John 16:1-4

JN 16:1 "These things I have spoken to you, that you may be kept from stumbling. 2 "They will make you outcasts from the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God. 3 "And these things they will do, because they have not known the Father, or Me. 4 "But these things I have spoken to you, that when their hour comes, you may remember that I told you of them. And these things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you.

Jesus has been telling the disciples about their upcoming persecution. He has also been telling them how to maintain their relationship with Him through the Holy Spirit. The reason He has told them all these things at this point is to keep them from stumbling.

 

Jesus’ predictions about persecution are very specific. The disciples would be cast out of the synagogue. In addition, the disciples would be killed – and people who killed them would think they were serving God! The simple explanation for these things is that, even though people believed they knew God, the persecutors did not know God. They did not know Jesus. So they would persecute the disciples of Jesus, God’s sent Son.

 

But Jesus is telling the disciples now, before these things happen. Why now? So that the disciples will not be caught off guard. When these things happen, the disciples will understand both what is happening and why. Jesus has explained it all in advance. And their faith in Him will be strengthened as they hold to His teachings.

 

Why didn’t Jesus warn the disciples of these things earlier. Why didn’t He say, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. Oh, and by the way, the men you fish for will kill you.”? His explanation is that He was with them.

 

The most important thing was that the disciples come to know, follow, love and obey Jesus. That was the focus while Jesus was with them. Telling them these things might have (probably would have) distracted them from getting to know Jesus. But now Jesus was about to leave them. Even though He wouldn’t leave them alone, He needed to reassure them that He would still be there for them after His departure. His love would still be extended to them. Even when they were thrown out of the synagogues – even when they were killed – the disciples were not supposed to wonder whether their relationship with Christ was worth the pain. Jesus wanted it to be perfectly clear to them that the choices were 1) a relationship with Him and the Father while suffering, OR 2) freedom from earthly suffering while outside of a relationship with Jesus and the Father.

 

Father, may I be willing to suffer anything – ANYTHING – for the sake of maintaining a relationship with You through Your Son Jesus Christ. You are worth it. You really are. I’m afraid I might be too weak to deal with real pain, but I want to be with You forever. Strengthen me for every trial. Strengthen all Your children. Hold us close to You, and remind us repeatedly that You know about our sufferings – the ones we have experienced, the ones we’re going through now, and even the ones we still have coming. You know. And You care. Thank You for Your love, and for having Jesus express so clearly that our earthly sufferings are not an indication that You have abandoned us.

 

 

 

John 15:26-27

26 "When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness of Me, 27 and you will bear witness also, because you have been with Me from the beginning.

 

All of Jesus’ talk about persecution was set in the context of comforting His disciples. And the primary way that Jesus would comfort His disciples would be through the presence of the Holy Spirit, who would teach them and remind them of what Jesus taught them. So they would always have a relationship with Jesus, because they would always depend on Jesus’ teachings. Because they proclaimed Jesus’ teachings and did His work, they should expect persecution.

 

But here, Jesus returns to the main theme of this discussion and talks again about the Helper, the Comforter, the Holy Spirit. Jesus will send the Holy Spirit to His disciples from the Father. When He does, two results will occur.

 

First, the Holy Spirit will bear witness about Jesus. We know for sure that He will teach the disciples (John 14:26), but Jesus seems to be saying here that the Spirit will bear witness to the world about Jesus. Jesus will clarify this soon (John 16:8).

 

Second, the disciples will bear witness. This is, after all, what brings persecution to them. They will bear witness, Jesus says, because they have been with Jesus from the beginning.

 

I find the phrase “from the beginning” to be interesting. John begins this gospel with the words “In the beginning (John 1:1),” and it really seems as though He is describing a beginning even before the creation of the world, which takes place in 1:3. But here Jesus says that the disciples have been with Him from the beginning. In some ways, I think these two beginnings are pointing to the same truth. God – the Spirit – can testify about Jesus because He has been with Him from the beginning of all things; the good news has been clear since before the Creation of the world. At the same time, the disciples will testify about Jesus because they have been with Him from the beginning of His earthly ministry; again, the good news has been proclaimed from the beginning of Jesus’ earthly ministry. It seems that we have two perspectives on the gospel here in John – an eternal perspective and an earthly perspective. So we have two beginnings – an eternal beginning and an earthly beginning. And in the Scriptures, we have the words of both the Spirit and of the apostles – of both the One who is a witness to the eternal beginning of the gospel and of the witnesses of the earthly beginning. All the witnesses testify about the same one: Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the good news!

 

Father, thank You for sending Your Spirit to testify about Jesus. And thank You for having the disciples testify about Jesus. Thank You for combining these two testimonies in the Bible, so that I can read or hear and understand Your good news, that Jesus Christ has come to defeat sin and death on our behalf. May I point others to the testimony of those who witness about Jesus! May I bring others to the recorded words of the Spirit and the apostles, so that many more may receive the testimony about Jesus and trust Him.

           

John 15:21-25

21 "But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me. 22 "If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 "He who hates Me hates My Father also. 24 "If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would not have sin; but now they have both seen and hated Me and My Father as well. 25 "But they have done this in order that the word may be fulfilled that is written in their Law, `THEY HATED ME WITHOUT A CAUSE.'

 

Still preparing the disciples for persecution, Jesus urges the disciples to remember that persecution comes because persecutors are opposed to Jesus and the Father. They have no excuse for their sinful ways.

 

First, there would be an excuse if Christ had not spoken to them. But Christ did speak to them. And they hated Him. And if they hated Jesus because of His words, then they hated the Father, because it has already been made clear that Jesus spoke the Father’s words. So persecutors have no excuse for their sins, because the words they reject are Jesus’ words, and not only His, but the Father’s. Ultimately, those who sin against the disciples sin against the Father, because the disciples are proclaiming the Father’s words.

 

Second, there would be an excuse if Christ had not done deeds no one else could do. But Christ did such deeds, and His works came ultimately from the Father. He did His Father’s work. So those who have persecuted Jesus hate the Father Himself. When people reject the disciples’ works, they reject the works of Jesus and, ultimately, the Father’s. There is no excuse for rejecting the Father’s works.

 

All of this fulfills the Law that the persecutors hold so dearly to: “They hated me without cause.” The persecutors Jesus spoke of in this case were the Jews. The Jews would not want to have fulfilled this verse in any sense, especially not in their relationship to God. But that is precisely what they were doing as they rejected the disciples, Jesus, and the Father. The Jews are held accountable for their sins not because they claim to be rejecting God’s words and works, but because they deny that God’s words and works are, in fact, God’s. They should know that these words are God’s. They should recognize the works as God’s. But they refuse to accept God’s words and works, and so are guilty of sin.

 

More broadly, though, some people wonder whether it is a bad idea to bring God’s words to people who have not previously heard them. After all, Jesus says here that those who had not heard His words would not have been guilty of sin.

 

But this is too simplistic. Jesus also says here that those who reject His works (and those of His Father) are guilty of sin. This is why Paul is able in Romans 1 to find all men guilty of sin for rejecting the evidence of Creation. Creation is God’s work, and it should point people toward Him. So all people everywhere have no excuse when they follow other gods, because they have rejected the one true God and have replaced Him with an idol, or even with many idols. We must bring those who are already guilty of sin the clear words of Christ so that they may have at least the chance to believe and be saved!

 

Of course, this is not the main point of this passage. This passage is here to remind the disciples of several things. 1. They will be persecuted. 2. The persecution is to be expected from those who oppose the Father and the Son. 3. The persecutors will be held accountable because there is no excuse. 4. This persecution does not surprise God; He predicted it in the Scriptures.

 

As we follow Christ, we expect some form of persecution. People in all ages have rejected the Father, the Son, and the disciples who proclaim their words and do their works. We can take comfort in the midst of persecution, though. The persecution is not primarily against us, but against God. Therefore, God is paying attention. He will make sure that there is eventually justice. He will defend His name. We can be sure of that. Also, God is not caught off guard. He has predicted persecution all along. And we, His disciples, should therefore not be surprised either. We are not seeking persecution, but as we advance the Jesus Christ’s good news, we can expect it and prepare for it. We can encourage our hearts to remember that our God is in control and is just, and we can endure our “light and momentary trials” because of our faith in Him.

 

Father, help me to trust You even when I am persecuted. Help me to represent You well at all times, leaving revenge and justice in Your hands. You can certainly take care of me. Help me to serve You well.

 

John 15:13-17

13 "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. 14 "You are My friends, if you do what I command you. 15 "No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16 "You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask of the Father in My name, He may give to you. 17 "This I command you, that you love one another.

 

Jesus’ command that His disciples love one another is a command that shows His love for them. The greatest demonstration of love is when one person lays down His life for his friends. Although Jesus does not say, “This is what I am doing,” this is a part of what He is saying. Jesus is about to lay down His life for His friends.

 

It is significant that Jesus calls the disciples His friends. Part of the friendship is conditional; the disciples show that they are Jesus’ friends by doing what He commands. Friends don’t oppose friends; they walk forward together. So the disciples are Jesus’ friends if they obey His commands. But this is still a genuine friendship. It is not just servanthood or slavery. Why not? Because Jesus has taught His disciples everything the Father has said. He is not only giving out commands; Jesus has shared His plans with His disciples. Instead of having a relationship with Jesus based purely on obedience, the disciples have a relationship based on open communication. Part of the relationship involves obedience. But nothing has been hidden. Everything is on the table. The disciples are full participants in the friendship.

 

But Jesus is still the leader in the relationship. He chose the disciples; they did not choose Him. He chose them to bear fruit that goes on, to receive from the Father whatever they ask for in Jesus’ name (in line with His promises and will, revealed to them within their relationship with Jesus). What Jesus wants is for His disciples to love one another. This is to be their obedience, a fruit of their relationship, the answer to their prayers.

 

The world has seen enough sinful relationships. Some relationships are too selfish and domineering, with one person oppressing another. Other relationships are too broad and open, with people not speaking to each other honestly about the need for righteousness and pointing out sinfulness. But relationships of love are friendships. They are open with respect to communication. They are unselfish. They are in line with what Christ calls good and oppose what Christ opposes.

 

Father, help me to live such a perfect love. Dependent on you. In line with Christ’s words. Recognizing what Christ has done for me.

 

John 15:9-12

9 Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. 12 This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.

 

Some people have argued that the fruit Jesus wants his disciples to bear is the fruit of answered prayer. I do not believe so. Answered prayer, rather, seems to be for the purpose of helping disciples to bear fruit. But what is that fruit? I believe that Jesus begins to answer that question here.

 

Jesus begins by saying that He loved the disciples as the Father loved Him. How did the Father love Jesus? Jesus does not say explicitly. But He almost certainly teaches that the Father loved him by commanding Him what to say and do. This is clear because the way the disciples are supposed to remain in Jesus’ love is by keeping His commandments, and Jesus says that He remained in His Father’s love by keeping the Father’s commandments – so the Father must have loved Him by commanding Him. Jesus has testified to this earlier: “For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me commandment, what to say, and what to speak. And I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me” (John 12:49-50).

 

So after telling the disciples to remain in His love by keeping His commandments, Jesus says that He has told the disciples these things so that they might have His joy and so that their joy will be complete. Obeying Jesus’ commands brings joy. How so? When we live the way God tells us to live, we demonstrate our relationship with God. The better we live, the better we are listening to Him and the more we are depending on Him for direction and guidance. It brings great joy to know that we are fellowshipping with Jesus!

 

Jesus obviously has commanded many things. But in this passage, He gives one specific command: Love one another. The disciples were to love one another just as Christ had loved them. In the immediate context, this means that the disciples are to teach and remind each other of Jesus’ words just as Jesus taught them the words of God. God’s words – Jesus’ words – are the basis for our relationship with Him. It is great love for one disciple to remind another of Jesus’ words, because it spurs fellow-disciples toward a deeper relationship with Jesus and, through Him, with God. Of course, we know that to love one another as Christ loved them means, in the greater context, that disciples are to lay down their lives for each other. But this is the command Christ gives to His disciples: to love one another.

 

So what is the fruit of a relationship with Christ, of answered prayers: at least one such fruit is love. Love is the fruit the disciples are to produce as a result of their relationship with Christ, and that love will continue to spur people toward a relationship with Him. A fuller list of the fruit can be found in Gal. 5:22-24. This fruit springs from our relationship with God – from listening always to His words and responding with prayer, which He answers. This is the fruit that glorifies God and shows that we are Christ’s disciples (John 13:35).

 

Father, first of all, help me to obey whatever commands Christ gives. Help me to receive even Christ’s commands as His love toward me, guiding me into a closer relationship with Him and shaping my heart to conform to His. Help me to remain in Christ’s love, keeping His commandments. I depend on them, on Him, on You. And as I live this way, complete my joy by reminding me that this kind of living comes from a relationship with You! What a blessing! Help me especially to bear the fruit of love toward other disciples. Help me to encourage others with Your words and to lay down my life to meet their deepest needs. Joyfully. I ask all these things in Jesus’ name. Please give me what I ask so that others may know that I am your disciple and so that You will be glorified through my life. Amen.

 

John 15:5-8

5 "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing. 6 "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch, and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you. 8 "By this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.

 

As Christ continues to talk to His disciples, He begins to tell them how necessary it is that they hold on to their relationship with Him. He is the vine; they are the branches.

 

Logically, in this kind of a relationship, a branch is incapable of producing anything worthwhile without its vine. So the disciples’ relationship with Jesus is necessary for them to have any hope of living worthwhile lives. Without Him they can do nothing.

 

What if they neglect their relationship? Just like a branch that has no relationship with its vine, they are thrown aside and wither. Eventually such disciples are treated like trash – gathered up and burned in fire. It sounds harsh. I suppose it is. But it makes sense. What else can you do with lifeless branches? What else can God do with lifeless people?

 

Jesus encourages His disciples again to cling to their relationship with Him. Why? Because this brings glory to the Father. How? If the disciples cling to the relationship, holding on to Jesus’ words and living by them, then when they ask for what they want, Jesus will give it to them. And when Jesus gives them what they want and ask for within this solid relationship, it will glorify the Father because Jesus’ gifts will produce much fruit through their lives and prove that they are really Jesus’ disciples.

 

So the disciples need Jesus if they want to bear fruit. They need Jesus if they want to show that they are Jesus’ disciples; there is no following a dead Jesus. Ultimately, the disciples need Jesus if they want to glorify God. And they maintain their relationship in two basic ways: 1. continuing to listen to Jesus’ words and 2. responding to His words by prayer and dependence. This is the relationship that Jesus promises will produce His fruit in the disciples lives and glorify His Father.

 

Father, remind me always to maintain my relationship with Jesus. May I sense with my whole being how much I need Jesus’ words. When I read them or hear them, may I really hear them and respond with prayer, crying out for Jesus to give me the blessings He talks about, to protect me from the dangers He describes, to teach me right choices and righteous living, to guide me in introducing Him to others. As I maintain my relationship with Jesus, be glorified by producing Your fruit in and through me.

 

John 15:1-4

JN 15:1 "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it, that it may bear more fruit. 3 "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

 

On the night He was betrayed, Jesus continued to teach His disciples about how to live for Him after His return to the Father. One way that He did so was through this illustration about a vine. In his illustration, Jesus Himself is the vine, His Father is the gardener and the disciples are the branches. Everyone in this illustration wants to produce fruit. The Father’s role is to shape the branches of the vine for maximal fruit production. Jesus’ role is to nourish and support the branches. The disciples’ role is to bear fruit in dependence on Christ, the vine. What does this look like in life?

 

Some disciples (so-called) bear no fruit. It becomes evident to the Father – often before it is evident to the rest of us disciples – that they are not really united with the rest of the disciples and with Christ in our goal of bearing fruit (note: fruit is not defined more specifically yet, so I’ll not say exactly what fruit God is aiming for until it is). The Father removes them. Perhaps that means that He moves the church to perform church discipline. Perhaps it means physical death (certainly a possible divine discipline – see 1 Cor. 11:29-30). Or anything in between that keeps them from slowing down the church’s work of bearing fruit.

 

Other disciples bear fruit. But the Father does not leave them alone. His work is to form them into more productive disciples. He prunes/cleans them. What does that mean, practically speaking? Jesus tells His disciples that they are already pruned/clean because of His word. It is what we currently hold as the Scriptures that cleans us!

 

Again, how? Well, 2 Timothy 3:16 tells us that Scriptures can be used to teach people. As disciples we certainly need to learn the truth so that we can live it. 2 Timothy also teaches, though, that Scriptures are good for rebuking people. Sometimes disciples do not live in line with God’s will. When that happens, Jesus’ words rebuke them and make them realize that they are not submitting to God’s will. This can happen through their own reading or when other disciples approach them with loving Scriptural guidance. Further, Jesus’ word corrects disciples who are in the wrong; in other words, it doesn’t just tell them they’re off track, but also helps them to get back on track. Finally, the Scriptures train disciples in righteousness. By hearing and obeying Jesus’ words, disciples learn to live righteous lives that are completely dependent on Jesus.

 

So the Father prunes, or cleans, disciples through Jesus’ word. And this makes it so that disciples bear more fruit. No wonder Jesus urged His disciples, “Remain in me, and I will remain in you.” Jesus has already made in clear before that what He means is that the disciples will be in relationship with Him so long as they treasure and hold on to His words. Jesus’ words are the basis for our relationship with Him, and they are also the way that the Father cleans us of whatever keeps us from fully living to produce His fruit. Every day we need Jesus; every day we need His word.

 

Father, remind me how much I need You and Your Son every day. Remind me to love Your words – to depend on them and obey them. I want to bear Your fruit.

 

John 14:28-31

28 "You heard that I said to you, `I go away, and I will come to you.' If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced, because I go to the Father; for the Father is greater than I. 29 "And now I have told you before it comes to pass, that when it comes to pass, you may believe. 30 "I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me; 31 but that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go from here.

 

Jesus again repeated His main points: “I am going away, and I am coming back to you.” How did He want the disciples to respond?

 

Two ways:

 

1. Rejoicing. This should be the natural response of any friend who hears about Jesus’ promotion. Jesus gets to be with the Father! Why is this good? The Father is greater than Jesus! That’s what Jesus says. Yes, both are God. Yes, the Father glorifies the Son and the Son glorifies the Father. But ultimately, Jesus obeys the Father and calls the Father greater, even though Jesus says to us and does for us everything the Father says and does. So as great as Jesus is, His disciples should be really glad that Jesus gets to be with the Father, who is greater!
2. Faith. Jesus has predicted His departure in advance. He did this specifically so that the disciples, when Jesus left, would understand that He even knew how He would go: His death. They would still have Jesus’ words, and by believing Him they would know that they still had a relationship with Jesus. Although by outward appearances the possibility of a relationship would be cut off, the fact that Jesus knew and described precisely how the relationship would continue – and that He told His disciples – would now form the basis of their ongoing relationship with Him.

 

There was not much time left, though. The ruler of the world was coming. Satan was on His way. But quickly, before His disciples could form some false notion that Jesus was serving Satan’s purposes, Jesus said that He had nothing to do with Satan. What Jesus was about to do would prove to the world that Jesus loved the Father (not Satan) and that Jesus obeyed the Father fully. Satan just happened to be the means, the very willing tool by which the Father brought Jesus to the cross.

 

Apparently Jesus said all this while still in the upper room. At this point, He said to His disciples, “Arise, let us go.” The rest of His teaching from here on must have been taught as they walked from Jerusalem to the Mount of Olives and, perhaps, for a while at the Mount of Olives.

 

Father, I do rejoice! And I believe! Jesus predicted His return to You. He predicted His death. And it happened as He said. I rejoice that He is with You now. His death was not the end of our relationship, and so I can have a relationship with You! Thank You!

 

Grand Canyon part 2

We woke up Sunday morning, packed our gear, and got ready to descend into the Grand Canyon with everything on our backs. Before we began to hike, we saw a small herd of elk on the campgrounds and stopped near them. It was wonderful to watch these enormous, fearless, and seemingly gentle animals nuzzling through the snow to find food right there in front of us. And then we headed to the Canyon. We took the South Kaibab trail, about 6 miles long, down into the Canyon. With heavy packs on our backs, this downward hike had us all hurting – muscles, knees, etc. But it was amazing! We started off in snow. Yes, it was snowing as we climbed down from the top. The temperature grew gradually warmer as we descended, so the snows turned to light and intermittent rains, and our jackets went eventually into our packs as our bodies heated up from the effort and rising temperature. We saw some amazing views. In fact, we stopped for lunch in one of the most amazing sights ever. I hadn’t thought about what it would look like once I was down inside the Grand Canyon. But once I was down inside, I felt as though I was looking up at beautiful mountains! Near the top, the redish rock was more exposed, and as we descended, more herbs grew (sparsely) and the canyon walls began to appear more green. And at the top were dustings of snow. It was simply gorgeous.

 

We were exhausted when we got to the bottom early in the afternoon. Exhausted and sore. And we had nothing to do. We hadn’t brought books, or even cards. So we set up camp. It was raining, so we all crowded into one of our tents. And we ate some oreos. That was nice.

 

I woke up a half an hour later, or maybe an hour later. We got out of the tent, but even that simple action required some effort (because of the soreness). We hobbled around the camp, finding out information about what we could do the next day. We also went down a path, where Daniel saw a great opportunity for rock climbing and took advantage of the opportunity. Not much else happened. The day ended. We went to sleep. It rained.

 

Grand Canyon part 1

I had a wonderful time! On Thursday, March 13^th, I flew from Louisville, KY, through Cleveland, OH, to Phoenix, AZ. My rental car was upgraded to a PT Cruiser (pastel yellow – that was interesting), and I drove down to Mike and Kylie’s place in Sierra Vista, where I stayed that night. I was warmly received and had fun witnessing as Kylie threw a water bottle at Mike’s back and he later spewed his mouthful of water all over her, both laughing all the while. I had my first clutzy experience of the trip that night when I picked up a melted candle and dripped wax all over the oven. So we all got familiar with each other quickly as we laughed quite a bit, then went to bed.

 

On Friday I went with Mike to the army base where he works. We spent a lot of the day joking around with his fellow soldiers (we put our lives in their hands???), which was a lot of fun. We had to stay on base longer than Mike had anticipated. We spent some of our time in the on-base store, where I bought a wonderful pair of gloves – both thin and weather resistant/warm. And later we found that Mike had to stay on base because he was receiving a new assignment. He will be driving his superiors around. This may sound boring, but it gives him a great opportunity. His superiors will get to know him, and this exposure could get him promoted much more quickly. The fact that they specifically chose him as a driver because of his excellent work so far (as opposed to “his work is shoddy, so we’ll just have him drive”) also points this direction. It was pretty cool to be there on the day when Mike was given this important new assignment.

 

Friday evening we ate supper together. After a while sitting together in front of the TV, we went to Outback Steakhouse to eat dessert. It was wonderful. My dessert was some sort of chocolate wonder, but Mike got to hassle the waitress a bit (in jest) when he discovered that his desired dessert was unavailable. We met three of Mike’s army companions at the restaurant and had some light conversation. We also entered into some deeper discussions, the most memorable of which had to do with the ongoing war in (not against) Iraq.

 

That pretty much concluded my visit with Mike and Kylie, though. The next morning I drove back to Phoenix early so that I could meet up with Dad Wetmore and Daniel. The timing worked out perfectly, and we were soon on the road to the Grand Canyon in a much smaller rental, a Toyota Yaris. We managed to fit ourselves and everything in and had a fun drive. At one point we plowed into an enormous tumbleweed that rolled across the road – and found (fortunately!) that tumbleweeds are very light and weak; we smashed it to pieces, and later had the pleasure of watching an SUV do the same thing! On our way, we stopped to buy food for the week – lots of granola bars, cans of chicken, mashed potatoes, noodles, bread… and one box of oreos. With the food taken care of, we continued into nowhere and eventually arrived at the Grand Canyon.

 

It grew colder as we set up camp. And we discovered something important. I had borrowed a two-person tent for Daniel and me. Instead of being 6’ by 5’, this tent (Walmart brand, Ozark Trails) was 5’8” by 4’8”. Believe it or not, Daniel and I managed to sleep through the night – and the next night – in that tent together. But again, it was cold. It snowed that night.

 

John 14:25-27

Jesus has taught His disciples while He has been with them. What has He taught them? He has taught them to love Him by obeying His teachings. He has taught them that His words are the Father’s words, and that those who obey His words have peace with the Father, who loves them.

 

But Jesus has also been saying that He is going away. What will they have left? The Holy Spirit. The Counselor sent from the Father in Jesus’ name. What will He do? The Holy Spirit will do exactly what Jesus has done – He will teach the disciples all things and remind them of Jesus’ teachings.

 

What does that mean for the disciples? Peace with Jesus. Jesus is leaving His words with them, because Jesus is leaving another teacher with them – the Holy Spirit. Even though Jesus is gone, the disciples can know that Jesus and the Father still love them. Jesus has made sure that there is a way for the personal relationship to continue! So even though He is about to leave, Jesus says, “Do not let your heart be troubled or afraid.”

 

Ever since Pentecost, Jesus has sent His Holy Spirit to be with His followers, to teach them His words so that they may have a relationship with Him and with the Father. What a great comfort to know that even though we do not see Jesus, He has given us peace with Him!

 

Father, thank You for this offer of peace You have extended through Jesus to us. Thank You for continuing to offer us a personal relationship with You through Your word and by giving us the Holy Spirit to teach us. You are so good to us! May our hearts be comforted as we realize how much You have done to take care of us, to make sure that Your love for us is clear.

 

John 14:22-24

Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, "Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us, and not to the world?" Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and make Our abode with him."He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father's who sent Me.

 

When Judas (not Iscariot) is confused and asks Jesus why He would reveal Himself only to those who loved Him and not to the world, Jesus’ answer is interesting. The distinction He draws is simple.

 

The difference between those who love Jesus and those who don’t is their response to His words. In this passage, it is clear that Jesus has not kept His words away from those who do not love Him. So everyone has Jesus’ words available. But the response is the difference.

 

One response is to receive (both treasure and obey) Jesus’ words. The Father loves the person who does this. Jesus promises that He and the Father will come to this person and make their home with him. The one who receives Jesus’ words, therefore, receives a relationship with the Father and Son, so Jesus is obviously revealing Himself to this person.

 

The second response is to reject (neither treasure nor obey) Jesus’ words. Anyone who rejects Jesus’ words is really rejecting the Father’s words. The implications are obvious: this person will not be loved by the Father, whose words he has rejected. The Father and Son will neither come to him nor make their home with him. There is no relationship, so Jesus does not reveal Himself to this person.

 

Jesus’ words (which are the Father’s words) are the foundation for our relationship with Him. He has opened the door we could not open; He has made a relationship with God possible. Yes, by His death on the cross, but also by His initiative in speaking to us. And our response to His words is of utmost importance. Our response shows whether we want a relationship with God or not. Jesus reveals Himself to those who are willing to listen to Him – not just to other people’s thoughts about Him – to Him.

 

Father, may we listen to Jesus. To You. May we all receive the relationship You have offered us by Your word.

 

John 14:15-21

John 14:15-21

 

"If you love Me, you will keep My commandments."And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not behold Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you, and will be in you."I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you."After a little while the world will behold Me no more; but you will behold Me; because I live, you shall live also."In that day you shall know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you."He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me; and he who loves Me shall be loved by My Father, and I will love him, and will disclose Myself to him."

 

Love for Jesus will be expressed by keeping His commands. He says so right here. But this is not a one-way love. Jesus loves His disciples, too, so He promises to do something for them: He will ask the Father and send another Counselor, the Spirit of truth, so that they can have a heavenly Counselor forever.

 

The world cannot receive the Spirit simply because it neither sees nor knows Him. So how can the disciples receive Him? Jesus says that they know the Spirit. This may have been news to them, but that’s not surprising, since it was just news to them that they had seen the Father already. Jesus’ first proof that they know the Spirit is that He lives with them already. How? The same way they’ve already seen the Father: Jesus. If they know Jesus, by His words and works, then they know the Spirit. Jesus’ second proof that they know the Spirit is that the Spirit will be in them. Since they can’t receive Him unless they know Him, they must know Him, because they will definitely receive Him. What does it ultimately mean for the disciples that Jesus and the Father will send them the Spirit of truth? It means that even though Jesus is leaving, He is not leaving the disciples alone. He will take care of them and guide them. “I will not leave you as orphans. I am coming to you.” Just as the disciples know the Father and the Spirit because they know Jesus, they have Jesus with them when the Spirit is with them. The Father, the Son, and the Spirit all do the same works and use the same words. Knowing One is knowing all. Having One is having all.

 

Jesus again says that He is leaving. The world won’t see Him anymore. But the disciples will still see Him. How? Because the disciples and Jesus are both alive! Those who have life can relate to each other. The dead cannot. And when Jesus is gone, but the disciples still see Him, they will understand 1) that Jesus is in His Father, 2) that the disciples are in Jesus, and 3) that Jesus is in His disciples. How will they understand this? First, because they will have and keep Jesus’ commandments, so it will be clear that they love Jesus. Clearly, there will still be a love relationship if the disciples are obeying their Lord. Second, they will be loved by the Father and by Jesus, which will be evident because Jesus keeps revealing Himself to the disciples.

 

If Jesus is not revealing Himself today, then He is not loving His disciples today, which means that we no longer have a true relationship with Him. But Jesus does reveal Himself. He continues to teach us about His love and good intentions for us, and about how we should live in order to please Him. He has left His words with us, and He has sent His Spirit to us to teach us those words and make sure that they reveal Jesus to us. So Jesus’ words are evidence of His love for His disciples. Let’s make sure we respond with love by obeying His commands.

 

Father, thank You that Jesus took time to explain before He left how a relationship with Him could continue once He was gone. Help us, Your children, to pursue that relationship wholeheartedly.

           

John 14:12-14

"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go to the Father."And whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son."If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.”

 

Notes:

1)      The one who believes in Jesus

a.       Shall do the works Christ does

b.      Shall do greater works than these (the works done so far)

                                                              i.      Why? How? Because Christ is going to the Father

2)      Christ will do the works

a.       The works that we ask in His name

b.      So that the Father may be glorified through Christ

c.       Reaffirmation: If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.

 

We just saw that Christ is in the Father and the Father is in Christ because Jesus speaks God’s words and does God’s works, and this is how Jesus can claim that those who know Him know the Father. In the same way, those who believe in Christ will do Christ’s works (which are the Father’s works), though the ultimate source of the works will be Christ and, through Him, the Father. The works done by those who believe in Christ will be the Father’s works, so that as we ask in Christ’s name, the works we do will glorify the Father. So long as we’re asking in Christ’s name (asking for things, in other words, that will bring glory to God), Christ will do it.

 

Father, help me to believe this. And to understand it fully, so that I actually ask for things that will bring You glory. Too often I have asked for things that I think would be amazing and that would demonstrate Your glory, but haven’t really asked for things in order to glorify You. But may I live this way, speaking Christ’s words and doing Christ’s works – which are Your words and Your works – so that You may be glorified through me, through Christ. May my life proclaim Your glory.

 

John 14:8-11

Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us." Jesus said to him, "Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how do you say, `Show us the Father'?"Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works."Believe Me that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me; otherwise believe on account of the works themselves.

 

Notes:

1. Setting/Intro: Although Jesus has just taught the disciples that those who know Him know the Father, Philip asks to see the Father.
2. Jesus puts the principle he has just taught in reverse:
1. Principle: Those who know Jesus know the Father.
2. Reverse: If Philip doesn’t know the Father, he doesn’t know Jesus.
3. Point: But Philip knows Jesus. How can he say, “Show us the Father”?
3. What is required to understand this:
1. We must believe Jesus when He teaches that He is in the Father and the Father is in Him.
2. We must believe Jesus when He claims that He speaks only the Father’s words.
3. We must believe Jesus when He announces that the works He does are His Father’s works.
4. Jesus appeals to His disciples to believe Him, and if they have a hard time with that, to believe the works He has done (which are clearly God’s works, not man’s)

 

We still have a record of Jesus words, His claims that 1) He is in the Father and the Father is in Him and that 2) He speaks only the Fathers words. We still have a record, also, of Jesus’ works. When we examine Jesus’ words, is it not clear that they are from God? But some are skeptical. Anyone can say good things, right? Anyone can make great claims, right? Aren’t there many religions based on pretty good teachings? What is it that makes Jesus’ words so distinct? Rather than trying to overcome this skepticism with more words, Jesus appealed to His works. Did man do them, or did God? As soon as we recognize that Jesus works are from God, we should understand that His words are from God. And His words include the claim that He is in the Father and the Father is in Him. If a person knows Jesus, he knows the Father. Their words are the same, and so are their works. If we believe we know Jesus’ character, heart, thoughts, power, authority, and glory because we have the record of His words and actions, then we know the Father’s character, heart, thoughts, power, authority, and glory – we have His words and actions recorded, too.

 

Father, thank You that You have revealed Yourself to me and to all. Continue to show everyone Your words and Your powerful works through Jesus Christ so that they may know Him and You. Thank You that I do not have to see You to know You, because You continue to speak to people through Your Word. May I listen to You carefully so that I know You better.

 

John 14:1-7

“"Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me."In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you."And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also."And you know the way where I am going." Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me."If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him."

 

Notes:

1. This is intended as comfort following Jesus’ assertion that He is going where the disciples cannot follow.
1. The comfort is based in faith in both God and in Jesus
2. There is room in God’s house for the disciples

                                                              i.      Jesus would have told them if it was otherwise

                                                            ii.      Jesus Himself is going to prepare a place for them

3. Jesus will come again to receive the disciples so they can be together with Him.
4. Jesus tells them that they know the way to where He is going, His Father’s house.
1. The disciples have a hard time being comforted, but Jesus teaches them that He is their comfort
1. Thomas voices their confusion

                                                              i.      “We don’t know where you are going.”

                                                            ii.      [Therefore], “How can we know the way?”

2. Jesus clarifies His meaning:

                                                              i.      “I am the way and the truth and the life.”     

1.      No one comes to the Father except through me. (so the Father is our destination)

2.      If you know me, you will know my Father also. This is what it means for Jesus to be the way, truth, and life. Our hope is to know God. We do so by knowing Jesus. (Many have interpreted this verse as a mild rebuke, as though Jesus were telling the disciples that they should be ashamed for not having known Him well enough. NIV, KJV, NASB all translate it this way. Jesus soon rebukes Philip for a statement that claims not to know Jesus.  But the NRSV translates it the way I take it. It seems that Jesus is here still teaching his disciples. His goal, after all, is their comfort. Clarifying their confusion will aid their comfort.)

                                                            ii.      “From now on you know Him (the Father) and have seen Him.”

1.      Again, if Jesus is seeking their comfort, can there be any greater joy?

2.      Jesus is teaching the disciples that because they know Jesus, they know the Father. And now they should know that they know the Father (before they didn’t).

 

Our comfort is Christ. Our comfort is the Father. Our comfort is God. This is the comfort Jesus leaves with His disciples as He prepares to go where they cannot go. As they wonder what they will do without their master, as they think about how directionless they will feel, Jesus provides them with comfort. And that comfort is Himself. Jesus says, “Trust me.”

 

What are they supposed to trust in? First, there are many rooms in God’s house. Second, Jesus is coming back to bring His disciples to be with God. Third, the disciples know the way (so they will arrive). What is that way to God? Jesus Himself.

 

We have the same comfort today. Jesus is still the way to God. We can still look forward to finding a place in God’s house. We can still look forward to Jesus’ return, when He will take us to be with God. Although Jesus is not here, we have His words, so we can trust Him. And He promises that our trust in Him will bring us to the Father. If we know Jesus, we already know the Father, so we will certainly be welcomed into His house! If we know Jesus, this promise is for us!

 

Father, thank You for the comfort You left behind for us, the comfort of Christ’s promises. The comfort of understanding that we do not have to physically see You to know You, that we have a relationship with You because we listen to You and trust You. The comfort of knowing that one day You will do what we cannot do so that our relationship is completely fulfilled, so that we can be with Jesus and You in every way, not separated from You at all. What a great comfort for those of us who believe!

 

John 13:37-38

Peter said to Him, "Lord, why can I not follow You right now? I will lay down my life for You." Jesus answered, "Will you lay down your life for Me? Truly, truly, I say to you, a cock shall not crow, until you deny Me three times.

 

Notes:

1. Peter objected to the thought of being unable to follow Christ right away.
1. Peter thought he was willing to give his life for Christ.
2. Jesus questioned Peter’s willingness to lay down his life for Jesus.
1. Jesus knew that Peter would actually deny Him, and told Peter so.

 

God knows our hearts. Intimately. Better than we do. Peter expressed his desires. He expressed his ideals with regard to his own intentions. At that moment, Peter truly believed that he would be willing to lay down his life for Jesus. Because Peter thought he was so faithful to Jesus, he thought he deserved to go with Jesus wherever He went.

 

But Jesus had already expressed that this mission was for Him alone. And Jesus knew Peter better than Peter knew himself. Rather than merely denying Peter’s claim and saying, “No, you wouldn’t lay down your life for Me,” Jesus made a claim of His own: “Truly, truly, I say to you, a cock shall not crow until you deny Me three times.” Of course, we’ll find out that Jesus knew better than Peter.

 

Father, I have the same tendencies. I like myself, and I would really like to think I’m a nice guy, even a noble guy. As a Christian, I understand that I have sinned far too often and that you had to save me by Christ’s death, but I would like to believe that I am much improved now. That I can sometimes stand on my own two feet, without Christ’s help. Sure, I was in trouble before Christ saved me, I think, but He has pulled me out of the mire and now I stand on firm and sure footing. I should be able to stand on my own. Right? Is it too much to ask to maintain an idealistic picture of myself like this?

 

I find over and over that it is. Whenever I begin to claim my own strength, my own love, my own righteousness, You show me again my weakness, hatred, and sinfulness. I need You no less now that I’m saved than I did when I did not know You. Christ is still everything to me. Without Him, I am a total failure. Help me to remember this day by day so that I do not idealize myself the way Peter did. I want to walk in humility rather than in pride. You prove my pride wrong so easily, and it hurts every time You show me how much I have trusted pointlessly in myself. Help me to remember that I need You so that I depend on You day by day and trust everything You say, even if I feel like it makes me look bad. If You say that I am insufficient, then I am insufficient. May I not defend myself, but renew my determination to cast all my hopes on Jesus Christ, my sufficiency.