SHOWERS

John, Chapter 19, Part 2

John 19:13 – So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic Gabbatha.

As we concluded our post last week, we left Pilate at the moment of truth – would he crumble under the threats of the Jewish religious leaders, or would he stand for truth/justice and pronounce Jesus innocent of all charges?

Of course, this really isn't a cliffhanger because we all know what happened. Pilate heard the veiled threats of the Jews; they would accuse him of treason if he didn't crucify Christ. He was more afraid of losing his life than his soul, so he chose to try and save/protect himself by giving in to the pressure of the Jews (Matthew 16:26).

Once his decision was made, his only course of action is to pronounce judgment on the prisoner. In our culture, this would occur in a courtroom, where the judge would sit up on his bench and the prisoner would stand before him to receive sentencing. But back then, sentencing occurred at a place called the judgment seat.

The judgment seat was normally located in an outdoor, open court area. In Roman culture, was customary for the floor of this space to be paved with stones of various colors; marble was frequently used for this purpose. Because of the unusual floor this location was also referred to as 'The Stone Pavement'.

John tells us that it was also commonly called "Gabbatha" which means 'elevated' or 'lofty'. This is the only time the word is used in scripture, and it is believed to refer to an elevated bench occupied by the governor as he passed sentence.

As we go through the judgment scene, I encourage you to picture yourself in the place of Jesus. Imagine yourself standing bound and humiliated before the judgment seat of Almighty God where you would justly be condemned for your sin. Imagine the hopelessness of being sentenced to eternity in hell, without any chance of escape or reprieve. Then earnestly give thanks to Jesus for taking your punishment upon himself!

John 19:14 – Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, "Behold your king!"

The day of Preparation is exactly what it seems – the day before the Passover Sabbath, which the Jews used to make everything ready for the Passover celebration as well as the feast of unleavened bread, which commenced the day after Passover.

John gives the time of the sentencing as about the sixth hour. As you recall from some of our other studies, the Jews considered the day to begin at 6 am and they counted time starting from that point. Therefore, the sixth hour means six hours after 6 am, or noon.

But Mark tells us that Jesus was crucified at the third hour (Mark 15:25), which is 9am.

Various explanations have been given for this discrepancy. They include an error in translating the number in the text (6 instead of 3), differences in the division of hours/time between the Romans and Jews and alternate ways the Jews marked or 'blocked' time.

In the end, I think one commentator summed up the situation perfectly by noting 'no solution of the discrepancy is wholly satisfactory'. Rather than spending our time and energy adding to this unsolvable mystery, we are simply going to acknowledge that the discrepancy exists, and move on to other points that can aid in our spiritual edification.

What we know for sure is that Pilate once again brought Jesus outside to the Stone Pavement where the agitated and combative Jews were waiting.

But this time he must have looked very different. He had been up all night. He had been savagely whipped - his back had long, deep wounds; blood soaked through the thread bare purple robe and ran down his legs. He was also profusely bleeding from his head, where the crown of thorns still rested upon his brow. His face was bruised, swollen and almost unrecognizable – the result of being hit in the face numerous times and having portions of his beard plucked out. As a result of blood loss and dehydration, he was probably unsteady on his feet as he stood there, bound in manacles.

Now picture Pilate raising a hand towards Jesus and saying, "Behold your king!"

Perhaps Pilate made this declaration to shock the Jews. He may have been trying to show them once again that, despite their accusations, Jesus was no threat to Rome and he should be released. Alternatively, he may have been trying to garner pity from the common Jews, hoping they could sway the priests. Or maybe Pilate was mocking the Jews – if this was their king, they would always be subject to Rome!

John 19:15 – They cried out, "Away with him, away with him, crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar."

This statement proves that the priests have gone completely mad!

The Messiah was the foundation for the entire Jewish law and all of the promises God made to his people. To reject him was to throw away every grace and blessing of God.

Yet, here we have the priests, who were (or should have been) well acquainted with the law violently rejecting Jesus as their king!

It might be argued that the Jews did not believe in Christ as the Messiah. But even if that is a legitimate excuse (which it isn't), there is absolutely no way to justify their statement 'We have no king but Caesar'.

Did they really prefer the utter tyranny of Rome to the government of righteousness, peace and justice of God's kingdom? Really? Because that is what they were choosing – death and misery over peace and joy.

It wouldn't be long before they regretted their choice. In 71 AD Rome stormed Jerusalem, destroying the temple and massacring the Jews.

John 19:16 – So he delivered him over to them to be crucified.

Although John omits it from his account, Matthew tells us that Pilate, in an effort to ease his own guilt, places full responsibility for the unjust execution of Jesus upon the Jews. He does this by symbolically washing his hands:

Matthew 27:24 - When Pilate saw that he could gain nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see you to it.

Pilate now issues orders – Barabbas is to be set free, while Jesus (and two robbers) is sentenced to immediate executed by crucifixion.

John 19:17-18 - So they took Jesus, and he went out bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them.

Crucifixion was a punishment reserved for slaves and the vilest criminals in society. It was considered such a curse that Roman citizens were exempt from it.

Crucifixions were performed outside of the city walls, and it was not uncommon for the Romans to make the condemned man carry his own cross. It was a punishment designed to not only humiliate the prisoner, but to further weaken him and hasten death.

The other gospel writers tell us that Jesus began to faint along the way and the Romans commanded a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, to bear the burden of the cross for Jesus (Mark 15:21). This was not an act of mercy. It was an unimaginably cruel thing to do; they did not want Jesus to die quietly by the side of the road. They wished him to remain alive so he could be subjected to the unbearable pain, suffering and humiliation of the public death they had planned for him.

This event sometimes raises a question in our minds: Why couldn't Jesus carry his own cross? Why would he need help from someone else?

Here are some possible reasons:

Jesus was in an extremely weak physical state. He hadn't had any sleep in over 24 hours, and nothing to eat or drink in since the prior day. He had been savagely beaten and was bleeding profusely.
The sharp edges of the wood grated on his raw and bleeding shoulders.
Perhaps this was a demonstration for our benefit – it was proof of his humanity. Jesus was fully God, yet fully human. He was subject to all of the constraints and weaknesses of a fleshly body, just like we are. And even though he was tempted like we are, he was without sin (Hebrews 4:15).

We know that Jesus was crucified in the midst of two convicted robbers who were considered the scum of the world. The Jews no doubt rejoiced in this because it seemed to confirm their own allegations that Jesus was guilty.

But we are not fooled by this because we know that long before the crucifixion, the prophets revealed that Jesus would be 'numbered with the transgressors':

Isaiah 53:12 - Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he has poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

We are also not surprised by the method of death. Scripture tells us that anyone who is hanged on a tree is cursed by God:

Deuteronomy 21:23 - His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but you shall surely bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;)

The guilt of our sin could only be removed by the Son of God becoming a curse for us, which he did back on the day of his crucifixion. Because of his sacrifice, we can have full confidence that he has redeemed us from the curse of the law. We are now new creatures in Christ; we are righteous in the sight of God.

Galatians 3:13 - Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree:

2 Corinthians 5:21 - For he has made him, who knew no sin, to be sin for us; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

The more we study the death of Christ the more we find that his death fulfilled/satisfied the wrath of God in even the most minute detail. The plan of salvation is perfect, complete and foolproof. There are no loopholes or loose ends.

For instance, did you know that under the Old Testament law, when an animal was sacrificed for sin, the body was always carried outside of the camp (Leviticus 16:27)? This is why Jesus was crucified outside of the city of Jerusalem.

Here is something interesting to ponder this week – It has been said that the four limbs of the cross reflect the height, depth, length and breadth of the love of Christ, forever extending salvation to all (Ephesians 3:17-19). Praise his name!

John 19:19 – Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, 'Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.'

It was customary for the Romans to post the crime of executed prisoners over their heads as they were crucified. It not only served as a deterrent to crime, it justified the actions of Rome in the eyes of the people.

In the case of Jesus, we find that Pilate ordered the plaque to say 'Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews'. This is a far cry from the words 'insurrectionist' or 'traitor' which were the crimes Jesus were sentenced for.

It is possible that in choosing the title he did, Pilate was delivering a final parting shot at the Jews for bullying him into having an innocent man executed. In a way, the title throws blame onto the whole Jewish nation, which cried out for the release of Barabbas and the bloody execution of Christ. It also ridicules the entire Jewish nation by implying that anyone who attempts to lead/deliver the Jews from Rome would meet the same fate.

Whatever his petty motivations might have been, we know the providence of God was guiding the pen of Pilate. His inscription certainly does not brand Jesus with the commission of any crime.

In fact, 'King of the Jews' is a well known Messianic title, so the inscription was a clear acknowledgement that Jesus was the Messiah. Thus, his true honor/glory was openly proclaimed by his enemy in the midst of his greatest reproach and suffering. Pilate correctly labels Jesus the Author of Salvation, even though he did not know the meaning of what he wrote.

John 19:20-21 – Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin and in Greek. So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, "Do not write, 'The King of the Jews,' but rather, 'This man said, I am King of the Jews.'"

Not surprisingly, the chief priests and religious leaders were angry about the title. They recognized the insult of Pilate and they wanted the inscription changed immediately, so that it placed blame for the whole situation on Christ.

John 19:22 – Pilate answered, "What I have written I have written."

Because Pilate plainly intended to insult the Jews with the inscription (and probably because he was now sick and tired of them), he flatly refuses to change the inscription.

But I believe there was more to it – it was God's sovereign hand that kept the truth posted on that cross in the three main languages of the known world.�It was a message of salvation to the world - the Messiah had come and the way was open for Jew and Gentiles to return to God. It was also a message of warning to the Jews – no other Messiah was coming. If they rejected Jesus, nothing was left for them but the deceptions of false antichrists.

John 19:23-24 – When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, so they said to one another, "Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be." This was to fulfill the scripture which says, "They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots." So the soldiers did these things.

The prophesy that John mentions in this passage regarding the division of Jesus' clothing is found in Psalms 22:18. Now, if the soldiers stripped Jesus and divided his clothing, the natural assumption is that Jesus was crucified naked, or with only a small covering. Knowing the cruelty of the Romans, it is likely they would have further humiliated him by forcing him to die naked.

It has been noted that once man sinned in the Garden of Eden, he was both naked and ashamed. Jesus suffered naked on the cross, that we might be permanently clothed with garments of salvation and robes of righteousness (Isaiah 61:10). All our sin and shame has been washed away!

John 19:25-27 – ...but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mothers sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son!" Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

It is commonly believed that Mary's husband Joseph was dead by this time, but thankfully she was not alone in her grief. We find her supported during this tragedy by some of her friends.

It is hard to imagine the turmoil and heartache that Mary, mother of Jesus, suffered on that day. She knew full well that her son was divine. Perhaps she entertained notions of a physical kingdom on earth for her son, just as the disciples did. If so, this was an even more terrible agony to her. Truly, her heart must have been 'pierced by a sword' as prophesied by Simeon on the day Jesus was dedicated in the temple (Luke 2:34-35).

But even in the midst of his own suffering, Jesus remembers her. In one of his final commands, he made the apostle John her adopted son, and she John's adopted mother. As such, John would provide Mary with a home and all the necessities of life until her death.

Although Mary was not present on the day of Jesus' resurrection, she remained in fellowship with all of the disciples and was likely present in the upper room on the day of Pentecost (Acts 1:14).

John 19:28 – After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the scripture), "I thirst."

As is his custom, the apostle John will skip over many of the events that occurred at the crucifixion which the other evangelists relate. He chooses to focus on the final moments of Jesus' life.

Thirst is a notorious symptom of those who are crucified. Jesus suffered a significant amount of blood loss from the scourging, his wounds were highly inflamed, he underwent the physical exertion of carrying the cross and he was crucified in the heat of the day. No wonder he was thirsty!

But despite his indescribable suffering, he gave the world one last proof of his identity as the Messiah. By admitting he was thirsty, Jesus fulfilled the Messianic prophesy of Psalms 69:21.

John 19:29-30 – A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, "It is finished," and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

The jar of sour or tart wine (your translation may say 'vinegar') was the common drink of the Roman soldiers. The jar may have been provided for them to drink as they worked the multiple crucifixions of the day. However, since there was a sponge and hyssop branch nearby, it is possible wine was provided for the thirst of those being crucified.

In either case, after fulfilling the prophesy, Jesus proclaims, "it is finished"!

What did he mean?

The Father's will and purpose which the trinity decreed from ages past, was now accomplished. Mankind could once again have fellowship with God (Revelation 21:3).

The scriptures are now fulfilled! Jesus did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17). All of the Old Testament types or pictures of the Messiah have received their final accomplishment in him.

Our salvation is now complete. The price of our sin has been fully paid; God's wrath has been completely satisfied (I Thessalonians 5:9).

The fury, malice, rage and revenge of the enemies of Christ was now ended. The suffering and sorrow of the Son of God is over – and it has ended in victory!

Satan is now defeated; the power of darkness is broken. We now have victory through Christ Jesus our Lord, Savior and King! Hallelujah!

Let me offer you some encouragement:

God gave us his all. He gave us his only begotten Son to make atonement for our sin. Once that was done, he made us joint heirs with Christ. This means that all that the Father has is available to us because of Jesus!

In light of that, shouldn't we give our best to him? I encourage you to think of an area of your life that is not yet fully surrendered to God, and make an effort to give that to him this week.

Let me offer you some relief:

Mary, the mother of Jesus, was a widow when Jesus was crucified. But as we noted in today's post, she found comfort in her friends and relatives.

It is no coincidence that the church is called the 'family of God'. The men and women who attend your local church are truly your brothers and sisters. They can be a great relief to you during times of heartache and tragedy by offering you support, comfort and love. And you can do the same for them.

So be sure to get involved in your local church. It is a great place to find fellowship and establish friendships that will last until eternity.

Let me offer you some strength:

Sometimes when we look around the world, it looks like Satan is winning the war. But nothing could be further from the truth!

Satan never, ever, ever had the ability to defeat God. Demonically inspiring the Jews to kill the Savior did not give him victory, it merely sealed his fate for eternity!

So don't be discouraged by what you see around you. Stand firm/strong in your faith and keep praying and declaring the kingdom of heaven on earth. When the appointed time comes, Jesus will return to earth again for his victorious bride, the church. What a wonderful day that will be!

John, Chapter 19, Part 1

John 19:1 – Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him.

As we saw in chapter 18, rage and jealousy had driven the Jewish religious leaders to the point where they would stop at nothing to have Jesus crucified by the Romans. So they dragged Jesus to Pilate's judgment hall and accused him of rebellion against Caesar.

But Pilate won't just 'rubber stamp' this execution. He isn't stupid or uninformed of what is taking place in the city. He is well aware that the religious leaders have arrested Jesus because they are jealous of him (Matthew 27:18). Therefore, he conducts his own investigation and concludes that Jesus is innocent; he posed no threat to the rule of Caesar or the authority of Rome.

In addition to being convinced that Jesus was innocent, Pilate had been warned by his wife not to mess with Jesus:

Matthew 27:19 - When he was sat down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.

At this point, Pilate is becoming uneasy; his conscience is bothering him. He is slowly losing control of this situation. He must maintain peace in the city, but he is also desperately seeking a way to release Jesus, because in his heart Pilate knows he is innocent. Subsequently, Pilate placed both Jesus and the notorious criminal Barabbas before the crowd believing they would chose to have Jesus released to them.

But he was wrong – at the insistence of the religious leaders, the mob called for Barabbas to be set free while they clamored for the crucifixion of Christ.

It is interesting to note that Pilate, a Gentile/pagan, absolves Jesus by the evidence before him and seeks to set him free while the Jews who heard his doctrine, saw his miracles, and were looking for the Messiah, seek to condemn him.

At this point, Pilate orders that Jesus be scourged/whipped.

Public whipping was a common form of punishment back in that day; even the Jews used it. According to the Law, the Jews could never give a person more than 40 lashes (Deuteronomy 25:3). In order to ensure that they never broke this law, the Jews limited each whipping to a maximum of 39 stripes (II Corinthians 11:24).

But the Romans, who were the ones scourging Jesus, had no such limitation. It was their custom to savagely flog prisoners before they were crucified and there is no reason to think that they showed any mercy to Christ.

The torture that Jesus endured during this whipping was all part of the payment for our sin. He was well aware that he was going to endure this pain and suffering (Matthew 20:19, Luke 18:33, etc). But he still willingly endured it in order to save us.

Isaiah 50:6 - I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked out the beard: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.

In addition, God informs us that this punishment fulfilled a specific purpose – it provided healing for us:

Isaiah 53:5 - But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Many people interpret this to mean healing from physical sickness and disease – and they would be right. It definitely covers that. But it is wrong to limit our healing to just physical ailments. The stripes of Jesus also provide healing for our minds, our emotions, our relationships, and anything else in our lives that is broken.

What parts of your life need healing? I urge you to bring them to God and ask him to intervene; the price for your healing has already been paid by our Lord and Savior.

Now, let's ask ourselves this question: What was Pilate's motive in having Jesus punished this way?

Scholars speculate that he was hoping to pacify the anger of the Jews so that he could dismiss the charges against Jesus and let him go (Luke 23:16). But that was not God's plan.

John 19:2-3 – And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purples robe. They came up to him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!"

At this time in history, the Roman Empire ruled the world. So when the soldiers hear that Jesus is a king, it ignites feelings of scorn and mockery. In their opinion, no one had even the slightest chance of destroying the empire or defeating Caesar. And this certainly included the meek, unassuming man standing bound before them in the judgment hall.

Their contempt for Jesus manifested itself in the form of ridicule. Since Jesus claimed to be king, they would make him one!

Taking a mass of needle-sharp thorns, they twisted them into a crown and shoved it down on Jesus' head. The thorns pierced his skin and he bled heavily from these wounds.

Although John does not mention it, the other gospels tell us that the soldiers also placed a weed in the right hand of Jesus, to represent a scepter:

Matthew 27:29 -And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!

Their representation of Jesus as king was completed with some kind of a ragged purple robe. Once he was arrayed like this, they taunted and jeered at him by bowing down and acknowledging him as a king. They spit on him, mocked him, hit him in the face and plucked out parts of his beard.

Mark 14:65 - And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say unto him, Prophesy: and the guards did strike him with the palms of their hands.

Mark 15:19 - And they struck him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshiped him.

These men 'made sport' with Jesus, just as the Philistines did to Sampson (Judges 16:23-25). As they were cruelly abusing our Lord and Savior, Pilate was still trying to think of a way to escape judging Jesus. Once he finds out that Jesus is from Galilee (Luke 23:6-7) he came up with the idea of sending him to Herod. But that backfired on him as well; after Herod and his men further vilify Jesus, Herod returns him to Pilate:

Luke 23:11 - And Herod with his men of war despised him, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.

We now see how cowardly, base and cruel Pilate really is. He believes Jesus is an innocent man, yet:

He has Jesus publicly whipped.
He allows the soldiers under his command to dishonor, abuse and mistreat him.
He makes a friend and ally of Herod by allowing him and his men to do the same.
He will shortly surrender Jesus to death, in order to keep the favor of the Jews.

John 19:4-5 – Pilate went out again and said to them, "See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him." So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, "Behold the man!"

Having scourged and abused the prisoner, Pilate now brings him outside and displays him to the religious leaders and common people.

Now that Pilate has publicly profaned and debased Jesus, it was doubtful that masses of people would continue to revere and follow him. This should have alleviated the hatred/envy of the Pharisees. In addition, Pilate again reiterates that he finds Jesus innocent of all charges. His hope is that the Jews would be satisfied with the extreme punishment Jesus had already endured and drop the charges against him.

Pilate intended the stripes of Jesus to be a never ending reproach/disgrace that would remain with him until he faded into the obscurity of history. Little did he know that these same stripes would cause Christians to revere, love and adore the Son of God for eternity!

John 19:6 – When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, "Crucify him, crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him."

But this did not satisfy the fury and indignation of the Jewish officials. Indeed, it only seemed to aggravate them even more. Notice how unreasonable the chief priests and officers have become:

Even though Pilate finds Jesus innocent of the charges, they refuse to accept his findings. They also refuse to furnish further proof of their accusations and they have no other charges to bring against him.
They will not be satisfied with the extremity of the punishment Jesus has already endured, even though he is innocent.
They do not allow mercy, compassion or justice to influence their actions.
They were willing to risk their own safety to see Jesus destroyed - if they stirred up a mob and a rebellion ensued, the Jews would be slaughtered by Rome.

It was their utter contempt and blind hatred of Jesus which caused them to cry out "Crucify him!"

At this point, Pilate gives them one last chance to check their fury and change the course of the proceedings. He pauses and once again insists that Jesus is innocent of all charges; he ironically commands the Jews to crucify Jesus themselves.

John 19:7 – The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God."

And now we see what truly lies in the hearts of the Jews (Luke 6:45).

The Law was one of the most important aspects of Jewish life. And well it should be - the Law was the covenant between Israel and God; it was an agreement that no other nation had. It set the Jews apart as God's chosen people.

However, over time the Law became a source of national pride. The Jews boasted in having it, but they dishonored God by breaking it (Romans 2:23-24). For instance, we saw that the Jews refused to enter into Pilate's judgment hall on the eve of Passover because they did not want to do anything that would make them ceremonially unclean, but their reason for being there in the first place was to murder an innocent man.

Scripture also gives us the example of the Pharisees who were so eager to obey the letter of the law that they tithed on the herbs growing in their gardens, but they ignored issues of justice and mercy:

Luke 11:42 -But woe unto you, Pharisees! for you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over justice and the love of God: these ought you to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

In the current situation, the religious leaders refer to a portion of the Law which dictates that anyone guilty of blasphemy should be put to death (Leviticus 24:16). Falsely claiming to be the Son of God definitely counts as blasphemy, and this is what they were accusing Jesus of doing.

But just as in the prior examples, they once again attempt to keep the letter of the law while ignoring the obvious will of God.

The Jews failed to fairly and impartially study the claim of Jesus. If they had, they would have realized that the scope of his doctrine did not draw people away from God; it drew them closer to him. He was not abolishing the Law, he was fulfilling it. Furthermore, if Jesus confirmed his mission and doctrine by miracles (which he certainly did), then by Law, they should have listened to him:

Deuteronomy 18:18-19 - I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto you, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.

So, although the Jewish leaders sound very 'religious', they actually perverted the Law and used it as a tool to murder an innocent man.

John 19:8 – When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid.

Meanwhile, Pilate's day is going from bad to worse. When he understood that his prisoner was claiming not only royalty, but deity, he became seriously afraid. The alarm bells of his conscience were now ringing at full volume!

John does not tell us exactly what was causing this fear, but it may well have been the possibility of vengeance. The Romans were polytheistic, which means they worshiped multiple gods. They believed that it was possible for the offspring of gods to visit mortals and thus Pilate was afraid to condemn Jesus and offend one of the supreme deities, who would later take vengeance upon him.

So Pilate is contending with his own conscience, plus the possibility of vengeance from a 'god', plus the huge crowd of Jews who are all stirred up and ready to cause a riot in the city. With all this going on, it was no wonder he was experiencing fear! It must have seemed as if things were quickly spiraling out of control.

Based on this new charge from the Jewish leaders, Pilate returns to the judgment hall to further question Jesus.

John 19:9 - He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, "Where are you from?" But Jesus gave him no answer.

Pilate is now in a state of anguish. What has he gotten himself into? Should he follow his conscience and acquit Jesus of all charges, risking a full scale riot in Jerusalem? Or should he bow to the demands of the unpredictable Jews? Is Jesus a demigod? If so, what punishment will he suffer for crucifying him?

In a desperate effort to find an answer, Pilate returns to Jesus and asks 'where are you from'? Of course, Pilate couldn't care less where Jesus was born; he is asking Jesus if he was a mere human born on earth or if he was a divine being. (Keep in mind, Pilate has no real understanding of the One True God which we serve and his only begotten Son. Pilate is thinking of demigods in the way of the pagans.)

Jesus, however, remains steadfastly silent. Many explanations have been offered to account for this.

Another says this: Jesus had already given Pilate the answer to this in verse 37, when he explained that he was a king, but not a king of this world. Since Pilate could not receive the truth of that concept, neither would he understand the answer to the current question.

1 Corinthians 2:14 -But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Yet another says this: Although Pilate was still debating with himself, Jesus knew that the final outcome was crucifixion. Having already made a reasonable defense for himself, he sees no point in continuing the conversation. Instead, he yields to death on the cross.

Why do you think Jesus remained silent before Pilate?

John 19:10 – So Pilate said to him, "You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?"

Pilate seems to have forgotten the fear that just gripped him moments ago. His pride is offended because Jesus will not answer him and he becomes angry. He insinuates that since Jesus refuses to speak when spoken to, he is showing disrespect to those in authority.

What a laughable thought! Pilate boasts of his own authority as if the world hung upon his every decision. What he doesn't know is that God has put all power and all authority into the hands of Jesus – the very man standing before him! In fact, everything and everyone is subject to him:

Ephesians 1:22 -And has put all things under his [Jesus'] feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

(See also I Corinthians 15:25-27, Hebrews 2:8). If we ever find ourselves in a position of authority, let us take this to heart: Just like Pilate, we have no power and no authority that is not given to us by God, so we have no reason to boast!

John 19:11 – Jesus answered him, "You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore, he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin."

The statement of Jesus that Pilate's power had been given to him 'from above' can be understood in two ways.

First, it could refer to Pilate's official office/job which was that of a magistrate/judge. All civil power is both ordained and limited by God (Romans 13:1). In other words, the only reason the governor of Judea had the authority to judge/decide criminal cases, was because God sanctioned it. So, the authority of the governor (whoever that might be) to release or crucify prisoners came 'from above' by the hand of God.

In this particular case, God allowed Pilate to wield the authority of this office.

Secondly, everything that happened to Jesus had been predetermined in the eternal councils of God before the world began (I Peter 1:18-20). Since God had determined that the Messiah was required to sacrifice his life for our sin, Pilate was given the authority 'from above' to sentence Jesus to death by crucifixion.

The opposite is also true. If Father God had determined that his Son did not need to die, then Pilate would not have been able to crucify him. God was fully in charge of this situation; he was not at the mercy of Pilate.

Both cases show us that Pilate did not have as much power as he thought he had; although he had a free will choice, he had to work under the limits God had determined before he was ever born.

Jesus then goes on to discuss culpability.

In Luke chapter 12, Jesus tells a parable about a house owner who goes on a trip and leaves his servants to manage the property while he is gone. The servants who do a good job have nothing to fear when the owner returns. They will be rewarded for good service.

However, the wicked servants will be punished. Those who were ignorant of the master's will receive a few stripes for wrong doing, while those who were fully aware of the master's will but chose not to do it are beaten with many stripes. The bottom line is that to whom much is given, much is required:

Luke 12:47-48 - And that servant who knew his master's will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know and did what deserved a beating will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.

This spiritual principle applies to the case of Pilate and the Jews. Pilate was certainly guilty of wrong doing. He was fully convinced that Jesus was an innocent man, yet he allowed him to be severely beaten, mocked and abused. He then shipped him off to Herod for more of the same. But Pilate is not a Jew. He does not have an understanding of the law. He does not realize that there is only one God and Jesus is his Son, the Messiah. Consequently, his sin is less than that of the religious leaders.

Meanwhile Judas, who delivered Jesus to the Jewish high priest, and the Jewish leaders who delivered Jesus to Pilate (especially Caiaphas), have a much greater culpability because they knew the law. They had access to the Old Testament scriptures. They professed to be experts at interpreting the law. They knew the Messiah was coming. They knew his work would be confirmed with signs and wonders.

Despite knowing God's will and plans, they conspired to murder the Messiah - an innocent man. They had Jesus arrested and brought to the Romans under false charges.

They intimidated Pilate. They produced false witnesses. They incited the crowd to have Barabbas released and Jesus crucified. Therefore, their sin is greater than that of Pilate.

John 19:12 – From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, "If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar."

This case is not turning out to be the slam-dunk the Jewish officials were hoping for. Pilate is very unwilling to simply condemn Jesus and move on. The possibility that Jesus may be released only fills the Jews with more hate and determination. They have come this far and they will accept nothing less than the death of Jesus, no matter what they have to do. So they 'up the ante' on Pilate.

Having worked themselves into a frenzy, they once again throw charges of sedition into the mix, but now they are not just leveling this charge against Jesus – they are insinuating that Pilate is guilty of rebellion against Rome as well. In effect, they are bullying Pilate!

Given the political climate of that day, this was a very effective tactic.

Rome was actually ruled by emperors. However, after the reign of Julius Caesar, all the emperors assumed the title of Caesar, just as all the kings of Egypt assumed the title of Pharaoh.

At the time of Christ, the reigning emperor was Tiberius (Luke 3:1). He was one of the most cruel and wicked men to ever rule Rome. If he heard so much as a rumor that Pilate was undermining his power, Pilate could look forward to a slow, tortured and painful death. It would be natural for Pilate to fear retribution from him.

The threats of the Jews have hit their mark. The defining moment of Pilate's life has now come - he must make a decision regarding Jesus.

He can either follow his conscience and do the right thing or throw Jesus under the bus in an effort to keep peace and protect himself. Sadly, he fails to do what is right.

Let me offer you some encouragement:

As we noted in today's study, Jesus endured unspeakable pain and suffering so that we could be reconciled to God. In light of this, how could we ever question his love for us?

I know that all of us go through tough times. Occasionally we wonder if God has forgotten or abandoned us, but let me set the record straight: HE HAS NOT!

God assures us that he will be with us until the end of this age (Matthew 28:20). He repeatedly tells us to stand strong and fear not (Genesis 15:1, Psalms 46:1-3). He says that all things work together for our good (Romans 8:28).

So the next time Satan tries to whisper in your ear that God doesn't care about you, encourage yourself by remembering the cross!

Let me offer you some relief:

Pilate sinned in some really ugly ways and so did the religious leaders of that day. But before we cast any stones, we should keep in mind that we too are guilty of sin, which separated us from the love of God.

But there is good news – Jesus has provided relief from our sin. Because of the cross we can be forgiven and restored into a relationship with Father God.

Let me offer you some strength:

How is your relationship with God today? Is it the strong and vibrant relationship you wanted? Or has God been pushed aside in the busyness of your everyday life? Is it possible that you are reading this post, yet you have never actually asked Christ to forgive you of your sin? If so, you can come to cross right now, and find restoration and forgiveness by praying this prayer:

Dear Jesus, I confess to you that I am a sinner. I am sorry for all the wrong things I have done and I ask you to forgive me. I believe that you are the Son of God, that you died on the cross and rose again, and that your blood paid the price for my sin. I invite you to come into my heart and life and to be my Lord and Savior. I commit myself to you right now. Thank you for saving me from death and giving me the gift of eternal life. Amen.

If you prayed this prayer and sincerely meant it, then you have received the gift of salvation from Jesus Christ!

John, Chapter 18, Part 3

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.

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.

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.

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.

John, Chapter 18, Part 2

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.

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.

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.

John, Chapter 18, Part 1

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.

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!

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.

John, Chapter 17, Part 3

John 17:20 – "I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word."

We are now going to examine the third and final portion of Jesus' prayer for his followers.

Jesus makes it clear that he is not praying just for the apostles, but for all people who will be converted by the subsequent preaching of the gospel. Since we can expect to face many of the same trials, temptations and difficulties as the apostles, we are in need of the same grace, the same comfort and the same divine assistance as they were. And thankfully, Jesus provides it for us, just as he did for them!

Now here is an astonishing fact (take a few minutes to consider this): Jesus prayed for YOU when he was here on earth, even though you were not yet born!

Think about how much encouragement and strength you get when your pastor, spouse or a close friend prays for you. How much more valuable is the prayer of Jesus himself!

There can be no doubt that God heard and answered this prayer. After this study is over, I recommend that you re-read the 17^th chapter of John and insert your own name into the prayer. It will give you some profound insight into what Jesus did for you!

In short, we will see that Jesus prays for his followers to have unity, peace, love and eternal glory.

John 17:21 – "...that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me."

The first issue Jesus touches on is that of unity among believers ('that they may all be one'). There are many reasons why Christians should be united.

We are all redeemed by the blood of Christ; we all have the same Father.
We are all going to the same heaven.
We have a common enemy and we experience common temptations and trials.
We have a common goal – to spread the gospel throughout the earth and make disciples of all people.

Thus, it makes perfect sense that New Testament Christians are represented as being wholly united - different parts of the same body and members of the same family (I Corinthians 12:4-31).

Romans 12:5 - So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

On the basis of this union, we are exhorted:

To love one another (I Thessalonians 4:9)
To bear one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2)
To edify each other (Ephesians 4:3, 11-16).

Our example for unity in the faith is the relationship between Jesus and the Father.

This does not mean that Christians are united in every single respect like Jesus and the Father (John 10:30). However, there should be a union among all Christians which is founded/based on our strong union with Christ. We should be united in our plans, councils, purposes and goals. With Christ as our head (Ephesians 5:23), we should be working to obtain the same ends – glorifying God here on earth, spreading the gospel throughout the world, and making disciples of all men.

Furthermore, when we are united with each other under Christ, it is a powerful testimony to the world. The kingdom of darkness is full of animosity, envy, bickering and unforgiveness.

However, when the world sees how the gospel unites us, overcoming contention and resulting in love, it will conclude that nothing but divine influence could make people love and respect each other this way.

This kind of unity was strongly evident in the early days of the church:

Acts 4:32-33 - And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that any of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

This divine testimony of love is extremely powerful. It will convince unbelievers that Jesus (and the gospel) came directly from God; they will desire to know Christ and his salvation.

Of course, the opposite is also true – the more Christians break off into factions or denominations and fight with each other, the less the world respects or believes in the God we serve and the gospel message. We not only hurt his glory when we are divided, we accomplish less for the kingdom than we otherwise would.

John 17:22-23 – "The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me."

Throughout the scriptures, God's glory is synonymous with his power (Psalms 19:1, John 2:11, John 11:40, etc).

Jesus had divine glory (power) before the world began. He temporarily laid that glory aside during his incarnation, and he picked it back up when he returned to heaven. So, just to be clear, divine glory always belonged to Jesus because he is a part of the Trinity. Therefore it would be incorrect for him to say that Father God has 'given' him divine glory.

If God has not given Jesus divine glory, what kind of glory (power) did he grant to Jesus at that time?

This same glory/power will enable believers to 'be one' or to function in unity as his body on earth. And again, this unity and our resulting love for one another will prove to the world that Jesus is Savior and Lord.

Now, let's consider the topic of unity from another angle. Unless the Lord returns to earth immediately, we are all going to go to heaven at some point, leaving the next generation here on earth. So let me ask you a question. If you were about to die in a few hours, and you had only a few minutes left to speak to your children and loved ones, what would you say to them?

I believe that, in general, there would be three topics of conversation. Of course, we would express our love for our kids and family. We would probably also 'make things right' or address any issues of forgiveness and reconciliation that needed to take place. The third topic of conversation would probably be words of wisdom that we want to impart to those we love.

This wisdom would center on things that we think are vital to a successful and meaningful life. We might advise our children to pay closer attention to their spiritual lives, or to marry well, or to spend time with those they love.

Regardless of the specifics, we can be sure that whatever we told them in the last minutes of our lives would be the things we believe are important.

With that in mind, we can't help but notice that in his final prayer, just hours before his crucifixion, Jesus placed a strong emphasis on unity among believers, using the relationship between himself and the Father as our example.

Do you know why he did that? It's because he understood our fallen natures. He saw the dangers of strife and contention within the church. He knows that we have a propensity to become ensnared in pride, controversy, envy and competition. He was well aware that the strife caused by our own imperfections and selfish ambitions would bring dishonor upon true religion and his own precious name.

1 Peter 4:8 - And above all things have fervent love among yourselves: for love shall cover a multitude of sins.

As children of God, we have a responsibility to overlook offenses and unimportant differences of opinion in order to maintain unity in the body of Christ. We should be bound to each other by cords of love. When we are one in heart and purpose, it will show in our actions - we will be effective in spreading the gospel throughout the world and bringing souls to Christ.

John 17:24 – "Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world."

Jesus now expresses one of his most earnest desires to the Father - that his followers will one day be with him in heaven, where we will witness his power, dignity and honor as our true high priest and mediator.

This honor is given to Jesus by the Father, who loved him before the world was ever created. God loves Jesus as both his only begotten Son and as the Redeemer/Mediator of mankind because through the work of Christ we are reconciled to God as sons and daughters.

As followers of Christ, we have a glimpse of his glory now, but we are nowhere near beholding it in full. But if we will believe, love, obey and persevere to the end we will be eternally united to Jesus, Father and the Spirit. What an exciting time it will be when we are present in the throne room, experiencing this for ourselves!

John 17:25 – "O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me."

In this portion of his prayer, Jesus addresses his Father as 'righteous'. Why does he use that description here? It is because he is calling attention to a specific aspect of God's character. As a righteous Father, God will reward each person according to his own work (Job 34:11, Psalms 62:12, Proverbs 24:12).

The world chose to reject God by rejecting his Son. They will be 'rewarded' for their decision by spending eternity with Satan their father.

On the other hand, countless numbers of people believe in Jesus as the Son of God and Savior of the world. We too will be rewarded for our decision by being admitted into heaven when our life on earth is over.

John 17:26 – "I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them."

When Jesus says he has made known the 'name' of the Father, he is referring to the nature, attributes, commands and councils of God. This is information that we would never be able to know or discover by ourselves. We can only obtain it by a special revelation of Christ.

Jesus partially revealed the Father to his disciples here on earth. But they were not able to understand everything he wanted to reveal at that point.

The good news is that Jesus promises to continue revealing the Father to mankind after his resurrection. He did this in person for his followers until he was finally taken up into heaven after 40 days (Luke 24:44-45, Acts 1:1-3).

Afterwards, he continued to reveal the Father to the apostles through Holy Spirit. This practice has not changed; Jesus is still revealing the Father to believers today through the power of Holy Spirit.

Holy Spirit speaks to us through visions, dreams, words of wisdom and knowledge, messages in tongues and through the scriptures. If we will listen, he will still reveal the nature, attributes, commands and councils of God directly to us.

The eternal love of God, which first rested on Christ is now imparted to us through Holy Spirit, as he permanently lives within our hearts. Thus, God abides in us and we in him (John 15:5).

Let me offer you some encouragement:

Jesus prayed for YOU while he was here on earth. How utterly amazing is that?

Immediately afterward, he went to Gethsemane where he took your sin upon himself and then to the cross, where he made atonement for it. Furthermore, Jesus made it very clear that he desires YOU to join him in heaven where you can see his power, dignity and honor. Wow! What more could he possibly do to prove that he loves you?

So no matter what discouragement the enemy tries sends your way this week, just remember – Jesus loves you! The difficulties of this life are only temporary; soon we will be with him in glory!

Let me offer you some relief:

People are selfish and fickle. Sometimes they only love you if you please them, or do as they ask, or perform up to their standards. People will often withhold love from another person as a punishment or as 'black mail' to get what they want.

But don't make the mistake of thinking that God is like that, because he isn't!

The love of the Father, Son and Spirit is totally pure and genuine. They don't play games, they don't base their love on your performance and they never withhold their love from you. As we already mentioned, they loved you so much, they paid the ultimate price for you.

So don't panic if you fail or mess up in your Christian walk. Remember, God loves you because you are his child, not because you perfect.

Let me offer you some strength:

Jesus makes it plain that unity among Christians is very important; it proves to the world that God is real.

Christian unity also benefits us as well. Being a member of a local church is like having a huge, loving family who will walk with you through all the ups and downs of life.

The fact is, God has put them into your life (and you into theirs) to provide strength and support for your life's journey. So thank God for your church family today!

John, Chapter 17, Part 2

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?

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.

John, Chapter 17, Part 1

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.

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 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.

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.

John, Chapter 16, Part 3

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.

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.

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.

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!

John, Chapter 16, Part 2

John 16:12 – "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now."

In his 'farewell address' to the apostles, Jesus has been revealing to them a great many truths and doctrines which would apply to the gospel dispensation.

These truths were more like an outline or framework for what was to come - the message of salvation, the age of grace, the establishment of the church, the coming of Holy Spirit etc. Jesus had not given them the exact details of how everything would work.

There are a couple of reasons why Jesus did not fully disclose his future plans to them at this time:

They literally couldn't absorb all of the information at one time. Studies show that the average person can concentrate/maintain focus for about 40-45 minutes before their mind starts to wander, and information retention starts to decrease. So there was no way the disciples could have learned and retained all of the information they needed to know in such a short period of time.

Some of God's plans wouldn't make any sense at this time, because the disciples were still full of Jewish prejudices and false ideas regarding the Messiah and his kingdom. Remember, they were just now beginning to understand that Jesus wasn't going to immediately establish his earthly kingdom. They were just beginning to fathom that their path was one of suffering and hardship, not one of celebrity and ease in Jesus' new government.

Some of the coming changes were so shocking that no Jewish person could possibly be prepared to accept/embrace them. Think about it for a minute. Under the law, only certain men could be priests but under grace, every Christian was admitted to the royal priesthood. Under the law, animal sacrifices were necessary but under grace all blood sacrifices ceased. Under the law, only Jews could be in right standing with God but under grace even Gentiles were accepted into the family of God. The new covenant was shocking indeed!

Truthfully, the only way the disciples were going to understand the full gospel message was by the aid of Holy Spirit.

John 16:13 – "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come."

In this verse Jesus refers to Holy Spirit as the Spirit of Truth because it was/is his job to instruct believers in the truths of God.

In this particular case, Holy Spirit is going to guide the apostles into truth which pertained to the establishment of the church. Once Jesus had died and risen again, Holy Spirit could open their eyes to the true plans and purposes of God regarding the plan of salvation. Things that made no sense to them at the moment would become clear after Jesus' death and resurrection.

Holy Spirit is described as revealing or declaring 'things that are to come'. Keep in mind that Jesus spoke these words before his final suffering began. Therefore, everything that was about to happen (including his crucifixion and resurrection), were still future events.

Jesus is saying that the Spirit was going to reveal the meaning of events that were to take place after the time he was speaking to them. This would include the necessity of his death and the changes that were going to take place in the new dispensation of grace. Holy Spirit would also open their understanding so they could see how Old Testament prophesy pointed directly to Jesus as the Messiah (for example, Isaiah 53).

The good news is that Holy Spirit's job didn't end with the apostles.

There are still many portions of scripture (the book of Revelation, portions of Daniel, Ezekiel and many of the minor prophets) which have not yet been fulfilled. In fact, God has truths which he will only reveal when the time is right for us to understand them:

Daniel 12:4 - But you, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

Habakkuk 2:3 - For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not delay.

This is one more instance which proves that we need Holy Spirit now more than ever! We need him to reveal/interpret the truth of scriptures that apply to this generation, so we can successfully partner with God and bring his will to pass on earth.

John 16:14 – "He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you."

'He will glorify me' – As we noted before, each member of the Trinity has accepted a different role in the salvation of mankind. The role of Holy Spirit is to establish the kingdom of Christ and to confirm all that Jesus received from the Father. Holy Spirit will always honor Jesus; everything he does will exalt Christ (I Corinthians 12:3).

For instance, the gifts that Holy Spirit gives (word of wisdom, word of knowledge, discerning of spirits, gifts of healing, public tongues and interpretation, etc) are all used to exalt Christ.

When a Christian prays for and unbeliever and they receive a gift of healing from the Spirit, that healing is possible because of the work of Jesus who took stripes on his back for our healing (I Peter 2:24). The healing creates faith in the person who was healed, causing them to place their trust in Christ and receive salvation. Thus, Jesus is glorified by the work of the Spirit.

Another example would be when a Christian receives a supernatural word of wisdom for a brother or sister in Christ. This timely wisdom will somehow edify/encourage or otherwise give victory to the one who receives it. This in turn will strengthen or increase the faith and ministry of the hearer (and all those around him/her). So again, the Spirit is establishing and strengthening the kingdom of Christ, which glorifies Jesus.

Holy Spirit also helps us to cultivate spiritual fruit in our lives (Galatians 5:22-23). When Christians develop this fruit it makes us more Christ-like and brings further glory to Jesus.

Holy Spirit also works to convict unbelieving men and women of sin, and prompts them to turn to Christ for forgiveness. Thus, the Spirit works to increase the kingdom of Christ.

We could give other examples as well, but the bottom line is that Holy Spirit's role in the salvation of man is to establish and confirm the kingdom of Christ. Everything he does glorifies Jesus.

'He will take what is mine' – Holy Spirit did not come to earth to start a new kingdom. Instead, he functions as an ambassador of sorts – he receives his commission and instructions from Jesus. He does the will of Jesus and assists in completing his work upon the earth.

'Declare it to you' – The Spirit communicates/explains/reveals the truths of God to mankind. He does this because of our own weaknesses.

It is important to understand that the revelation that Jesus brought us was not an imperfect revelation that Holy Spirit had to supplement. Jesus brought us a full and perfect revelation from God, but we received his doctrine imperfectly. Therefore it was necessary to have the Spirit illuminate our hearts and guide us into all truth.

John 16:15 – "All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you."

There can be no doubt that the Father, Son and Spirit are all of the same divine essence, wisdom and power. They work together to accomplish their purposes.

Jesus was an ambassador for the Father; he said and did only what the Father told him to. He revealed the Father to mankind. In the same way Holy Spirit is an ambassador for Christ; he comes in Christ's authority as the interpreter and executor of his will.

John 16:16-17 – "A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me. So some of his disciples said to one another, "What is this that he says to us, 'A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me'; and, 'because I am going to the Father'?"

Scholars offer different interpretations of this verse:

One: In less than 24 hours, Jesus was going to be crucified and placed in a tomb. Thus, in a little while they would 'see him no longer'. Then after three days in the tomb, he would arise from the grave and be seen by many witnesses.

Acts 13:31 - And he [Jesus] was seen many days of them who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people.

Two: Some interpret this statement in a more long-term sense. The disciples would no longer see Jesus after his ascension to the Father in heaven:

Acts 1:9 - And when he [Jesus] had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

But they would surely see him again once they died and entered eternity.

Three: The disciples would no longer see Jesus in his physical form after he ascended to heaven. However, once Holy Spirit came to earth and gave them clear insight into the plan of salvation, they would see the evidence of Jesus in the work of Holy Spirit.

Finally, there are some who believe that in 'a little while you will see me' refers to the second coming to earth. Scripture says that at that time 'every eye shall see him' (Revelation 1:7).

Regardless of which explanation you think is best, the end is the same – one day you and I will find ourselves at the foot of God's throne, looking at our Savior. What a glorious time that will be!

John 16:18-19 – So they were saying, "What does he mean by 'a little while'? We do not know what he is talking about. Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, "Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, 'A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me'?"

Many scholars feel that the enigmatic saying of Jesus had a specific purpose – to grab the attention of the disciples and to spur them on towards seeking knowledge. It was time for them to stop feeling sorry for themselves and begin to understand that it was truly better for them that Jesus departed, so that Holy Spirit could come and God's plan for mankind could move forward (John 16:7).

It is interesting to note that God still does this in our day. He may give you a dream or vision which requires you to seek out the correct interpretation.

When this happens to you, be sure to follow through until you have a satisfactory explanation; God is blessing you with a revelation of him or his kingdom (Proverbs 25:2).

Because they are now eagerly seeking out the meaning of Jesus' saying, he begins to reveal the answer to them.

John 16:20 – "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy."

Jesus tells the disciples that his followers would weep and lament when faced with his suffering, crucifixion and death (Luke 23:27). These same events would cause 'the world' or wicked people to rejoice and be glad. In this case, 'world' refers to unbelievers in general, but specifically to the Jewish leaders (Pharisees, scribes, priests, etc) who adamantly opposed Jesus' claim to be the Messiah.

But things are not always as they seem. Jesus would rise again; the sorrow of the disciples would be mitigated. Jesus would return bringing salvation, healing, comfort and peace as well as eternal joy in the world to come. Although the disciples did not fully understand this at the time, they could console themselves with the assurances of Jesus that his death would be for their good.

In all generations (including ours), it sometimes seems like evil triumphs over good. The apparent triumphs of the wicked certainly produce grief in the minds of Christians, but we can rest assured they will not endure.

The temporary triumph of the wicked is the topic of Psalms 73. This powerful Psalm was written by Asaph, a Levite who was one of King David's worship leaders. The first half of this Psalm centers on the grief he feels when he sees the victory/prosperity of the wicked.

But in the second half of the Psalm he talks about entering into the presence of God, where he received a revelation that, unlike the final outcome of the righteous, the 'success' of the wicked was only temporary. When the Lord takes action against them, they will be destroyed in a moment.

If you haven't read this Psalm in a while, you might want to consider doing so this week!

John 16:21 – "When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world."

Jesus uses the example of a woman in labor to further illustrate his point that the sorrow of his followers will be turned into joy.

As we all know, women in labor will naturally experience a great amount of pain until the child is born (Genesis 3:16). But once that happens, her sorrow is swallowed up in joy as she holds her infant.

In the same way, the sorrow which the disciples will endure for the sake of the gospel will not last forever. Any/all suffering they experience will be worth it; they will be eternally blessed in God. And even in the midst of trials and tribulations Christians will experience the joy of Christ.

John 16:22 – "So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you."

When Jesus says he will see his disciples again, he is referring to being with them through the person of Holy Spirit. Since Holy Spirit dwells in the hearts of believers, they can continually enjoy the presence of God at all times. This joy cannot be taken by the world, because its source is divine.

In addition, once Jesus rose and Holy Spirit came, the disciples would be so firmly convinced that Jesus was the Messiah, that no amount of persecution or threats could shake their faith. In the midst of all their afflictions, they had an unshakable source of joy, which no enemy could take away.

All Christians can truly agree with Mary the mother of Jesus who said, "My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior" (Luke 1:47).

Let me offer you some encouragement:

The Christian walk definitely contains elements of sorrow and pain. Jesus never hid this fact from any of his followers. But at the same time, Jesus makes it clear that our sorrow is only temporary. The longest it can possibly last is until the end of our lives; once we go to be with him there will be no more sorrow or tears.

As King David says, 'weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning' (Psalms 30:5).

So when you endure those times of suffering/pain, don't let them steal your joy. Your end has already been determined by God and it is going to be greater than anything you can imagine!

Let me offer you some relief:

The disciples didn't fully understand every single doctrine that Jesus spoke to them. But that was okay because Holy Spirit came to guide them into all truth.

Are there portions of scripture or other spiritual things that you don't fully understand? If so, go to the Lord in prayer and ask Holy Spirit to reveal the truth to you. It may just be that he is standing by right now, waiting for you to dig in and investigate the issue with him.

Let me offer you some strength:

We could describe Jesus as an ambassador of God. He came to reveal the Father to the world and he only said/did the will of Father God.

Likewise, we could describe Holy Spirit as an ambassador for Jesus. He does the will of Jesus and assists in completing his work upon the earth.

The question is, are we acting as ambassadors for the Father, Son and Spirit? Do we listen to God's voice and work to fulfill his commands of spreading the gospel to every nation on earth and making disciples of others?

If not, what is holding us back? Whatever it might be, lets get rid of it, so we can successfully run the race that God has set before us.

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