Thursday, April 6, 2017

John 18:1-14

John 18:1-14

When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it.
Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.
Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?”
“Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.

Jesus knew what was going to happen.  Let that sink in. Granted He knew His entire live, but now was GO time.  Yet Jesus went anyway.

“I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.
Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?”
“Jesus of Nazareth,” they said.
Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.”

Why did they draw back?  Jesus said "I AM".  That is the name of God.

10 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)
11 Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”
12 Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him 13 and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year.14 Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for the people.

Jesus would not allow Peter to defend Him.  He was ready to follow God to His death.

What am I willing to do?  How far will I follow Christ?


Wednesday, April 5, 2017

John 17:20-26

John 17:20-26

20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one,Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 

I believe in Jesus.  Therefore, Jesus, was praying for ME!  He prayed for all Christians.  Yet we have screwed it up.  Christians are all to human.  We are not ONE in Him.  We fight among ourselves.  We divide into sects and small groups. I believe this is one reason why the world laughs at us. 

22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

I have been a Christain now for many years.  This is the first time it sunk in that Jesus has given me all that he had.  I need to walk in this truth.  This is how I become complete in Him and therefore complete in God.  This is how we all become one.  This is how the world will know who God is.

24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am,and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world

Jesus wants me with him.

25 “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26 I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

Today I am here as a man of faith because Jesus obeyed His Father and told the disciples about Him.  Through His disciples and the people that followed, Christ continues to fulfill this promise.

There are so many things in this life that make following Christ hard. God hear once again Jesus' prayer.  Make me one with you.






Tuesday, April 4, 2017

John 17:6-19

John 17:6-19

“I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me.

The disciples had come to the point that they believed as Christ believed.

 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them.

All that I have was given to me from God.  All glory I have is because of what God has provided.

 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of[b] your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by[c] that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.

Jesus was leaving because his work was done.  God protected Jesus until it was His time to complete God's plan.  We know from history that the disciples met with great hardship and most of them died a martyr's death.  Yet God did protect them until they too accomplished His plan.

13 “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them,for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

Christ did not want his disciples removed from what they would endure.  He wanted they to be set apart to do God's work.






Monday, April 3, 2017

John 17:1-5

John 17:1-5
 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:
“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.
Jesus obeyed God, he was given the power to save.  All who know the Father will be saved.  Jesus finished the work.  He had the right to ask God to glorify Him.

Do I seek my Glory or Gods?  I don't like the answer when I am honest with myself.  Have I finished the work God has given me?  Well, I'm still here so I say no.

What would you have me do God?