 in which Jesus teaches that the servant is not greater than his Lord. Verse 15 provides the lesson that Jesus gave an example to the disciples. We should hold that example close to our own hearts as we also should consider ourselves servants (Paul says slaves) of Christ and we should be always willing to humble ourselves following His example.

HUMBLE DOES NOT MEAN WE THINK LESS OF OURSELVES.

HUMBLE MEANS WE THINK OF OURSELVES LESS.  

John - Chapter 13, Part 2

THE BETRAYAL

JOHN 13:18-38

Here in this section of John's Gospel, we will begin by the warning of Judas, and the section will close by the warning of Peter.

After the washing of the feet Jesus tells His disciples that He has given them an example that they should follow, that they should do as He has done to them. He has shown them in deed and word how spiritual love works. It seeks the good of the object of the love and it thinks no service is too lowly if given in that love. Jesus uses this same type of language in Luke 10 with the parable of the Good Samaritan when He teaches His followers to go and do likewise. He also takes the lesson one step further in verse 17 when He says “If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them”. It is not enough to know. Happiness comes by doing what we know ought to be done in love. (We are not to be just a hearer of the Word, but we are also to be a doer of the Word).

Jesus is teaching that happiness dwells within when we think less of ourselves and more of others. Love like this knows no boundaries. Christ had washed the feet of the very one who would betray Him and raise his heel against Him.  Verse 18 foretells the betrayal, and also fulfills OT scripture from Psalm 41:9. Jesus allowed the betrayer to remain with Him so that scripture would be fulfilled for just as the enemy of David raised his heel to betray, so did Judas against the son of David. Jesus even goes further in verse 19 teaching that He says this before it will come so that they may believe.

Christ teaches that He was troubled in spirit (21). Here begins the betrayal. Nothing is more bitter than one who betrays love with ingratitude. Here was one who had been the constant companion for three years, and had obviously been unmoved by the beauty he had seen in Jesus, unmoved by the compassion Jesus had shown, and is moved only by the small gain he will receive to sell Jesus to the Pharisees. 

The disciples are perplexed looking at one another for a hint as to who it may be that would betray the Lord. (22). What Jesus had said in verse 18 seemed to have no effect. Now He speaks more plainly. It is clear that Jesus had well hidden what He already knew. His treatment of Judas had not given a clue to the others that the truth was close by. Jesus had shown the same patience and love to Judas as He had to the other eleven, showing gentleness, and kindness. 

John, leaning on the breast of Jesus asks who is the betrayer. Jesus answers by action, telling that He would give bread sopped to the one it would be. He sops the bread and gives it to Judas. Evil takes its place now as Satan himself enters Judas. (27)

Jesus speaks quietly to Judas telling him to do quickly what he has planned. Fate is sealed as Satan now resides within this disciple. But also we see now that Jesus is in full surrender to the will of the Father. It was if He said, “I am ready”.

The disciples thought that Jesus had sent Judas out to buy items for the Passover Feast as Judas held the money of the group. He was the treasurer.  We see now that Judas leaves and we are told the most ominous words in verse 30, “...it was night...”. This symbol means more than the time of day. Luke 22:53 tells us that this moment began the “power of darkness” to come.

God allowed through His plan man to put out the light of life granted to the world. Like Cain, Judas turned his back on the light. Jesus now says in verse 31 that now is the Son of Man glorified. He does not speak of the horror of the death to come, nor of the betrayal, but only of the glory this coming event will bring. Here He begins the obedient effort that will reverse the disobedience of the first Adam. 

The power, justice, holiness, faithfulness, and love of God are all bound in this one moment as God begins to reveal the truth of the plan to remit the sin of mankind.

• Jesus now prepares the eleven with a new commandment:

• Love one another as I have loved you. 

• By this love shall all know that ye are my disciples.

Peter, true to form, tells Jesus that he will follow Him wherever He goes. Jesus tells Peter that he cannot follow now but will follow Him afterward.(36)

Peter offers his life to the Lord. Jesus warns Peter that not only will he not give his life but that he will deny three times that he even knows the Lord. The Lord foresaw it all. But we know that the Lord did not cast him away. After the resurrection, Jesus seeks Peter out and restores him to His fellowship. 

It has been asked (as we will later study) why Peter was later compelled to express his love to Jesus three times. Peter denied the Lord three times and perhaps therefore was required to express his love once for each time he denied. The Lord asked Peter “do you love me” three times and Peter met the challenge and was restored becoming one of the greatest preachers and teachers of the new church.

John - Chapter 14

CHRIST SPEAKS OF DEPARTING AND SENDING THE COMFORTER

In the first eleven verses we are given the beginning of the ending of the earthly time of Jesus as He prepares the disciples for His departure.

It is in the 14th chapter that the Lord Jesus begins a discourse which is filled with tenderness, depth, and fullness that we see nowhere else in scripture. It is a heart melting address given to the eleven on the last night before He died.

Though He was completely aware of all that awaited Him in the final hours, though He felt the terrible load of His sacrifice to come, and He was in full acceptance of the bitterness of the cup He must drink, He took this time to comfort His chosen ones in their fear and sorrow. Here we see He truly loved them until the end.

The apostles had heard repeated statements from Him concerning His approaching suffering and death. Today, to us, these statements seem simple and direct. We read them from the perspective of looking back, and we know the full story. They, however, might have viewed these teachings as parables not to be taken literally. 

Now Jesus feels their grief as if it were His own and He kindly comforts those who will abandon Him and scatter in hiding. Here we see pure and clear the prophecy of Isaiah 61:1 & 2. “... he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, … To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord...”

Jesus tells his disciples that their heart should not be troubled, and that if they believe in God, to believe also in Him. The chosen men were troubled over hearing that one would betray Him, were troubled over seeing the master troubled in spirit, troubled because He said he would only remain with them for a little while, troubled over the warning He gave Peter concerning Peter's three denials to come. The Lord knew all their hearts and now he begins to comfort them.

It is important that we remember that He was speaking not only to the eleven but to every believer after them which includes us.

When Jesus teaches them (and us) to believe also in Him, he now once more confirms His deity in an unmistakable way. We are to believe in Him exactly as we believe in the Father. Martin Luther wrote on this matter:

“Here thou seest plainly that Christ Himself testifies that He is equal with God Almighty; because we must believe in Him even as we believe in God. If He were not true God with the Father, this faith would be false and idolatrous”.
Now Jesus teaches that in the Father's house are many mansions. The Father's house is His dwelling place. Jesus is the only one who ever referred to the Father's house. He mentions it in John 2:16 when clearing the Temple. He refers to it in terms of the parable of the prodigal son, and now He mentions it as the final abobe of the saints.

He teaches that He goes to prepare a place for them (and us). God never has and never will take His people to a place un-prepared. In Eden He planted a garden for his own. He prepared Canaan to receive His own into cities they never built, and wells they never dug. Now He goes to prepare the final place for all who believe.

He also goes a step further in teaching that he will not only go to make our preparations but that He will return for us Himself to receive us there. Paul confirmed this fact in 1st Thess. 4 when he wrote that the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout. For comfort He teaches that He Himself is the way, and the truth, and the life. He is the way by spanning the distance between God and man. He is the truth as the final revelation of God to man. None other will come as none other is needed. He is the life as the one who frees us from death itself. 

And of course, verse 6 teaches that no man cometh unto the Father except by Jesus. The favor of God's grace is not available through anything we might do on our own. “neither is there salvation in any other...” (Acts 4:12).

In the next nine verses (12-20), we see the cause of Christ is made stronger by His return to the Father. We see that we are to pray in his name. Our love for Him is shown by our obedience, and we are not left as orphans as the Comforter will come.

It was only by the coming of the Holy Spirit that the apostle's faith in Christ was finalized, that the power to do the mighty works was given, and that their love was purified and deepened. Through the arrival of the Comforter, as Jesus foretold, would these apostles regain their composure and stand against the Jews and Rome to preach the Gospel. Jesus teaches in verse 12 that greater works would be done by these eleven. They would:

• preach of a risen Savior

• proclaim the gospel to every creature

• turn souls from darkess to light

• remove souls from the service of Satan to the service of God

• cause heathen people to demolish their own pagan temples and worship God

• build the temple of living stones of which Jesus was the foundation & corner

• shake the entire world with the power of the Word.

These are among the greater works Jesus taught.

It is obedience to the commandments of Christ that they and we show our love for Him. Notice that the Comforter was to not only come but was to abide with us forever. Until now, Christ had been the Comforter but upon His leaving, He assures we would not be left alone for another Comforter would come at His request. Here once more we see Him loving them until the end.

This new person known as the Comforter was described by Jesus in a Greek word that is a contraction of two words meaning both “along side of” and “strong”. A comforter stands along side of each of us and provides us strength. Jesus also noted that the Holy Spirit would minister from within just as Christ had ministered from without.

It is good to note the many ways Jesus had laid the plan already to assure comfort to the eleven and to all who would later believe:

1. He assured them He was going to the father's house.

2. He would prepare the place there for all believers to come.

3. When preparations were completed, He will return Himself to receive them.

4. He would open the way for them and give them the power to journey there.

5. He would give power to perform their works to come.

6. Asking all things in his name assured their success.

7. A divine person will arrive to lead, guide, and strengthen them.

8. He will not leave them orphans, but will return to take them (and us) home.

9. Life eternal will be shared by the Father, the Spirit, the Son, and the sons.

10. He will manifest Himself to those who keep His commandments.

11. Those who keep them will be loved by the Father.

12. The Holy Spirit will bring them remembrance of all things Christ taught.

13. Peace is left to them, His peace.

NO WONDER HE TOLD THEM THAT THEIR HEARTS SHOULD

NOT BE TROUBLED.

Verse 30 brings the moment into reality that God spoke in the garden. Now was the time when the serpent (Satan) would bruise His heel. Here begins the true and total victory over sin, death, hell, and the grave. Satan had found weakness in all of the patriarchs & fathers who had come before. Noah, Abraham, David, Peter, and all others failed along their walk of faith. Christ was truly the lamb without spot or blemish. Now Jesus ends this discourse of love and comfort with strength and purpose to complete the work given Him. His last words are “... Arise, and let us go”.

John - Chapter 14: Jesus Promised another Comforter

JOHN 14:15-31

Application: The student will learn to accept and cherish the comforting presence of the Holy Spirit and follow Him as He leads.

SEVERAL PORTIONS OF OUR LESSON TODAY WILL MAKE MORE SENSE IF WE CONSIDER THE MEANING OF THE ORIGINAL HEBREW IN WHICH THE OT WAS GIVEN.

FROM THE TIME OF MOSES UNTIL TODAY, JEWISH FAITHFUL EACH MORNING AND EACH EVENING RECITE THE “SHEMA” FOUND IN DUET 6:4-6:

• “Hear O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord:

• And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart,

• and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

• And these words which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart...”

IN THE HEBREW THE FIRST LINE WHICH SAYS “OUR GOD” IS ADONAI ELOIHEINU, WHICH IS THE FIRST PERSON POSSESSIVE POSITION OF THE HEBREW ELOHEIM WHICH WE WILL BRING FOCUS UPON NEXT.

NOW AS WE REVIEW OUR SCRIPTURE ASSIGNMENT, WE SEE THE TEACHING OF THE LORD TO HIS DISCIPLES GROW STRONG IN VERSES 15-17.

IF YOU LOVE ME, KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS.

JESUS HAD JUST FINISHED SHOWING HIS OWN HUMBLE LOVE BY WASHING THE FEET OF ALL 12 DISCIPLES, INCLUDING JUDAS.

NOTICE JESUS MAKES THIS TEACHING CONDITIONAL BY SAYING “IF YOU LOVE ME...”

HE THEN PROMISED THAT ANOTHER COMFORTER WOULD BE GIVEN, WHO WOULD ABIDE WITH THEM FOREVER, WHOM THE WORLD CANNOT SEE OR KNOW OR RECEIVE, AND WHO WOULD WOULD DWELL WITHIN THEM.

FOR THE BELIEVER THIS CONDITIONAL PROMISE IS OF MAJOR IMPORTANCE.

DISOBEDIENCE IS NOT ONLY A FAILURE OF PERFORMANCE OR A FAILURE OF STRENGTH, BUT IS A FAILURE OF LOVE.

JESUS SHOWS VERY CLEARLY HERE THE FOUNDATION OF HIS GOSPEL. IT IS NOT OBEDIENCE THAT COMES FROM FEAR, PRIDE, OR DESIRE TO EARN BLESSING.

IT IS OBEDIENCE ONLY BASED UPON OUR LOVE FOR HIM.

A 2ND ASSURANCE IS GIVEN NEXT. 

JESUS WILL PRAY TO THE FATHER TO SEND ANOTHER TO COMFORT THEM.

THIS IS NOT A COMPLEX DISCUSSION ON THE TRINITY AND REVEALS HOW VERY SIMPLY THE TRINITY WORKS TOGETHER TO PROTECT THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN CHOSEN FOR ETERNITY.

THIS IS THE NEXT PHASE OF THE ETERNAL PLAN.

THIS HELPER IS TO GUIDE BELIEVERS, STANDING BESIDE THEM, HELPING THEM TO FURTHER OBEDIENCE.

IN THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE (GREEK) WE SEE THE WORD USED HERE IS “ALLEN”, MEANING ANOTHER HELPER OF THE SAME KIND.

THIS MEANS OF THE SAME KIND AS JESUS. 

JESUS WILL BEGIN THIS PROCESS OF THE NEW GIFT IN JOHN 20:22 WHEN HE BREATHES UPON THEM TO PREPARE THEM FOR THE PERMANENT GIFT.

IN ACTS 1:8 JUST BEFORE HE ASCENDS, JESUS TELLS HIS OWN THAT THE POWER WILL ARRIVE WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES UPON THEM.

THIS IS THE OUTPOURING IN THE PROPHECY OF JOEL.

NOW IN VERSES 18-21 JESUS WILL DEPART BUT PROMISES HE WILL MAKE HIMSELF KNOWN STILL.

AGAIN HE FOCUSES THE TEACHING OF THE COMMAND OF LOVE.

THOSE WHO LOVE HIM WILL BE LOVED BY HIS FATHER.

NOW THE DISCIPLE PROGRAM IS OVER FOR THESE FEW AND THE APOSTLE PROGRAM IS STARTED (THOSE WHO ARE SENT), AND THEY ARE NOW TO SPEND THEIR LIVES MAKING NEW DISCIPLES OF NEW BELIEVERS UNDER THE GOSPEL.

JESUS SAYS HE WOULD NOT LEAVE THEM ORPHANS.

HE ACTUALLY IS NOT LEAVING THEM AT ALL, BUT IS TRANSFORMING HIS OWN PRESENCE INTO THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

HE PROMISES TO COME AGAIN, AND ASSURES THEM THAT BECAUSE HE LIVES, THEY WILL LIVE ALSO. HERE IS THE PROMISE OF LIFE ETERNAL.

NOW THE RELATIONSHIP IS ETERNALLY FIXED, NEVER TO CHANGE AGAIN.

THERE IS A SHARED LIFE, SHARED UNION WITH GOD THE SON, GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT AND LATER GOD THE FATHER IN THE NEW EARTH.

THIS UNION IS MARKED BY THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD'S WILL 

(HIS COMMANDMENTS).

THIS UNION IS MARKED BY OBEDIENCE TO GOD'S WILL

(KEEPING THOSE COMMANDMENTS)

THIS UNION IS MARKED BY RELATIONSHIP, FELLOWSHIP, AND LOVE AND BY A REVELATION OF THE FURTHER DESIRES OF GOD AS GUIDED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT INDWELLING US.

NOW IN VERSES 22-24 THERE IS A QUESTION FROM ONE OF THE DISCIPLES.

LORD, HOW IS IT YOU WILL MANIFEST YOURSELF TO US BUT NOT TO THE WORLD?

BY THE KEEPING OF THE COMMANDS, LOVE WILL BE SHOWN BY THOSE WHO ARE FAITHFUL, AND BOTH THE FATHER AND THE SON WILL MAKE THEIR HOME WITH THOSE OBEDIENT.

JESUS SHOWS AGAIN HIS SUBMISSION TO THE FATHER'S WILL WHILE HE IS IN THE LIKENESS OF HUMAN FLESH AS HE SAYS THESE WORDS ARE NOT HIS OWN BUT FROM THE FATHER WHO SENT HIM.

NOW IN VERSES 25-27 JESUS GIVES THE GIFT PROMISED AND HIS OWN PEACE TO HIS FAITHFUL ELEVEN BY A FINAL CONFIRMATION OF THE COMING OF THE NEW COMFORTER.

THE WORK OF THIS NEW PERSON WILL BE A CONTINUATION OF THE FATHER'S WORK IN THE OT AND THE WORK OF THE SON THUS FAR IN THE NT.

PEACE JESUS LEAVES THEM, NOT THE PEACE OF THE WORLD, BUT A MUCH MORE SPECIAL PEACE, MEANING ETERNAL SPIRITUAL PEACE, UNLIKE MAN'S VIEW OF PEACE WHICH IS SIMPLY THE ABSENCE OF WAR.

HE ONCE MORE SOOTHES THEIR HEARTS BY TELLING THEM NOT TO KEEP A TROUBLED HEART, BUT TO BE PEACEFUL IN A TROUBLED WORLD.

JESUS SAYS HIS OWN SHOULD REJOICE NOW, EVEN AFTER HIS LEAVING.

THEIR JOY SHOULD BE FOUND IN THEIR OWN PREACHING AND TEACHING WHICH WILL BRING MANY TO DIVINE REWARDS.

NOW IN VERSES 30-31 WE SEE THAT JESUS GOES FORTH TO END HIS MORTAL LIFE WILLINGLY ON HIS OWN TERMS AND BY THE LONG HELD PLAN OF GOD.

HE IS NOT THE VICTIM OF SATAN'S EFFORTS.

HE HAD THE POWER TO LAY DOWN HIS LIFE AND THE POWER TO TAKE IT UP AGAIN

SO HIS HOUR HAD COME, HE HAD KNOWN THAT  IT WOULD AND WHEN IT WOULD, AND NO MAN NOR DEMON NOR EVEN SATAN HIMSELF COULD BRING IT ONE MOMENT CLOSER.

HE WAS IN TOTAL CONTROL AND HE SAYS NOW AT LAST, ARISE, LET US GO FROM HERE.

John - Chapter 15

JESUS THE TRUE VINE

JOHN 15

This chapter opens with the symbol discourse by Jesus concerning the description of Himself and His apostles as vine and branches. The vineyard symbol is appropriate as in many references scripture calls Israel God's vineyard.

In the well known song of Isaiah 5, the prophet makes the point that God has carefully cultivated Israel as His vineyard and in due time expects to collect good fruit from it. The nation had, in those days, only brought bad fruit, thereby causing God to replace Israel with a more fruitful nation.

(A strong lesson still today for our own nation)

Some teachers have said that the church is the replacement for the nation, but it seems clear that Jesus proves here by this teaching that He is the true vine, and is the new Israel to bear fruit through His work, His passion, His resurrection, His giving of the Holy Spirit and the witness of His followers until His second coming.

Now we have also a theological shift in that from this time onward, Jesus displaces Israel as the focus of salvation. While the old covenant was constrained to Jews alone, the new promise is not so constrained and will include Jews and Gentiles, which Christ will appoint and approve by commanding the gospel to go to the uttermost ends of the earth, among ALL peoples.

Now in order for Jews to come to God, they must come through Jesus the Christ, as He alone has fulfilled the law and faith in Him alone through the Spirit replaces law keeping as the primary path to life eternal. Here in this chapter, in both verses 12 & 17, we see this change powerfully. Jesus clearly teaches that His command is to love one another. Paul confirms this teaching in Romans 13:10 “... therefore love is the fulfilling of the law”.

The new image taught here is more intimate than the images given before, even more powerful than the shepherd imagery we have seen before in John's writing. There is a vital connection between the vine and its branches, as the branch cannot live without the vine feeding it. A sheep can go on feeding in its pasture if the shepherd leaves but if the vine leaves, the branch dies.

Also, this image serves two distinct purposes. A vineyard must be pruned for two reasons. First pruning removes dead or dying (unfruitful) branches. Second pruning also revitalizes the entire plant and it can become stronger than before when its season to bear fruit arrives.

Here in verse 5 Jesus gives His final “I AM” statement of the gospel.  He further expands this image in verse 9 with a small but strong command that His apostles should

“... continue ye in my love”.

While the first portion of the chapter keeps the reader marching onward toward His arrest and suffering, as He prepares His own to accept and remember what he has taught, Jesus swiftly changes the tone and direction of this talk into one of joy, beginning in verse 11.

Jesus wishes that His followers have joy and that their joy be complete. We have seen this teaching before in 3:29 & we see it in Psalm 19:8 (rejoicing the heart). In this regard, He now elevates the apostles from the status of servants to the status of friends.

With this promotion comes greater responsibility. Here is the purity of election as seen in verse 16: “You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you...”. We see this image sparingly in all of scripture. We remember that in Nehemiah 9:7 & James 2:23 Abraham was called chosen and  the friend of God, and Moses in Psalm 106:23 was called his chosen.

Jesus makes clear that He is choosing them, elevating them, and commanding them to go forth and bear much fruit. Their fruitfulness will glorify the Father (15:8). The meaning here is for souls to be saved, converts to be created, new births in the Spirit to be brought forth. This is the new Israel !!!!!!!!!

In OT evidence, John ends the chapter with Jesus providing the required two witness to prove truth. He teaches that the Comforter to come will bear witness as well as the disciples themselves.  

John - Chapter 15: Jesus Taught about Bearing Fruit

JOHN 15:1-17

Application: The student will learn to abide in Christ so that he can bring forth much spiritual fruit.

AFTER THE PASSOVER MEAL WHICH WILL BE THE LAST ONE SHARED BY THE LORD AND HIS DISCIPLES, AND AFTER THE CLEANSING JESUS GAVE BY THE WASHING OF THE FEET, JESUS SAID TO THE ELEVEN IN 14:31     “ARISE, LET US GO HENCE”

NOW AS THE GROUP MAKES THEIR WAY THROUGH THE VINEYARDS SURROUNDING THE CITY, THEY HEAD UPWARD PAST THE KIDDRON VALLEY TO GETHSEMANE AT THE MOUNT OF OLIVES.

BECAUSE IT IS PASSOVER TIME, A FULL MOON IS THERE.

THE LORD HAD MENTIONED HIS OWN RETURN TO THE FATHER, BRINGING SADNESS TO THE HEARTS OF HIS OWN MEN. 

HE HAD TAUGHT THEM ABOUT THE COMFORTER TO COME, THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHICH HAD TO BE A NEW AND DIFFERENT TEACHING, WHICH LIKELY WAS PUZZLING TO UNDERSTAND.

NOW TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND FURTHER, HE BEGINS THE LESSON OF THE VINE AND THE BRANCHES BY TELLING THEM 

“... YE IN ME AND I IN YOU...”

PAUL WILL LATER TEACH THIS SAME LESSON ABOUT THE RELATION WITH JESUS USING THE WORDS, “MUTUAL RESIDENCE”.

THESE VERSES ARE DESIGNED TO HELP THESE FAITHFUL MEN TO GRASP HOW TO CONTINUE IN JESUS AFTER HE HAS ARISEN AND ASCENDED BACK TO THE FATHER.

IN VERSES 1-3 WE BEGIN THE TEACHING BY JESUS DESCRIBING HIMSELF AS THE TRUE VINE AND HIS FATHER AS THE ONE WHO IS THE VINEDRESSER.

THE MAIN DESIGN ON THE FRONT OF THE HOLY TEMPLE WAS A GOLDEN CARVED VINE FOR ALL TO KNOW THAT ISRAEL WAS GOD'S VINE.

BUT NOW WE SEE THE LORD USE THE SAME SYMBOL TO SHOW THAT HE IS THE TRUE VINE.

AS THE TEACHING CONTINUED, WE SEE THAT JESUS WAS INSISTING ON EACH MAN TO BE PRODUCTIVE AS A BRANCH OF THE TRUE VINE FOR THE FATHER IN HEAVEN IS SAID TO REMOVE THOSE WHO DO NOT BEAR FRUIT.

THE HEBREW WORD IS TRANSLATED AS “TAKE AWAY” OR “CUT CLEANLY”.

BUT EVERY BRACH THAT DOES BEAR FRUIT IS PRUNED, MEANING THAT IT IS IN CONSTANT CARE, AS IN A VINEYARD WHERE PRUNING BRINGS MORE FRUIT BEARING.

SO AS JESUS TEACHES BOTH POSSIBILITIES, HE NEXT MOVES TOWARD ASSURING HIS DISCIPLES THAT EACH OF THEM HAS ALREADY BEEN CLEANSED BY THE WORD JESUS HAS SPOKEN TO THEM, MAKING THEM READY TO BEAR MUCH SPIRITUAL FRUIT.

BACK IN 13:10 JESUS HAD TAUGHT THAT THERE IS PERSONAL CLEANSING AND THEN AFTER COMES COMMUNITY CLEANSING.

THIS PRUNING TO PRODUCE MORE GROWTH IS UNDERSTOOD TO MEAN IS CONDEMNS SIN, INSPIRES HOLINESS, AND MAKES THE MAN MORE PRODUCTIVE FOR THE KINGDOM.

IN VERSES 4-5 WE BEGIN TO SEE THE VITAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE BRANCH AND THE VINE.

IN THESE VERSES JESUS EMPHASIZES A MUTUAL RELATIONSHIP.

IT IS NOT ONLY THE DISCIPLE ABIDING IN JESUS BUT ALSO HE IS ABIDING IN THEM  THEREBY ASSURING A CONTINUING CONNECTION  IN THE HOLY SPIRIT AFTER HE  SOON DEPARTS.

WHEN THE LORD SAYS ABIDE IN ME, HE IS TALKING ABOUT THE WILL, ABOUT THE CHOICES WE MAKE, THE DECISIONS THAT ARE CONSTANTLY IN FRONT OF US.

HE IS STRONGLY PERSUASIVE WHEN HE SAYS NO FRUIT CAN BE IN THE BRANCH ALONE, BUT IS THE BRANCH IS ONLY FRUITFUL WHEN IT ABIDES IN THE VINE.

MUCH FRUIT OCCURS WHEN THE ABIDING GOES BOTH WAYS.

TO MAKE VERY SURE THIS PART OF THE LESSON IS CLEARLY UNDERSTOOD, JESUS TAKES THE TEACHING DEEPER IN VERSES 6-8.

THERE IS A PRICE FOR NOT ABIDING AND THAT IS THAT THE BRANCH IS CAST OUT AND THEREBY WITHERS AND THOSE BRANCHES ARE ONLY GOOD FOR BURNING.

THERE IS ALSO A REWARD FOR THOSE WHO DO ABIDE, WHICH IS THE GRANTING OF REQUESTS MADE AND BY THAT PROCESS IS THE HEAVENLY FATHER GLORIFIED.

AND TO NAIL THIS PORTION OF THE TEACHING HOME, JESUS SAYS WITHOUT HIM, WE CAN DO NOTHING.

ABIDING IN JESUS MEANS ABIDING AND LIVING IN HIS WORD

THE CONNECTION IS MAINTAINED BY OBEDIENCE AND PRAYER.

HERE IS THE CENTRAL PART OF THE TEACHING.

THIS IS A CONSCIENCE AND CONSTANT ACCEPTANCE OF HIS AUTHORITY OVER OUR LIVES FOR WHEN WE DO SO, WE ARE ABIDING.

VERSES 9-11 PROVIDE THE LINK BETWEEN LOVE AND OBEDIENCE IN THIS IMPORTANT TEACHING.

HERE THE SPECIFIC AND DETAILED LESSONS ARE FOUND.

AS THE FATHER LOVED ME, JESUS SAYS, I HAVE ALSO LOVED YOU.

ABIDE IN HIS LOVE.

KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS JUST AS HE HAS KEPT THOSE OF THE FATHER.

THESE THINGS WERE SPOKEN SO THAT THE JOY OF JESUS MAY REMAIN IN US AND THAT OUR JOY MAY THEREFORE BE FULL.

HERE IS THE REVEALING OF THE PERFECT LOVE OF THE FATHER OF THE SON. WE SEE IT IS A LOVE 

• THAT HAS NO BEGINNING  NOR END

• IT IS CLOSE & PERSONAL

• IT IS WITHOUT MEASURE

• IT IS UNCHANGING & INTIMATE

WE KNOW THESE THINGS BECAUSE THAT IS HOW JESUS LOVES ALL WHO ARE HIS AND HE TEACHES THAT HE HAS LOVED US AS THE FATHER LOVES HIM.

HIS SPOKEN WORDS OF THIS TEACHING ARE SO THAT THE JOY HE FEELS HIMSELF FROM HIS FATHER IS ALSO TRANSFERRED TO US IN HIS WISH THAT HIS JOY REMAIN IN US.

AND THAT JOY WILL FILL US COMPLETELY NOT PARTIALLY.

THIS JOY IS NOT THE SAME AS WHAT IS COMMONLY UNDERSTOOD  AS HAPPINESS OR EXCITEMENT, OR PLEASURE OR EASE OF LIFE.

IT IS THE OVERWHELMING EXHILARATION OF BEING RIGHT WITH GOD, CONSCIOUSLY WALKING IN HIS LOVE AND CARE AND THAT PROCESS OF LIFE BRINGS US SPIRITUAL JOY IN FULL.

NOW IN VERSES 12-15 WE SEE HOW THOSE WHO ARE HIS ARE TO RELATE TO EACH OTHER AFTER HE DEPARTS.

THE TEACHING HERE IS JESUS SPEAKS TO THE DISCIPLES OF THE EXTENT OF HIS LOVE THAT THEY ARE TO IMITATE IN THEIR LIVES.

HE FRAMES THE TEACHING IN A NEW COMMANDMENT FOR THEM THAT THEY ARE TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS HE HAS LOVED THEM.

HE SPEAKS TO THEM OF THE GREATEST LOVE OF ONE LAYING DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS AND NOW CONFIDES THAT THESE ELEVEN ARE NO LONGER SERVANTS, BUT ARE NOW FRIENDS.

HE ALSO CONFIDES THAT ALL THE FATHER HAS TAUGHT HIM HAS BEEN PASSED ONWARD TO THEM.

SO NOW THEY ARE FILLED WITH LOVE FROM HIM EXACTLY AS HE WAS FILLED FROM HIS HEAVENLY FATHER.

HERE IS A STEP IN FAITH FOR THESE HE HAS CHOSEN, THAT THEY HAVE UNDERSTOOD FAITH AS HE HAS EARLIER TAUGHT TO BE SERVANTS, BUT NOW THEIR FAITH IS MULTIPLED INTO GREATER FAITH AS FRIENDS.

JESUS MAKES SURE THEY KNOW THIS COMMAND IS CONDITIONAL, MEANING THEY ARE HIS FRIENDS IF THEY CARRY OUT THE COMMANDS GIVEN TO THEM.

SO THE ONLY CONDITION IS FULL OBEDIENCE.

NOW IN VERSES 16-17 THE LORD TAKES ANOTHER PATH IN HIS TEACHING OF THESE FAITHFUL ONES.

HE CONFIRMS TO THEM THAT THEY WERE CHOSEN TO BEAR FRUIT AND TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

JESUS SAYS THEY DID NOT CHOOSE HIM, RATHER HE CHOSE THEM AND HE APPOINTED EACH OF THEM TO GO AND BEAR FRUIT AND THE FRUIT SHALL NOT FADE BUT WILL SURELY REMAIN.

JESUS HERE SPEAKS OF THE GREAT PRIVILEGE FOR THESE ELEVEN DISCIPLES:

• FRIENDSHIP WITH THE MASTER

•   PRAYERS ASSURED OF HEAVEN'S ANSWER

• BEARING FRUIT FOR THE KINGDOM

• HOLDING GREAT UNDERSTANDING OF SPIRITUAL THINGS

THESE THINGS ARE TO BE TREASURED WITHOUT PRIDE FOR THEY DID NOT EARN THESE THINGS, BUT THEY WERE GRANTED FREELY TO THOSE CHOSEN TO RECEIVE THEM.

THEY ARE ALL ROOTED IN THE FACT THAT THEY DID NOT DO THE CHOOSING, JESUS DID.

THE LESSON IS VERY CLEAR HERE FOR US AS WELL:

• WE ARE IN CHRIST NOT BECAUSE WE HOLD TO HIM

• BUT BECAUSE HE CHOOSES AND THEN HOLDS TO US.

AS THEY WORK FOR THE KINGDOM, THEY GLORIFY THE LORD.

SO DO WE

AGAIN HE REPEATS FOR EMPHASIS THAT THEY ARE TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

THEY ARE NOT TO DISBAND, OR TO TURN AGAINST EACH OTHER AFTER HE HAS LEFT THE EARTH. THEY ARE ONE EACH IN HIM BUT ALSO ONE IN COMMUNITY WITH HIM.

IN VERSES 18-20 WE SEE THAT JESUS COMPLETES THE TEACHING INTENDED BY MOVING FROM HOW THE ELEVEN SHOULD RELATE TO EACH OTHER TO HOW THEY SHOULD RELATE TO THE WORLD AFTER HE HAS LEFT THE WORLD.

HE GIVES A LESSON THAT IS HARSH AND DIFFICULT AND IT APPLIES AS MUCH TO US TODAY AS TO THEM IN THEIR DAY.

THE WORLD WILL HATE THEM, AS IT HAS HATED HIM, BECAUSE OF THE MESSAGE THEY WILL DELIVER.

THEY SHOULD EXPECT TO BE REJECTED.

WE CANNOT LEAVE THIS CHAPTER WITHOUT RECALLING THAT THE TRUTH OF THIS PART OF THE TEACHING WAS STRONGLY VALID.

ALL BUT ONE OF THE ELEVEN WERE GRANTED THE EXTREME HONOR OF MARTRYDOM.

EARLY WRITERS ALLOW US A VIEW OF THESE NEXT YEARS FOR THE ELEVEN.

TACITUS WROTE OF PEOPLE WHO WERE HATED BY ALL FOR THEIR CRIMES AND THESE WERE KNOWN AS CHRISTIANS.

SUETONIUS SAID THAT THESE CHRISTIANS WHO HAD BEEN WITH THE MAN JESUS WERE A RACE OF MEN WHO KNEW NOTHING EXCEPT  NEW AND MOST EVIL SUPERSTITION, AND THAT THEY THEMSELVES HATED THE HUMAN RACE.

BRINGING THIS FACTOR DOWN TO OUR DAY, IT IS OVERWHELMING THAT THE 20TH CENTURY BROUGHT MORE CHRISTIAN MURDERS WORLDWIDE THAT THE FIRST 19 CENTURIES COMBINED.

JESUS COMFORTED HIS OWN BY REMINDING THEM THAT THEY KNOW THE WORLD HATED HIM FIRST.

BUT HE THEN REMINDS THEM THAT HE CHOSE THEM OUT OF THE WORLD.

SO THE HATRED THEY WILL ENCOUNTER SHOULD BE FOR THEM EVIDENCE THAT THEIR MESSAGE IS STILL TRUE, JUST AS HIS MESSAGE WAS TRUTH.

PERSECUTION WILL BE SWIFT & STRONG AGAINST THEM.

NOW IN THE FINAL VERSES 21-27 JESUS TEACHES THAT ALL THESE THINGS WILL HAPPEN BECAUSE OF WHO HE IS.

THE WORLD WILL HATE & PERSECUTE THESE NEW MESSENGERS BECAUSE THE WORLD DOES NOT KNOW THE TRUE & LIVING GOD WHO SENT HIM.

BECAUSE JESUS HAD COME INTO THE WORLD BRINGING SALVATION TO THE LOST, THE WORLD DID KNOW SOMETHING OF GOD AFTER HE WAS HERE THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW BEFORE HE ARRIVED.

SO THEY HAVE NO EXCUSE FOR THEIR SIN.

HIS WORDS AND HIS WORKS HAVE TESTIFIED AND THE WORDS AND WORKS OF THE ELEVEN WILL ALSO TESTIFY.

NOW JESUS PROCLAIMS THAT THE WORLD HATED HIM WITHOUT A CAUSE, QUOTING PSALM 69:4 TO SHOW THAT ONCE MORE PROPHECY IS FULFILLED BY HIS COMING.

“They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head...”

HERE IS A STRONG CONDEMNATION ESPECIALLY AGAINST THE PHARISEES.

THOSE THAT WERE SEEN TO BE CHAMPIONS OF THE LAW OF MOSES ARE FULFILLING THIS PROPHECY OF HATRED.

OUR FINAL TEACHING IN THIS CHAPTER REINFORCES THE WITNESS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TO BE SHORTLY GIFTED TO THESE MESSENGERS.

WHEN THE HELPER COMES, WHOM JESUS WILL SEND FROM THE FATHER, HE WILL TESTIFY OF JESUS AS WILL THESE ELEVEN WHO HAVE BEEN WITH JESUS FROM THE START OF HIS MINISTRY.

SO THE HUMAN SIDE OF THE ETERNAL WITNESS WILL COME FROM THESE ELEVEN & THOSE THEY TEACH WHILE THE SPIRITUAL SIDE WILL COME FROM THE COMFORTER SENT FROM GOD WHO WILL BRING DIVINE TESTIMONY TO INDWELL THEM.

NOW THE DISCIPLES ARE QUALIFIED & CLEANSED TO BEAR WITNESS TO THE SPIRITUAL KINGDOM BECAUSE THEY HAD TRUSTED JESUS, HAD THE HOLY SPIRIT TO GUIDE THEM, AND HAVE COME TO ABIDE IN HIM FOREVER AS HE ALSO ABIDES IN THEM.

OUR SPIRITUAL NEW BIRTH SHOULD PROVIDE OUR WITNESS.

John - Chapter 16

THE SPIRIT AND THE DISCIPLES WITNESS TO THE WORLD

Now, As Jesus prepares to leave the world physically, He comforts His disciples against the trials to come for them by the promise of the Holy Ghost to come. He speaks of His words being given so that they will not be offended, meaning they will not stumble or be taken by surprise at the things to come. His use of the words 'these days” in verse three strongly foreshadows the coming days and He is careful to remind them that He chose not to reveal these things earlier because He was physically with them. But now He is ending His physical mortal time on the earth and He knows they are in sorrow in their hearts at what they have heard Him reveal. 

With the strongest of warning words, Jesus tells His own that those who will seek to kill them will feel they are doing a service to God. But He explains that they will do these things BECAUSE they have not known the Father, nor Jesus himself.

In verse seven, Jesus opens the wisdom door a little wider by assuring the disciples that it is good (expedient) for them that He leave. Only by this part of the plan being implemented will the Spirit arrive, the next comforter to lead them, guide them, and to convict the world. 

Here are difficult words for the followers to accept. But what the Lord is saying is that His work on earth is not coming to an end, but rather it will be continued onward through the Spirit. Rather than stand against God's plan, the cross and it's bringing the next events will actually strengthen God's plan.

The work of atonement must be accomplished for Jesus to be glorified and only by the internal presence of the Spirit will the disciples gain understanding. So His departure will be both advantageous and necessary for the giving of the Spirit. Jesus will actually foreshadow the Pentecost moment later in 20:22 when He breathes upon them.

The Spirit comes with a dual purpose. Verses 8-11 reveal that the Spirit is to comfort them but is also to bring reproof (evidence) of the sin of the world, of righteousness and of judgment. Here is the ONLY place in scripture where the Spirit is said to be performing a work “in the world”. All of the works from that time forward are works inside the hearts of those who hear and those who believe. Remember when Peter gives his Pentecost sermon under the power granted by the Spirit given, those who heard it were said to be “cut to their heart” (Acts 2:36-37).

The sin of the world is that it did not believe in Jesus as the Christ.

The conviction of the world as to righteousness is the lack of it in the world. Isaiah said it best in 64:6 when he taught that the very best the world can offer is “filthy rags”. From this time forward the world's righteousness is to be found in Christ crucified, dead, and risen.

The judgment of the world is demonstrated by the fact that the “ruler of this world” now stands condemned. John 12:31 & 14:30 have already foreshadowed this teaching in the strongest possible words.

But now Jesus provides His sweeping words that allow His disciples to take heart. The Spirit to come will glorify Jesus, receive those who are His, and will show them things to come. He is here proving that He will not leave them alone. Never will He leave them. Never will He forsake them. This plan was set in place before all things but Jesus knows that they do not yet understand (verse 12) because the Spirit is not yet in them. This need for the understanding given by the Spirit has been evident for generations as seen in Psalms 43:3:

“O Send out thy light and thy truth, and let them lead me...”.

The teaching is that the Father is the ultimate source of both the ministry of the Son and the Spirit (14-15). Just as the Son brings glory to the Father, the Spirit will bring glory to the Son.

Jesus fully grasps that there will be grief at His suffering and death. He knows the heartache to come for these few chosen ones. He tells them they will not see Him for a while, and then will see him for a while (death and resurrection). But He also teaches that grief will be turned to joy. Notice the sweetest promise of all given in verse 22, “... but I will see you again...”. This promise holds true for each of them and for each of us for He will return just as He has shown before.

Once more Jesus uses the example of a woman giving birth to remind them that after the pain comes the joy of the blessing gained. He also now teaches that before he has spoken to them in proverbs, but now speaks plainly of the Father. The disciples in a partial reply to verse 16, now say they know He is from God, and knows all things and there is no need to ask anything further.

Jesus replies with the question of four beautiful and perfect words that He still whispers in the ear of every believer at the moment of conversion & salvation”

“DO YE NOW BELIEVE?”

Finally, He grants a view backward to Zechariah 13:7 as He reminds them of the sheep being scattered after the shepherd is smitten and then allows His closing words on triumph in verse 33: “... be of good cheer, I have overcome the world”.

John - Chapter 16: Jesus Guaranteed Guidance

JOHN 16:1-15

Application: The student will be assured that no matter what troubles he may face, God will guide and empower him to face them.

IN TODAY'S LESSON WE BEGIN THE NEXT PHASE OF THE UNFOLDING OF THE LORD'S ETERNAL PLAN FOR HIS CREATION, HIS PEOPLE, AND FOR HOW HE INTENDS TO PROVIDE HIS LOVING CARE.

HERE TODAY WE SEE ONE OF THE TWO THINGS THAT MAKE CHRISTIANITY DIFFERENT FROM ALL OTHER FAITHS:

1. WE SERVE A RISEN LORD, NOT A DEAD ONE.

2. WE HAVE THE LORD HIMSELF DWELLING WITHIN US.

THIS NEW PROMISE MADE BY JESUS WAS A MOST DIFFICULT ONE FOR THE DISCIPLES TO ACCEPT. 

IT WAS A NEW AND STRANGE CONCEPT FOR WHICH THEY WERE NOT YET PREPARED.

NOW TODAY, JESUS MAKES THE PREPARATIONS FOR THEM TO BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND THE NEW RELATION GOD HAD ARRANGED.

IN VERSES 1-4 JESUS BEGINS HIS TEACHING BY GIVING THE REASON FOR HIS WARNING TO HIS OWN DISCIPLES, NOW SOON TO BE CHANGED INTO APOSTLES (THOSE SENT).

HE TELLS THEM OF CERTAIN PERSECUTION TO COME TO THEM.

AS WE VIEW THIS WARNING WITH OUR PERFECT HINDSIGHT WE KNOW THAT ALL OF THEM EXCEPT JOHN WERE SLAIN FOR TESTIMONY & PREACHING & TEACHING.

BUT AT THIS MOMENT, THESE MEN DID NOT HAVE THE BENEFIT OF THE KNOWLEDGE WE NOW HAVE.

SO THEY WERE MUCH CONCERNED.

SINCE THE LORD DID NOT WANT THEM TO STUMBLE, HE PROVIDES CERTAIN INFORMATION FOR THEIR UNDERSTANDING.

THEY WILL BE SHUNNED FROM THE SYNAGOGUES.

WHOEVER KILLS THEM WILL FEEL SURE HE IS DOING A SERVICE TO GOD.

WE RECALL THAT THIS IS EXACTLY THE ATTITUDE SAUL, LATER PAUL, SHOWED. 

HE FELT HE WAS CLEANSING THE FAITH BY PERSECUTING AND KILLING THOSE WHO WERE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS CHRIST.

HE STOOD BY THE STONING OF STEPHEN AND APPROVED IT.

JESUS TEACHES THAT THESE ACTIONS WILL BE TAKEN BECAUSE THOSE WHO PERSECUTE THEM HAVE NOT KNOWN EITHER THE FATHER NOR HIMSELF.

HE IS TELLING THESE THINGS NOW TO HELP THEM WITH THEIR UNDERSTANDING AND HE DID NOT TEACH THEM BEFORE BECAUSE HE WAS PHYSICALLY WITH THEM.    NOW HE IS LEAVING PHYSICALLY BUT WILL REMAIN WITH THEM IN SPIRIT & GUIDANCE.

WE SHOULD REMEMBER THAT NOT ONLY HAVE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS BEEN PERSECUTED BY OTHER RELIGIONS, BUT ALSO BY OTHER CHRISTIANS SUCH AS THE ROMAN CHURCH FOR CENTURIES.

IN VERSES 5-7 JESUS EXPLAINS THE BENEFITS TO THEM OF HIS DEPARTURE.

HE IS GOING BACK TO THE ONE WHO SENT HIM.

THERE WERE SOME QUESTIONS TO HIM BEFORE AS TO WHERE HE WAS GOING (PETER IN 13:36) BUT THESE WERE IN THE THOUGHT OF WHERE PHYSICALLY WAS JESUS GOING, AND NO ONE HAD ASKED HIM WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THEM WHEN HE IS GONE.

NOW HE PERCEIVES THAT HIS TEACHING HAS BROUGHT SORROW TO THEIR HEARTS.

TO THEM THE MOMENT WAS DARK BUT HE WANTS THEM TO UNDERSTAND THEIR FUTURE IS BRIGHTER BECAUSE HE IS LEAVING.

HIS LEAVING IS THE NEXT STEP IN THEM GROWING AS TRUE APOSTLES WHO WILL THEN TEACH OTHERS.

BUT THE NEW ARRANGEMENT IS ONLY A TRANSFORMATION OF HIS PRESENCE FROM ONE THAT IS PHYSICAL TO ONE THAT IS SPIRITUAL.

IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT FOR THE DISCIPLES TO BELIEVE, BUT JESUS IS ACTUALLY TEACHING THEM THAT IT IS BETTER FOR THEM IF HE DEPARTS.

HE SAYS IT IS EXPEDIENT (MEANING BETTER) FOR THEM IF HE LEAVES, TEACHING THAT IT IS TO THEIR ADVANTAGE.

THEY MUST HAVE THOUGHT “HOW CAN THIS BE?”

AS EVENTS UNFOLDED IN THE NEXT HOURS, IT BECAME EVEN MORE DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO ACCEPT AND BELIEVE THIS TEACHING.

WAS IT BETTER FOR THEM:

• THAT JESUS WAS ARRESTED?

• THAT HIS TEACHING & MIRACLES ENDED?

• THAT HE WAS PHYSICALLY BEATEN?

• THAT HE WAS PUBLICLY MOCKED?

• THAT HE WAS SENTENCED TO BE EXECUTED?

• THAT HE WAS NAILED TO A CROSS IN HUMILIATION?

• THAT HE DIES IN THE COMPANY OF COMMON THIEVES?

• THAT HIS DEAD BODY WAS SENT TO THE GRAVE?

BUT JESUS USES A STRONG WORD TO PRESS HIS TEACHING WHICH IS NEVERTHELESS.

HE SAYS THAT IN SPITE OF ALL THESE THINGS THAT ARE SOON TO BE IS STILL IS BETTER FOR THEM THAT HE LEAVES.

HE PRESSES THE TEACHING EVEN MORE BY ASSURING THEM HIS WORDS ARE A GREAT TRUTH FOR THEM AND WERE POSITIVE FOR THEM EVEN THOUGH HE KNEW THEY WERE FILLED WITH SORROW.

THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE BODILY PRESENCE OF JESUS WAS THE ESSENTIAL CONDITION OF HIS SPIRITUAL PRESENCE, WHICH WOULD SOON BE KNOWN TO INHABIT NOT ONLY THEM BUT EVERY BELIEVER TO COME.

NOW JESUS WOULD BE NOT ONLY WITH THESE ELEVEN, BUT WOULD FOREVER BE WITH ALL BELIEVERS AT THE SAME TIME.

SO THE ADVANTAGE FOR THEM WAS THAT THEY WILL NOT BE SPREADING CHRIST PHYSICALLY, BUT MUCH MORE IMPORTANTLY SPIRITUALLY.

PAUL WRITES OF THIS VERY MOMENT IN 2ND COR 5:16 :

“... even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer...'

BEFORE JESUS LEFT, THE DISCIPLES WERE CONFUSED, THICK HEADED, AFRAID, SELFISH AND SELF-CENTERED.

AFTER JESUS LEFT AND THE COMFORTER HAD COME, THEY BECAME WISE, SURRENDERED, AND BOLD AND GIVING.

TRULY IT WAS TO THEIR BENEFIT THAT THIS CHANGE OCCURED.

NOW IN VERSES 8-11 JESUS OUTLINES THE WORK OF THE COMFORTER, THE HOLY SPIRIT, THAT IS COMING.

HE WILL:

• CONVICT THE WORLD OF SIN

• HE WILL CONVICT THE WORLD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

• HE WILL CONVICT THE WORLD OF JUDGMENT

SIN IS THE TRUTH ABOUT MAN, RIGHTEOUSNESS IS THE TRUTH ABOUT GOD, AND JUDGEMENT IS THE SURE COMBINATION OF BOTH.

THE SPIRIT DOES NOT ONLY ACCUSE MEN OF SIN, HE BRINGS A SENSE OF GUILT THAT CANNOT BE ESCAPED SO MEN REALIZE THEIR SHAME AND HELPLESSNESS BEFORE GOD.

JESUS REVEALS THE WORST DEPTH OF THE SIN OF MAN WHICH IS UNBELIEF IN THE MESSIAH SENT BY THE FATHER TO SAVE SOULS.

IT IS A TOTAL REJECTION OF THE ETERNAL HOLY PLAN OF GOD.

JESUS IS FULFILLING THE ETERNAL PLAN AND IS GOING TO SIT AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER TO BE OUR MEDIATOR FOREVER FROM THIS TIME ONWARD.

THIS IS HOW THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL CONVICT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, WHICH HAS BEEN REVEALED TO THE WORLD IN THE INCARNATION OF THE LORD IN THE LIKENESS OF OUR FLESH.

THE SPIRIT WILL CONVICT OF JUDGMENT BECAUSE THE RULER OF THIS WORLD IS TO BE JUDGED BY THE ATONING DEATH OF THE LORD, WHICH WILL CONQUER SATAN, HELL, DEATH, AND THE GRAVE.

NOTICE HERE THAT JESUS HIMSELF ACKNOWLEDGES THAT SATAN IS THE RULER OF THIS WORLD AND THAT A FINAL RECKONING IS COMING TO THIS REBELLIOUS CREATURE WHO HAS SPREAD EVIL.

BUT SATAN HAS BEEN THE SERVANT OF GOD EVERY DAY SINCE HE HIMSELF FELL WITH ONE THIRD OF THE ANGELS.

HE HAS NEVER BEEN ABLE TO DO ANYTHING THAT GOD DOES NOT EITHER COMMAND OR APPROVE. (JOB ONE & TWO IS OUR PROOF)

NORMALLY CONVICTION IS FOLLOWED BY JUDGMENT AND THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL PROVIDE AN “IN BETWEEN” STEP WHICH IS TO REVEAL RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH WILL SATISFY THE JUDGMENT OF THE CONVICTED SINNER WHICH IS US.

THE RULER OF THIS WORLD IS JUDGED AND ANY WHO CLING TO HIM BY REJECTING THE SAVIOR OF GOD WILL SUFFER AN IDENTICAL FATE THAT HE WILL HAVE IN THE LAKE OF FIRE.

NOW IN VERSES 12-15 JESUS BRINGS FORTH THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AMONG THE DISCIPLES.

I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT YOU CANNOT BEAR THEM NOW.

WHEN THE SPIRIT ARRIVES HE WILL GUIDE YOU INTO ALL TRUTH.

HE WILL NOT SPEAK ON HIS OWN AUTHORITY.

HE WILL TELL YOU THINGS TO COME.

HE WILL GLORIFY ME FOR HE WILL TAKE CARE OF WHAT IS MINE AND WILL DECLARE IT TO YOU.

ALL THINGS THE FATHER HAS ARE MINE.

HERE WE SEE AGAIN THE WORK OF CHANGE IN THE WORLD IS THE WORK OF ALL THREE PERSONS OF THE GODHEAD.

THE  MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS TO REVEAL JESUS TO US, TO BEAR TESTIMONY OF JESUS AND ALL HE DOES IS IN SERVICE TO THIS EFFORT TO SAVE THOSE WHO ARE LOST.

AND IN VERSES 19-22 JESUS WILL TEACH THAT ALL SORROW FELT BY THE DISCIPLES WILL BE TURNED TO JOY.

HE TELLS THEM THEY WILL SEE HIM AGAIN AND WHEN THEY DO, THEIR HEART WILL REJOICE.

AND IN VERSES 23-27 JESUS WILL TEACH OF EVEN GREATER JOY TO COME UPON THEM REGARDING THEIR GREATER ACCESS TO GOD THROUGH THE SPIRIT AFTER HE DEPARTS.

ON THE DAY OF PENTECOST, TOUGUES OF FIRE PROVED HIS TEACHING TO BE TRUE.

John - Chapter 17

THE PARTING PRAYER

The 17th chapter of John contains the longest recorded prayer that Jesus offers while on earth. It has been called His “High Priestly Prayer”. It is thought to have been given in the presence of the apostles after the celebration of what we now call the Lord's Supper. This passage has come to be considered among the holiest words of all scripture and there are strong thoughts about it written by some of our best Bible scholars:

“The most remarkable prayer … ever uttered on earth.” (Matthew Henry)

“This is truly beyond measure, a warm and hearty prayer. He opens the depths of His heart, both in reference to us and to His father, and He pours them all out. It sounds so honest, so simple; it is so deep, so rich, so wide, that no one can fathom it.” (Luther)

The Scottish teacher, John Knox, had this chapter read to himself each day as his illness made him weak at the end of his life.

Here in these 26 verses we are given the wonderful chance to approach the workings of the heart of our savior and His own way of communing with His Father. This chapter study may make us consider taking off our shoes before we begin, like Moses was commanded, because these words are holy ground.

Jesus uses this prayer to end His farewell discourse to His apostles. The prayer falls into three sections:

• 1-5 Jesus prays for Himself

• 6-19 Jesus prays for the disciples

• 20-26 Jesus prays for later believers

In praying for Himself, Jesus looks back on His entire ministry and places Himself in the hands of His Father. He reports to the Father that the work given Him as stated in 4:34 is complete (doing the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work).

Now in verse 5 Jesus confirms forever the first verses of John's work by strong words to state His existence before creation. Here is final evidence from His own lips of who and what He IS and always has been. In 8:58 He teaches that he was before Abraham. In 16:28 He teaches that He came from the Father and is about to return to Him. In these first verses He reports that he has glorified the Father on earth and asks that the Father glorify Him as the Son and He confirms also the true manner of eternal life, that the Father be known as the only true God, and that Jesus be known as sent from God.

In praying for the disciples, Jesus is clear that he prays not for the world (9) but for these who have been given Him by the Father. He assures that He has given them the words of His mission and that they have received them and indeed do believe that Jesus is the Christ sent from God. Further they know now that everything given to them by Jesus was passed onward by Him from the Father (7).

We remember in chapter 13, Jesus stooped down to place His hands on the feet of His disciples as He washed them and now He lifts up His eyes and in prayer places His hands upward to the throne of Heaven. Now we see the bridge that Jesus came to establish between God and man. This was the work given Him. 

Now as He prepares to leave the world (11), He asks that these be kept in the name of the Father AND that they be one just as Jesus and the Father are one. Such unity is not man created but is only God given. Jesus prays that it will be given those few who are His. Jesus reports that while He was here, He kept them in the Lord's name, and that not one was lost, except Judas, the son of perdition. But we see also that Judas was lost so that scripture might be fulfilled (12).

Jesus also asks that these few true followers not be taken out of the world (yet) but that they be kept from the evil (15). This is the first of two requests for these men, the other found in verse 17, where Jesus also asks that they be sanctified in the truth of God found in His word. By this plea, Jesus is really asking the Father to grant them the protection needed to carry out the commission He has given them. In verse 18, Jesus so confirms as He states they are sent as He was sent. 

Finally, Jesus does not stop His prayer after praying for Himself and for His disciples. He now prays for all believers who will come after His disciples. While Jesus has finished His earthly work, and He has assigned the next work to His disciples, He also knows that many will follow them and will learn of Him, believe in Him, and accept His gift of grace to salvation throughout the ages to come until He Himself returns as promised.

We should note that while Jesus had earlier asked that the disciples be one in unity, now he asks in verse 21 that those later believers also be one in unity BUT adds the request that the unity be expanded to all these later followers that they be one in Himself and the Father. This request is filled with the giving of the Holy Spirit who unifies each believer with God by indwelling. 

Jesus asks that all to come be made perfect (meaning complete) (23) and that the glory given Him be seen by them (24). Jesus reveals the love given Him by the Father before the foundation of the world and that this love be in the followers to come (26) along with Himself in them.

Now to summarize the prayer portion that Jesus made for the whole company of His redeemed ones, both in that moment and for all time to come:

He prayed for:

1. Their preservation (17:11)

2. Their joy (17:13)

3. Their safety from evil (17:15)

4. Their sanctification (17:17)

5. Their unity (17:21)

6. Their eternal life with Him (17:24)

7. Their understanding of glory granted through love (17:24)

WHAT A PRAYER !

What a savior who came to us in the likeness of our flesh, to dwell among us, to bring God's revealed plan for us, who gave His life for us, who arose so that we may know that all darkness is defeated for us, and who keeps us still through His Holy Spirit sent to us that we may be guided and loved until He calls each of us home.

John - Chapter 17: Jesus Prayed for His Disciples

Application: The student will understand that while facing death on the cross, Jesus prayed for His disciples and for all believers.

MOST OF US CALL THE PRAYER INSTRUCTION GIVEN BY JESUS TO HIS DISCIPLES EARLIER IN JOHN “THE LORD'S PRAYER”.

BUT IT IS MORE APPROPRIATE TO CALL THAT “OUR FATHER” PRAYER A MODEL PRAYER AND TO GIVE THE PRAYER IN JOHN 17 THAT WE STUDY TODAY “THE LORD'S PRAYER” FOR IT IS TRULY HIS PRAYER TO HIS FATHER.

THESE RECENT STUDIES WE HAVE DONE IN JOHN HAVE HAD SOME THEMES TO BUILD US UP TO THIS LESSON TODAY:

JOHN 13 / JESUS WASHES THE FEET, OBSERVES THE PASSOVER,

IDENTIFIES JUDAS AS THE BETRAYER, AND 

INSTITUTES THE LORD'S SUPPER FOR ALL TIME.

John 14 / JESUS COMFORTS HIS DISCIPLES, KNOWING THEIR

HEARTS WERE TROUBLED AND TOLD THEM IF YE

BELIEVE IN THE FATHER, BELIEVE ALSO IN ME.

JOHN 15 / JESUS TAUGHT THAT HE WAS THE VINE AND WE ARE

THE BRANCHES AND THE FATHER IS THE ONE WHO 

PRUNES. IF WE ARE TO BEAR FRUIT, WE MUST ABIDE.

JOHN 16 / JESUS REVEALS THE ARRIVAL AND WORK OF THE 

HOLY SPIRIT AND TOLD HIS OWN THAT HE WAS 

LEAVING TO RETURN TO THE FATHER.

NOW AFTER THESE TEACHINGS, HE IS READY TO FACE HIS HOUR WHICH HAS NOW COME AND TO HAVE A FINAL CONVERSATION WITH HIS FATHER CONCERNING THIS MOMENT WHICH HAS BEEN PLANNED

SINCE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD. (REV 13:8)

IT WAS FIRST ANNOUNCED TO US IN GENESIS 3:15 IN THE GARDEN.

NOW JESUS PRAYS CONCERNING HIMSELF.

THIS PRAYER IS BY FAR THE MOST IMPORTANT IN ALL THE BIBLE.

WE HAVE BEEN IMPRESSED BY SOLOMON'S PRAYER IN 1ST KINGS 8,

AND ABRAHAM'S PRAYERFUL CONVERSATION IN GENESIS 18, AND BY THE PRAYER OF MOSES IN EXODUS 32, BUT NONE OF THESE COME CLOSE TO OUR LORD OPENING HIS HEART IN HIS LAST MOMENTS IN THE LIKENESS OF MAN.

HERE IN JUST A FEW VERSES JESUS EXPLORES MORE THAN A FEW

CRITICAL ISSUES SUCH AS GLORY, GLORIFY, SENT, BELIEVE, WORLD, AND LOVE.

HE LIFTS UP HIS EYES TO HEAVEN.

THIS POSTURE IS NOT ONE WE NORMALLY IDENTIFY WITH PRAYER, SINCE WE PRAY IN A POSTURE OF HUMILITY, HEAD BOWED, EYES CLOSED.

THERE WAS NOTHING DOWNCAST IN THIS MOMENT BY THE LORD.

HE KNEW WHY HE HAD COME, AND HE HAD COME TO THE COMPLETION OF HIS PURPOSE WITHIN A FEW MORE HOURS AND WAS SPEAKING IN CONFIDENCE OF HIS VICTORY SOON TO BE SEEN BY ALL.

HE WAS FULLY FOCUSED ON HIGHER THINGS.

HE ADMITS HIS HOUR WAS UPON HIM AND ASKS THAT HE BE GLORIFIED SO THAT HIS WORK MIGHT GLORIFY THE HEAVENLY FATHER.

WE NOTICE HERE THE INTENSE RELATIONSHIP SHOWN TO US AND HEARD BY THOSE NEARBY, ONE OF FULL LOVE & TRUST AND CLEARLY DEMONSTRATING THAT JESUS & THE FATHER ARE ONE.

HIS CROSS WOULD BRING NO GLORY IF HIS MISSION HAD FAILED.

NOW HE WAS PREPARED TO DRINK OF HIS CUP COMMANDED.

HIS REQUEST THAT THE FATHER GLORIFY HIM EMBRACED HIS DEATH, RESURRECTION, APPEARANCE ALIVE AGAIN TO THOSE CHOSEN (ACTS 10:40-41), AND HIS PLACE SOON GRANTED AT THE FATHER'S RIGHT HAND.

WHAT PROOF DO WE HAVE IN THE WORDS JESUS SPOKE?

• HIS HOUR HAD COME 17:1

• THE FATHER WILL NOW BE GLORIFIED 17:1

• AUTHORITY HAS ALREADY BEEN GIVE TO GRANT ETERNAL LIFE 17:2

• JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY TO THIS LIFE ETERNAL 17:3

• THE WORK GIVEN HAD BEEN FINISHED 17:3

TO MEN THE CROSS WAS THE ULTIMATE MOMENT OF HUMILIATION AND SHAME BUT TO JESUS IT WAS THE MEANS OF TRUE GLORY.

THIS WORK OF THE SON GLORIFIES THE FATHER BY CLEARLY SHOWING IN THIS ACT, THE SOVEREIGNITY OF GOD OVER EVIL, AND THE FINAL REDEMPTION OF ALL WHO BELIEVE BY THIS ONCE AND FINAL ATONING SACRIFICE.

JESUS HAS BEEN GIVEN AUTHORITY OVER ALL THINGS AND PAUL CONFIRMS AGAIN THIS POWER IN PHILLIPIANS 2:5-11 WHEN HE PROMISES EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW & EVERY TONGUE CONFESS.

JESUS TELLS THE FATHER THAT HE HAD ALREADY GLORIFIED THE FATHER BY HIS MINISTRY.

HIS WHOLE LIFE OF SINLESS OBEDIENCE FULFILLED THE ANCIENT LAW, SATISFYING THE REDEMPTION NECESSARY TO PROVIDE SALVATION OUTSIDE OF THE LAW.

(FOR BY THE LAW IS NO FLESH JUSTIFIED)  ROM 3:20

JESUS STATES CLEARLY, NOT FOR HIMSELF, BUT FOR US, THE FACT THAT HE HAD GLORY WITH THE FATHER BEFORE THE WORLD WAS CREATED.

WHY IS THIS STATEMENT SO VERY IMPORTANT?

BECAUSE THE WORD GIVEN BY GOD'S HOLY PROPHET. ISAIAH, IN 42:8 & 48:11 CLEARLY SAYS YAHWEH SHARES HIS GLORY WITH NO ONE.

IF THE FATHER AND THE SON BOTH SHARED THIS EVERLASTING GLORY THEN THEY MUST BOTH BE ONE AS YAHWEH.

THIS GOSPLE WRITING OF JOHN HAS ARRANGED MANY EXAMPLES THAT JESUS MANIFESTED GOD'S GLORY THAT JESUS RECORDS IN THIS HOLY PRAYER:

1:14 THE LIFE OF JESUS BROUGHT FORTH THIS GLORY AND THE DISCIPLES SAW IT AS EYEWITNESSES.

2:11 THE MIRACLES OF JESUS MANIFESTED THE GLORY OF GOD.

7:18 & 8:50 JESUS ONLY EVER SOUGHT THE GLORY OF THE FATHER.

11:40 HE TAUGHT THE REVEALATION OF GLORY IS THE REWARD OF FAITH.

7:39 & 12:16 & 12:23 & 13:31

MANY TIMES JESUS SPOKE OF HIS WORKING TOWARD

SUFFERING AND THE CROSS AND THE COMING GLORY.

NOW IN VERSES 6-8 JESUS TURNS HIS ATTENTION IN HIS PRAYER FOR THE DISCIPLES.

HE SPEAKS OF HIS MISSION AMONG THESE MEN AND THEIR RECEPTION OF IT.

HE HAS MANIFESTED THE NAME OF THE FATHER TO THEM.

HE HAD CHOSEN THEM OUT OF THE WORLD AFTER A NIGHT OF PRAYER WITH THE FATHER (LUKE 6:12-16).

HE SAYS THESE MEN BELONGED FIRST TO THE FATHER WHO THEN GAVE THEM TO HIM.

THEY HAVE KEPT YOUR WORD.

FOR ALL OF THEIR FAULTS AND HUMAN FAILINGS, THEY WERE REMAINING IN DEVOTION AND WOULD CONTINUE BEING DEVOTED AFTER JESUS DEPARTED.

THEY HAVE KNOWN THAT JESUS CAME FROM THE FATHER.

THEY TRULY BELIEVED THE FATHER SENT JESUS TO THEM.

NOW IN VERSES 9-10 JESUS PRAYS STRONGLY FOR THESE MEN AND CLEARLY SAYS HE DOES NOT PRAY FOR THE WORLD.

HE SAYS HE HIMSELF HAS BEEN GLORIFIED IN THEM AND WE SEE HERE THAT EACH OF US, AFTER OUR BORN AGAIN MOMENT, ARE EXPECTED TO DO THE SAME,  GLORIFY JESUS.

PAUL LATER TAUGHT THIS MESSAGE VERY STRONGLY IN COLOSSIANS 1:27 “CHRIST IN YOU, THE HOPE OF GLORY”.

NOW IN VERSES 11-12 JESUS ASKS THE FATHER TO KEEP THESE MEN THROUGH HIS OWN HOLY NAME.

HERE HE DIRECTS HIS TOTAL COMPASSION FOR THESE DISCIPLES ASKING THE FATHER TO BE WITH THEM AS THEY WILL SUFFER MUCH THEMSELVES SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY PREACH & TEACH HIS GOSPEL.

WE NOTICE JESUS DID NOT ASK FOR A SPECIAL GUARDIAN ANGEL FOR EACH DISCIPLE, RATHER HE ASKED THAT THE FATHER HIMSELF KEEP THEM AND ASSURE THEIR CONTINUED DEVOTION TO THE WORK.

HE SAYS THIS REQUEST IS SO THEY MIGHT BE ONE TOGETHER AS HE AND HIS HEAVENLY FATHER ARE ONE.

HE PRAYS CLEARLY FOR THE UNITY OF THOSE WHO BELIEVE, FIRST FOR THESE DISCIPLES AND THEN FOR ALL THOSE WHO WILL BELIEVE THE GOSPEL THROUGH THEM.

THIS IS US!

WE NOTICE HERE THAT JESUS SAYS NONE THAT WERE GIVEN TO HIM WERE LOST, SAVE ONE, THE SON OF PERDITION, JUDAS.

HE SAYS THIS HAPPENED THAT THE SCRIPTURES WERE FULFULLED.

PSALM 41:9 “YES, MINE OWN FAMILIAR FRIEND, IN WHOM I TRUSTED,

… HATH LIFTED UP HIS HEEL AGAINST ME.”

PSALM 109:8 “LET HIS DAYS BE FEW; AND LET ANOTHER TAKE HIS OFFICE.'

ACTS 1:20 REMINDS US LATER OF THIS PROPHECY.

IN VERSES 13-16 JESUS EXPANDS HIS REQUEST ASKING THAT THESE MEN BE KEPT IN HIS JOY AND AWAY FROM THE EVIL ONE.

JESUS REFERS TO HIS OWN JOY HERE WHICH WAS ROOTED IN HIS UNBROKEN RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS FATHER AND WAS NEVER DIMINISHED BY SIN OF ANY KIND.

JESUS DOES NOT ASK THAT THESE MEN BE TAKEN OUT OF THE WORLD.

HE INTENDS FOR THEM TO REMAIN IN THE WORLD AND TO GO TO THE WORLD CARRYING HIS MESSAGE TO THE UTTERMOST PARTS OF IT.

JESUS KNOWS THE EVIL ONE, WHO WILL BE DEFEATED BY HIS RESURRECTION, WILL STILL BE IN THE WORLD.

SO THESE MEN NEEDED THE FULL POWER OF GOD TO LEAD THEM ONWARD IN THE CHALLENGE HE HAD GIVEN THEM.

IN 17-19 HE ASKS THAT THESE BE SANCTIFIED (MADE HOLY) FOR THE WORK AHEAD.

IN VERSE 23 JESUS PRAYS FOR A UNITY FOUNDED IN LOVE.

IN THIS PORTION HE REFLECTS ON THE DESIRE HE HAS FOR THE CHURCH TO COME, UNIFIED AS ONE, AND MADE HOLY BY HIS GOSPEL.

JESUS HAD MADE A PROMISE TO HIS DISCIPLES IN 14:2-3 THAT HE IS PREPARING A PLACE FOR THEM WHEN HE DEPARTS.

NOW HE ASKS THE FATHER TO ALLOW THEM TO SEE HIS GLORIFED FORM AFTER HIS RISING SO THAT THEY HAVE PROOF THAT THIS PROMISE IS BEING KEPT. (JOHN 1:14 TAUGHT US THIS REQUEST WAS

GRANTED “... WE BEHELD HIS GLORY, THE GLORY OF THE ONLY ONE BEGOTTEN OF THE FATHER.”)

HE ASKS THAT THEY MAY BEHOLD HIS GLORY, AND THEY DID.

AND IN THE FINAL VERSES JESUS CONCLUDES HIS GREATEST WISH WHICH IS THAT THE LOVE WITH WHICH THE FATHER LOVED THE SON BE IN THESE MEN, AND IN ALL THOSE WHO WOULD COME AFTER.

DOUBT

THE CHOSEN ELEVEN WERE GIVEN BY THE FATHER TO JESUS AND WERE SAVED AS JESUS SAID AS NONE WERE LOST SAVE JUDAS. SPECIAL POSITIONS WERE ARRANGED FOR THEM IN THE KINGDOM. BUT DID THIS SPECIAL PROTECTION SAVE THEM FROM DOUBT?

John 17:12 “... those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost,

but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled...”

Matthew 28:16-17 “... then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshiped him: but some doubted.”

(NOTICE NOT ONE ONLY DOUBTED SUCH AS THOMAS BUT SOME)

Luke 22:29-30 “And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

John - Chapter 18

THE PASSION BEGINS

We have seen consistently in our study of John the differences in approach and narrative to explain the ministry of Jesus as compared to the other three gospels. Now in chapter 18 we see this difference once again. The arrest and trials of Jesus are viewed in the other gospels as agony for Him and struggle with emotion and actions while in John we see an absence of those things and rather see a narrative based upon God's sovereign plan and the return of Jesus to His Father.

The chapter begins with the phrase “When Jesus had spoken these words...” meaning His High Priestly Prayer in chapter 17. Jesus now leads the disciples out across the Kidron valley, crossing the brook there, upward onto the mount of Olives, where the garden of Gethsemane is located.

Jesus knew all things that would occur there and He was sure that Judas knew the place where He would go. Luke 22:39 tells us that this was the place where He consistently took the disciples. The meaning in Hebrew of the word Kidron is “dark waters” and the meaning is clear here because He crossed these dark waters to enter the very darkest time of His earthly ministry. Here is a good time to remember that the darkest night always gives way to the brightness of dawn, and in three days the dawn of greatest brightness will break on creation.

A powerful (and often overlooked) meaning of these hours is that Jesus was NOT taken against His will, but rather was taken BECAUSE it was His will. John 10:18 cannot be clearer in His own words to explain this matter. Jesus tells us that no man takes His life, He teaches us that “... I lay it down of myself...”.

Let us look at the reasons He did what He did where He did it:

1. In accord with the scriptural teaching of the sin offering of Leviticus 4:12, Jesus made His own offering of Himself as our sin offering outside the camp. Hebrews 13:12 confirms  He suffered WITHOUT the gate.

2. As a son of David, Jesus crossed the same dark water of the Kidron that David himself had crossed in tears when he was also betrayed. (2 Sam 15:23 & 30 & 31).

3. His object was to grant His enemies free access to come for Him. The temple leaders had long wished to arrest Him, but would not among the people but here in the dark of night, without crowds present, He was far easier to approach and apprehend. Darkness and distance also may have allowed the disciples to escape if flight was necessary for them after Jesus commanded that He alone be removed.

4. We also note here that as Jesus was to be the savior of both Jews and Gentiles, and knowing all things, it was right that both Jews and Gentiles (Roman soldiers) work together to arrest Him.

Note verse 4 teaches all was known by Jesus before events happened.

Jesus did not wait silently for events to unfold as He immediately asked the crowd led by Judas “... whom seek ye?”  They replied they sought Jesus of Nazareth and Jesus spoke the name given by His Father generations earlier, “I AM” (note the added word “he” was placed by the translator). Now in a moment of demonstration of divine power, all fell backward at these words. Here was the clear and direct signal confirmed that John used to begin this book. He was THE WORD, and by the Word, power was shown.

Here He showed that He was more than Jesus of Nazareth. He was God in flesh.

Here He showed that while they came in force to arrest Him, He was in charge and only by His willing submission might they hold Him.

Here He left these men with no excuse. He showed His power and he showed that the plan was already in process. They could not overpower Him unless He allowed it. Just as He later told Pilate that he would have no power over Him unless it had been given from above, God even placed dreams inside the wife of Pilate of His innocence.

Now He does not ask, He commands that the disciples be allowed to go free, proving once more as He had previously prayed that none were lost by Him, save Judas.

The ever impetuous Peter draws his sword and strikes a servant, cutting off his ear, and Jesus rebukes him for the violence, and heals the man instantly. We should not forget that all there saw this incident and clearly saw the healing. His power was manifested once more for all to view.

Now in verses 12-27 we see familiar items:

• Christ is bound and taken to Annas.

• Peter follows.

• Peter's first denial.

• Annas questions Christ.

• Jesus is slapped for His reply to Annas.

• Annas sends Jesus to Caiaphas.

• Peter's second and third denials.

Jesus clearly advises that all His teaching was in public, even in the synagogue, and He demonstrates His command of Jewish law asking the officials to ask the witnesses who heard Him teach what he had taught. But a mock trial disallows proper procedure.

Annas, who was removed as high priest by the Romans in 15 AD sends Jesus onward to the next high priest, Caiaphas, his son-in-law, who served from 18 AD onward. Peter meanwhile, finishes his three denials of Jesus, the last with curses, and then hears the cock crow just as Jesus had foretold. Mark 14:72 teaches that Peter remembers now the words of Jesus and weeps. Jesus' time before Caiaphas is limited here to two verses, 24 & 28, with few details.

Now the Jews appeal the case to the Roman official, Pilate, who demands a formal charge be given against Jesus. He examines Jesus in verses 30-40 and first tells the Jews to sentence Jesus themselves. They quickly show their true intent by reminding Pilate they can sentence a man to death, but cannot execute. 

In further familiar scripture, Pilate finds no fault with Jesus, affirms His innocence, and seeks to resolve the issue by allowing the people to call for Jesus to be freed in their feast custom. But the Jews have prepared for this moment and convince many of the people to call for the freedom of Barabbas, a convicted robber. God's plan continues to unfold as the criminal is freed and the Lamb of innocence starts the journey to suffering and the cross.

It is a crucial point that we keep in mind that Jesus Christ HAD to be sentenced and executed in the way He was. We should take careful note of the last portion of verse 32, which reminds us that Jesus had spoken of what death He should die. His word is truth and there was no other way for the day to end.

Let us in closing recall the continued lies of the Jews. While they are correct that they were not legally allowed to execute, based upon the 6th commandment plus Roman rule, they themselves had no problem executing Stephen and James. 

John - Chapter 19

BEFORE PILATE – DEATH & BURIAL

The death of Christ may be viewed from five main viewpoints:

From the standpoint of God the cross was a propitiation in which full satisfaction was made to His holiness and justice (Romans 3:25-26):

“Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forebearance of God; To declare, I say at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” 

From the standpoint of the Savior, it was a sacrifice (Ephesians 5:2), an offering (Hebrews 9:14), an act of obedience (Phil 2:8).

5:2 “And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God...”

9:14 “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal spirit offered himself without spot to God...”

2:8 “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

From the standpoint of believers, it was a substitution, the Just offering for the unjust (1 Peter 3:18). ((The forever blessing of His Atonement for OUR sin))

“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the spirit:”

From the standpoint of Satan, it was a triumph and a defeat. He triumphed by bruising the heel of the woman's seed (Genesis 3:15) but was a defeat in that through His death, Christ destroyed him that had the power over death, the devil (Hebrews 2:14).

“For as much then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also likewise himself took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.”

From the standpoint of the world, it was a brutal murder (Acts 3:15).

“And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead;  whereof we are witnesses.”

It is the last point that much of John 19 brings to us. From the “human” side, the Jews are responsible. From the “judicial” side, Pilate bears responsibility. 

Each of the gospels treats the Lord's death with a different degree of detail. The birth, the baptism, and the temptation of Christ appear in only two. Several of His miracles and talks appear in only one, but the Savior's passion (suffering) is in all four, which points out to us it's supreme importance.

When we began our study we looked at the difference in how each gospel treats the details of the life and ministry of Jesus.

Matthew - presents Christ as the Son of David, king of Israel.

Mark - presents Christ as God's workman, God's servant and the service of Jesus.

Luke -  presents Christ as the Son of Man, with human perfections and relationships.

John – reveals Jesus as the Son of God, incarnate in flesh like ours, dwelling among men in His divine but human form.

John says nothing about the agony in the garden but John alone reveals the power of His spoken word when all fell backward.

John omits most details of the time with Caiaphas, but describes the time before Annas. John alone reveals the words Jesus spoke about His kingdom (18:36), of His coming to bear witness to the truth (18:37), of Pilate having no power except what had been given from above (19:11), of His seamless robe (19:23), His legs not broken (19:33), and the blood and water from His side. John omits the awful cry of “why hast thou forsaken me” replacing it with “it is finished”.

We are well taught from childhood in the church about the cross and the death of our Lord. We know well the story of the Jews and how they conspired to have Christ killed. We know more than a few times in our study of John that Jesus moved away from their violent wishes as His hour had not yet come.

NOW THE HOUR IS HERE.

We have several times looked into the power and the will of the Lord meeting no obstacle that can deter it.

It is likely that nowhere in scripture will we find a greater example of the sovereignty of God than in Pilate's treatment of Jesus the Christ. Look at what holy scripture reveals to us concerning this matter:

1. Pilate was assured of His innocence, acknowledging it at least seven times. He said “I find no fault in him”.

2. Pilate desired to release Jesus (Luke 23:20) and said “I will let him go” (Luke 23:22). Pilate sought to release Him (John 19:12). Pilate was determined to release Him (Acts 3:13).

3. Pilate was urged to release Him by no one less that his own wife (Matt 27:19).

4. Pilate tried to arrange the acquittal of Jesus by bidding the Jews themselves to judge Him, knowing they could not execute (John 18:31). He sent Him to Herod only to have Him returned to himself (Luke 23:7). He sought the Jews to retain Barabbas in place of Jesus (John 18:39).

In spite of all of these efforts, Pilate DID sentence Jesus to the cross and death.

What does the will of man amount to when it runs counter to the will of God?

ABSOLUTELY NOTHING

Here was Pilate, the Roman governor, determined to release Jesus but he was prevented from doing so. From all eternity, before the foundation, God had decreed that Pilate WOULD sentence Jesus to death and no power on earth or in hell could refuse. Acts 2:23 is our best teaching on this point:

“him being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God”.

Pilate did order His scourging and the beating was of the most severe type, stripping flesh from his body and causing the loss of blood and likely bodily strength. As Jesus had foretold, now was the hour of darkness (Luke 22:53) and Satan's work after he had possessed Judas, was proceeding.

Christ was at this same hour atoning for all sin for all men for all time. Sin had to be revealed in it's enormous power over mankind and this hour displayed it well.

Christ was dying for sinners so what was actually due to all of us who are indwelt with sin from birth is also on display.

Now, as in all other things, Jesus fulfills OT prophecy as Isaiah 53:8 teaches of Him being cut off from the land of the living for the transgression of the people. After His terrible scourging, He was displayed by Pilate bloody and robed in purple and crowned in thorns with the words, “Behold the man”. Here Pilate was sarcastically showing the people that this bloody spectacle was no god, but simply a man tortured. Pilate hoped the people would be appeased, but it was not to be as God had long before determined the cross was to be used as the instrument for Jesus to WILLINGLY lay down His mortal life for us.

The Jews insisted that Jesus be executed and when Pilate heard their cries we are told in verse 8 that he was MORE afraid. Notice the word “more” meaning he had the emotion of fear before and now it was increasing in strength inside him. He preferred to please the crowd to avoid any discord and trouble rather than obey his own conscience, knowing all the while Jesus was not guilty. Jesus had steadfastly remained almost completely silent. Pilate tries to remind Jesus in verse 10 that he had the power to crucify Him or to release Him.

Now Jesus reveals the truth of the moment and gave His last official testimony before going to the cross. He tells Pilate that he would have NO power over Him if it had not been given from above. He could have easily used power that Pilate never dreamed of, as He had shown the power of His word in the garden, but he did not. He accepted the cup of bitterness with grace.  Paul later wrote of this moment in Romans 13:1 when he said that there is no power but of God, the powers that be are ordained of God.

Finally Jesus reveals to Pilate that He knew the precise measure of Pilate's guilt and of the one who had delivered Him to Pilate. Here in 19:11, just as in Luke 12:47-48 Jesus taught one final time on the degrees of guilt and sin, bringing degrees of future punishment. 

We observe the last word spoken by Jesus to Pilate was “sin”, and likely the next word Pilate heard from Jesus one moment after his own death was the sentence of eternal doom.

As we conclude this chapter as Jesus freely chooses the cross and death we should notice that He spoke his last words in mortal life from the cross and these words were of seven matters (the holy and perfect number of God):

1. He spoke forgiveness for His enemies (Luke 23:34).

2. He spoke salvation to the dying thief (Luke 23:42-43).

3. He spoke affection for His mother (John 19:25-26).

4. He spoke anguish to the Father (Matthew 27:46).

5. He spoke suffering to those watching (John 19:28).

6. He spoke victory to His people (John 19:30).

7. He spoke fulfillment to the Father (Luke 23:46).

After his suffering he told the Father the work was finished and He perished from His mortal body. As was the custom then, those on the cross had their legs broken to hasten death but when the soldiers came to do so, Jesus was already dead.

Joseph of Arimathaea asked Pilate for the body and was given it for burial. No bones were broken in his body. Here in verse 36 is quoted Psalms 34:20 “He keepeth all his bones; not one of them is broken”.

All the legions of Caesar could not have broken a single bone in His mortal body. They had no power except what had been given them from above. The preservation of His body with unbroken bones was a fulfilling of the type seen in Exodus12:46 which speaks of the Passover lamb commanding that “...neither shall ye break a bone thereof...”.

For 1500 years the Jews had carefully observed this command each Passover and none of them (as far as we know) had any idea as to its meaning in full. Now the Holy Spirit makes the meaning clear.

Now he was taken to burial by Joseph and Nicodemus, who brought the proper spices for the tomb. He had been born of a virgin woman, and was now buried in a virgin tomb, there to rest His mortal body for three days & nights while His spirit harrowed hell. 

THEN TO ARISE GLORIFIED AND VICTORIOUS !!!!!!!!!!

John - Chapter 20

John 20-21-23

“Then Jesus said unto them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:

Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.”

This reference scripture is a symbol of the promise of the soon to be given power of Pentecost (50 days) in Acts 2.

This gesture is made to the group as opposed to each individual.

The Greek verb is clearly used purposely as “breathed on” as opposed to “breathed into”.

This act likely is to be seen as a commission of the group which will begin the church on earth and constitutes them as a community.

John’s version focuses upon the forgiveness (in the case of repentance by a new believer) of sins or in the opposite case, the retention of sins for those who refuse to believe.

The Lord is qualifying them for the commission given, being defined as His sending them into the world, just as the Father has sent Him unto the lost sheep of Israel. His authority mirrors that of the Father who sent Him.

His breathing on them not only assures them that He is actually now truly alive, but also signifies to them the spiritual power given to them for all the services that lay before them after Christ ascends. Even though we are told Thomas was not there, the Spirit knew where to find him just as the Spirit knew where to find Eldad & Medad in Numbers 11:26.

The new world mission was:

1. The Holy Spirit is within the breath of Christ and proceeds from the Son. We see this same thought in Ezekiel 37:9 where the Spirit is compared to breath.

2. The Spirit is the gift of Christ. While the apostles began to heal and draw believers, only Jesus himself had the power to confer the Spirit through breath.

The moment is probably to be seen as a special commission or assignment for these apostles, granting them the power to discern who truly believed and who did not. But it was given in the aspect of building the new church by these faithful stewards.

These apostles remit & retain sin in two ways:

1. Teaching sound doctrine as they are now commissioned to tell the world salvation is here through the Gospel, and is possible through no other path than Christ.

2. By strict discipline, applying the Gospel to all church matters.

Now later far greater power was granted after the tongues of fire arrived and we see examples of much more than just teaching the Gospel. Peter struck Ananias & Sapphira dead and Paul also later struck Elymas blind. So the initial breath was providing the initial Spirit necessary to begin, and the later power granted in Pentecost provided each with the full power as the designated arm of Jesus on earth, with His power conferred as to healing, and over life & death.

John - Chapter 20: The Resurrection

It is the resurrection that remains the foundation stone of Christian faith. 

Paul may have said it best in 1 Cor 15:14:

“And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain”.

The resurrection was granted many prophetic types within the Old Testament.

(Gen 3:15) If Christ was to bruise the head of the serpent after His own heel was bruised, He must arise.

(Gen 8:20-22) The passing of the ark through the waters of judgment brought it to rest on a cleansed earth, with judgment finished and new life beginning.

(Gen 22:4) The deliverance of Isaac came after three days as father Abraham came to the place of sacrifice and Hebrews 11:19 assures God was able to raise him.

Israel crossed the Red Sea three days after the death angel came and the blood saved those who were chosen by the Lord.

Jonah arose to new life after three days in the belly of the fish.

(Psalm 16:9-11) :...neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption...”.

It was by this one act that death, hell, sin, and the grave were conquered. The Christian message is not only that Christ died for our sins but that He AROSE again on the third day. He was delivered for our offenses and raised again for our justification (Romans 4:25). This foundation truth was preached by Peter in his sermon after Pentecost (Acts 2) and was urged again by the Apostles in Acts 3:15 / 4:10 / 5:30. It was preached to the Gentiles in Acts 10:40 & 13:34.

We must NEVER overlook the fact that it was a WILLING act of obedience by Jesus and He told us of it's purity in John 15:13 (no greater love).

This act was brought about by the work of all of the three aspects of the Godhead.

All three were a part of His incarnation (Father = Hebrews 10:5 & Phil 2:7 = Son & Luke 1:35 = Spirit). All three were a part of His resurrection (Isa 53:6&10 = Father & Ephesians 5:20 = Son & Hebrews 9:14 = Spirit).

When the tomb was found empty with the grave clothes within it we are taught in verse 8 that only as John entered the tomb after Peter that he saw and believed. Verse 9 reveals that “as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead”.

It is humbling that the angel had to remind the apostles in Luke 24:6-7 that Jesus had foretold His rising.

John teaches that it was Mary Magdalene that came to bring the spices to apply to the body and found the tomb empty.  Mark 16 teaches that she was with Mary the mother of James, and Salome. In either case, it was to the women that He first was known after His rising.

Peter & John were told and came running to see for themselves and they did see. But it was to Mary that Jesus first spoke and now began the process to reveal Himself to His own and to witnesses. While Mary first did not recognize Him, it is telling that He brought her recognition by His “word”, speaking her name in verse 16. Here is a bold foretelling of how He brings understanding to each believer still today. He SPEAKS  to the heart through His Holy Spirit.

Verse 17 grants us food for serious thought. Mary wanted to hold Him as soon as she knew it was truly Him. He tells her not to touch Him as he was not yet ascended. These words are not given in the other gospels, appearing only in John. He was surely   changed, & He would appear later to others and in Matthew 28:9 we are taught that He was then held by His feet. Perhaps He was actually telling her not to “cling”. He instructs Mary to go and tell His brethren (the first time He has used this word to describe those who were His).

He appeared numerous times (once to over 500) and displayed a physical body, which was glorified, and allowed himself to be touched and handled (especially by Thomas) and was able to appear and vanish at will. We know that He also previewed the Pentecost time in verse 22 by breathing upon His apostles. 

Note His appearances fully alive after His rising:

1. Mary Magdalene (John 20:14)

2. Certain women (Matthew 28:9-10)

3. Peter (Luke 24:34)

4. Two on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13)

5. Ten apostles in the upper room (John 20:19)

6. Eleven apostles in the upper room (John 20:26-29)

7. To seven fishing (John 21)

8. To the eleven (Matthew 28:16)

9. To 500 (1 Cor 15:7)

10.  To James (1 Cor 15:7)

11. To the apostles on the Mount of Olives (Acts 1)

12. To Stephen (Acts 7)

13. To Saul on the road to Damascus (Acts 9)

14. To John on Patmos (Rev 1)

His 15th will be when He returns for us as promised (1 Thess 4:16)

Notice the last words Jesus speaks to Thomas and see how profound they are:

“Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed”. (29)

THESE ARE US !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Many other signs were granted but were not written (30). Why are these written for us?

“...that believing, ye might have life through his name”. (31)

John - Chapter 20: Jesus Appeared after the Resurrection

Application: The student will accept the resurrection of Jesus as a life changing event, in the same way as those who first experienced it.

THE TESTIMONY OF JOHN CONCERNING THE RISING OF THE LORD WAS AS AN EYEWITNESS, NOT A SECOND HAND RETELLING STORY.

JESUS WAS SEEN BY MANY WITNESSES IN ORDER TO ASSURE THAT THERE WAS STRONG EVIDENCE BY MANY THAT HE WAS NO LONGER DEAD.

ON THE 1ST DAY OF THE WEEK (OUR SUNDAY) MARY MAGDELENE WENT TO THE TOMB IN THE EARLY MORNING DARKNESS.

OTHER GOSPELS SAY SHE WAS JOINED BY OTHER WOMEN BUT JOHN MENTIONS ONLY MARY.

WE KNOW BY LUKE 8:2 THAT JESUS HAD CAST SEVEN DEVILS OUT FROM MARY BUT HER TROUBLED SPIRITUAL PAST DID NOT DISQUALIFY HER FROM THE GREAT HONOR OF BEING THE FIRST TO SEE THE RISEN LORD.

SHE SAW THE TOMB WAS EMPTY AND WENT BACK TO TELL THE DISCIPLES AND PETER & JOHN RACED TO SEE FOR THEMSELVES

WHAT DID THEY SEE?

YES, THE TOMB WAS EMPTY BUT THE GRAVE CLOTHES WERE THERE, LINEN CLOTH STRIPS THAT WERE USED TO SURROUND THE BODY WITH SPICES TO DELAY THE SMELL OF DEATH.

THE CLOTHS WERE ORDERLY THEY HAD NOT BEEN UNWRAPPED OR CUT AWAY, NOT THEREFORE THE REMAINS OF GRAVE ROBBERS OR THIEVES.

THE HEAD NAPKIN WAS FOLDED, NOT WADDED UP, IN THOSE DAYS A FOLDED NAPKIN MEANT ONE WOULD RETURN(AS IN A MEAL)

JOHN SAW AND BELIEVED WITH THE GREEK WORD “EIDEN” USED, MEANING “TO UNDERSTAND & PERCEIVE”.

HERE IN JOHN'S VERSION WE SEE MARY HAD SEEN TWO ANGELS.

SHE WAS QUESTIONED BY THEM AS TO WHY SHE WEPT AND SHE WAS SORROWFUL THAT THE LORD HAD BEEN TAKEN AWAY.

THE RISEN JESUS WAS ALSO SEEN BY MARY AND CALLED HER BY NAME.

IN THE EVENING OF THE SAME DAY JESUS APPEARED TO THE DISCIPLES AS THEY HID FROM THE JEWS AND GREETED THEM WITH THE SWEET WORDS “PEACE BE WITH YOU'.

ON THE RESURRECTION DAY, JESUS WAS SEEN 5 TIMES:

• MARY MAGDELENE

• OTHER WOMEN (MATTHEW 28)

• TO TWO MEN ON THE ROAD TO EMMAUS

• TO PETER

• TO THE TEN IN THE ROOM

HIS GREETING OF PEACE WAS MUCH MORE SIGNIFICANT THAT JUST

THE FOUR WORDS SPOKEN, FOR HIS RISING GAVE THEM FAR GREATER MEANING THAN SIMPLY A MOMENT OF HELLO.

HIS RISEN PEACE MEANT:

• SINS ARE NOW ATONED (WE ARE RECONCILED WITH GOD)

• SLAVERY TO SIN & DEATH IS BROKEN

• LIFE BOTH HERE & IN THE HEREAFTER IS SETTLED 

HE ASSURED THE DISCIPLES THAT HE REALLY WAS HIMSELF BY SHOWING HIS WOUNDS.

THOMAS WAS NOT PRESENT SO JESUS CAME BACK 8 DAYS LATER TO ASSURE THOMAS WHO HAD SAID THAT HE WOULD ONLY BELIEVE IF HE SAW FOR HIMSELF.

HERE IS A GREAT LESSON BY JESUS OF HIS BEGINNING OF FAITH AFTER THE CROSS.

THOMAS WAS WALKING ONLY BY SIGHT AND SAID HE HAD TO SEE TO BELIEVE. (HABAKKUK HAD WRITTEN 400 YEARS BEFORE THAT THE JUST SHALL WALK BY FAITH)

JESUS ACCOMODATED THOMAS BUT GAVE A GREAT TEACHING HERE TELLING THOMAS THAT HE WAS NOW BELIEVING BECAUSE HE SAW,

BUT THEN JESUS SAID BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HAVE NOT SEEN AND YET BELIEVE.

ALL BELIEVERS AFTER THESE DAYS WALK BY FAITH.

SPURGEON PREACHED AN ENTIRE REVIVAL FOR A WEEK ON JUST THIS MOMENT AND HE SUMMARIZED SO WELL HOW IMPORTANT THIS MOMENT IS AND WILL ALWAYS BE FOR ALL BELIEVERS.

THESE WORDS ARE ACTUALLY ANOTHER BEATITUDE FROM THE LORD, AS THEY PROMISE GREAT BLESSING, JUST AS HE DID IN THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT.

SPURGEON PREACHED THAT WE AT TIMES SEEM TO DIMINSIH THIS BLESSING IN OUR FAITH JOURNEY WHEN WE MAKE DEMANDS UPON JESUS BEYOND THIS BLESSING.

WHEN WE DEMAND A VERBAL VOICE, A VISION, A REVELATION TO CONFIRM SALVATION BEYOND GRACE THROUGH FAITH.

WHEN WE DEMAND SOME SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES TO PROVE HIS BLESSING BEYOND HOLY SCRIPTURE.

WHEN WE DEMAND SOME PERSONAL VISIT FROM ABOVE.

WHEN WE DEMAND ALL ANSWERS OF FAITH IMMEDIATELY, BEING UNWILLING TO WAIT ON FAITH TO MATURE AND FAITH ANSWERS COMING AS WE GROW.

JOHN TELLS US IN THE END THAT MANY OTHER SIGNS WERE DONE BUT NOT WRITTEN BUT THAT THE ONES WRITTEN HERE WERE GIVEN SO THAT WE MAY BELIVE THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST (MESSIAH), THE SON OF GOD, AND THAT IN THAT BELIEF WE HAVE LIFE IN HIS NAME.

THIS CHAPTER MARKS THE END OF SIGNS.

JOHN HAD CHOSEN 7 SIGNS IN THE BEGINNING OF THIS GOSPEL TO GIVE US:

• WATER INTO WINE

• HEALING OF THE NOBLEMAN'S SON

• HEALING AT THE POOL OF BETHESDA

• FEEDING THE 5,000

• WALKING ON WATER

• HEALING OF THE MAN BORN BLIND

• LAZARUS RAISED FROM THE DEAD

NOW THE GREATEST AND LAST SIGN IS GIVEN, THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD.

COLLECTIVELY THESE ARE GIVEN SO THAT FAITH CAN COME BY THE HEARING OF THEM, AND BELIEVING IN THEM.

John - Chapter 21

The Risen Christ at the Sea + Peter & John

In the opening verses of the Gospel of John, we learn what Christ was before He came forth from the Father. In the closing verses we learn how He now rules the world after His return to the Father.

Here we begin to learn the roles of the apostles as they will begin their active ministry led by the Holy Spirit later to be given. It is a good lesson for us still today, and it can be simply stated as “freely we have received, and freely are we to give”.

This final chapter's first section can be viewed in seven parts:

1. Men serving in the energy of the flesh – (21:2-3). Peter says “I go a fishing.” He had received no command from above to do so. Here is self will and others join him.

2. The lack of results of such effort – (21:3-5). They toiled all night and caught nothing. 

3. The Lord directs their energy – (21:6). The Lord tells them where to work.

The result was an abundance of success for their efforts.

1. The Lord provides for His servants – (21:12-13). He had provided for them their nourishment and invites them to dine.

2. The motive for service – (21:15). Love for Jesus.

3. The time for death – (21:18-19). Jesus has already determined the time of their deaths and the manner.

4. The return – (21:20-24). The Lord allows knowledge on the prospect of His next coming.

 This miracle of the fish is the only miracle performed by Jesus after His resurrection. It is done to assure these chosen ones that just as He had guided their efforts while He was with them, the same guidance can be counted on when He is absent in body but not in spirit.

The abundance granted in this miracle taught once more that in keeping the commands of the Lord one finds great reward, just as Psalm 19:11 foretold. It is His position of order, and we who seek to serve are to obey, quickly and without question.

Doing so glorifies Him and brings His reward. 

As Jesus feeds His chosen ones once more he allows us to see His love for those that are His, even after He has moved beyond mortal existence. His fire of coals and fish and bread for them shows us:

• He cares for His servants and will supply their needs.

• He ministers as a servant to show the example of what we are to be.

• He shows that while laboring for others, we also have a need to be nourished.

• He showed in the fish already cooking that He is not restricted to man's efforts.

• (He was not awaiting them to bring fish as He provided the meal without them)

• He waited upon the shore for their arrival from their labors.

• (He waits on the golden shore for our arrival from the labor of this life)

• He drew them close to Himself .

• (“... come and dine...”) (The last time we hear His blessed word “come” on earth)

Now in the second section of chapter 21 we view the final restoring of the one who will hold the keys of the kingdom on earth, Peter.

In Luke 22:31-32 Jesus had given Peter His solemn warning that Satan himself wished to have Peter and to sift him as wheat. At this same moment we see that Jesus did NOT pray that Peter not fall into this temptation but rather that through the conversion of Peter, strength would be his.

By permitting Peter to fall into the hand of Satan, Jesus was granting Peter the lesson of humbling of his proud spirit. The fall of Peter was the only remedy possible to rid Peter of his aggressive self confidence and to bring him to the realization that it is only by leaning on Christ, not self, that glory may be shown for God in our lives. 

(Is this lesson not still strongly true for us today?)

So after the apostles dined with the risen Lord, Jesus applies the three questions to Peter concerning love and service (verses 15-17). Peter was compelled to answer three times, once for each denial. Notice this conversation takes place next to the fire of coals. The last time we heard of fire of coals was when Peter was warming himself next to Pilate's fire of coals and was preparing to curse and deny.

Now after this threefold expression of love, this one is restored. The one who had  fallen into weakness is now strengthened to serve and importantly to bring strength to his brethren. Step by step, Jesus prepares him for the service he will later bring to build the kingdom on earth. At the end of this conversation with Peter, Jesus repeats the words He had first spoken to Peter to make him chosen, “Follow Me”. 

As Jesus turns toward John, Peter one last time reveals his fleshly and impetuous side by asking Jesus, “...what shall this man do”?

Though fully restored by the Lord's grace, a portion of the old Simon Peter remained. Jesus had just a moment earlier told Peter to follow, not question. Now the Lord rebukes Peter's curiosity somewhat and presses Peter toward his own duty, asking Peter, “If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?”

Peter, who died a death of violence foretold by Jesus, points toward the first century and the beginning of the church.

John, given a hope of (but not a promise of) living until the return of the Lord, points to the last century of all things as Jesus already had in place to call him upward to  write and reveal the Revelation. John's ministry does actually and truly go onward toward the Lord's return and the end of all earthly things when the new heaven, new earth, and new Jerusalem appear after the second coming.

In John's gospel, we see no record of the ascension, but the last sight we have of the Savior is He and His in fellowship together. The sons are with the Son just as we shall be forever.

Finally, John tells us that if all the works done by the Lord were written, the world itself could not contain the books. He allows us this one final lesson that the works of Jesus Christ are without limit, except the limit placed upon faith by the human heart. 

ONE GOD, MANIFESTED IN THREE TO US

LIVING FOREVER, NO BEGININNG, NO END,

LIVING IN HUMAN HEARTS MADE ETERNAL BY FAITH.

John: Book of Glory

JOHN 13-20

Chapters 13-20 of the Gospel of John provide us the second major section of the Gospel. These chapters take us through the final days of Jesus on the earth while He is in His mortal body. In chapter 13 we begin by viewing the cleansing of the new community by the washing of the feet of the disciples by Jesus and by the departure of Judas Iscariot as the betrayer. The farewell discourse (to the twelve minus Judas) gives the final instructions to these eleven (chapters 13-16). Chapter 17 will allow us to hear and study the final prayer in which the Son who was sent reports to the Father that the mission has been done (which will be completed with the death on the cross in chapter 19).

Chapter 20 tells us of the post resurrection meeting Jesus has with Mary Magdalene and the appearance of Jesus to the remaining eleven disciples, first without Thomas and then with him present.

In light of the rejection of Jesus by the Jews, the OT community, those who are now “His own” are the eleven. They are to be given a most profound sign of the love Jesus holds for them as well as a lesson in humility as Jesus washes their feet.

His performance of public signs, proving He is the Messiah, no longer dominates the Gospel. The focus now shifts to His preparation of the community that will begin the church after Pentecost. This will be a Spirit guided mission to a lost and unbelieving world.

Now the disciples are drawn into the unity, love, and mission of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit which will become a reality in 20:21-23 and has come to be known as “John's Great Commission”:

“Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you; as my Father has sent me, even so send I you.

And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost.

Whosoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained”.

John: Study Guide

STUDY GUIDE & STRUCTURE OF JOHN'S GOSPEL

John's overall purpose, using several strands of narrative, is to demonstrate clearly that the Christ, the Son of God, is Jesus.

The beginning of his gospel, unlike any other New Testament writing, places priority upon the eternal AND preexisting Word made flesh. The first division of the gospel sets forth the evidence for the truth of Jesus being the Messiah in seven signs. John also weaves within his work the seven “I Am” sayings. He includes within the gospel evidence from numerous witnesses in support of the true identity of Jesus, including Moses, earlier scripture, John the Baptist, the Heavenly Father, Jesus himself and His works, the Holy Spirit, the disciples, and the evangelist himself.

The second division of John's gospel shows how Jesus ensured the continuation of His mission by preparing his new community for the carrying forward that mission after He returns to the Father. This portion begins with His farewell discourse in chapters 13-17. Inside this effort, the community He prepares is cleansed by the foot washing and the departure of Judas. Further preparation is found in the instruction of the Comforter to come and his work with and through the disciples. It is the disciples who are now made partners in the salvation proclamation with their witness being aided by the Spirit leading them onward toward perfect love and unity as the church is born.

These two divisions may be described as:

THE BOOK OF SIGNS (chapters 1-12)

THE BOOK OF GLORY (chapters 13-20)

The story of the passion of Jesus as presented by John (chapters 18-19) presents His death as an atonement for sin (1:29&36, 6:48-58, 10:15& 17-18), but largely without the emphasis on shame & humiliation of the other gospels. His emphasis is rather on the return of Jesus to the Father (13:1 & 16:28). The resurrection appearances and the commission of the disciples crown the glory chapters where Jesus who is the true sent one now becomes the sending one.

The ending of the gospel presents the relationship between Peter & John in terms of their different but equally important roles of service in the new community of belief.

Our study will generally will be guided by the following outline:

THE WORD IS MADE FLESH (1:1-18)

THE BOOK OF SIGNS (1:19 – 12:50)

•  The forerunner and the first signs of Jesus (1:19 – 4:54)

•  Testimony of John the Baptist (1:19-51)

•  The first sign – water into wine at Cana (2:1-12)

•  A Jerusalem sign – clearing the temple (2:13-22)

•  Ministry in Jerusalem & Samaria (2:23 – 4:42)

•  Christ & Nicodemus (2:23 – 3:21)

• Testimony of the Baptist (3:22-36)

• The Samaritan woman (4:1-42)

• The second Cana sign – Healing the royal official's son (4:43-54)

• Signs in the middle of unbelief (5:1 – 10:42)

• A Jerusalem feast & the healing of a lame man ( 5:1-47)

• Passover in Galilee: Feeding the multitude & the bread of life (6:1-71)

• Jesus at the Feast of the Tabernacles (7:1-8:59)

• Healing of the blind man & the good shepherd discourse (9:1 – 10:42)

• The greatest sign – raising of Lazarus (11:1 – 12:19)

• Raising of Lazarus (11:1-57)

• Anointing at Bethany (12:1-11)

• Entry into Jerusalem in triumph (12:12-19)

• Jesus predicts His death & the age of the Gentiles begins (12:20-36)

• Messiah rejected by the OT community (12:37-50)

THE BOOK OF GLORY (13:1 – 20:31)

The cleansing of the community & final prayer of Jesus (13:1 – 17:26)

• The foot washing (13:1-17)

• The betrayal (13:18-30)

• Final instructions & farewell discourse (13:31 – 16:33)

• Jesus departs and sends the Spirit (13:31 – 14:31)

• Jesus the true vine (15:1-17)

The Spirit and the disciples witness to the world (15:18 – 16:33)

• Parting prayer (17:1-26)

• The passion (18:1 – 19:42)

• Betrayal & arrest (18:1-11)

• Jesus questioned by the high priest & Peter's denial (18:12-27)

• Jesus before Pilate (18:29 – 19:16)

• Jesus crucifixion & burial (19:16-42)   

The resurrection & the disciples are commissioned (20:1-29)

• The empty tomb (20:1-10)

• Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene (20:11-18)

• Jesus appears to the disciples (20:19-23)

• Jesus appears to Thomas (20:24-29)

The signs of the Messiah witnessed by the new community (20:30-31)

Peter & John (21:1-25)

• Jesus appears to seven disciples (21:1-14)

• Jesus and Peter (21:15-19)

• Jesus and John (21:20-25)