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John 14:21 – "Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me.  And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him."

Jesus is in the midst of speaking some final words of wisdom to his disciples before his crucifixion.  He has already made the profound point that those who love him will demonstrate that love by obeying his commands (John 14:15, John 21:15-17, etc).

This infers that a person must have knowledge of his commands in order to practice them.  If you have been a Christian for a long time, or if you were raised in church, this seems like an obvious principle.  But our nation now has entire generations of people who have no religious background at all.  They never attended Sunday school or church; they have no systematic biblical teaching.   

If you are a Christian who fits this category, be sure you are making an effort to read and study the bible, both Old and New Testaments so that you become familiar with the commands of God.  And all of us (regardless of your level of bible knowledge), must be diligent and faithful in our obedience to the commands we know.  

Jesus goes on to say that those who love him are loved by Father God.  This makes perfect sense, as we have already noted that Jesus and the Father are one in essence and purpose (John 10:30).  Therefore, God loves those who love his Son, the one he appointed as Mediator and Redeemer for mankind.

Furthermore, the one who loves Jesus is not only loved by Father God, Jesus loves him/her too and promises to manifest himself to that person.

To manifest means to make something clear, apparent or evident; to make it obvious to the understanding; to make it evident to the senses, especially sight.

So Jesus is promising to make himself clear, apparent and obvious to those that love him.  The manner in which he does this will be discussed in verses 23-24.

John 14:22 – Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?"

Judah was one of the twelve sons of the Jewish patriarch Jacob.  Eventually, each son became a tribe of Israel and the Jews often named their sons after one of these early forefathers.  Hence, Judah or Judas was a very common name among the Jews. 

There were two men named Judas among Christ's 12 disciples.  Obviously, we are familiar with the traitor, Judas Iscariot.  But the man who asks this question of Jesus is the other Judas - the son of Alpheus and brother of James (Luke 6:16), also called Thaddeus (Matthew 10:3).  He is the writer of the New Testament book of Jude.

How should we interpret the question of Judas?  There are two scenarios to choose from.   

• On theory is that Judas still expected Jesus to overthrow the Romans, set up a temporal kingdom on earth and bring Israel into a new golden age of prosperity and power.  By default, this kingdom would be conspicuous to the entire world.  For this reason, he can't comprehend how Jesus could manifest himself to them, but not the world.

• A second theory is that Judas understood Jesus was referring to a spiritual manifestation and he was humbled and awed by it.  He cannot understand why the twelve should receive a special manifestation of God's love, which the rest of the world will not enjoy.  He appears to have a desire for everyone to be a partaker of the same grace as they are receiving.

John 14:23 – Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him."

In response to this question, Jesus goes on to say yet again that anyone who loves him will demonstrate it by obedience to his commands.  [FYI, this is the third time he said this.  I think it is important.]

'Anyone' is defined as, well, anyone - the disciples, plus all those who believe on Christ through their word, or the word of their successors.  Obviously, this includes you and me.    

Jesus also reiterates yet again that those who love him will also be loved by Father God; consequently, every Christian (including you) can continuously expect favor, grace, comfort and fresh additional gifts from the Father.  As children of God, they will be supported, defended and preserved by their Father. 

Jesus further promises that he and the Father will make their home within each Christian.  They take up residence in the believer's heart, making them a temple - a fit dwelling place for God:

1 Corinthians - 3:16 Know you not that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?    

'Home' (your translation may say 'abode') is a key word in this verse.  It is a figurative expression which shows that the presence of the Father, Son and Spirit is not temporary but permanent.  They are not just visiting the believer, they have moved in and plan to eternally dwell within him/her.  This means the followers of Christ have the privilege of enjoying the Trinity's presence continually.

Thus, Jesus will manifest himself to those that believe in him.   

John 14:24 – "Whoever does not love me does not keep my words.  And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me."

However, there will be those who reject the offer of salvation made by Jesus.  Regardless of what these unbelievers claim, their actions prove that they do not love him.

He who does not love Jesus and does not keep his commands has rejected the love of God which is revealed in the Son.  He has rejected Christ as his mediator, which is the only way he can reach Father God (John 14:6). 

Thus, he himself has closed the channel of communion with God.  God cannot dwell with him because there is nothing in him that can receive the Divine Presence.  It then follows that this person will have no relationship with the Father, Son or Spirit and thus Jesus cannot manifest himself to them.

That is how Jesus will manifest himself to his followers, but not to the world.  

We can't help but notice that the decision to accept or reject Jesus (and consequently the Father and Spirit) is made by each individual person.  It has not been predetermined by God.  Holy Spirit constantly calls the lost to salvation, but they can choose to reject or accept that offer.

John 14:25-26 – "These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you.  But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you."  

Jesus has given the disciples a tremendous amount of information in a very short span of time, and some of the concepts he discussed are spiritually deep/complex.  Even on a good day, there is no way that the disciples could understand and remember it all.  Due to the turmoil of Jesus' impending humiliation and death, they probably retained even less than they normally would. 

But that's okay, because unbeknownst to them, Jesus was actually planting seeds of comfort and truth within their hearts.

When a farmer plants a seed in the natural realm, it takes some time, some warmth and some water for that seed to sprout, grow and eventually produce a harvest.  The seeds of comfort and knowledge that Jesus planted in the disciples that day would remain mostly dormant until Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost to water that word and cause it to germinate in the understanding of the disciples.

As mentioned in this passage, Holy Spirit is specifically responsible for doing two things:

Holy Spirit brings to remembrance all that Jesus said to the disciples.  Even though they don't realize it yet, it is the task of the disciples (apostles) to organize the church and compose about half of the New Testament scriptures.  They have a real need to remember what Jesus said to them!    

Over the course of three years together, Jesus imparted a lot of knowledge and doctrine to the disciples.  It is only natural that they would forget some of the things he said.  We forget things all the time, especially as we get older!  

But Holy Spirit will step in and remind the disciples of what Jesus said.  The Spirit did this by making use of their memories; he assisted them in recalling what they had forgotten, so that these concepts became firm, distinct, factual memories.  Because of the assistance of Holy Spirit, the disciples had all they needed to perform their task of laying the foundations of the church.

Holy Spirit teaches the disciples the true meaning of the things Jesus spoke to them.  Hearing was only one-half of the equation for the disciples.  They also needed to understand what they heard.  Scripture shows that they had an incomplete revelation of many doctrines, until Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost and explained/interpreted the truth to them.    

For instance, Jesus (and the Old Testament scriptures) had told the disciples many times that Messiah must suffer and die, yet they were surprised and upset when that happened (Luke 24:21-27). 

However, Holy Spirit revealed the true purpose of Christ's death to the disciples.  At that point, everything made sense to them (see Acts 2:22-33), and they preached Christ crucified from that point forward.    

Another example concerns Gentiles coming to faith in Christ.  Jesus (and the Old Testament scriptures) made numerous references to the Gentiles being accepted into the family of God (Matthew 12:19-21, John 10:16, Isaiah 42:6, etc).  However, the Jews could not wrap their minds around that concept until Holy Spirit enlightened their understanding (Acts chapter 2).

Acts 10:34-35 - Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:  But in every nation he that fears him, and works righteousness, is accepted with him.  

So, even though Jesus is departing from the disciples, they are not alone. As promised, Father God is sending them another teacher who will review the lessons they already heard and teach them things which they could not formerly understand.

Here is some good news – We are not alone either.  Holy Spirit is still in the world today and he is still assisting Christians in remembering, interpreting and understanding the words of Christ. 

For our part, we should be diligent to read and study the scriptures.  This will put something into our hearts and memory banks for Holy Spirit to work with.  Remember, Holy Spirit did not magically impart unknown truths to the disciples, and he won't for us either.  You have to do your part by reading the word.

John 14:27 – "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.  Not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."

'Peace I leave with you' was an invocation of blessing that the Jews commonly spoke to each other when parting ways.  It can be understood as a desire for prosperity in body and soul; to enjoy earthly and heavenly good.  While it was a nice thought, the vast majority of times it was nothing more than an empty ritual salutation. 

But when spoken by the Son of God, it takes on true meaning.  Jesus actually had the power to make peace and confer it upon people (Ephesians 2:15). 

Isaiah 9:6 - For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

In this case, it particularly refers to the comfort/consolation he gave to his disciples in view of his upcoming death.  He exhorted them not to be troubled (John 14:1), and then he went on to give them many reasons why:

• He was preparing a place for them. 
• He was going to return and gather them to himself. 
• In the meantime, Holy Ghost was coming to comfort, teach and guide them. 
• They were going to do greater works than he did. 
• He would do whatever they asked in his name, etc.

But this peace was not just for the disciples.  It is given to all believers in Christ, including you and me.

This type of peace can only be imparted by the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6, Romans 8:6, Philippians 4:7, Colossians 3:15, etc). 

• It meets all the desires of the soul and silences the alarm of our guilty conscience. 
• It remains fixed and unchanged in a world of ever evolving standards. 
• It abides with us forever, silencing all anxiety and care. 
• It even stays with us in the hour of our death. 
• This kind of peace is priceless gift only available through Christ Jesus our Lord.

The 'peace' of this world has nothing in common with the peace of Jesus.  At best, it is merely a temporary exemption from outward trouble, which can end at any time.

The people of this world may wish you peace, but the words are empty and meaningless, because they have no true peace to give.  They cannot reconcile you to God; they cannot deliver relief to a sinful, guilty heart.   

The world tries to find peace in pleasure, fame or wealth but pursuit of these things can actually leave you even more anxious and remorseful.  If you ever attain them, you must constantly worry about losing them. 

Romans 8:31 - What shall we then say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

In short, believers do not need to live in fear of pain, persecution or trials.  We have a faithful friend and Savior who will never leave nor forsake us.  His peace is with us at all times.  If he is for us, who can be against us?

John 14:28 – "You heard me say to you, 'I am going away, and I will come to you.'  If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I."

'Going away' clearly refers to Jesus' imminent death on the cross and 'I will come to you' makes reference to his resurrection on the third day. 

If the disciples had a proper love for Jesus and truly understood what was happening, they would have been excited about the completion/fulfillment of God's redemptive plan which required Jesus to return to heaven after his atonement and take up his rightful position as our mediator/intercessor.  Only then could Father God shower them with greater blessings brought by Holy Spirit. 

Also, because true love seeks another's good and not its own, they should rejoice that Jesus was returning to the glory that was his before the world began.  

But obviously they were not rejoicing, which indicates they did not fully understand the plan.  They loved Jesus but that love was influenced by their carnal natures and the Jewish beliefs/prejudices they still held.  The 'if you loved me' statement of Jesus is a mild reproof towards the disciples, who were slow to believe the clear/plain declarations of Jesus.  

Jesus also declares that the disciples should rejoice because he goes to the Father, who is greater than he is.  This raises a difficult question:  If Jesus and the Father are one in essence and power, how can the Father be greater than Jesus?

Many understand it this way: 

When Jesus says the Father is greater, he speaks of his human state:    

The Father sent Jesus into the world as the mediator/redeemer of mankind (I John 4:14, John 5:23, John 5:30 & 36, etc).  Because the one who sends someone (the master) is always greater than the one who was sent (the servant), the Father is said to be greater than Jesus. 

In order to redeem us, Jesus had to lay aside his heavenly glory and come to earth in a body of human flesh, which was created by God like all other human bodies.  Since a created creature is always inferior to the Being that made him, the Father is greater than Jesus as long as he was incarnated in the flesh (also referred to as his humiliation).

When Jesus says he and the Father are one, he speaks of his divine nature:

The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are equal, unified members of the Trinity, who have accepted/agreed to take on certain roles in the redemption of mankind.  They are still equal in essence and power, regardless of what role they assume.

 John 14:29 – "And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe."

As we mentioned, the disciples were hearing a vast amount of information which they did not fully comprehend at the time.  So Jesus gives them sure and certain sign which they can place their faith in.

He has divinely predicted/foretold what was about to happen, so that his death would not be a stumbling block to their faith.  When these events (his crucifixion, resurrection and ascension to heaven) came to pass, it would confirm his message.  It proved that he was the Messiah he claimed to be.  

It also proved that the disciples were indeed going to receive Holy Spirit who would stand with them forever, assisting them in their Christian journey.  They could also confidently believe everything Jesus had said to them over the last three years.

John 14:30-31 – "I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming.  He has no claim on me, but I do as the Father has commanded me so that the world may know that I love the Father.  Rise, let us go from here."

Jesus' time with the disciples was indeed coming to a very fast close; he was going to be crucified the very next day.  At that very moment, the ruler of this world (Satan) was inciting/provoking/spurring on his emissaries (Judas Iscariot, Pilate, the Jews) to kill Jesus, which they successfully did. 

However, Jesus does not undergo the punishment of death because he deserves it; he has no guilt, sin or inward corruption.  His arrest and death are entirely voluntary.  He accepts the sin of the world and takes it to the cross for many reasons, one of which is to demonstrate how much he loves the Father.  

Notice that Jesus shows his love of the Father by being obedient to his commands, just as he expects us to demonstrate our love through obedience to him. 

And in obedience to that command, Jesus says 'Rise, let us go from here'.  In other words, Jesus is saying 'let us conform to the divine will and go to the place where I will be betrayed, so that I can complete my mission'.   

It is possible that they immediately ended the Passover celebration by singing a hymn (Matthew 26:30) and then left for the Mount of Olives.  If so, that would indicate the discourses in chapters 15-16 and the prayer of chapter 17 took place while on the road.

However, it is also possible that they remained in the same room until the events of chapter 18.  Either way, Jesus has many more final words to speak to his disciples, which we will examine in the weeks to come.  

Let me offer you some encouragement:

In today's study we noted that Jesus gave the disciples an enormous amount of teaching/information in a very short time.  There is no way they could understand and retain all of it.  Their brains were probably on overload!  But there was no need for them to worry.  Holy Spirit was about to enter their lives and one of his functions was to teach them the true meaning of the words of Jesus.

I don't know about you, but there are passages in the bible that I still do not understand, even after years of studying the scriptures.  The good news is that Holy Spirit is still actively revealing truth to Christians today.  He alone is uniquely equipped to understand the mind of God (I Corinthians 2:10-12).  We can seek him in prayer and receive revelation about the things we do not understand.

Let me offer you some relief:

It sometimes seems as if the world is going crazy!  We find more and more instances where evil is called good, and good is classified as evil.  This can be very troubling and upsetting. 

But let me offer you some relief – Jesus gives us peace that passes all understanding:

Philippians 4:7 - And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Satan would like nothing more than for us to live our lives in constant anxiety and fear.  But we don't have to accept that from him.  Jesus has the power to confer peace upon those who trust in him. 

When the enemy attacks, fight back by quoting scriptures and praising Jesus.  The enemy will flee from you, taking his anxiety and fear with him!

Let me offer you some strength:

Jesus promised to manifest (make himself seen/known) to those who love him.  He further promised that he and the Father would intimately commune with every believer and the Father would pour out blessings including favor, grace, comfort, provision, etc. 

So if/when you get weary walking the path of this life, stop and spend some time with Father God.  Ask him to pour out his blessings on your life and give you the strength to live the victorious Christian life that he has already planned for you to have!

 

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John 18:25 – Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself.  So they said to him, "You also are not one of his disciples, are you?"  He denied it and said, "I am not."

Welcome back, readers!

In our last post, we left Peter in the courtyard of the high priest.  He already denied Christ once, when questioned by the lowly matron at the door/gate.  He now proceeds to huddle by the fire with the other servants.  All of them are waiting to see what will happen to Jesus, who is being questioned by Annas and Caiaphas.

As they wait, another servant identifies Peter as one of the disciples of Jesus.  Once again, Peter denies his relationship with Christ.  This is the second of his three denials, which were predicted by Jesus (Mark 14:30).  

John 18:26-27 – One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, "Did I not see you in the garden with him?"  Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed.

Malchus was the man who had his ear cut off by Peter in the garden.  Clearly, one of his relatives had also been in the detachment of soldiers that was sent to capture Jesus, and he saw the whole incident unfold.  He probably got a good look at Peter while Jesus was healing Malchus' ear.  This man is not going to keep silent based on a simple denial; he wants to confront Peter about his role in this whole affair.

When he once again calls Peter out, Peter responds with his third denial of Christ.  This third denial was very vehement; the other gospel writers tell us that Peter resorted to cursing and swearing (Mark 14:70-71, Matthew 26:74) to make his point.  

Immediately after the third denial a rooster crowed, fulfilling the prophesy of Jesus. 

Let's take a closer look at the denial of Peter.

First of all, Peter showed some faithfulness to Jesus.  It is true that he fled with the rest of the disciples in the garden when Jesus was arrested.  But afterward he seems to have gathered some of his courage and followed Jesus at a distance.  Perhaps he was motivated by his recent promises to stick by Jesus regardless of the cost. 

Second, when it was impossible to enter into the judgment hall with Jesus, he stood outside the gate, trying to be as near to Christ as possible and looking for an opportunity to draw closer (which he received by the intervention of an unnamed disciple).

However, he should never have taken these actions because they put him in the wrong place at the wrong time.  Let me explain.

It is clearly evident from the preceding chapters (14-17), that the faith of the disciples was very weak at this point.  They were losing their leader, they were uncertain about the future, they were not yet filled with Holy Spirit and they were overwhelmed by the amount of information Jesus had given to them over the last few hours. 

Jesus was well aware that the disciples were not yet ready to face any kind of real opposition at this point.  This is evident all throughout his final discourse with them, and particularly in the prayer he prayed for them (John 17:11, 15). It was also evident when, just before his arrest, Jesus instructed the band of soldiers to let his disciples go (John 18:8).

In addition, Jesus had warned Peter that he would not only abandon him, but he would deny him three times. 

The bottom line is that Jesus was setting his disciples up to succeed - he knew their faith was weak so he kept them out of danger until they could be strengthened and filled with power by Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8).

The best thing Peter could have done after the arrest of Jesus was to go home (a place of safety) and pray.  But instead, he places himself in temptation's way by inserting himself into a situation he was not equipped to handle.  He was essentially outside of God's will for his life.  His only option in this situation was to depend on his own strength.  Not surprisingly, he failed.  This failure was not God's fault; it was Peter's fault.

This example should cause all of us to pause.  It is true that we should be spreading the gospel.  It is true that sometimes this takes people into dangerous and difficult places.  So if your plan is to enter one of these danger zones, you better make sure you are clearly hearing the voice of Holy Spirit.  Just because an inner city drug cartel needs to hear the gospel, it doesn't mean you should barge in unannounced and start preaching to them! 

Here is something else to consider:  You may have a testimony that shows the power of God to deliver from some particular sin, such as alcoholism.  As a person that has been delivered from that addiction, you have a very powerful testimony to share with others. 

But you need to be careful about how and when you share it.  If you were just delivered a week ago, you probably shouldn't go into your old 'hangout' and try to witness to your drinking buddies.  Even though you are doing the right thing, you could wind up failing if it is done in the wrong place at the wrong time. 

We have an example of this in the scriptures.  In Acts 9:6-10 we see that Paul wanted to preach the gospel in Asia.  Did they need the gospel?  Certainly!  But Holy Spirit would not let him do it, because it was the wrong place to go at that time.  Paul wanted to visit several other places as well, but each time he was forbidden to go there by Holy Spirit.  Finally, he was instructed to go to Macedonia, where many were saved.

So, by all means, go into the world and share the gospel – but if you plan to go somewhere unusual, make sure you follow Holy Spirit there!

John 18:28 – Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor's headquarters.  It was early morning.  They themselves did not enter the governor's headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover.

The governor's headquarters (your translation may say 'hall of judgment'), was the seat of Roman authority. It would be like one of our court rooms – a place where the judge (Roman governor) heard and ruled on cases brought before him. 

At this point, Jesus had been condemned and pronounced guilty of death by the Sanhedrin:

Matthew 26:65-66 -Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, He has spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now you have heard his blasphemy. What think you? They answered and said, He is guilty of death.

The only problem was that the Jews did not have the authority to execute anyone.  For this reason, they took Jesus to Pilate.

Since Pilate's hall was a place of Gentile judgment, any Jew who went inside would be considered unclean and thus unable to participate in the imminent Passover celebrations.  (Any/all Jews were considered ceremonially unclean or polluted if they entered the house of any Gentile.)  For this reason, the religious leaders refused to go inside Pilate's hall.

This verse clearly shows us that Jesus was right - the religious leaders were truly 'whitewashed sepulchers':

Matthew 23:27 -Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you are like unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outwardly but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. 

The Jewish leaders show the utmost attention to the most minute detail regarding outward forms of the law, yet they are filled with moral corruption! They may have 'righteously' stood outside Pilate's judgment hall that day, but their hearts were full of envy/jealousy, fraud, injustice, hatred and murder.  What a mockery they make of God when they refuse to enter Pilate's hall, but are completely unconcerned about shedding the innocent blood of the Messiah!

John 18:29-30 – So Pilate went outside to them and said, "What accusation do you bring against this man?" They answered him, "If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you."

Because the Jews would not enter the judgment hall, Pilate condescended to come outside to them.  But chances are he did not do it out of respect for them; he did it for his own sake.  During Passover the population of Jerusalem exploded with Jews and Pilate did not need any trouble, so he did what he had to do to help keep peace.

The Jewish leaders were clearly hoping that Pilate would simply pass the death sentence on Jesus based on their own evaluation of the case.  It was probably common for the governor to 'rubber stamp' or automatically approve most of their decisions.  After all, Pilate really had no interest in Jewish affairs of state.

However, in this case, Pilate asks for the list of charges the Jews are bringing against Christ.  Why would he do that?  Perhaps it was due to the odd hour of night.  Or again Pilate may have been taking extra caution because of the large number of Jews present in the city.

But there was probably another good reason as well.  Many scholars believe that Pilate had heard of Jesus and his miracles; it would make perfect sense that the governor of Jerusalem would be informed as to what was going on in the city.  Because of this, he would automatically be interested in the case.  He also seems to have held the opinion that Jesus is innocent and he was fully aware that the Jewish leaders were extremely jealous of Jesus (Matthew 27:17-18).

Regardless of the reason for Pilate's request, it presented an obstacle for the Jewish leaders.

They had convicted Jesus of the charge of blasphemy, which carried the death penalty under Jewish law.  But Roman law was different; under their civil rules, Jesus had done nothing wrong.  If the Jews gave blasphemy as the charge against Jesus, Pilate would have immediately dismissed the case and told them to deal with the issue themselves.

Knowing this, they try to avoid stating the actual charges against Jesus.  Instead, they indirectly accuse Pilate of questioning their ability and integrity in judgment.  They act indignant and offended that Pilate wants to see clear evidence of an act deserving death.  Maybe they protested so much because they knew there was no case against him!

John 18:31-32 –Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law."  The Jews said to him, "It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death."This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die.

To his credit, Pilate does not bow to their pressure.  He throws the case back to them, instructing them to have an official trial in the Sanhedrin and then to punish Jesus accordingly.

But the Jews continue to press Pilate.  They insist that they do not have the right to execute people.  Was that true?  The answer is both 'yes' and 'no'.

The Jews could still stone people to death if the judgment was clear and the execution was spontaneous.  For example, in Acts 7:59-60, the Sanhedrin was questioning Stephen about preaching the gospel.  During the trial, Stephen testified that he saw heaven opened and Jesus sitting at the right hand of God in glory.  Immediately upon hearing this 'blasphemy', the enraged mob stoned Stephen without a trial.

However, the Jews had no right to execute anyone found guilty after the ordinary course of justice.  In that case, death sentences had to be carried out by the Romans.  This would apply to the case of the Jews versus Jesus. 

There is no doubt that the religious leaders intended to kill Jesus after they arrested him (Matthew 26:3-5), but whether they intended to do so secretly, or by means of a mob (stoning), or through the Roman governor is uncertain.

Although they may not have known what they were going to do, Jesus certainly did.  He very clearly told the disciples that he would be delivered to the Gentiles and crucified (Matthew 20:18-19).

John 18:33-34 – So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, "Are you the King of the Jews?"Jesus answered, "Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?"

The gospel of Luke tells us that the Jewish leaders went before Pilate (while he was outside) and accused Jesus of inciting a rebellion against Rome and claiming to be a king:

Luke 23:1-2 - And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate.  And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.

Once those charges were brought, then Pilate returned inside and asked Jesus if he was the king of the Jews.

Notice that Jesus is very careful how he answers Pilate.  He neither confirms nor denies that he is King of the Jews. Instead, Jesus asks if this was a personal conviction of Pilate's own mind or if he was merely repeating information he heard from the religious leaders.

Here is why that matters:  When Pilate uses the term 'King of the Jews', he thinks of it as a political statement or ambition.  To him, this indicated a person who was attempting to establish an earthly, political kingdom that would oppose Rome.  If Jesus were this type of king, he was a threat to Rome and should be immediately executed.

The facts clearly showed this was not the case; Jesus had never claimed to be king, he never appeared in the worldly attire of a king, he never assumed any secular power, he never raised an army, and he never acted as a judge or civil authority.  Nothing he did ever pointed to political aspirations.  He was not, and never had been, a threat to Roman rule.

However, if the term 'King of the Jews' is being used by the Jewish leaders, then Pilate should consider the source of the accusation.  Although they maintained that Jesus was a threat to Caesar, it was really the religious leaders themselves who intensely desired to overthrow Rome!

They would have loved for Jesus to use miraculous power to bring the Jews out of Roman bondage the same way Moses brought Israel out of Egyptian rule.  And truly, if Jesus had been willing to do this, the Jewish leaders would gladly have supported the uprising.  So the charges of rebellion against Caesar reflect their own desires, not those of Jesus.

But as Jesus will shortly explain, his kingdom was spiritual, not physical.  He was not going to use flesh and blood to overthrow Rome.  And if his kingdom was spiritual in nature (not political) then technically Pilate had no authority to order his execution. All charges against him should be immediately dropped. 

John 18:35 – Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew?  Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me.  What have you done?"

There is an old saying 'Where there is smoke, there is fire'.  The meaning of the proverb is that rumors often have at least some basis in truth.  Or we might say that if there is a persistent indication of wrongdoing, then chances are something illegal or immoral is at the heart of the rumors.

This is what Pilate is saying to Jesus.  He maintains that since the leaders of his own nation are furious with him, and since they are making serious accusations against him, Jesus must have done something wrong.

That being the case, Pilate demands that Jesus tell him what he has been involved in.  

John 18:36 – Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world.  If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews.  But my kingdom is not from the world."

In response to Pilate's question, Jesus admits to being a king, but not in the sense that the religious leaders claim.

• His kingdom is 'not of this world' – it is spiritual in nature, not secular/political.
• Its purpose is not to rule the world, but to rescue men from the kingdom of darkness. 
• The weapons of his kingdom are spiritual, not physical like spears and shields.   This is a significant point; if the kingdom of heaven was an earthly kingdom, Jesus would have incited the multitudes that followed him to prepare for battle.  He would have organized and army and used his miraculous power to arm them.  He certainly would not have given himself up (unarmed) in the garden of Gethsemane. 

John 18:37 – Then Pilate said to him, "So you are a king?"  Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king.  For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world – to bear witness to the truth.  Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice."

Although Jesus confirms that he is a king, he also declares that he did not come to reign on the earth (at that time).  His purpose in coming to earth was not to assert immediate power or raise armies or subdue nations in battle.

Jesus came to reveal and bear witness to the truth of God. The truth was that he was/is a king (the Messiah). And through this truth, he will usher salvation into the world and make it available to all mankind.  This was his purpose in coming to earth.

Jesus is our king; he governs the minds and hearts of his subjects.  Everyone who hears the truth and accepts Christ as savior hears his voice and follows him:

John 10:27 - My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:  

And as we know, one day Jesus WILL rule over this earth with an iron rod (Psalms 2:7-9).  He will rule a kingdom that cannot be over thrown and it will last for one-thousand years (Revelation 20:1-6).

John 18:38 – Pilate said to him, "What is truth?"  After he said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, "I find no guilt in him."

What is truth? – Pilate almost certainly asked this question in contempt/scorn which explains why Jesus did not answer it.  If his question had been sincere and he really sought the truth as Nicodemus did (John 3:1), we know that Jesus would have answered.  He would have explained to Pilate the nature of the kingdom of heaven.

Since Pilate asks the question in mockery and then immediately leaves the room without waiting for an answer, we know that his investigation was finished.  He was satisfied that Jesus was not a king in the sense that the Jews had asserted; he was no threat to the Roman government.  Therefore, he was innocent of the charges filed against him. 

Pilate seems to regard Jesus as a poor, ignorant, deluded fanatic, and he goes out to the Jews and declares Jesus to be not guilty.

Yet, the original question – 'What is truth?' – still requires an answer. 

John 1:17 -For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

(See also John 1:14, Ephesians 4:21, John 14:6, etc). Thankfully, God has given us the tools we need to help us determine truth: the Holy Scriptures, divine revelation and our ability to think/reason.  We can be confident that if we sincerely ask Jesus for an answer, he will certainly give it to us (James 1:5).

John 18:39 – "But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover.  So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?"

Pilate is in a somewhat difficult position here.  It is his duty to keep the peace in Jerusalem.  If he doesn't, Rome will reprimand him, exile him, or even kill him.  So he can't afford to enrage the Jews on the eve of their biggest religious celebration of the year, especially when thousands of out-of-town Jews had flooded the city.  But at the same time he believes Jesus is innocent and he wants to judge him justly. 

So Pilate tries to figure out a way to save Jesus while simultaneously diffusing the anger of the religious leaders. 

His plan is to offer the release of a prisoner – Jesus or Barabbas.  Scripture indicates that the release of a prisoner during the Passover celebration was a custom back in that day, but we have no information on the origin or reason for this custom.

What we do know is that Barabbas was a terrible criminal.  He was not only a violent robber, he was also guilty of murder and sedition (Luke 23:19, Mark 15:7).  He seems to have been a criminal who was universally despised by everyone.  He definitely belonged in prison, not out on the streets of Jerusalem!

Pilate was sure that given a choice between this violent repeat offender and the meek, miracle working Jesus, the Jews would certainly choose Jesus.  But he was wrong.

John 18:40 – They cried out again, "Not this man, but Barabbas!"  Now Barabbas was a robber.

As is typical of the apostle John, he does not include many of the details routinely given by the other gospels.  Since he was the last of the four to pen his gospel, he apparently chose to give us details the others left out, while skipping over things they had already well documented. 

For this reason, he does not mention Jesus being sent to Herod (Luke 23) or the large crowd outside Pilate's judgment hall, who were being incited by the Pharisees to choose Barabbas over Christ (Mark 15). Neither does he does not mention Pilate washing his hands of the whole affair.  But he does include the bottom line: Jesus was sentenced to death.

Let me offer you some encouragement and relief:

In this post we noted that Peter denied Jesus three times.  His spiritual failure was due to the fact that he was in the wrong place, at the wrong time, doing the wrong thing.  He was trying to gain victory over darkness using his own strength.  He wanted to prove to the rest of the world that he was stronger than the other disciples; he would never abandon Christ!

But obviously, he failed. 

This is an important lesson for us.  No matter what your ministry is, be sure that you are following the leading of Holy Spirit.  When you undertake a project or make plans, you will succeed when you follow him, not when you ask him to follow you!

Let me offer you some strength:

During the trial of Jesus, the followers of Christ were no doubt disheartened, discouraged and afraid.  They were probably stunned that Jesus was convicted and sentenced to death.  From their perspective, things looked hopeless.

But they were wrong.  God had things well in hand.  The situation was playing out exactly according to God's plan. 

If you have submitted your life to Christ and you are following the leading of Holy Spirit, the same is true for you.  Even though you may experience a set back or even if things look impossible, you can be sure that things are happening exactly according to God's plan. 

This is not only true in the life of each individual believer, it's true for our nation as well.  The Christians of America have humbled themselves.  We are repenting and praying for our nation.  And even though things look bad right now, we should not be disheartened or discouraged.  God is in control; he has a plan to redeem and rescue this nation. 

For our part, we need to be strong and continue to do all we can to fight evil.  As we do, God will grant us the victory.

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John 18:12 – So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him.

In our last post, we left Jesus and the disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane with Judas and the band of soldiers he brought to arrest Christ.

At this point, Jesus calmly surrenders himself to the soldiers.  Tradition says Jesus was bound with such cruelty that it drew blood and having bound his hands behind him, the soldiers put an iron chain around his neck and dragged him along by the chain. 

Jesus was bound like a runaway slave, in order to humiliate and disgrace him.  His captors did everything in their power to inflect pain upon him.  They did not treat him as 'innocent until proven guilty'; they instantly treated him as a condemned man who deserved punishment and death. 

This was the day that the kingdom of Satan was waiting for.  Satan thought he was going to defeat Almighty God.  Drunk with anticipation of victory, he and his demon hordes reveled in delight as they influenced the soldiers and the religious leaders to abuse Jesus with the utmost cruelty. 

Satan was right about one thing; this was a day of victory - for Jesus Christ our King!  

Although the soldiers did not acknowledge it, it wasn't the cords that held Jesus in their power, it was his own will/determination.  He could have slain them all with just a word and escaped if he chose to.

But he didn't.  He had already made up his mind to embrace the will of his Father and drink the cup of suffering which would result in our salvation (John 10:18). 

As one commentator so eloquently put it, 'He was bound that you and I might be set free from the bondage of sin'.

John 18:13 – First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year.

According to the book of Nehemiah, the city of Jerusalem had ten gates.  The easiest and quickest way to get from the Mount of Olives into the City of Jerusalem was through the Sheep Gate (Nehemiah 3:1). 

This gate was so named because it was the closest gate to the temple.  Sheep (and other animal sacrifices) were brought into the city by this route.  The sheep market was located near this gate, as was the pool where temple animal sacrifices were washed.

We can't help but notice that as they led Jesus from the garden to the high priest, they took him along the exact same route that hundreds of Passover lambs had taken over the years.  The soldiers were truly leading him as a lamb to the slaughter (Isaiah 53:7, Acts 8:32).   

By this time, it was well after midnight, and the common practice would have been to place Jesus in jail overnight, until court (the Sanhedrin) convened the next day. 

But the religious leaders did not wait.  What was the big hurry?  Perhaps they feared some kind of public rescue or maybe they were just anxious to condemn Jesus, their sworn enemy.  We don't know for sure, but in either case, the religious leaders had Jesus brought immediately to Annas.   

Who was Annas? 

Scripture tells us that he was a former high priest.  Now if that seems odd to you, then award yourself a bonus point or a piece of candy, if you have one!

As you recall from your Old Testament studies, there should never be a 'former' high priest.  When God set up the function of the temple, he declared that once a man was appointed as the high priest, he remained in that office until his death.  Then the office passed down to his first-born son, who passed it down to his first-born son, and so on.

So how is this situation possible?

Well remember, Jerusalem wasn't really a peaceful place.  The Jews hated Roman authority and sedition was always bubbling just under the surface, especially in Jerusalem. The Romans, who had no intentions of losing power, were always looking for various ways to keep the Jews under control.  Since the high priest was the most powerful position in the Jewish nation, they sought to control that office.

So instead of the priesthood passing down the generations as God had decreed, the Romans rulers began to dethrone the high priest at will.  Under their control, the high priestly office was bought for money, given as a favor, revoked as punishment, or awarded to those who supported Rome.

Obviously, at some point, Rome had replaced Annas as the high priest.  But don't feel too sorry for him.  He was still very active in the Jewish nation and he still wielded a great amount of authority.

• He was allowed to keep the title of high priest, which still gave him automatic influence and authority with the common Jews.
• He was a member (and likely the head/president) of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling body. 
• He had five sons who were successively named as the high priest, and his son-in-law currently filled the office. 

The question is, why bring Jesus before Annas, instead of straight to Caiaphas, the current high priest? 

It is likely that Jesus was taken before Annas as a token of respect to the influential former high priest. It is assumed that he worked hard to have Jesus arrested so he 'deserved' to interview the prisoner.

It seems as if he was responsible for conducting a preliminary investigation of Jesus' doctrine (John 18:19).  Jesus would then be turned over to Caiaphas, the legal high priest for 'official' trial in the presence of the Sanhedrin (John 18:24), before being handed over to the Romans to be put to death (John 18:28). 

Here is something you might find interesting:  Scholars believe that Annas was not planning to attend the late night emergency meeting of the Sanhedrin because he had to rise in just a few hours and go to the temple where he would examine the Passover lambs that were to be sacrificed that day.  Each lamb was examined in order to make sure it was without blemish, and thus fit to be sacrificed. 

If that is so, then we see the hand of God at work once again – Jesus, the true Passover Lamb,  was presented, inspected and approved for slaughter by the rightful high priest of the Jewish nation.

One other point in this narrative needs to be addressed.  It is unclear whether Annas and Caiaphas lived in the same house or not.  There was a good chance that they did, as they were related and it was a common custom back in that day.  If they did have separate homes, that of Annas must have been very close to that of Caiaphas. 

John 18:14 – It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.

Annas did not detain Jesus and his guards very long.  Almost immediately he sent them to Caiaphas, the current high priest.

We are not told how or why Rome chose Caiaphas as the high priest that year, but his role in the death of Christ suggests a wicked heart (Matthew 7:17-20).   

Back in chapter 11 of his gospel John informed us that the Sanhedrin had been debating what to do about Jesus.  During that time, Caiaphas received a word/revelation from God which he didn't really understand.  This is what he said:

John 11:49-50 – Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, "You know nothing at all!  You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish."

Despite his position as the high priest, Caiaphas was not very spiritually minded.  In fact, he was all about retaining his own position and earthly power as the high priest.  His allegiance was to Rome, not to God.

He assumed that the revelation of God applied to the current political situation of the Jews.  He interpreted it to mean that Jesus should publicly die to serve as an example/deterrent to any future mutinies or rebellions among the Jewish people.  (Rome was more than ready to slay the Jews if they got out of control; this actually occurred in AD 70.)

We can easily read between the lines and see that because of this belief, Caiaphas could not be an impartial judge in the case of the Jews versus Jesus.  His mind was already made up; he was convinced that Jesus should die before he even heard the facts of the case.  Therefore, any trial that Jesus received was just a sham. 

I want to point out that God did not force Caiaphas to make a wicked decision because it was his will for Jesus to die.  Rather, (as in the case of Judas), Caiaphas was already a wicked man, so God allowed him to have the position of high priest that year, knowing the decision he would render.

John 18:15-16 –Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple.  Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, but Peter stood outside at the door.  So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in.

John could have spared us all a lot of time and confusion if he had just named 'the other disciple'!  (Maybe we should talk to him about that in heaven one day!)  In the meantime, we will discuss the possibilities of this mysterious disciple:

Some people believe that the other disciple is actually the apostle John, the writer of this gospel.   This theory is based on the fact that John often speaks of himself in the third person, without mentioning his own name (John 13:23, John 19:26, John 21:20).

However, there are difficulties with this explanation. 

First of all, although John frequently speaks of himself in the third person, he normally identifies himself as 'the disciple whom Jesus loved', which is not the case here. 

Second, John was a common fisherman (strike one) from Galilee (strike two) and a close associate of Jesus (strike three).  The Jews of social prominence in Jerusalem would never have had him as a close personal friend (to say the least). 

Third, the scripture indicates that the mystery disciple was comfortable being in the house of the high priest.  He was confident in speaking to the servants and having Peter admitted to the grounds.  Based on the apostle John's close association with Jesus, it would be very strange for him to be such a visitor in the house of Caiaphas.

Nevertheless, people who support this theory point out that God works in mysterious ways and if he wanted the apostle John to be an eyewitness to these events, he could have made this happen.   

However, assuming it isn't John, who else could the mystery disciple be?

Well, it would need to be someone who has these qualifications:

• He is a believer in Christ, but not one of the twelve.
• He is most likely from Jerusalem.
• He is wealthy and socially connected.
• He knows Caiaphas well enough to be comfortable asking him for a personal favor – to allow Peter to come into the courtyard.

Based on these criteria, the mystery disciple is often believed to be the unnamed owner of the house in which Jesus and the disciples just ate the Passover meal.  Supposedly, John does not mention his name because he was still alive at the time this gospel was written. 

Despite all the conjecture, here is what we know for sure:  Scripture simply does not give us enough information to identify this man.  Therefore, we can correctly conclude that his identity doesn't really matter; it is not a focal point of this bible narrative. 

Regardless of the identity of the 'other disciple', the end result was that Peter was admitted to the outside court of the house of Caiaphas.

John 18:17 – The servant girl at the door said to Peter, "You also are not one of this man's disciples, are you?"  He said, "I am not."

But sadly, as we will discuss in our next post, Peter is in the wrong place at the wrong time.  Temptation immediately assails him on his way in the door/gate to the high priest's estate.

Peter is confronted by the lowest, lest important and least threatening person present – an older female household servant.  She has no power, no authority and poses no physical threat to Peter.  She doesn't even accuse him of anything.  She only identifies him as a possible disciple, based on his friendship with the unnamed man.  Yet her words cause Peter to tremble and deny Christ in fear (Matthew 26:70, Mark 14:67, Luke 22;56).

Thus, all his foolish boasting exposed:

Matthew 26:35 - Peter said unto him, Though I should die with you, yet will I not deny you.

(See also Matthew 26:33).  Peter declared that he would prove to be a courageous and valiant champion for Christ, able to meet death with confidence and be faithful to Christ no matter what the cost.  He thought he was a spiritual Superman, but this insignificant maid was his kryptonite!

John 18:18 – Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves.  Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.

At this point, the Roman guards had probably been released.  The servants mentioned here were those assigned to the household of Caiaphas and the officers were temple servants.  The group is gathered around a fire. 

According to the architecture of that day, this estate would have had a street door or gate.  This was where the maid was stationed; she admitted or denied people onto the grounds of the estate. 

Once inside the gate, visitors found themselves on what we would call a patio – a large roofless rectangular shaped space paved with flagstones.  It was sometimes referred to as a 'court' or 'hall'.  The firepit was located in this area.

At the upper end of this space was the open chamber in which the trial was held.

Additionally, Mark indicates that the chamber may have been raised slightly above the court possibly accessed by a short flight of stairs (Mark 14:66).  The court would have been visible from the chamber.

Since the 'other disciple' has been admitted into the trial chamber, Peter is essentially alone; he is the only believer in the court.  Fear keeps him from pushing forward for a front row view of the proceedings, and since it was obviously cold that night, Peter immediately goes to the fire to warm himself and hopefully blend into the crowd as he waits to see what will happen.

Although we don't know for sure, the conversation around the fire most likely centered around the night's events.  The enemies of Christ were probably praising the religious officials and condemning Jesus as a heretic.  Yet, Peter stands among them silent.

At the same time Peter is denying Christ, the high priest is engaged in falsely accusing and judging him:

John 18:19 – The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.

EVERYTHING about the trial of Jesus was a gross miscarriage of justice. 

According to the Talmud, 'Criminal processes can neither commence nor terminate but during the course of the day.  If the person be acquitted, the sentence may be pronounced during that day, but if he be condemned, the sentence cannot be pronounced till the next day.  But no kind of judgment is to be executed, either on the eve of the Sabbath, or the eve of any festival'.

But the Jewish religious leaders are not going to allow a little thing like the law to get in the way of their plans. 

Now that they have finally achieved their goal of arresting Jesus, they need to charge him with something.  Since he hasn't done anything wrong, it is going to be difficult to find a charge that will stick.  Their task is made even more difficult because they law required at least two witnesses (Deuteronomy 17:6) for an accusation to be confirmed and they had none!

John 18:20 – Jesus answered him, "I have spoken openly to the world.  I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together.  I have said nothing in secret."

Nevertheless, they push forward.  In their first attempt, they question Jesus about his disciples.  They were trying to see how many followers he had and how powerful they were.  If they could prove he had a strong and zealous faction of followers who wanted to make him their king, they might be able to charge Jesus with rebellion/treason against Caesar – a charge that carried the death penalty. 

Their next attempt was to charge him with teaching doctrines which subverted Mosaic Law.  If they could prove this charge, it would make Jesus a false prophet – a charge that also carried the death penalty (Deuteronomy 13:5, 9-10).

Either conviction would have fit their purposes. (Their purpose being for him to die, in accordance with the views of Caiaphas).

These haughty men still believed that they were far superior and wiser than Christ.  They expected to trap him in his words or forcibly extract a confession from him which could then be used to condemn him.  This would have made their jobs much easier, as a confession would not require witnesses.

John 18:21 – "Why do you ask me?  Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said."

But these foolish men could never trap Jesus.  You would think that they would have already learned that, based on prior interactions with him (Matthew 22:15-22).

Jesus had done nothing that was sinful or wrong in any way.  He taught openly in the temple, in the synagogues and in other public places in front of enormous crowds (Proverbs 1:19-21, Isaiah 45:19).  Anyone, including the high priest, could have come and listened to him at any time.  If there had been a problem with his doctrine, they could have confronted him publicly while witnesses were present.  Furthermore, every synagogue had a leader or officer.  If Jesus had been preaching a false doctrine, he would certainly have been confronted about it multiple times; it would have been a well-known fact.

There is also the matter of the miracles of Christ.  If the religious leaders had actually taken time to ask people about Jesus and his doctrine, they would once again have been confronted with the testimony of his numerous miracles.  It would have been irrefutable proof that he was the Messiah, approved of God.  For this reason, the religious leaders don't even bring up the subject. 

Because he had perfectly discharged his duties as a teacher of God, Jesus does not attempt to defend himself here in the court.  Instead, he reproves the high priest who tries to cast doubt and suspicion upon a matter that is perfectly well known to all the Jews. 

John 18:22 – When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, "Is that how you answer the high priest?"

Just who is this haughty officer of the court, who dares to correct the Lord Jesus?  His words imply that he considered Jesus a rude and ignorant prisoner who was not good enough or wise enough to speak to his master. 

It's rather disgusting to see how this man abuses Christ just to gain the favor of his boss by acting jealous for his honor and dignity. 

This man's actions were wrong on every level:

• It was insolent for a mere servant to strike a public figure; especially one revered by much of the nation.
• It was cowardly to strike a bound man who could not defend himself.  
• It was unjust to strike a defendant who was giving testimony to the court.

Had this been a fair and legitimate trial, the court would have taken action against this man, however, they completely ignore his action and continue on with their treacherous business.

But Jesus was not caught off guard by this undeserved blow.  It had been predicted by God long, long ago:

Job 16:10 - They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me.

(See also Isaiah 50:6, Micah 5:1).

John 18:23-24 – Jesus answered him, "If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?" Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

This is a wonderful display of the meekness and forbearance of Christ.  We all know that Jesus could have responded to this blow by striking this man bind, forcing him to the ground or even killing him.  It would only have taken a word from him to do this and though his hands were bound, his mouth was free.

But again, Jesus had already determined to drink the cup of suffering given to him by the Father.  He gives us an example of turning the other cheek and refusing to render railing for railing (I Peter 3:9).  

This provides practical instruction for us.  We are not to avenge ourselves.  We should appeal to the established courts for the judgment of our adversaries.  If this is not possible or justice is not served, scripture makes it plain that the right for vengeance belongs to God alone; he will repay our enemies for us (Romans 12:19).

Let me offer you some encouragement and some relief:

The Roman soldiers bound Jesus with ropes and chains.  They thought they were controlling him, but they were not.  The significance of this does not escape us – Jesus is all powerful.  He allowed himself to be bound and fettered so that he could rescue us from our inescapable bonds/chains of sin. 

But sometimes we limit the deliverance of Christ to just the forgiveness of our sin, though it includes so much more! 

For instance, scripture says that by the stripes he endured during the crucifixion, we are healed (Isaiah 53:5).  This includes physical healing, mental healing, emotional healing, healing for relationships and every other kind of healing you might need. 

So let me give you this encouragement today:  Whatever healing you need in your life today, Jesus has already paid for it!  Receive it by faith, just as you did forgiveness of sin.

Let me offer you some strength:

It is tempting to hold a grudge or take revenge on someone who opposes us (at least it is for me).  Our fallen nature would love to inflict hurt those who hurt us.  But if you do, you will regret it. 

God very emphatically states that revenge is not an option for his children.  Any 'payback' that occurs will come directly from God; he does not need our help.

Scripture also tells us that, if left unchecked, a grudge can blossom into a spirit of bitterness, which in turn establishes a bondage in our lives.  It will rob us of peace, freedom and other blessings that God wants to pour into our lives. 

The bottom line is that it isn't worth it!

When someone wrongs you, look at the example of Jesus as he stood in front of the court and was undeservedly hit in the face by a servant.  He reacted with meekness and patience.  Through the power of Holy Spirit, we too can find the strength to react in the same way.  This will be a blessing to us while also giving God an opportunity to minister to our enemies as well.

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John 18:1 – When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered.

At this point, Jesus had said everything he came to earth to say as a prophet.  He now moves forward to discharge his duties as our high priest – to make a sacrifice for sin.  Only this time, it would be the final, perfect sacrifice… himself.  Once that was accomplished, he would become our Mediator as well as our King.

The cross is also the time for Jesus to engage and fully defeat his/our enemy, Satan.  Although it didn't seem like it to the disciples at the time, we know that the cross is a place of victory for God and for all those who are part of his kingdom.

On his way to the cross, Jesus had to pass over the Kidron brook.  This was a small stream which divided the city of Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives.  In summer it is almost dry, but it becomes very swollen by rain and/or melting snow during the spring.  (There would definitely have been water flowing in the brook as the group walked to the garden.)  Eventually, the brook runs in a south-easterly direction and flows into the Dead Sea. 

This stream is also known as 'Cedron' or 'Kedron'.  It occupies a prominent place in Jewish history, and it is mentioned in many Old Testament passages (I Kings 15:13, II Kings 23:6, etc.).

One of the more interesting things about the book Kidron is that it was the same water that David passed over when he fled from Absalom (II Samuel 15:23).  Many scholars believe this particular account of the life of David foreshadowed what happened to Jesus. 

As you recall, David had been betrayed by his close advisor, Ahithophel.  He was driven out of his rightful kingdom by rebellious Jews who did not want him to reign over them.  In humiliation, David crossed the brook with a company of true mourners. 

The parallel is obvious.  Jesus had likewise been betrayed by one close to him - Judas.  He too was driven out of Israel by rebellious Jews who did not want him to be their king, and he crossed the brook Kidron with a very sorrowful group of disciples.  And just like David, Jesus will defeat his enemies and take his rightful place as King!

Having passed over the stream, Jesus and the disciples entered the Garden of Gethsemane.  This was a place that Jesus frequented during his time on earth (Luke 22:39).  Sometimes, when the Jews were particularly enraged at him, he would leave Jerusalem and spend the night there.  He also frequently met with his disciples in this location for prayer and teaching. 

It was good for the disciples to have a regular meeting place with Jesus.  It's a good idea for us too.  If we have a specific place and time set aside for meeting God in prayer each day, we are much more likely to pray!

John 18:2 – Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples.

Significantly, the garden was a place well known by the traitor, Judas Iscariot.  In fact, it was so well known to Judas that Jesus would have avoided it entirely, if his intention was to hide. 

This is yet another proof that the sacrifice of Christ was voluntary; it was not a circumstance that was out of his control.  He willingly and intentionally went to Gethsemane to present himself to his enemies.

John 10:18 - No man takes it [Jesus' life] from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

Commentators note that sin entered the world in a garden (Eden) through the first Adam.  Sin was also defeated in a garden (Gethsemane) through the second Adam, Jesus Christ. Hallelujah!

John 18:3 – So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons.

All four gospel writers record the betrayal of Jesus (Matthew 26:47-57, Mark 14:43-52, Luke 22:47-53).  However, as we noted in our introduction to this gospel, John often gives us details that the other gospel writers omit, while leaving out things they have already recorded at length.

We find one of those instances here.  John omits the intense agony/suffering of Jesus as he prayed in the garden, because the other gospels clearly describe it:

Matthew 26:39 -And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as you will.

John also passes over the narrative of Judas bargaining with the chief priests for 30 pieces of silver in exchange for the life of Jesus (Matthew 26:15) and jumps straight to the actual betrayal of Christ.  

Judas came to the garden with a group of Roman soldiers.  They were most likely from the company of soldiers who were permanently stationed at the temple.  Rome gave this group of soldiers to the Jews for the defense of the temple and they were under the authority of the Jewish high priest.

John tells us that there were also 'officers' within the group Judas brought.  The Greek word used for 'officer' literally means 'servant'.  These men were probably Jewish members of the Sanhedrin who were also sent by the high priest.  Their job was to witness the events of the arrest and report back to the Sanhedrin.

Thus, we see two groups that were bitter enemies (Jews and Romans) united together in their hatred for Christ.  Jesus responds to that hate with love; his death will allow both Jews and Gentiles to be reconciled to God.

It makes sense that they would be carrying lamps and torches.  Although there would have been a full moon at the time of Passover, the night may have been cloudy and therefore dark.  In addition, the soldiers did not know exactly where Jesus was.  For all they knew, he might be hiding somewhere, so they were prepared to search caverns, buildings and/or any other dark, shadowy places in order to find him.

John also tells us that this band of soldiers and Jews came armed.  The professional soldiers all had swords while the Jews probably had weapons like clubs or staves.  All in all, it was a large heavily armed group for the purposes of arresting a single man.

John 18:4 – Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, "Whom do you seek?"

Would you like to know what is in your immediate future?  If it was a trial or a struggle, would that disturb you or steal your joy and peace?  I think it would, which is probably one of the reasons why God does not let us see into the future.  Knowing what was about to happen would prevent us from praising God and serving him in the present time.  It would rob us of the chance to exercise our faith in God. 

But that was clearly not the case for Jesus.  Although Judas may have been hoping to catch Jesus off guard with this late-night arrest, scripture tells us that Jesus was well aware of all the things that were about to take place (Matthew 20:18-19).  So, when Judas and the soldiers showed up, it did not surprise Jesus at all.  He was fully prepared to drink the cup that his Father had given him in order to redeem mankind.

John 18:5-6 – They answered him, "Jesus of Nazareth."  Jesus said to them, "I am he."  Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.  When Jesus said to them, "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground.

Judas and the group of soldiers/servants came to the garden with a legal warrant for the arrest of Jesus, fully authorized by the high priest.  The warrant no doubt identified Christ as "Jesus of Nazareth" (hence the response from the soldiers).  The religious leaders used this particular title because it denied or obscured his true role as Messiah; it was yet another 'slap in the face' of Jesus.

Too bad they were not present to witness the reply of Jesus which was a remarkable display of the power of God!

"I am he" - these three small words, spoken in a normal tone of voice, lays the entire company prostrate on the ground, as if they had been hit by a bold of lightening!

Although Christ could easily have killed them all, he did not.  His forbearance had two purposes:  One, he had no intention of avoiding the cross and two, allowing these men to live would give them a chance to repent after his death.

Here is something to consider:  At the time of his betrayal, Jesus stood alone as a lamb ready to be sacrificed, with his glory hidden from the world.  Yet, when he identifies himself, it is enough to put armed and courageous men on the ground, with their faces in the dust. 

What then, will it be like on the future day of judgment, when Jesus returns to earth in his full glory, accompanied by countless angels, as the Judge of the living and the dead?  Who could possibly stand before him then?    

Isaiah 11:4 - But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.

(See also Revelation 19:11-16).  What an awesome God we serve!

Now, to be fair, it should be noted that some scholars take an alternate view of this verse.  They do not believe that divine power caused these men to fall on the ground. 

In their interpretation, the voice of Jesus produced extreme conviction of sin within the hearts of the soldiers.  As they felt the weight of their sin and perceived the righteousness of Christ, it caused them to willingly fall down before him. 

It is up to you to determine which interpretation you feel is correct.  But in either case, we can agree on the following points:

• Jesus' life was not taken from him – he voluntarily gave it up.
• Righteous people (the disciples) were able to stand in the presence of the Lord, while wicked people (the unbelieving Jews and the Romans) were not.
• You can't be on both sides.  Every person must make a choice to be either for Christ or against him.

It is sad to note that Judas, who had been with Jesus at supper that very night, was now standing with 'them' - the enemies of Christ. 

John 18:7-8 - So he asked them again, "Whom do you seek?"  And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth."  Jesus answered, "I told you that I am he.  So, if you seek me, let these men go."

I don't know about you, but I find verse seven astonishing.  If I had been one of those guards and I was thrown to the ground by just the declaration of Jesus as 'I AM', I like to think that I would abandon the mission to arrest him.  I would like to think that I would be smart enough to run for my life and never look back! 

Nevertheless, after they get up from the ground, the company is just as willing to arrest Jesus as they were before.  Apparently, their hardened hearts can attribute their fall to something (anything) other than the power of God, because they still refuse to acknowledge Jesus as anything other than a man from Nazareth. 

For his part, Jesus is just as willing to be seized by them, yet he works to deliver his disciples from their fury. 

Read the words of Jesus again.  Notice that he was not asking them for a favor, he was issuing a command.  Whether they realized it or not, Jesus had the authority in this situation and he was in a position to command them to leave the disciples alone.  If they tried to arrest the disciples, things would have ended very differently. 

This is evidence of the concern and protection that Jesus places upon all his children.  The disciples were going to suffer for the gospel, but they were not yet ready to take on that burden.  Jesus would not let Satan subject them to suffering that they could not handle.  

The same is true for us today. Though we do not know what tomorrow holds, we know that Holy Spirit is right here with us, to strengthen and lead us through all our trials.  We know that God will never place a burden upon us without giving us the strength to endure it. He will never lead us into a battle until we have been fully trained and prepared to fight.

John 18:9 – This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: "Of these whom you gave me I have lost not one."

This is not a word-for-word quote from Jesus, but it is the substance of statements he had already made (See John 17:12 and John 6:39). This type of summary quotation was common in that era and is present several places in the New Testament.

The question is whether Jesus was referring to the spiritual or physical state of the apostles. 

In this particular context, it mainly refers to the physical lives of the disciples.  God had set them apart for very specific purposes.  They needed to remain physically alive in order to bear witness to the life, death, resurrection and gospel of Christ.  Their eye-witness testimony was crucial during the formation of the church and the first years of the dispensation of grace.  Furthermore, they were to be the first recipients of the outpouring of Holy Spirit.  For these reasons, God would not allow any of them to physically die prematurely (be lost).

However, scripture is often fulfilled in more than one sense; this assurance of Christ also applies in a spiritual context as well. 

As we mentioned earlier, at this particular time the faith of the apostles was weak. If they had suffered intense persecution right at that particular moment, their faith may have failed. Knowing this, Jesus would not expose them to that trial.

We can rest assured that he protects us in the same way.  God grants us divine grace and strength in proportion to our trials, so that we can be victorious in every situation. 

John 18:10 – Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant and cut off his right ear.  (The servant's name was Malchus.)

All four of the gospels record this event.  However, Matthew (26:51), Mark (14:47) and Luke (22:49-50) do not name the servant or the disciple who was involved.  This is most likely because Peter and Malchus were both alive at the time the other gospels were written.  Since both men had passed away by the time John wrote, so there was no longer a need to keep their names a secret.

In either case, it is commonly felt among scholars that since Peter had recently promised to give his life for Jesus, he was now emboldened to keep his promise.  It is also felt that he was probably aiming to split Malchus' head in two, but he missed and was only able to slice off his ear. 

But Jesus put a stop to Peter's rebellion immediately and miraculously reattached Malchus' ear.

Luke 22:51 -And Jesus answered and said, No more of this. And he touched his ear, and healed him.

Interestingly, even this second irrefutable miracle does not influence the enemies of Christ; they are still intent on arresting him.  But before they do, Jesus has something to say to Peter.

John 18:11 – So Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?"

Jesus rebukes Peter by telling him to put his sword away.  There are several lessons to be learned here.

First, scripture tells us that it is God who gives or allows certain people to have civil authority (Romans 1:1-3), and that he gives this authority for our own good/benefit.  The authority of these rulers is designed to protect the innocent and punish evil; we are to obey them unless they are in direct opposition to God (Titus 3:1).  Furthermore, Jesus had commanded his followers not to resist evil (Matthew 5:39).

The men who came to arrest Jesus did so with a valid warrant, duly authorized by the high priest.  Therefore, while we sympathize with Peter's emotions, he was acting in rebellion against those God had set in authority (and against the will of God himself).

Second, Peter was acting out of emotion.  Though his heart was sincere, he was sincerely wrong.  He wanted to 'save' Jesus because of his own selfish desires.  Specifically, he did not want Jesus to suffer and die, because he wanted to continue walking with him.  He probably also wanted that earthly kingdom that the Jews so passionately believed in.

But as we know, this was not the will of God.  Jesus had clearly stated that the time of his suffering was at hand.  So while Peter seemed to be fighting for Christ, he was really fighting against him.

Finally, Peter foolishly exposed himself and his fellow disciples to danger.  Jesus had just commanded the soldiers to take him and leave his followers alone.  The implication was that Jesus would willingly go and his disciples wouldn't cause any problems.  So, when Peter suddenly attacks one of the servants, it effectively ruins the promise Jesus just made. 

If Peter had actually lopped off Malchus' head, things would certainly have spiraled out of control at that point and all of the disciples could have been killed.  Fortunately, Jesus had things well under control and he was able to diffuse the situation by healing Malchus.

Peter's main mistake was depending on a sword of iron rather than the sword of the Spirit.  Scripture tells us that victory for the kingdom is first won in the spiritual realm.  Only then does it manifest in the natural realm.

2 Corinthians 10:3-4 - For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;)

For us, this means that when we encounter a situation that needs to be changed or an instance where we want to manifest Christ's authority, our first steps must be spiritual. 

After we assess the problem, we need to find scriptures that speak to the situation.  We need to pray, fast, anoint and make spiritual declarations.  Then, when Holy Spirit gives us specific instruction, we can victoriously take action in that situation.

Now, what is the 'cup' that Jesus mentions here?

A cup is a vessel that holds some type of liquid. (My personal favorite is a cup of coffee.  What is yours?)

In scripture, 'the cup' is a figurative expression that denotes 'drinking' or partaking of the contents within it.  In both the Old and New Testaments the cup and its contents represent one's lot/portion in life or the events/circumstances which one must walk through. 

Sometimes, the contents of the 'cup' cause sorrow.  This would include things like God's wrath, judgment or affliction (Isaiah 51:17, Jeremiah 25:15-16, Psalms 11:6, etc). 

However, the contents of the 'cup' can also cause joy; they can represent the blessings of God (Psalms 23:5, Psalms 116:13, I Corinthians 10:16).

In this particular case, Jesus is referring to his sufferings on earth, which were required in order to bring about the salvation of man.  This cup included things like taking on the sin of the world, being separated from the Father, physical pain (like stripes on his back and the crucifixion) and humiliation. 

Even though it was a bitter cup, Jesus willingly accepted it because he loved the Father and he knew the Father loved him, and this suffering was the only way to save mankind.

Although it is not recorded in the book of John, the other gospels tell us that Jesus had already asked the Father to spare him from drinking this cup of suffering, yet if that were not possible, he would drink it:

Matthew 26:42 - He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, your will be done.

Jesus had already determined to drink this cup of suffering, so when Peter tried to come between him and the Father's will, he was rebuked by Jesus.

Let me offer you some encouragement:

Although we all know it is true, it never hurts to remind ourselves that Jesus won the victory over Satan long ago on the cross.  Satan is a defeated foe. 

As we look around the world today, it may not seem like that is true, but don't be discouraged by what you see.  Instead, be fired up!  If we are not seeing revival, healing, miracles and deliverances like we want to, let's press into the presence of God and find out what is lacking on our part.  Let's find out how we can bring the victory of heaven to bear on our current circumstances.

Let me offer you some relief:

In this post, we find that Peter once again 'blew it'.  In fact, he will do so again in our next post.  I don't know about you, but I feel I have something in common with him, because I have also done the wrong thing at the worst possible moment!

If that is you, take heart.  God forgave Peter, he forgave me and he will forgive you too! 

Let me offer you some strength:

When an entire company of soldiers met Jesus and the disciples in the garden, it looked like an overwhelming force.  In the natural realm, it was.  But in the spiritual realm, there is no contest – the forces of heaven are far, far superior to the forces of hell (II Kings 6:15-17).  The light of Christ always causes darkness to flee. 

In your daily Christian walk, don't fear the seemingly overwhelming forces of darkness around you.  Instead, let your light shine for Christ.  Keep it shining brightly and allow it to be a witness to those around you who are desperate for a touch from God.

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John 16:1 – "I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away."

'All these things' is a reference to all of the teaching Jesus has given his disciples since the Passover meal (aka John chapters 14 & 15).

• Some of his teachings were very comforting – Jesus was preparing a place for them in heaven, Holy Spirit was coming to abide with them, etc.

• Some of the teachings were instructional – the disciples were to keep the commands of Christ in order to abide/live in him as a branch lives by connection to a vine.

• Some of the teachings were informative – there was going to be opposition, hardship and danger involved for those who chose to follow Christ.

It's great to see that Jesus doesn't hold anything back.  He doesn't 'gloss over' the hardships of Christianity.  He fully discloses to his disciples that the road to heaven is not an easy garden path; it often involves suffering of one kind or another.  It can be a road full of pitfalls and dangers.

One of the most imminent dangers to the twelve apostles was offense or scandal. 

The Law was the very foundation of the Jewish life, and people were extremely passionate about it.  They had their preconceived (and inaccurate) ideas of who/what the Messiah would be, and their ideas did NOT include a suffering Messiah who would die on a cross at the hands of Rome.

So the crucifixion of Christ was about to become a major offense/scandal in the Jewish religious world.  It was going to cause great division within the nation.  In fact, it will be the most divisive event ever to occur not only in Jewish life, but in the history of the world.  And in the aftermath of this great division, the apostles are supposed to begin preaching grace/salvation through Christ.  That was a tough and dangerous path to tread! 

We can see how the scandal of the cross would tempt the apostles to turn aside from the whole truth, or find some way to soften (sugar-coat) the gospel message in order to avoid further offense. 

We can also see how the violent opposition of the Jews might cause the twelve to give up and not share the gospel at all.  After all, who wants to sign up for certain persecution?      

But Jesus prepares his followers for victory.  He has forewarned them of the coming conflict/opposition and promised them supernatural assistance.  Jesus has done this so that the disciples will not stumble or fall in their Christian walk; Jesus does not want their faith to fail.     

John 16:2 – "They will put you out of the synagogues.  Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God."

As they preach the gospel, the apostles are going to be targeted by the current leadership.  The Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes, elders, etc were not going to just give up and hand over religious leadership of the nation to the twelve followers of Jesus.  They were going to fight to the death to keep Israel under the law and to retain their positions of power in the religious life of the nation. 

This put the apostles right in the 'cross hairs' of persecution and death.

The first attack against the apostles (and all Christians in that era) would come in the form of excommunication from the synagogue. 

What exactly was a synagogue?

First of all, let's remind ourselves that the temple was different from a synagogue.  As you know, there was only one temple, located in Jerusalem.  The original temple was a very ornate and lavish structure built by King Solomon during the fourth year of his reign (I Kings chapters 6-7).  It was destroyed by the Babylonians when Judah was taken captive.  (It was later rebuilt under the leadership of Ezra/Nehemiah, and remodeled by Herod.)

During the time of their captivity, the Jews instituted the concept of the synagogue.  The synagogue was a meeting site used for religious services.  Typical synagogue services included prayer, the systematic reading of scripture, and the exposition of what was read (Acts 13:14-15, Luke 4:15-22).  Additionally, the synagogue was used as a public school for Jewish males.  Occasionally, it also served as a courthouse and place of judgment/punishment (Matthew 10:17, Luke 12:11, Acts 22:19).

It took a minimum of 10 Jewish males to open a synagogue.  The luxury of the building was dependent upon the wealth of the men who formed it.  The internal arrangement of the structures often varied; however, there were certain traditional or common formations.    

These included a separate women's gallery (often behind a partition of lattice work), a desk in the center where the reader and speaker sat, a carefully closed 'ark' on the side of the building nearest to Jerusalem (in which the rolls or manuscripts of the law were kept), and seats all around where the men sat.  There would also have been reserved seating or 'chief seats' for the rulers of the synagogue.

The synagogue became one of the cultural, religious and social centers of the Jewish society.  To be banned from the synagogue was synonymous with being cut off from the community; it would have been a devastating punishment to the Jews.  Just the threat of being banned caused many Jews to conform to the orders of the Pharisees, even if they didn't agree with their decisions (John 9:22-23).        

If that were the extent of the persecution by the religious leaders, it wouldn't be so bad.  But excommunication was just the beginning. 

The apostles (and other believers) were also threatened (Acts 4:21 and 29), beaten (Acts 5:40, II Corinthians 11:25) and eventually martyred for the cause of Christ (Acts 12:1-3, Acts 7:56-60).  And just as Jesus predicted, there were those who believed they were doing the work of God by killing Christians (Acts 9:1).

John 16:3 – "And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me."

Jesus repeats once again that ignorance of God is the cause of the world's hatred and persecution of Christians. 

Those who think they do God a favor by killing men and women made in his image clearly know nothing of the true nature of God.  They fail to realize that God is long suffering and compassionate; he loves each sinner so much that he was willing to sacrifice his only Son for their redemption.

Jesus does not say this to make Christians feel guilty for not reaching/converting every sinner.  Rather, he makes this known to them so they may boldly continue to proclaim the gospel in the face of the blind fury of their adversaries.

It also reminds Christians that they should rise to a level of compassion and love toward their enemies which Jesus himself exemplified by forgiving those who hung him on the cross (Luke 23:34).   

All in all, this is tough news for the disciples.  They are probably beginning to finally understand that the journey they have been on with Christ is not going to end with the overthrow of the Romans and Jesus being crowned as an earthly king. 

But there is good news too – Jesus is not going to let his disciples fail; he is preparing them to stand firm when the storms of life hit them (Matthew 7:24-25).   

John 16:4 – "But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.  I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you."

'These things' may be understood as the Jews' ignorance of God's plans/purposes as well as their willful rejection of Jesus as the Messiah.  Because of their ignorance, they will wind up persecuting the apostles and other Christian converts as well.

Jesus has predicted these things so that when the persecution occurs, his followers will remember his words.  It would strengthen their faith to remember that the Lord's divine wisdom had foreseen all of this trouble/opposition.  The actions of the religious leaders were not a surprise to God!    

Furthermore, because they had prior warning of these trials/calamities, they will not be caught off guard; they will remain strong in their faith and be victorious.  Had they not been expecting this kind of opposition, they may well have given up on their commission, thinking that Jesus had either abandoned them or that he was not the Messiah.

The apostles might well have wondered why Jesus never mentioned this before.  The reason is simple – all the time Jesus had been with them, he had personally taken the brunt of the hatred of the Jews.  His followers were safe as long as he was bodily present with them.  But now that he was leaving, the religious leaders would focus their hatred on the apostles (and any other Jew who became a Christian). 

John 16:5-6 – "But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?'  But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart."

Jesus again reminds the disciples that he will be returning to Father God almost immediately.  How are the disciples to react to this statement?

Theologically speaking, there was cause for rejoicing.  When Jesus died and rose again it meant that death was defeated, sin could be atoned for, the power of Satan was broken, the kingdom of heaven had invaded earth and Holy Spirit was soon to come.  Lots of incredibly wonderful things happened when Jesus returned to heaven!   

But as humans, we sometimes react out of emotion rather than reason. The disciples had a very close/intimate relationship with their master for the last few years.  They have traveled together, eaten together, learned together, ministered together, experienced both joy and sadness together, worshiped together, etc.  The thought of losing the companionship of Jesus was devastating to the apostles. 

Emotionally speaking, it hurts whenever death breaks the bonds of love between people.  If you have ever lost a friend or loved one, you have experienced this yourself; you know how painful it can be.  

Nevertheless, Jesus wants the twelve to encourage themselves by focusing on the comfort and victory he has provided for them in this life.  He wants them to react based on his promises to them, not on their emotions.  This was evident when he lightly rebukes them for not asking where he was going.

If they took the time to think it through, they would realize that when Jesus went back to heaven, it was for his good – having fulfilled his commission, he returned to the glory he had before.  They would also have realized it was for their good too - Holy Spirit was scheduled to come after Jesus sat down at the right hand of the Father where he made (and still continues to make) intercession for us.

John 15:11 - These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

Yes, there were going to be some challenges in the future, but there was no reason for the disciples to walk through life being full of sorrow.  Jesus had given them many gracious gifts and promises to make them victorious.

It was up to them to stop concentrating on their sorrow and to begin counting their reasons to rejoice.  

John 16:7 – "Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you.  But if I go, I will send him to you."

The biggest advantage of Jesus returning to heaven was the gift of Holy Spirit.  This raises an interesting question.  Why was it more advantageous to have Holy Spirit on earth, rather than Jesus?

The great plan of redemption called for each member of the Trinity to perform a specific role.  It was the work of Jesus to provide atonement; it was/is the work of the Spirit to apply it to mankind.  Therefore, it was advantageous for Jesus to ascend to heaven so Holy Spirit could now come and perform his unique role in the salvation of mankind.

Holy Spirit helps believers in producing godly fruit in their lives (Galatians 5:22-23).  He also brings gifts to the body of Christ in order to make the church victorious and to assist us in our mission to spread the gospel message around the world:  

1 Corinthians 12:8-11 - For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another various kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:  But in all these works that one and same Spirit, dividing to every man individually as he will.  

Furthermore, while in bodily form, Jesus could only be in one place at one time.  This limited his ministry and influence in the world.  Obviously, Holy Spirit does not have a flesh-and-blood body, so he is not controlled by space and time. 

He can move throughout the world at will, assisting Christians to share the gospel while simultaneously convicting sinners and bringing them to repentance.  He is often compared to the wind, which blows all over the earth.  

The disciples were sorrowful that Jesus was leaving, but Jesus was right – it was to their advantage for him to depart and send Holy Spirit to earth. 

John 16:8 – "And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:"

To convict (your translation may say 'reprove') commonly means to demonstrate by argument; to persuade through reason, to demonstrate by proof or evidence.

• Sin - As we have already mentioned, it is the role of Holy Spirit to convict the world of sin.  In other words, he will apply the truth of the gospel to men's hearts and minds in such a way that they will be convinced they are sinners in need of the blood of Christ (Acts 2:36-37).  This was/is particularly true regarding the sin of unbelief.

• Righteousness – Holy Spirit will convince or persuade people that their own righteousness is insufficient to save them.  In order to be justified before God, they will need the righteousness that only Christ can provide (Philippians 3:9, Romans 3:20-22).

• Judgment – Holy Spirit will demonstrate that Jesus is Lord and that by his death/resurrection he judged, condemned and overcame Satan and his kingdom of darkness.      

The concepts of sin, righteousness and judgment are all interwoven – when men are convicted of sin, they will either turn to Christ and receive his righteousness, or reject Christ and be judged with the prince of darkness.

John 16:9 – "… concerning sin, because they do not believe in me;"

Sin is defined as any violation of the law of God, but the particular sin being discussed here is that of unbelief or rejection of Christ.  This was the main sin of the Jews who crucified Jesus. 

When the apostles preached the gospel message, it was this sin of unbelief/rejection which filled the Jews with remorse and caused them to repent (Acts 2:22-38, Acts 3:13-19, Zechariah 12:10, etc).

Taken in a broader sense, Holy Spirit will convict men/women of all sin in order to show them the necessity of a redeemer who can atone for their sin.

John 16:10 – "…concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer;"

This seems to refer to the righteousness or innocence of Jesus himself.  He was rejected and persecuted by the Jews.  He was shortly to be arrested and accused of heinous crimes against God, condemned/declared guilty by the highest authority in the land, and sentenced to death.  By all accounts he was guilty, not innocent.

However, once Holy Spirit came to earth, he would convince men/women that Jesus was not guilty; he was completely righteous in the sight of his Father.  Jesus' resurrection and ascension to God provided a clear demonstration of his innocence that would satisfy Jews and Gentiles alike.   

John 16:11 – "…concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged."

Make no mistake – God is both holy and just; he will execute judgment upon his enemies. 

The death of Christ was a judgment against Satan.  And just as Jesus vanquished Satan, he will subdue all other adversaries in due time.  Sinners can expect to be condemned on the Day of Judgment, at the end of this age, unless they repent.

Let me offer you some encouragement:

Although the disciples were called upon to tread a difficult path during the course of their Christian lives, they did not walk alone. 

As we noted in today's post, Jesus had prepared his followers for victory.  He gave them his word/doctrine.  He warned them about what was to come.  And he promised to send them Holy Spirit to provide supernatural assistance in every situation.

We still enjoy the same benefits.  The word of God is available to us in numerous ways, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  God still speaks through modern day prophets to encourage and lead the church.  And Holy Spirit is still just as active today as he was back in the days of the disciples. 

So no matter what path you find yourself on, you too can be victorious, just as the disciples were.  

 Let me offer you some relief:

The disciples were facing a task that seemed impossible to them – they were to continue preaching the gospel after Jesus was crucified.  I am sure they felt inadequate or not fully prepared to take on that challenge.

But they needn't have worried.  Through Holy Spirit, they received all of the wisdom, strength and boldness they needed.  What task has God given to you?  If it seems impossible, don't worry – Holy Spirit is right here to help you too.

Let me offer you some strength:

In our lesson today, we noted that Jesus had promised many good things to his disciples, but they were so busy concentrating on future difficulties that they missed the reasons they had to rejoice. 

If we are not careful, we could end up doing the same thing. 

There is no doubt that life can be difficult, but that doesn't mean you can't be full of joy!  Remember, joy doesn't come from our outward circumstances; it springs from our relationship with God. 

The joy of the Lord gives you the strength you need to get through each day.  And that is the best way to live life – one day at a time (Nehemiah 8:10)!   

 

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John 17:1 – When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you…"

We have arrived at John chapter 17, one of the most sublime portions of scripture in the entire bible. 

Jesus has just expressed his parting thoughts to his disciples, reiterated his love for them, and given them numerous reasons to rejoice.  He now commits them into the protection and blessing of Father God through prayer. 

The prayer that Christ prays here was not just for the disciples; it is for every Christian in every generation, including you and me.  Let's see what he had to say.

'These words' refers to the extensive teaching that Jesus had given to the disciples beginning at the Passover meal and concluding at the end of John chapter 16.  There is some difference of opinion about where 'these words' were spoken.  Some believe the entire conversation took place in the Passover room.  Others believe it took place as the group walked to the Garden of Gethsemane. 

In either case, scripture tells us that as Jesus began to pray, he lifted up his eyes to heaven.  Some scholars believe he did this to signify his reverence for God (whose throne is in heaven) and to denote his confidence that God hears and answers prayer.  According to them, it shows the Christian that help comes from God, not from the world.  Apparently, it was a common position of prayer back in that day (Luke 18:13).   

However, this position of prayer would be uncommon for us.  We tend to express reverence of God by closing our eyes and bowing our heads. 

Which way is correct?

The answer is both!  Jesus gave us a model prayer to follow (Matthew 6:9-13), but he never prescribed a particular position or place to pray.  You can pray standing up, sitting down, on your knees or lying on the floor.  You can pray with your eyes open or shut.  You can pray loudly, quietly or even silently (but keep in mind that spoken words carry power).  The key is getting alone to communicate with God.

Notice that Jesus prays directly to the Father.  The first thing he says is that his 'hour has come'.  This refers to the appointed time of his suffering and death, which would result in his victory over Satan.  This is one more confirmation that Jesus laid down his life at a predetermined time; his life was not taken away from him at the whim of man.

Now that the time of his death had arrived, he prays that the Father will 'glorify the Son'.  In other words, Jesus was asking Father God to manifest or display his power in Jesus' death, resurrection and ascension; this would prove to the world that he was truly the Messiah, the Son of God. 

In turn, Jesus (as the Son) would also glorify the Father.  His death honored both the Law and the mercy of God.  As men were reconciled to God through his blood, it glorified the Father.

The mutual glorification of the Father and Son did not end at the cross.  As the gospel spreads throughout the world by the will of Christ and the assistance of Holy Spirit, God continues to be glorified by the regeneration of each lost sinner.  

John 17:2 – "…since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him."

This is a verse that we need to make sure we are interpreting correctly. 

Jesus acknowledges that the Father has given him authority over all flesh. 

There are some false teachers who claim that if God gave Jesus authority over all flesh while he was on the earth, it means that he did not have authority before, and thus he was not divine.  This is absolutely false. This verse does not speak of Jesus' divine power as God, but of his power as the Mediator between God and man.

The entire human race was 'given' to Christ by his Father, so that he could procure salvation for all through his death:

Hebrews 2:9 - But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

(See also I Timothy 2:4-6, Romans 5:21, II Corinthians 5:14-15, Psalms 2:8, etc).  Thus, the entire human race is under the power and authority of Christ as Mediator; he has universal dominion over all things.  He has legislative power (power to make laws) as well as judiciary power (power to judge).

While his sacrifice purchased grace and forgiveness for every person, not everyone will voluntarily bow to his authority.  Those who place their faith in him receive salvation, while those who reject him will be judged at the end of this age.  

 John 17:3 – "And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent."

God is the only source of eternal life; we must know him in order to receive this blessing. 

What does it mean to know God?

First, let's talk about what it doesn't mean.  It does not mean familiarity or simple factual knowledge.  For instance, I am familiar with actor Johnny Depp.  I know about his occupation, his love life, his income, his legal issues and much more.  But despite having factual knowledge about his life, I don't know him – we have never met each other and we have absolutely no relationship at all.

In the same way, there are people who are familiar with or have factual knowledge about Jesus, Father God and Holy Spirit.  They may attend church and hear all about their activities, personalities and work.  These people may even read the bible on occasion or say some words of blessing over their food from time to time.  But despite being familiar with God, they don't know him – they have absolutely no personal relationship with him. 

The fact is, the only way to truly know God is through the Mediator, Christ Jesus.

We were dead in our trespasses and sin; we had no means of having a relationship with God.  But then Jesus came to earth to make the Father known to us.  His final act on earth was to assume the office of Mediator by dying for our sin, so that our relationship to God could be restored. 

We know God by placing our faith the sacrifice of Christ for our sin.  Once we do so, we are in relationship with Father God and he gives us eternal life – but that's not all!  Our relationship with God grows and flourishes while we are here on earth.  We can discover and experience the many attributes of God such as righteousness, justice, love and holiness.  We can know him as a parent, a friend, a king, a defender, a healer and a provider.  We know we are in a true relationship with him when we strive to obey his laws and yield our lives to his will. 

Furthermore, is important to know that he (the God introduced to us via Christ Jesus) is the only true God:

Isaiah 45:21 - Tell and bring forth your case; yea, let them take counsel together: who has declared this from ancient time?   Who has told it from that time?  Have not I the LORD?  And there is no other God besides me; a just God and a Savior; there is none besides me.  

All other gods are false; they are mere idols that cannot see or hear or save a man's soul (Daniel 5:23, Revelation 9:20, Isaiah 2:17-21).

John 14:6 - Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes unto the Father, but by me. 

Just as there is only one God, there is only one way to have a relationship with him – through his Son Jesus, our Mediator.

John 17:4 – "I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do."

Jesus did indeed glorify God on earth.  He spoke only what the Father told him to speak, and he did only what the Father told him to do.  Everything he did was for the purpose of bringing glory and honor to his Father.

Jesus came to earth, preached to the Jews, gave irrefutable proof that he was the Messiah, called the apostles, taught them the doctrines of the new covenant of grace, and gave them his parting council along with the promise of Holy Spirit. 

The only thing left to do - the final accomplishment of his work – was his atoning sacrifice on the cross, which would occur in a matter of a few short hours.  After that, he would return to the Father in heaven, who was well pleased with all he had done.

So think about this for a minute… on the threshold of his death, Jesus could rightfully say that he had lived his life well – he had done all that God gave him to do. 

What about you and me?  Our culture doesn't like to think about death.  We do everything we can to look and feel young.  We get teeth implants, we re-grow our hair (or dye what we have), we get plastic surgery, we exercise and we take all kinds of health supplements.  But despite all of our effort to stay young and vigorous, each of us will eventually die (Hebrews 9:27). 

What will you be able to say about your life on the threshold of your death?  Will you be satisfied with the things you pursued and the choices you made?  Will you be content with the way you spent your time and the status of your relationships?  Will you be able to look forward to eternity knowing that you accomplished everything that God gave you to do?

John 17:5 – "And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed."

Jesus is divine; he and the Father (and Holy Spirit) are one and they have always existed for eternity.  Up until he came to earth, Jesus enjoyed the splendor and glory that was fitting for him as a member of the Trinity.  But for a short time (about 33 years), he humbled or emptied himself of his glory and took on a body of flesh (Philippians 2:7-8).   He now prays that God will restore him to the honor and dignity which he had before the incarnation. 

We can be assured that he has not only been restored to his former glory, he now has the additional honor of making atonement for sin and becoming our High Priest forever (Hebrews 6:20). 

His glory will not be hidden or kept secret.  The magnificence of his greatness and power which now exist in heaven will be displayed on earth at the appointed time; everyone will see it and everyone will be affected by it (Philippians 2:10, Zechariah 12:10).

John 17:6 – "I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world.  Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word."

When Jesus says he has manifested God's name, he means that he has revealed the attributes and character of God to mankind.  Man was able to discern a little bit of God and his divine nature by the works of creation.  He gained a little more knowledge of God through the Mosaic Law, but the full manifestation of God (his nature and attributes) came only through the revelation of Jesus.

Although Jesus ministered to many people, the full revelation of God was only given to the apostles.  These men were chosen by God from among the unbelieving Jewish nation (out of the world) to be the disciples of Christ and to spread the message of salvation throughout the world by their teaching, preaching and writings.       

John 17:7 – "Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you."

Unlike the majority of the Jewish nation, the disciples are fully persuaded that Jesus has been commissioned by God to be the Messiah.  They believe that the doctrine Jesus taught, the miracles he performed and the authority he carried were all given to him directly from Father God.  

John 17:8 – "For I have given them the words that you gave to me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me."

This explains how the disciples became fully persuaded that Jesus was teaching them the doctrines of God. 

Specifically, Jesus taught them only the doctrines he received from Father God (John 12:49).  These doctrines were pure; they did not contain the wisdom of man or any traditions of the elders. 

For their part, the disciples received this teaching into the fertile soil of their hearts where it took root and grew (Matthew 13:23).  Thousands of Jews heard the teaching of Jesus, but many of them had not prepared their hearts to receive the message, so the enemy was able to steal it from them.

The disciples also kept or continued in the words of Christ by obeying the doctrines they heard.  Jesus has already stressed the importance of obedience to his commands.   Obedience is one of the ways we demonstrate faith and love to Jesus.  As we obey his words, he abides in us and we abide in him, and Jesus further manifests himself to us (John 14:21-24).

The end result of all this is that deep down in their hearts the disciples are absolutely certain that Jesus came from God and that he is the true Messiah.  This does not mean that they fully understood the gospel, in fact, the opposite is probably true.  At that point in time their knowledge of spiritual truth was very limited and weak.  But even though they did not fully know/understand the message they still believed it was true.  They received the doctrines of Christ as divine truths, they obeyed his commands as divine laws, and they trusted in his promises as divine securities. 

Don't forget, Jesus does not speak this only about the first disciples.  Believers in every generation (including you and me) have heard the word of God and allowed it to take root and grow within our hearts.  We too obey the commands of Jesus and abide in him; we too are fully convinced that he is the Messiah, the only Son of God.  In fact, we have assurance of this truth from Holy Spirit (Romans 8:16).

John 17:9-10 –"I am praying for them.  I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.  All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them."

'Them' refers particularly to the apostles that were called by Christ to be his special envoys on earth.  They were about to face some very intense trials and dangers; Jesus sought the protection and blessing of God on them so that they would be able to carry out their mission of preaching the gospel of salvation to the world (to the Jews first and later the Gentiles) and establishing the church. 

Jesus' role as the intercessor did not end with the death of the apostles.  He continues to intercede on behalf of every believer in every generation that we too might experience the protection and blessing of the Father as we carry out the specific work he has give to us.

Notice that there is absolutely no disunity or competition among the members of the Trinity.  The Father, Son and Spirit are one in essence; they are equal in power and glory.  For this reason, all that belongs to God also belongs to his Son and Holy Spirit.

The scriptures declare that Christ redeemed us not only to himself, but to Father God as well:

Revelation 5:9-10 - And they sang a new song, saying, You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open the seals thereof: for you were slain, and have redeemed us to God by your blood out of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation; and have made us unto our God a kingdom and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.  

In fact, everyone who receives salvation from Jesus is put into a covenant relationship with the Father - God considers them his children and they consider him to be their Father (Romans 8:15).  Covenant relationship is one of the chief foundations on which our prayers can rest (Exodus 32:11-13).

All of the benefits of salvation that Jesus purchased with his blood bring glory to the Father when they are bestowed upon man.  In return, God glorifies his Son by placing all things (including believers/the church) under the authority of Jesus.  

John 17:11 – "And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you.  Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one."

Jesus is just hours away from being crucified.  Although his work on earth is almost done, he was not going to retire – he was returning to the Father and to heaven where he would assume the role of Mediator.  (Thankfully, He is also busy preparing a place in heaven for you and me [John 14:3])!

But for now, his followers will remain behind, to spread the gospel throughout the world.  In the midst of this, they will experience trials and temptations.  In addition, the wicked will hate and persecute them, just as they did Jesus.  Therefore, Jesus prays that God will preserve his followers by his divine power.  This is a prayer that God always answers; the whole Trinity is involved in supporting us here on earth:

- Our Father gives us everlasting love and all sufficient power.

- The Son gives us redemption and constant intercession. 

- The Spirit perpetually inhabits/dwells with us, giving us his constant influence, wisdom and leading.    

All of this leads us to an inescapable conclusion: as believers, we have not been set up to fail; we have the strongest assurance of victory in this life.  What a comfort to know that while we labor here on earth, God keeps his eye fixed on us; he watches over us and provides help and relief when we need it.

Psalm 121:2-4 - My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.  He will not allow your foot to be moved: he that keeps you will not slumber.  Behold, he that keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

(See also Proverbs 18:10, I Corinthians 10:13, II Timothy 4:18, Psalms 124, etc).  We are also set up to be inseparably united to God, just as Jesus is united to the Father and Spirit (Ephesians 4:2-6).

John 17:12 – "While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me.  I have guarded them, and no one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled."

Jesus was a faithful steward of all that God entrusted to him – including the people who served him.  While Jesus was in the world he perfectly shepherded his twelve disciples.  He preserved them from apostasy by his example, his instruction, his miracles and his presence. 

Although Jesus did not fail in any way, one of the disciples was 'lost' – Judas Iscariot.

Judas is described as the 'son of destruction'.  The term 'son of' was used to describe someone who displayed the characteristics of the name or word which followed.  For example, Jesus refers to the religious leaders as sons of hell:

Matthew 23:15 - Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, you make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.

In this example, the term 'child (son) of hell' means that the religious leaders had hellish characteristics – they were liars and hypocrites who pretended to serve God while their hearts were full of evil.

The term 'son of destruction' (your translation may say 'perdition') means one who desires and promotes complete loss, utter ruin/devastation/subversion; one who destroys or devastates; one who desires a state of damnation, future misery or eternal death.

Judas personified the spirit of destruction.  His crime (betraying Jesus) appears to be an attempt to devastate/destroy the entire human race by means of 'destroying' Jesus or causing him to fail which would result in the damnation/eternal death of us all. 

The point is that even though Judas was with Jesus outwardly, he never inwardly placed his faith in Christ.  He never accepted Jesus as the Messiah, despite being an eyewitness to all of the miracles he performed.  He did not believe in the gospel, despite hearing it repeatedly and in greater detail than others.  And once he sinned, he did not seek repentance or forgiveness, even though he could have obtained it at any time.  

Psalm 41:9 - Yea, my own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, who did eat of my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.

It should be noted that even though scripture predicted the falling away of Judas, it was Judas' own decision to reject Jesus.  He was not 'forced' to reject Christ simply to make the scriptures true; he had a free will choice, just as we all do.  Scripture simply foretold the decision Judas would make.

This is a tragic outcome, but not an uncommon one.  Even today we find people who go to church and profess to be Christians, but have never actually placed their faith in Christ as Redeemer.  To us, they seem to be followers of Christ, because we look on their outward appearance.  However, God can see their hearts (I Samuel 16:7). When they die, they will not inherit eternal life; they will be assigned a place in hell with their real father, Satan.

Let me offer you some encouragement and relief:

As we look at the state of our country – our culture, our schools, our government and our economy – we may be tempted to despair.  We may be tempted to think that Satan is going to gain victory over the entire world, despite the work of the church of Jesus Christ.  But let me give you some encouragement and relief – that will NEVER be the case!

God has NOT set us up to fail.  Jesus is the head of the church and he has never lost a battle.  He is going to make his church victorious over the kingdom of darkness: 

Matthew 16:18 - And I say also unto you… upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

When you are tempted to be discouraged by the evil around you, take your eyes off the enemy and place them back where they belong – on the promises and assurances of God Almighty. 

Instead of considering the power of the enemy, think about this:  God has given us all the weapons we need in order to prevail over Satan and his kingdom.  We have spiritual armor, we have God's word, we have the keys to the kingdom of heaven, we have power and authority over demons/sickness, we have the power to bind and loose, we have the power of testimony and we have Holy Spirit living within us. 

In light of what God has given us, how should we be living our lives?  Should we be hiding in fear, or courageously take a stand for Christ in this generation? 

Don't let the devil fool you – he is a defeated foe. 

Let me offer you some strength:

You can't save the entire world and you will be overwhelmed if you try.  But what you can do is take action in the place where you are right now: 

Campaign for a position on the local school board or town council.   Run for mayor.  Get involved in antiabortion work. Support your local police.  Pray on the campuses of local schools and colleges.  Use your creative talents to bring Christianity into music and entertainment.  Use your social media influence as a platform for Christ. 

Do something/anything to get involved in taking our society back from the enemy and placing it under the authority of Christ!  It has always been God's will for us to exercise authority over this world on his behalf, so get started today, in your own corner of the globe.  

Genesis 1:28 - And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.

 

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John 16:23 – "In that day you will ask nothing of me.  Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you."

At the end of our last post, Jesus was speaking on the topic of joy.  He now reveals to the disciples yet another reason to rejoice at his departure.

At first, this verse seems a bit hard to understand – the first part says that the disciples will ask nothing of Jesus and the second part assures them that whatever they ask, they will receive.  How can we explain this?

The first thing to know is that this occurs 'in that day', or after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus and after the coming of Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost (Acts chapter 2).

The next thing to examine is the word 'ask'.  In this verse, it has different meanings.   In one sense, it means to inquire; to seek to gain knowledge or understanding.  It also means to petition; to request something we need/want to receive.  

We are well aware that during their time with Jesus the disciples did both kinds of 'asking'. 

For instance, Jesus would speak to the crowds in parables, but later on, in private, he gave personal instruction to the twelve regarding the mysteries of the gospel. 

Luke 8:9-10 -  And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?  And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.

It makes sense that the disciples would continually ask him to explain different parts of his doctrines as they traveled, ate and ministered together.  They asked for and received knowledge, wisdom and understanding directly from Jesus.

The twelve received material things from him as well.  As they traveled from place to place with Christ, they depended upon the support of others to meet their daily needs.  However, Jesus no doubt supplied anything they lacked.  One example of this was when Peter wanted to pay the temple tax, but he had no money.  Jesus told him to go fishing and look in the mouth of the first fish he caught.  Sure enough, the fish contained enough money to pay the tax for both Peter and Jesus (Matthew 17:27).   

So, to summarize, the disciples were accustomed to directly asking Jesus for everything. 

This brings us to the third most significant word in this verse, which is 'me'.  The disciples were to cease depending on Jesus for what they needed.  Let me explain.

Jesus was about to assume his new role as the Mediator between Father God and mankind.  Once that change occurred, ('in that day'), the disciples were no longer to ask Jesus for what they needed.  They were now to make their requests directly to Father God, in Jesus' name.  As the Mediator, Jesus would receive their requests, pass them on to the Father, then send the answer back to his disciples through the influences of Holy Spirit.  This is the meaning of the first part of the verse (in that day you will ask nothing of me). 

Once we understand that, the second part of the verse (whatever you ask of the Father in my name he will give it to you), makes more sense. 

Our heavenly Father has everything we could ever need or want.  In fact, he has resources far beyond anything we could ever ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20).  He is the fountainhead of every good and perfect gift (James 1:17).  As any loving Father, he is happy to give us what we need and want, if it is for our good.  He is particularly eager to give us anything/everything we need to further the Christ's kingdom on earth. 

As a side note, it is worth mentioning that as we abide in Christ and his word abides in us, Holy Spirit changes our goals, desires and wills so they are compatible with the goals, desires and will of Christ.  The more spiritually mature we are, the more likely it is that we will ask for things in accordance with God's will.  

One of the keys to receiving is that we must ask in Jesus' name. 

What does it mean to ask in his name?

It is more than just ending your prayers with "in Jesus' name, amen".   We use this phrase so automatically it is almost devoid of meaning for most Christians.  Let's reacquaint ourselves with what it means to ask in Jesus' name.

To pray in the name of Jesus is to gratefully recognize Jesus as our Mediator.  It means we acknowledge that the privilege of asking something from God is only possible because of the sacrifice of Christ.  Without him, we could never even enter God's presence to make our requests.  But now, the throne of grace is wide open for us; we can boldly ask God for what we need:

Hebrews 4:16 - Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

To pray in the name of Jesus is to pray in faith.  We must believe that because of (and through) Jesus, God hears our prayers and answers them.  We must believe/have faith that God keeps all of his promises.  Remember, God watches over his word to perform it (Jeremiah 1:12).  If it has been promised to you in the bible, you can rest assured God will grant your request if you meet the requirements.  

Which brings up another issue that I frequently harp on… you need to be in the word, so you know what God has promised you!  You need to know what the requirements are so you can position yourself to receive/claim the promise!

John 16:24 – "Until now you have asked nothing in my name.  Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full."

Jesus once again reiterates the change in procedure that was now taking place.  Prayers are to be directed to Father God, through the Mediator Christ Jesus.  Answers flow from Father God, to Jesus and are received by Christians through Holy Spirit who is Christ's agent here on earth.  We do not need the assistance of any other human (living or dead) to make our prayers known to Jesus.  When we pray in Jesus' name, we can be confident that our prayers will ascend into God's presence. 

The direct consequence of asking properly is receiving what we need.  The consequence of receiving what we need is experiencing fullness of joy.  

John 16:25 – "I have said these things to you in figures of speech.  The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father."

'Figures of speech' (your translation may say 'proverbs') refers to something that is obscure, or difficult to understand.  And Jesus' statements were obscure - at least to the disciples, at the time.  The death and resurrection of Christ are plain to us, but to the twelve who were filled with Jewish prejudices, they seemed very enigmatic and shrouded in mystery.  But they needn't worry – a time was coming when everything would be plain and easy to understand.  This was probably a great encouragement to them at the time.

'The hour' refers to the Day of Pentecost when Holy Spirit came down into the world.  He is the Spirit of Truth; it is his role to communicate/explain/reveal the truths of God to mankind, making the mysteries of the gospel plain and simple for all Christians to understand.

Sometimes we tend to wonder how the disciples failed to understand certain spiritual things that seem so simple to us (like the death of Christ).  But we should be careful about criticizing them because there are clearly things in the bible that we still do not understand today.

The good news is that if we apply ourselves to study the word and we ask the Father (in Jesus' name) to reveal spiritual mysteries to us, he will do so.  Jesus is the head of the church and he actively assists the church in every generation to understand the plans and purposes of the Father.

John 16:26-27 – "In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf: for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God."

This is another passage that on first glance seems to contradict what Jesus said before.  However, that is not really the case.  Jesus is NOT refusing to intercede for believers or giving up his office as Mediator.

The overall meaning of the verse is this: 

God has always loved mankind (I John 4:19); however, we were under his wrath because of sin.  To remedy that situation, he sent Jesus to die for us.  (While we were still sinners, Christ died for us - Romans 5:8).  Those who accept Christ in faith can be reunited with the Father and experience his love through Jesus our Mediator. 

So not only can Christians count on the intercession of Jesus, we can also have confidence that because of our relationship with him, the Father is favorably inclined to freely give us all that we ask for, without any difficulty.   This is the point Jesus is stressing in this verse.

Because of our love or Jesus and the Father's love for us, there is no need for us to convince him to help us.  We don't need to somehow talk him into assisting us.  There is no need for us to beg God for what we need.  Remember, begging does not move the hand of God – faith does!

This brings up something else for our consideration.  When you picture Jesus making intercession for you with the Father, what do you see in your mind's eye?  Do you picture Jesus on his knees in front of God, begging and pleading and hoping to get what we need?  Do you picture a miserly God who grudgingly gives away his blessings?  If so, you need to think differently because nothing could be further from the truth!

Romans 8:32 - He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

God is very pleased with the obedience and sacrifice of Jesus.  At this very moment Jesus is seated at the right hand of God in a position of honor, authority and power (Romans 8:34).  Because his sacrificial work is a part of who he is, it is continually present in the throne room of God; God is always aware of it.  Because God is perfectly pleased with his Son and the sacrifice he made, we have the heart of Father God as soon as we approach him in the name of his Son.  On this basis he is ready, willing and able to give us what we ask for.

Mark 11:24 - Therefore I say unto you, whatever things you desire, when you pray, believe that you will receive them, and you shall have them.

So, when you approach Father God in prayer, make your requests in faith, believing that you will receive what you have asked for!

John 16:28 – "I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father."

In essence this verse is a plain and simple declaration of the mission of Jesus – He came from the Father into the world to redeem it.  Now that his mission was about to be completed, he would once again return to the Father in heaven. 

The disciples were fully convinced that Jesus had come from God – they accepted him as God manifested in the flesh.  Jesus now helps them to understand that upon his 'exit' from the flesh, he would be received back into heaven by the Father - he would return to the glory that was his before the world began (John 17:5). 

John 16:29-30 – His disciples said, "Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech!  Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God."

As we mentioned in our last post, the disciples were perplexed by the statement of Jesus in verse 16 (a little while, and you shall not see me: and again, a little while, and you shall see me because I go to the Father).

In verses 17-18, they debated among themselves what these words meant, but it is clear from the text that Jesus did not hear this part of the conversation. Yet, in verse 19 Jesus knew that the twelve wanted to question him about that statement. 

Therefore, when Jesus knew and answered all the questions of the disciples (without them asking), it proved that he had divine power; he could search and know the minds and hearts of men.  This was yet another confirmation for the disciples that Jesus came from God and was divine.  

At this point, their understanding of Christ's person, mission and office had grown.  Although they still did not know the full meaning of these things (that would only come through Holy Spirit), they were very comforted to have some insight into the plans of God.

John 16:31 – Jesus answered them, "Do you now believe?"

In the prior verse the apostles made a full profession of their faith in Jesus' divinity and in his omnipotence. 

In response to that confession, Jesus asked them this question, which was clearly designed to get the disciples to embark on a full and truthful examination of their own hearts.  The disciples felt they had unshakable faith, but that wasn't the case.  They didn't realize just how weak their faith actually was.

Of course, trials and/or persecution are the real tests of faith.  In a very short time Jesus' suffering and shame was about to commence and this would result in a severe test of their faith, as Jesus describes in the next verses.

John 16:32 – "Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone.  Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me."

Again, Jesus accurately predicts future events.  Once he is arrested and crucified, the disciples are absolutely terrified of suffering the same fate so they scatter, forsaking Jesus (Matthew 26:56) and each other. At that point, it was every man for himself.  Soon afterward, many of the disciples traveled to Galilee and returned to fishing (John 21:1-14).

But even though the disciples fled, Jesus was not alone.  God was with him and that was all he really needed.  The Father had promised to be with Jesus during his whole incarnation (Psalms 89:21) to preserve (Isaiah 49:8) and strengthen him (Isaiah 50:7). 

As he hung on the cross Jesus was so assured of his Father's presence with him, that he committed his Spirit into the Father's hand upon his death.

Every Christian has the assurance that God never leaves us.  He walks with us on the mountaintop as well as in the valley of the shadow of death.  Even if man forsakes us, God never will.

John 16:33 – "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation.  But take heart; I have overcome the world."

This is the conclusion of Jesus' farewell sermon to his disciples.  Jesus reiterates that the world will hate them, because it hated him first.  Any follower of Christ can expect trouble and tribulation from those in the world. 

Yet, despite opposition and persecution, the disciples could have peace that passes all understanding, because the Spirit of Christ was always with them. 

They could also be assured that God is the final victor in all things. 

Jesus knew that his sacrifice on the cross was the means to victory over Satan, the god of this world.  The disciples, however, didn't realize this.  To them, the cross seemed like the final end of the ministry of the Messiah.  This is why Jesus assures them that, despite what things would look like in the next 72 hours or so, he had indeed overcome the world. 

Let me offer you some encouragement:

As we noted in today's post, we are to pray to Father God in Jesus' name and expect to receive an answer from Holy Spirit.  This is the normal process for every single Christian. 

While it is certainly appropriate for others to pray for/with us at certain times, this should not be our normal routine.  You shouldn't be calling your parents or your pastor every time you need to be in touch with God!   You should be 'asking' for what you need yourself.  After all, who knows your situation/needs better than you?

If you are a new Christian or if you haven't been regularly engaged in prayer, I strongly encourage you to develop your prayer life.  Discover the joy of meeting God in prayer on a daily basis.  You'll be glad you did!

Let me offer you some relief:

Faith in God and his promises plays a key role in today's study.  Jesus asked questions that were designed to get the disciples to examine their own lives and to evaluate their level of faith. 

What is your level of faith?  If it isn't as strong as it should be, don't fret.  Faith is a living substance that continues to grow the more you use/exercise it.  Examine your life and find those situations that need to be changed.  Find a promise in God's word that speaks to your issue and stand on it in faith!  Pray to the Father in Jesus' name, and watch for the answer.

Let me offer you some strength:

There was a point in time when it seemed to the disciples that Jesus had suffered defeat at the hands of his enemies.  But as we are well aware, that was not the case. 

Sometimes we also experience situations where victory seems far away or even impossible.  Perhaps you have prayed for something or someone for a long period of time, and nothing seems to change.  If that is you, I urge you to stand strong in your faith! You can be sure that Father God has heard your heart's cry. 

You can be sure that he is working 'behind the scenes' to bring that situation to a place where it will be for your good.  So don't give up –stand strong and wait for your victory to manifest itself!

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John 15:18 – "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you."

As the disciples go forth to establish the church and spread the gospel around the world, they should not expect a warm welcome from everyone.  In fact, they would be hated and opposed by many (I John 3:13, Matthew 10:25). 

However, this was not something new to them.  They had been with Jesus for years and he had encountered the same treatment.  Jesus did not allow opposition from the proud, the wealthy, the learned or those in power to deter him from his mission.  He did not allow persecution, threats or difficulties to slow him down. 

Consequently, the disciples need not be troubled when they encounter such opposition, because it proves they are on the right path – the same path that Jesus walked.  He is to be the example the disciples will follow when they too face opposition.

John 15:19 – "If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore, the world hates you."

Here Jesus reveals the cause or root of the hated his followers will experience:

Unbelievers have malice towards God deep within their hearts and they hate anything that reflects or resembles Him.

Jesus has 'chosen us out' or separated us from the world.  We are now new creations in Christ; old things have passed away and all things are new (II Corinthians 5:17). 

We now possess the nature, disposition, inclinations and desires of our Holy Father.  We display his attributes including righteousness, justice, love and mercy.  We are led by his Holy Spirit.

By contrast, unbelievers have the nature, disposition, inclinations and desires of their father, Satan.  They display his attributes including evil, tyranny, hate and judgment.  They are under the influence of the spirit of antichrist.

Since the two groups have interests, desires and goals that are diametrically opposed, it is logical that the world will despise, resist and actively combat those who follow Christ.

However, as Jesus mentioned earlier, his followers are not to act in that manner.  We must obey his commands so that we can abide in him and he can abide in us.  According to Jesus the greatest command is to love others:

Matthew 22:37-39 - Jesus said unto him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like unto it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

In addition, the parable of the Good Samaritan shows us that our 'neighbor' is actually anyone we come into contact with (Luke 10:25-37). 

Therefore, we must have compassion for the lost.  Don't think of the 'lost' as a vague, nameless, faceless group.  We must recognize them as the individual people we come across every day - people who think they are superior to us, people who take every opportunity to mock our God, people who disrespect the gospel, people who are confused and people who dislike or even hate us for no reason.      

We must show them love, when they show us hate.  We must show them mercy, when they show us judgment.  We must show them good, when they show us evil. 

Does that sound like a difficult task?  Here is something to keep in mind - at one time, each one of us was under the same satanic deception as they are:

Titus 3:3 - For we ourselves also were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.  

So when you look at them, you should be able to see/recognize the place where you came from (or the place you were headed).  Perhaps you see the sins or sinful attitudes that once controlled you too. 

If that is the case, our compassion for them should bubble up to the surface of our lives.  We need to demonstrate that compassion by standing strong in the face of opposition and lovingly sharing the gospel message, which Holy Spirit can use to open their spiritual eyes and bring them to Christ. 

John 15:20 – "Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.'  If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.  If they kept my word, they will also keep yours."

When Jesus says 'remember the word I said to you' he is referring back to a lesson he gave them much earlier (Ezekiel 3:7, Matthew 10:24-25, Luke 6:40, John 13:16).

Basically the lesson teaches that since we are one with Christ, we can expect the world to treat us the same way it treated him.  

Certainly, as we just mentioned, there were many who rejected Christ.  But at the same time, there were also those who believed and trusted in him.  The disciples themselves are examples of this.  So as we sow the seeds of the gospel message into the world, we can rejoice knowing that many souls will be won to Christ.  These dear souls will then become our brothers and sisters, who will stand side-by-side with us, laboring in the kingdom.

John 15:21 – "But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me."

Our study brings up a puzzling question:  WHY do unbelievers have such hatred in their hearts towards God?  Why do they hate him so much that they fight against him at every turn?

According to Jesus, the answer is simple:  Because they do not know him. They are blind to spiritual truth.  They do not believe that God sent Jesus into the world.  They do not believe that Jesus was the true embodiment of the love, character and law of God. 

Consequently, based on their own blindness, they will certainly reject the gospel message. 

But God cannot be thwarted by the tricks of Satan.

God has ordained believers to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with the lost.  His Holy Spirit is here on the earth, to tear the veil of blindness from the heart of those who hear. 

When that happens, their understanding is enlightened and they have a chance to accept the gospel and put their faith in Christ.  Because of the convicting power of Holy Spirit, they can have their sins forgiven, their bodies healed and their souls delivered from the power of darkness.  They can become children of God. 

John 16:8 - And when he [Holy Spirit] is come, he will convict the world of sin…    

The disciples now have multiple good reasons to labor for the gospel, even if that work includes persecution: 

• Sharing the gospel/loving your neighbor is a direct command of God. 

• We were once sinners, just like those who persecute us. 

• Our persecutors are blind to the love and true nature of God.  As we share the gospel message, Holy Spirit will give them a chance to see the light of Christ and repent.

John 15:22 – "If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin."

This statement of Jesus should not be understood in the absolute sense.  In other words, whether Christ came to earth or not, the Jews were still guilty of sin because they broke the law. 

What Christ reveals here is that the Jews are now guilty of a specific/particular sin – unbelief and rejection of the gospel message.  In addition, their guilt is now greater (and utterly inexcusable) because they have been given ample information which proved that Jesus was the Messiah who was predicted by their own prophets.   

We might paraphrase the words of Jesus this way – 'If I (Jesus) had not come down to earth in human form and personally preached the doctrine of salvation to the Jews and then confirmed that doctrine by miracles/signs/wonders, then the Jews might have a reason to hold onto their unbelief, at least to some degree. 

However, because I DID come to earth and I DID preach the gospel to them and I DID confirm the message with signs and wonders, they have no excuse for their obstinate sin of unbelief.  They knew the truth, they willfully rejected it.   

This confirms a truth found all throughout the scriptures – our guilt will be in proportion to the light we possess and the mercies we reject (see Matthew 11:20-24, Luke 12:47-48).

John 15:23 – "Whoever hates me hates my Father also."

Jesus now confirms that the sin of the Jews was no insignificant crime.  They persisted in hating and persecuting Christ, despite the fact that he had performed (before their very eyes) numerous miracles which could only be performed by divine power. 

The Jews claimed to love God while rejecting Christ, but this is not possible.  Because Jesus and the Father are one, no one can hate one without hating the other (John 14:7-9, John 10:30).  Rejection of Jesus is the same as rejection of Father God.

John 15:24 – "If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father."

The works that Jesus speaks about here are miracles.  He compares his miracles to the miracles done by others.  To the Jews this meant Moses and the prophets (Elijah, Elisha, etc). 

Jesus did a greater number of miracles in a shorter span of time than any of the prophets.  Scriptures record seven miracles done by Elijah and 14 by Elisha.  Jesus brought about more miracles in a single night then these two men did their entire lives (Matthew 4:24).

Plus, Moses and the prophets had no power within themselves to perform miracles of any kind; they called upon the name of the Lord and asked for him to perform the miracles (Exodus 8:8-13, Exodus 8:29-31, etc).  It would be far more accurate to say that God performed miracles through the prophets.  Jesus, however, performed miracles in his own power, by his own authority, using his own name. 

The miracles of Jesus were also greater in intensity.  Elisha prayed and the Shunammite's son was brought back to life within a matter of hours (II Kings 4: 33-36).  Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead after he was dead four entire days!  Jesus was able to heal a man born blind, a miracle which had never been done by anyone before:

John 9:32 - Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.  

So it is easy for us to see that Jesus did miracles among the Jews that no other person (Jew or Gentile) had previously done.  This is significant, because the Jews correctly believed that only God could perform miracles.  Since Jesus performed so many miracles, it was clear proof that he was the Messiah; God had openly manifested his divinity in the Son. 

Consequently, the Jews could not claim that Jesus was a mere mortal man.  He HAD to be the Messiah and as such, they HAD to believe in him.  To hate and reject Jesus was to hate and reject Father God too.    

John 15:25 – "But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: 'They hated me without a cause.'"

In this case (as in other places in scripture) the term 'Law' is used to mean the Law, the Psalms and the prophets; it basically refers to the entire Old Testament. 

The scripture that Jesus references here is probably Psalms 69:4, which is a Messianic Psalm but the words are also found in Psalms 35:19.  These verses were penned by King David to express the truth that he was an innocent man; his enemies hated him for absolutely no reason. 

Although that was true on some level for King David, Jesus tells us that the ultimate fulfillment of that scripture was occurring in his own life, right at that time.  His enemies, the Jews, hate him for absolutely no reason.   

Jesus had not broken any laws.  He had not injured or killed any of his fellow man.  He never disrespected God or his country.  Even in the midst of all their hatred towards him, Jesus still sought the welfare of the Jews.  He still offered them mercy and invited them to turn to him for salvation, which they continued to refuse. 

Thus, Jesus has explained to the 11 remaining disciples that the Jewish rejection of himself as the Messiah was not a surprise to him or to the Father.  It had been predicted many times in the Old Testament scriptures (see especially Isaiah 53:3-9).   

John 15:26-27 – "But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.  And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning."

Jesus once again reintroduces the promise of the gift of Holy Spirit (John 14:17).  Keep in mind that the context of this promise is the adversarial role of the unbelieving Jews. 

In every generation, there will be those who mock and rage against the truth of the gospel.  They not only reject the truth themselves, they will attempt to shake the faith of those who do believe, just as the Jews did during the incarnation of Christ. 

But we do not need to fear them.  Jesus has given us the gift of Holy Spirit, who bears witness within our hearts that Jesus is the Son of God.  He will crush the attempts of Satan to nullify the truth of God in our lives.  The end result is that we know that we know, we are saved by the blood of Christ.  

Romans 8:16 - The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.

Nothing can shake us from this truth; by the power of Holy Spirit we will boldly witness about Christ in the midst of all opposition.

Meanwhile, the unbelief of the Jews is completely inexcusable.  They have rejected the doctrine of Christ, even though his mission was confirmed with signs and wonders.  By rejecting the Son, they also reject God the Father.  They are in an extremely dangerous spiritual position.  In a further attempt to save them, Jesus sends his Spirit to convict them of sin (John 16:8) – particularly the sin of unbelief. 

Holy Spirit will accomplish this conviction by working through the preaching and miracles of the apostles to influence the hearts of the lost.  If they further reject/resist the wooing of the Spirit, there is no option left to them; they will eventually experience the wrath of God. 

Obviously, the same is true today.  Sinners routinely reject the gospel, but Holy Spirit will continue to convict them in an effort to reunite them with God.  We know this is true, because we have experienced it ourselves. 

This highlights the extreme importance of sharing the gospel message.  God has given us the privilege of partnering with Holy Spirit to bring the lost into God's kingdom.  We do the talking, he does the convicting and souls are saved.

This explains how 'faith comes by hearing' (Romans 10:17) – Christians share the truth of the gospel message and Holy Spirit infuses life into the words and gives the hearer faith to believe in Christ.    

It is God's will that the whole earth hear his message.  If we say nothing, God will use someone else to witness for him and we will miss the chance of a lifetime – a chance to help Holy Spirit bring another soul to repentance.   

Let me offer you some encouragement:

Holy Spirit is not a 'force' or a 'power' or an 'it'. 

Our text (verses 26-27) clearly speaks of him as a person (see also John 16:7-8, 13-15); he has a gender (male), he exhibits emotions and possesses intelligence.  He is a member of the Godhead/Trinity; he is divine as are the Father and Son.

Holy Spirit is living in the heart of every believer.  As we will discover later in our study of the gospel of John, Jesus has sent him to comfort, lead/guide, teach and empower you in your Christian walk.

How well do you know the Spirit?  Can you hear when he speaks to you?  Are you walking with him daily?  If not, I encourage you to cultivate a closer relationship with Him.  

Let me offer you some relief:

You may have noticed that people do not necessarily 'get saved' when you share the gospel message.  In fact, you may have shared the gospel with the same person multiple times and they still have not surrendered their life to Christ. 

If this is the case with your friend or loved one, let me give you some relief – it isn't your responsibility to save them.  Your job is to love people and share the message.  It is Holy Spirit's job to ignite faith within the hearer so that he/she becomes convicted of sin and accepts Christ as savior.  

So if you are struggling in your witness for Christ, make sure you stick to doing your part and allow Holy Spirit to do his!

Let me offer you some strength:

We noted in our study that there will be opposition to the gospel and its messengers; Christians are hated and opposed by many. 

Frankly, the possibility of persecution can be frightening.  In our own strength and ability, we would not have the power to stand against it.  But here is the good news - you don't need to trust in your own strength. 

Acts 4:31 - And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.   

One of the functions of Holy Spirit is to empower the saints, giving us the boldness to share our faith and stand firm in the face of trouble.  If you are lacking boldness in your witness for Christ, ask Holy Spirit to fill you with his power. 

 

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John 15:9 – "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.  Abide in my love."

As Jesus continues this heartfelt discourse with his disciples just before his death, he touches on the subject of love between the Father, Son and mankind.

This is a topic that even the best of writers, teachers and pastors could not ever hope to fully communicate.  The love of God towards us is so profound, so deep and so past understanding that it seems almost futile to try and write about it.  If you dwell on it too long, it almost blows your mind!

How can we understand (much less explain) a love so intense that the God of the universe was willing to give his own Son to die that our debt could be paid?  How can we explain a love so profound that the Son of God was willing to lay aside his glory, come to earth in a human body and subject himself to pain and humiliation to atone for sin that WE committed?  What kind of love allows Jesus to die at the hands of his own creation?

1 John 4:10 -In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

How can we account for a love that transcends all our faults and reinstates us as God's children and heirs, instead of his slaves (or worse)? How fervent must God's love for us be, if he guarantees each believer a place in his eternal kingdom?   How can we hope to grasp a love so ardent that it allows for mercy to a thousand generations (Deuteronomy 7:9)?

We can't explain the love of God, but that is okay… I am just glad it exists!  It is always a reason to rejoice in the Lord and praise his name.   

Jesus begins by telling us that the Father loves him; he was/is God's beloved Son (Mark 11:1).  Yet God also loved us - so much so, that he gave up his Son to deliver us from sin (John 3:16).  Even in his humiliation as he bore the curse of our sin, Father God continually loved Jesus, and Jesus continually loved the Father. 

John 15:10 – "If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love."

This steadfast and unchanging love was due (at least in part) to the fact that Jesus kept every single one of his Father's commands.  Jesus' love of his Father was displayed in his obedience to all that the Father asked of him. The Father's love and presence were always with Jesus because Jesus always did what was pleasing to Him.

Jesus goes on to reveal that he loves us the same way Father God loves him.  Therefore, the love and presence of Jesus the Son (in the form of Holy Spirit) is always with us whenever we endeavor to be obedient to all he has commanded us. 

Obviously, we will fall short in this regard, but as long as we are diligent and sincere in our service to Christ we don't need to fear, because the righteousness of Christ is imputed to us through his sacrifice on the cross (Romans 4:21-24).  Because of this, we are just as righteous as Jesus in the sight of God. 

So, by keeping his commands we please Jesus and continue to abide in his love.

As we just mentioned, Jesus loves us with an eternal and constant love.  We continue to abide/live in his love by keeping his commands.  This is true because obedience is the way we demonstrate our true love for him (see the commentary on John 14:21).

However, we want to make an important distinction:  We do not earn Christ's love through works; works can never save us.

Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

The keeping of Christ's commands is an outward proof of the love we already have in our hearts because we have placed our faith in him as our Redeemer.  It was his shed blood that redeemed us, not any works of obedience we might complete.

How do you feel about the concept of obedience?

• Does it conjure up memories of doing things you hated, like being forced to clean up your room as a child? 
• Or do you think of obedience as an obstruction that prevented you from doing certain things you wanted to do? 
• Does it remind you of a time when you had to comply with worthless or inane tasks assigned to you by an employer?    

To be honest, obedience isn't always fun.  The act of obedience implies that you have submitted to the authority of someone else, and most people don't like to do that.  Most of us prefer to be our own 'boss' and do as we please.

In the spiritual realm, we are always under the authority and command of God (Father, Son and Spirit).  But God has something that our earthly parents/bosses don't have… perfection!

Because God loves us with a perfect and unfailing love, we can be confident that placing ourselves under his authority/command will result in our good. 

Furthermore, scripture reveals that God places a very high value on obedience:

1 Samuel 15:22 - And Samuel said, has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD?  Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

Jesus is our ultimate example of obedience to God.  He exhibited a perfect, sinless and willing submission to all of the requirements of his Father, including:

• Setting aside his glory and coming to earth. 
• Taking on a human body of flesh. 
• Subjecting himself to the authority of his parents, Mary and Joseph. 
• Fulfilling the law. 
• Allowing himself to be rejected by the Jews. 
• Gathering and training his disciples. 
• Being tempted by Satan. 
• Bearing the burden of our sin, which caused him to be cut off from the Father. 
• Allowing mortal men to crucify him, etc.

The obedience of Jesus is based upon his love for his Father.  That love allows him to keep the Father's commands, which in turn causes him to abide in his Father's love.

In the same way, our obedience to Jesus is based upon our love for him.  Because we love Jesus, we keep his commands and as a result we continuously abide in his love.

John 15:11 – "These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full."

'These things I have spoken to you' - Because of the way our study is designed, we have broken chapters 14&15 up into several sections.  But we must keep in mind chapters 14-17 were a single session between Jesus and the disciples.  So when Jesus says 'these things' he is referring to all that he had spoken to them in chapters 14 and 15.

These would include the promises of fruitfulness in the kingdom, the blessings of obedience, the victory of abiding in Christ as a branch, the gift of Holy Spirit and the boundless love of God.

'That my joy may be in you' – This statement is interpreted in different ways. 

It may refer to a joy that Jesus experiences.  In other words, the disciples' obedience to their Christian duty is a continuous source of joy to Christ.  He rejoices/delights in the faith, holiness and obedience of his people.  His joy in us causes us to experience joy as well. 

Alternatively, it may refer to a joy that Christians experience as a result of being obedient to the commands of Jesus.  In this case, 'my joy' or the joy of Christ refers to a divine joy that Christ gives to the believer once he is redeemed from sin.  Once we are saved, Holy Spirit drives dread and anxiety away from our hearts and replaces it with divine joy.

'Your joy may be full' - In either case, we can rest assured that when the joy of the Lord abides in us, it will be a full, overflowing joy.  This kind of joy is not fleeting or temporary.  It is not based on our outward circumstances.  Since it is derived from a divine source, it never fails or passes away.  It can be yours no matter what your circumstances look like, or what trial you may be experiencing.

John 15:12 – "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you."

Love to God and our fellow man is fundamental to true religion; it is an integral part of both Old Testament Law and New Testament grace.  In fact, Jesus declared that all the Law and prophets hang upon love (Matthew 22:37-40, Mark 12:28-34). 

Paul gives us an amazing discourse on love in I Corinthians 13.  He teaches us that love is the greatest of all the Christian graces.  It is greater than speaking with tongues, the gift of prophesy and even supernatural faith.  It is even greater than all wisdom and knowledge.  Paul goes on to say that even though all of these gifts/graces are desirable and useful, they are as nothing without love:

1 Corinthians 13:2 - And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing. 

As love is the highest expression of God to mankind, it must also be the highest expression of man to his Creator and to his fellow man.

Can we be honest for a minute?  Loving our fellow man may be the most difficult command Jesus gave us!  Our fellow human beings are often selfish, disgusting, idiotic, lazy, irritating, cruel, evil or just plain mean.  Sometimes they make bad decisions, do the wrong thing, or 'throw us under the bus'.         

But once again, our example must be Christ.  We must show others the love which he exhibited towards us.

Jesus loved us before we loved him.  While we were still separated from God, wallowing in the filth of our sin, Jesus loved us.  His great love was evident when he agreed to die for us, so that we could be reunited to the Father.  His love was evident when he took a severe beating/lashing so that we could be healed in every regard – physical, mental and emotional (Isaiah 53:5, I Peter 2:24).

Likewise, we should love others, even when they don't love us.

Jesus loves us unconditionally.  Regardless of what we have done in our past or what we will do in the future, he still loves us.  As long as we sincerely repent of our sin, he will forgive us. 

In light of what Christ has done for us, can we do any less for our fellow man?  If Jesus has forgiven us, can't we forgive others, and in so doing reflect the love that God has for them?

John 15:13-14 – "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.  You are my friends if you do what I command you."

Life is the most valuable thing we possess.  We will do anything to preserve it (Job 2:4).  Therefore, the highest expression of love is to lay down your life for another person.

We have people in our society that take this risk every day, such as policemen and women, firefighters and soldiers to name a few.  Thankfully, they are always prepared to protect and serve us. 

But what we don't ordinarily see are people of great rank and power prepared to die for others.  For instance, the president does not routinely put himself in harm's way for a fellow citizen.  In fact, the opposite is true – he has secret service people ready to die in order to protect him.

When viewed from this perspective, the love and sacrifice of Christ is all the more astonishing. 

• He is a part of the living Godhead, incarnated in human form (Matthew 1:18-23). 
• He was the co-creator of the world along with the Father and the Spirit (John 1:1-3). 
• He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Revelation 19:16). 
• He is the head of the church (Ephesians 1:22). 
• He has a name above every other name, and a time will come when every knee shall bow before him (Romans 14:11). 

Even though Christ is infinitely greater than we are in every way, he was still willing to sacrifice himself for us.  There is no greater love than this (John 3:16)!

With the love of Christ as an example, the disciples must be willing to put their lives in jeopardy in order to spread the gospel message to the uttermost parts of the world.  History tells us that all but one of the disciples (John) was martyred for his faith in Christ.

But the mandate to show the love of God by laying down our lives did not end with the disciples.  It continues even today.  According to the group Open Doors USA, roughly 5600 Christians were murdered, more than 6000 were detained and another 4000 were kidnapped for their faith in 2021.  That is an average of about 15 martyrs each day, worldwide. 

When we love others as God commanded us (and Jesus demonstrated for us), God considers us his friend.    

John 15:15 – "No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you."

Up to this point, Jesus had referred to his followers as servants (John 12:26, Matthew 10:24-25).    

Servants are people who labor under the command of another.  Because they are not of equal rank with their master they are not normally acquainted with the plans, wishes, councils or desires of their commander.  They are not taken into his confidence.   

Friends, however, are different.  Friends are intimately acquainted with each other.  Friends will often take other friends into their confidence and reveal their plans, goals and desires.

Jesus has treated his disciples as friends.  He has shown them the plans of the Father concerning his Messianic office (his death, resurrection, ascension, etc).  He explained to them that Holy Spirit would shortly come to comfort and guide them.  He has assured them that he will go to prepare a place for them and subsequently bring them to heaven.  He has revealed to them the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 13:11).

Furthermore, the life of Jesus was a full disclosure of the Father; Jesus told his disciples that anyone who knew him also knew the Father (John 14:9). 

Having treated the disciples as friends, it only makes sense to give them the title as well.  We might say that all Christ's disciples are his servants and all his servants are his friends.   

Interestingly, after his resurrection, Jesus further elevates his friends to the position of brothers/sisters:

John 20:17 - Jesus said unto her [Mary], Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

See also Hebrews 2:9-13.

John 15:16 – "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you."

'You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you' – Jesus reminds the apostles that they had not chosen him to be their teacher; he had chosen them to be his disciples.  He set them apart to preach the gospel and help usher in a new dispensation of grace to the world.  This honor was not due to their own merit, but to his grace and mercy.   

This knowledge should spur the disciples on to execute their Christian duties faithfully and diligently.

Jesus has also chosen you and me to accomplish specific tasks and perform good works for his kingdom.  We too were chosen by the grace of God, not because of any merit or skill on our part.  In fact, God sometimes chooses us for certain tasks specifically because we are NOT as qualified as someone else.  This allows his glory to shine through us in an even greater measure. 

This knowledge should encourage us to do our best in performing our Christian duties, no matter what they may be.  

'That you should bear fruit and that your fruit should abide' – Jesus has already set up his followers to be successful in his kingdom.  They will not fail.  They will preach the gospel, God will confirm the message with signs and wonders, and Holy Spirit will bring conviction which results in salvation.  Thousands will accept Christ as savior and become 'branches' grafted into the 'vine' of Christ.  Eventually they will also bear fruit. 

The work of the disciples will not wither and die – it will be everlasting fruit.  

'So that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you' – In order for us to be successful/fruitful in the kingdom of God, we are going to need assistance and resources.  We have direct access to everything we need through Jesus.  All we need to do is ask the Father in Jesus name (see the commentary on John 14:13-14), and the Father will provide it.  

John 15:17 – "These things I command you, so that you will love one another."

Jesus has been very clear on this point – mutual love among Christians is demanded above all other things.  Love is the essential characteristic of the new kingdom. 

John 13:35 - By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another.

The hidden love of the Father was manifested towards us in the love of Christ.  Now we must pour that love out upon our Christian brothers and sisters.  This witness of the love of God will draw others into the kingdom.

Love for one another will also ensure the unity of believers.  Division is a lethal weapon in the hand of Satan - if we are at odds with each other, then the house of Christ is divided and it will not stand (Mark 3:25).

Sometimes love does not come easily - it must be a choice.  Through the strength of Holy Spirit, we can choose to love the family of God, and please our Lord.        

Let me offer you some encouragement:

Today's post centers on the theme of God's love.  His love for us is absolutely unexplainable and incomprehensible.  It is far deeper and more intense than we can imagine on this side of eternity.  I suspect we will only know the fullness of it when we stand in his presence. 

The idea of his boundless love should encourage our faith while bringing us peace and joy.  Why not let his love be the basis of your praise and worship this week? 

Let me offer you some relief:

Satan would love for you to believe that God does not love you, or that he loves others more than you.  He would also like you to believe that God's love for you is conditional – that it is somehow tied to your performance in life.  These concepts are absolute lies!

God loves you completely, totally and perfectly.  We should never, ever, ever doubt the love of God for us.  And since God never changes, neither does his love for us, even when we fail.  When those times of failure do come, let's run to his love and forgiveness knowing that he wants to restore us. 

Let me offer you some strength:

Jesus says that the greatest demonstration of love is to lay down your life for someone else.  We generally take this to mean dying as a martyr for your faith, and all of us should be willing to pay that price, if asked.  Through the strength of Holy Spirit, I believe we could.

However, there are other interpretations of 'laying down your life'. 

Think of it this way:  What is the most precious commodity in this world? 

Answer:  Time. 

Each of us has a certain preordained amount of time to live upon this earth.  No matter how rich we become, we can't buy more.  Neither can we beg, borrow or steal it.  Furthermore, we can only spend our time once.  There are no refunds, exchanges or 'do-overs'. 

Therefore, to spend time in prayer interceding for the salvation of another person (or nation) is essentially laying down your life for them.  You are sacrificing your time for them, which you can never receive back. 

You and I may never be asked to die as martyrs, but we still have the opportunity to lay down our lives for our friends – through prayer, fasting and other intercessory activities.

  

 

  

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John 17:13 – "But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves."

As we noted previously, John 17 is a prayer which Jesus prayed not only for his disciples, but for Christians in every era. 

Here in verse 13 Jesus tells us why he has prayed this prayer in the hearing of the disciples – to fill them with joy and comfort.  Obviously, when Jesus is crucified, that is going to diminish the joy of his followers.  But God has already prepared for that; once Holy Spirit comes to indwell each believer their joy will be greater than before – it will be fulfilled.   

What exactly is joy?

Webster's Dictionary defines joy as 'pleasurable feelings or emotions caused by the acquisition or expectation of good; the obtainment or rational prospect of possessing what we love or desire; that which causes happiness'.

Notice that Jesus says the joy of each Christian comes directly from him ('my joy'); he is our joy.  This tells us a couple of things. 

First, true fulfillment in this life can only be experienced through a relationship with God, our creator.  As Christians, God is dwelling within us in the person of Holy Spirit. Consequently, joy comes from within us, not from factors or circumstances outside of us.  This explains how Christians can have joy and peace even in the midst of grief or difficulties.  Joy/peace in the midst of trials is often a strong witness to unbelievers who depend on the world for comfort and happiness.

Second, although we are all looking forward to our eternal reward, God desires for us to live joyful, blessed, fulfilling lives here on earth.  Jesus did not die so that his followers would spend their lives being poor, hungry and beat down.  He died that we might have abundant life (John 10:10).  God has blessed his children with wisdom, knowledge, creativity and resources.  So find something you are passionate about, and glorify God through it!

John 17:14 – "I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world."

Jesus presented God's word to the world and they rejected both the message and the Messiah.  Consequently, the world hates Jesus because he condemns their sin instead of embracing it.  Because Christians have accepted the word of God and strive to be like Christ, the world hates us as well. 

The difference between the Christian and the world becomes more and more evident as we grow spiritually and become more like Christ.  What are some of ways in which spiritual maturity/growth manifests in our lives?     

Spiritual growth is evident when you begin to speak like Jesus does – Christians are constantly feeding on the word of God.  Scripture tells us that doing so will renew our minds (Romans 12:2).  As a result, things that the world finds socially, morally and culturally acceptable are abhorrent to us, because these things are in opposition to the principles of the kingdom of God. 

For example, our culture accepts and celebrates homosexuality and other sexual perversions as legitimate lifestyles.  But as Christians, we know this is NOT normal.  It is in direct opposition to God's law of marriage between a man and a woman.  As we speak up for what God has mandated, the world will hate us just as they hated Jesus when he spoke out against their sin. 

Another example is abortion.  The world around us is in general agreement that there is nothing morally wrong with abortion.  They maintain that the contents of a woman's womb are merely 'cells' or 'biologic materials' which can be disposed of at will.

However, as Christians we believe that at the moment of conception, a child has been formed (Psalms 139:13).  Killing it at any age or stage of development is murder/shedding innocent blood.  And again, as we speak the truth of God into our society, the world will hate us just as they hated Jesus.

Spiritual growth is evident when you begin to act like Jesus does – As you mature spiritually, you no longer give free reign to your fleshly passions and desires.  Instead, you crucify/deny your sinful desires and act more like Christ.

For example, when you were an unbeliever and someone wronged you, your flesh might react by holding a grudge, cursing, vowing revenge, refusing to forgive or even seeking immediate retribution.  If your passions were out of control, you might even murder the one who wronged you.    

But as a Christian, you no longer take orders from your flesh, but from your spirit.  The more you mature, the more you follow where your spirit leads.  Now when someone wrongs you, it may sting or even cut deeply, but because Jesus has forgiven you, you have the ability to forgive your adversary.  This is just one example of the way we act/react differently than the world. 

Spiritual growth is evident when you begin to think like Jesus does – Your thoughts are the place where your actions originate.  For instance, if you continually think about committing adultery, that thought will take root in your heart and grow like a weed.  Eventually, it will produce the fruit of sin (sexual immorality), which brings spiritual death. 

James 1:14-15 - But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.  Then when lust has conceived, it brings forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, brings forth death.

Obviously, we know that Jesus never had a sinful thought, because his thoughts never resulted in the fruit of sin.  His thoughts were centered on the doctrine and will of his Father and they only produced fruits of righteousness.  And even though we will never be completely sin-free in this life, we must strive to think like Jesus did. 

As we fix our thoughts on the word of God, we plant good seeds within our hearts, such as sexual purity.  Because we do so, we will reap purity in our lives.  This places us in direct opposition to the ways of the world. 

The world hates Christ, so as we become more like him in the way we speak, act and think the world will hate us too.

John 17:15 – "I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one."

Jesus has the ability to call us home to heaven the minute we are born again, which would prevent us from facing any persecution or temptation.  So why doesn't he do that?  Why does he want to keep us here in the world?

One reason is because God has given us a job to do on earth.  We are to be fruitful, multiply and subdue the earth (Genesis 1:28).  We are also to spread the gospel to every nation and make disciples of all men (Matthew 28:19-20).

If every Christian was suddenly called home to heaven, who would be left to tell sinners to repent?  Who would be left to enforce the kingdom of heaven here on earth?   

Clearly, we need to be here; God wants to rule on this planet through us.  So instead of immediately taking us home, Jesus prays that the Father would leave us in the world while preserving us from evils such as sin, apostasy, temptation and other snares of the enemy.

Remaining on earth for a time will benefit us.  It allows us to:

* Produce fruit for the kingdom of heaven (John 15:5). 

* Become experienced soldiers in the kingdom who will enter eternity in victory (Ephesians 6:12-16). 

* Earn rewards in heaven (I Corinthians 3:12-14).

* Develop a true and trusted relationship with God, Jesus and Holy Spirit (John 15:4).

This brings up another excellent point - We cannot complete these jobs if we seclude ourselves from the world.  It is right and proper for us to have friends within the church.  It is very encouraging to have fellowship with other believers.  But on the other hand, we need non-Christian friends as well, so that we can show/present the love of God to those around us.  While we can witness to someone we don't know, having a relationship with non-believers allows us a different and exciting opportunity to share Christ.

John 17:16-17 –"They are not of the world, just as I am no of the world.  Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth."

The word 'sanctify' has two separate meanings, both of which apply here. 

One definition of sanctify is 'to consecrate, to set apart for a holy or religious use'.  This kind of sanctification takes place instantly, when we accept Christ as our Savior.  Once we have surrendered our lives to God, he gives us a holy calling or job to fulfill in his kingdom.

This can certainly be said of the disciples.  They had been set apart from other Jews and even other believers in order to fulfill a specific duty in the kingdom of heaven.  In their case, they were to establish the church, open the gospel to the Gentiles and provide us with the word of God. 

God is still sanctifying/setting apart Christians for specific tasks in his kingdom today.  This type of sanctification does not apply to just a 'special' group of people, it is for everyone in the kingdom! 

God has called some of his children to be apostles or prophets or pastors or teachers.  Some are to encourage, some are to care for the poor, some are to administrate, some are to function as intercessors, etc.  Each one of us must examine our own lives and find the specific area which God has assigned us in his kingdom.  What has God set you apart for?  How are you pursuing that sanctification?

'Sanctify' is also defined as 'to make free from sin, to cleanse from moral corruption and pollution; to purify, to make sacred or holy.'  This kind of sanctification is progressive; it happens over time.  It describes the process in which we become more and more like God while becoming less and less attached to the world (John 3:30).

John 3:30 – He must increase, but I must decrease.   

This type of sanctification describes the process that each individual Christian undergoes as they gain control over the flesh, crucifying evil thoughts and passions (Colossians 3:1-17), while simultaneously allowing Holy Spirit to grow his fruit within our lives (Galatians 5:22-23).

This sanctification is produced in our lives by the word of God, which is the only source of truth.

It is interesting to note that just before Jesus was sentenced by Pilate, they had a conversation in which Jesus says he came into the world to bear witness to the truth:

John 18:37 - Pilate therefore said unto him, Are you a king then? Jesus answered, You say that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth hears my voice. 

 Pilate, who was not a believer, admitted that he did not know what the real truth was (John 18:38).  But you and I do!  We know that the truth which Jesus revealed to us is the message of the gospel, also called the word of God (John 15:3, Ephesians 1:13). 

It is the word of God, quickened by Holy Spirit, which works in our hearts and minds to regenerate our spiritual man and make us over in the image of Christ.  There can be no doubt that the Bible is the word of God, and that it is a complete work -  it contains all the truth of the gospel which God wanted to reveal to us. 

No other books or teachings are needed to walk in salvation.  So if you belong to a group which teaches that their particular prophet or leader brought forth a new revelation from God which is necessary for salvation, or which explains/supplements the bible, you can be assured they are teaching a false gospel. 

In summary, we can say that during this prayer Jesus asks the Father to confirm and continue the work of sanctification in our lives through his word and the work of Holy Spirit.  He also prays for Father God to carry on this important work until we leave this earth and enter heaven.    

John 17:18 – "As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world."

God sent Jesus into the world to bring the message of the gospel.  Although Jesus shared that message with multitudes of Jews, he only revealed it in depth to his apostles.  Jesus has now appointed them to continue the work of establishing and spreading the gospel message throughout the earth, by the power of Holy Spirit.

Because it is the Spirit who convicts men of sin and causes the gospel message to take root in the lives of unbelievers, the disciples could have confidence that their preaching and teaching would be just as successful as the ministry of Christ.  In fact, they could expect it to surpass what Jesus did (John 14:12).  As long as they were willing and obedient, Holy Spirit would work through their words to bring conviction and salvation to the lost.

This principle is still in effect today.  If we follow the leading of Holy Spirit, he will continue to anoint our words with power so that sinners will be convicted of sin and drawn to Jesus.       

Just as God protected Jesus, he will continue to protect and defend those whom his Son sends out into the world as ambassadors for his kingdom.

John 17:19 – "And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth."

When Jesus speaks of sanctifying or consecrating himself, he cannot be referring to personal, ongoing sanctification, since he had no sin.  Rather, Jesus is speaking of the act of devoting himself to the exclusive service of God.  In other words, his only focus was to devote himself to the work of redemption; to become both our high priest (Mediator) and the sacrifice for our sin.

Hebrews 2:17 - Therefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.  

Clearly, Jesus sanctified himself for our benefit; as the result of the sanctification of himself, we can be made pure by his shed blood.  This is evident by the words of Paul in his letter to the Ephesians:

Ephesians 5:25-26 - Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word…   

In the Old Testament, priests were sanctified by the blood of animals.  Under the New Covenant, all Christians are royal priests in the service of God (I Peter 2:9); we have been sanctified by the blood of Christ.  And Hallelujah, the blood of Christ has not lost its power!  It can still cleanse any sinner who repents and asks for mercy.

Let me offer you some encouragement:

Jesus makes it very clear that he is our ultimate joy.  Therefore, we can always joyfully praise and adore him, despite our circumstances.  

If you are encountering a rough patch in life right now, I encourage you to take your eyes off of your situation and place them back on Christ.  Recall all the things that he has done for you and all that is waiting for you in eternity.  Let go of the things of this world and let the joy of Christ be your strength.    

Let me offer you some relief:

In today's post we noted that sanctification is an ongoing process in which we learn to crucify our flesh and its evil desires.  That sounds simple, but as we all know, it can be very difficult indeed!

All of us have areas which we can sanctify pretty quickly and we all have areas we are still working on.  It's good to remind ourselves that when we fail, Jesus is right here to forgive us and Holy Spirit is right here to continue the work in our lives. 

So don't condemn yourself if you fail – just get up and get back in the game (Proverbs 24:16).  

Let me offer you some strength:

Jesus prayed that the Father would keep us from evil rather than taking us out of the world.  He knew that with the help of Holy Spirit we could stay here and successfully work for his kingdom. 

But sometimes the road can be difficult.  If you are facing persecution from the world, remember that your strength comes from the Lord:

Psalm 28:7 - The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoices; and with my song will I praise him.