John Bible Study - Lesson 43

John Bible Study - Lesson 43

Read the passage below using the 2 different Bible translations:

John 17:1-19 New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Prays to Be Glorified

17 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:

“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. ² For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. ³ Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. ⁴ I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. ⁵ And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

Jesus Prays for His Disciples

⁶ “I have revealed you^[a] to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. ⁷ Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. ⁸ For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. ⁹ I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. ¹⁰ All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. ¹¹ I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of^[b] your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. ¹² While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by^[c] that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.

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

John 17:1-19 New Living Translation (NLT)

The Prayer of Jesus

17 After saying all these things, Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you. ² For you have given him authority over everyone. He gives eternal life to each one you have given him. ³ And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth. ⁴ I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. ⁵ Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began.

⁶ “I have revealed you^[a] to the ones you gave me from this world. They were always yours. You gave them to me, and they have kept your word. ⁷ Now they know that everything I have is a gift from you, ⁸ for I have passed on to them the message you gave me. They accepted it and know that I came from you, and they believe you sent me.

⁹ “My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you. ¹⁰ All who are mine belong to you, and you have given them to me, so they bring me glory. ¹¹ Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, you have given me your name;^[b] now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are. ¹² During my time here, I protected them by the power of the name you gave me.^[c] I guarded them so that not one was lost, except the one headed for destruction, as the Scriptures foretold.

¹³ “Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy. ¹⁴ I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. ¹⁵ I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one.¹⁶ They do not belong to this world any more than I do. ¹⁷ Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. ¹⁸ Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. ¹⁹ And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.

Note:

Here are the 3 questions for you to answer. I have given some basic answers below the questions to help you understand the passage. Answer the questions first yourself before you look at my answers. Take a moment before you begin and ask God to help you understand what you are reading.

3 questions to answer:

1.    Content: What is this passage about?

2.    Lesson: What do I learn from this passage?

3.    Application: How can I apply what I have learned to my life?

Answers to the questions above and some background:

Content: What is this passage about?

·     Jesus prays to the Father about His upcoming work on the cross that will bring about salvation and eternal life to His people as well as honor and glory to the Father.

·    Jesus also prays for His disciples’ protection from the evil one and their unity with one another.

Lesson: What do I learn from this passage?

·        When Jesus prays He declares that He is about to complete the Fathers work of salvation. Jesus also understands what He must go through to complete this work.

The Apostle Paul sheds light on what Jesus did:

Philippians 2:5-8 New International Version (NIV)

⁵ In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

⁶ Who, being in very nature God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
⁷ rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.
⁸ And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!

Prophecy from the Old Testament foretells Jesus crucifixion and work of salvation:  (excerpts from Isaiah 53)

·        He was despised and rejected by mankind  

·        He took up our pain  and bore our suffering

·        But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities

·        The punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.

·        We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way;
the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

·        He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth;

·        He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.

·        By oppression and judgment he was taken away

·        For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished

·         He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.

·        Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
 and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin

·        For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

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·        Jesus also teaches us about Christ-likeness and bringing glory to the Father.

·        When we receive Jesus as Lord and Savior we inherit His eternal perspective that puts God in His rightful place at the center of our lives. When God is at the center of our lives we are not ashamed to say we know Him.  We also begin an amazing journey that puts God’s greater purpose in alignment with everything we do. These actions and heart attitudes also bring glory to God.

In this passage below Paul first reminds us that we should reflect the character and attitude of Jesus, which in turn will bring God the Glory He deserves:

Philippians 2:1-4 New International Version (NIV)

Imitating Christ’s Humility

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ² then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. ³ Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ⁴ not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

What we learn is the importance of love, humility, unity, and valuing others. Those who are followers of Jesus should reflect these Christ-like characteristics.

·        Jesus uses the word glorify which means to bestow honor, praise, or admiration. When Jesus talks about his own glorification He is talking about His death on the Cross. Jesus reflects His sacrificial love by laying down His life for God’s greater purpose:

John 15:13 New International Version (NIV)

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

·        Jesus is our model for sacrificial love. When we live in reverence for God we have to consider the need to die to self-interest because we are called to a high standard in how we worship and live for God.

For example:

When we present ourselves to God as a living sacrifice we have to forgo the desires of the flesh, put on the new self, and live directed by the Holy Spirit which again will ultimately bring glory to God:

Romans 12:1 New International Version (NIV)

A Living Sacrifice

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

Romans 8:5 New International Version (NIV)

Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.

Galatians 5:16 New International Version (NIV)

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

Luke 9:23-24 New International Version (NIV)

Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. ²⁴ For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.

Romans 8:12-13 New International Version (NIV)

¹² Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. ¹³ For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.

Ephesians 4:22-24 New International Version (NIV)

²² You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; ²³ to be made new in the attitude of your minds; ²⁴ and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Those who are led by the Holy Spirit will undergo a transformation of the heart, mind and soul making them ambassadors for Jesus and the Gospel. They are transformed from the inside out reflecting the power and glory of God by living set apart to God and His purpose.

In our desire to bring glory to God, believers take seriously the call to live selfless lives by putting the needs and interests of others even beyond their own. This attitude has the effect of reflecting a Christ-likeness in their homes, workplace, Church or whenever they are in the presence of others:

Philippians 2:2-4 New International Version (NIV)

² then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. ³ Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ⁴ not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Again, believers are called to value others and to die to self-interest which requires a sacrifice to self.

Most importantly true sacrificial love starts with loving God and your neighbor which Jesus said are the 2 greatest commandments:

Matthew 22:36-40 New International Version (NIV)

³⁶ “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

³⁷ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ⁴⁰ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

·        This attitude Jesus tells us to have toward love, obedience and humility will bring glory to the Father and is vitally important to maintain in the Christian life. Therefore, prayer must enter into the equation when one wants to discern God’s will and desire to live a transformed life that brings glory to God.

·        When we see how Jesus prays for His disciple’s protection from the enemy, this tells us that prayer and intimate time with God should play an important role in a follower of Jesus’ life.

God’s Word emphasizes the importance of prayer and the knowledge of God’s Word especially in the context of protecting ourselves from the enemy:

Ephesians 6:10-18 New International Version (NIV)

The Armor of God

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

·        Relying on God’s Word, prayer and the Holy Spirit are ways we are protected from getting deceived by the enemy. 

         

Jesus emphasizes the fact that believers are no longer part of the world. Believers have become God’s adopted children:

The World:

By the simple definition that the word world refers to a world system ruled by Satan, we can more readily appreciate Christ's claims that believers are no longer of the world—we are no longer ruled by sin, nor are we bound by the principles of the world. In addition, we are being changed into the image of Christ, causing our interest in the things of the world to become less and less as we mature in Christ.

As believers, we should be set apart from the world. This is the meaning of being holy and living a holy, righteous life—to be set apart. We are not to engage in the sinful activities the world promotes, nor are we to retain the insipid, corrupt mind that the world creates. Rather, we are to conform ourselves, and our minds, to that of Jesus Christ. This is a daily activity and commitment. We must also understand that being in the world, but not of it, is necessary if we are to be a light to those who are in spiritual darkness. We are to live in such a way that those outside the faith see our good deeds and our manner and know that there is something “different” about us. Christians who make every effort to live, think and act like those who do not know Christ do Him a great disservice. Even unbelievers know that “by their fruits you shall know them,” and as Christians, we should exhibit the fruit of the Spirit within us.

Being “in” the world also means we can enjoy the things of the world, such as the beautiful creation God has given us, but we are not to immerse ourselves in what the world values, nor are we to chase after worldly pleasures. Pleasure is no longer our calling in life, as it once was, but rather the worship of God.

 (Excerpt from GotQuestions.org)

Believers are part God’s family:

Ephesians 1:5 New Living Translation (NLT)

God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.

The result of adoption into God’s family:

Ephesians 5:8 New International Version (NIV)

 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light

Galatians 3:26-29 New Living Translation (NLT)

²⁶ For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. ²⁷ And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. ²⁸ There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹ And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you.

God’s promise to Abraham:

1. The Land Promise: "A land that I will show you."

2. The National Promise: "A great nation."

3. The Spiritual Promise: "All the families of the earth shall be blessed."

Genesis 12:1-3 New International Version (NIV)

The Call of Abram

12 The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.

² “I will make you into a great nation,
    and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
    and you will be a blessing.

 I will bless those who bless you,
    and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
    will be blessed through you.”

Our adoption means we are transformed and made alive in Christ:

Ephesians 2:1-10 New International Version (NIV)

Made Alive in Christ

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, ² in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. ³ All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. ⁴ But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵ made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. ⁶ And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, ⁷ in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰ For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Our adoption means our spiritual condition no longer separates us from God. We are now God’s people made Holy and precious in His sight.

Ephesians 1:4-6 New Living Translation (NLT)

⁴ Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. ⁵ God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. ⁶ So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.

  

Jesus said: “I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.”

·        God’s truth make believers Holy because followers of Jesus are now temples of the Holy Spirit, eternally secure, set apart to God, part of God’s amazing family, and covered by Jesus’ righteousness which means they are no longer separated from God by their sin nature. Jesus paid the price for sin we could not pay for ourselves.  

Galatians 3:13-14 The Message (MSG)

^13-14 Christ redeemed us from that self-defeating, cursed life by absorbing it completely into himself. Do you remember the Scripture that says, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”? That is what happened when Jesus was nailed to the cross: He became a curse, and at the same time dissolved the curse. And now, because of that, the air is cleared and we can see that Abraham’s blessing is present and available for non-Jews, too. We are all able to receive God’s life, his Spirit, in and with us by believing—just the way Abraham received it.

Mark 10:45 New International Version (NIV)

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Believers have become God’s Saints:

1 Corinthians 1:2 New International Version (NIV)

² To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people (Saints), together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours:

The Good News:

We have an amazing Lord and Savior! And because of Jesus’ sacrifice, amazing love and grace, we have hope, purpose and eternal life.  We know the best is yet to come!

Application: How can I apply what I have learned to my life?

·        In everything you do and in everything you speak bring glory to God.

·        Make prayer a great part of your daily interactions with God.

·        Continue to prayers for others.

·        Put the interests of others at the forefront of your actions and desires.

·        Daily put on the full armor of God in order to take a stand against the enemy’s schemes.

Don’t forget:

John’s main purpose in writing this Gospel:

·        To tell the world that Jesus is the Messiah for the Jews and Gentiles

·        The events were recorded so that we might believe and have eternal life

John 20:30-31 New International Version (NIV)

The Purpose of John’s Gospel

³⁰ Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. ³¹ But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Questions to ponder:

·        Where do you place your hope for the future?

·        Are you praying daily and specifically?

·        Are you interested in helping others navigate through this spiritually broken world?

·        Does your life bring glory to God?

·        What can you do this week to bring glory to God?

Have a great week…………….Dave

John Bible Study - Lesson 42

John Bible Study - Lesson 42

Read the passage below using the 2 different Bible translations:

John 16:16-33 New International Version (NIV)

The Disciples’ Grief Will Turn to Joy

¹⁶ Jesus went on to say, “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.”

¹⁷ At this, some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean by saying, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?”¹⁸ They kept asking, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand what he is saying.”

¹⁹ Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, “Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me’?²⁰ Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. ²¹ A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. ²² So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. ²³ In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. ²⁴ Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.

²⁵ “Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. ²⁶ In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. ²⁷ No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.²⁸ I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”

²⁹ Then Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. ³⁰ Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.”

³¹ “Do you now believe?” Jesus replied. ³² “A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.

³³ “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

John 16:16-33 New Living Translation (NLT)

Sadness Will Be Turned to Joy

¹⁶ “In a little while you won’t see me anymore. But a little while after that, you will see me again.”

¹⁷ Some of the disciples asked each other, “What does he mean when he says, ‘In a little while you won’t see me, but then you will see me,’ and ‘I am going to the Father’? ¹⁸ And what does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand.”

¹⁹ Jesus realized they wanted to ask him about it, so he said, “Are you asking yourselves what I meant? I said in a little while you won’t see me, but a little while after that you will see me again. ²⁰ I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy. ²¹ It will be like a woman suffering the pains of labor. When her child is born, her anguish gives way to joy because she has brought a new baby into the world. ²² So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy.²³ At that time you won’t need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name. ²⁴ You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.

²⁵ “I have spoken of these matters in figures of speech, but soon I will stop speaking figuratively and will tell you plainly all about the Father.²⁶ Then you will ask in my name. I’m not saying I will ask the Father on your behalf, ²⁷ for the Father himself loves you dearly because you love me and believe that I came from God.^[a] 28 Yes, I came from the Father into the world, and now I will leave the world and return to the Father.”

²⁹ Then his disciples said, “At last you are speaking plainly and not figuratively. ³⁰ Now we understand that you know everything, and there’s no need to question you. From this we believe that you came from God.”

³¹ Jesus asked, “Do you finally believe? ³² But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. ³³ I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

Note:

Here are the 3 questions for you to answer. I have given some basic answers below the questions to help you understand the passage. Answer the questions first yourself before you look at my answers. Take a moment before you begin and ask God to help you understand what you are reading.

3 questions to answer:

1.    Content: What is this passage about?

2.    Lesson: What do I learn from this passage?

3.    Application: How can I apply what I have learned to my life?

Answers to the questions above and some background:

Content: What is this passage about?

·        Jesus tells His disciples that He is going to be with the Father.

·       The disciples were not sure what Jesus meant when He said He was going to be with the Father.

·       Jesus explains to the disciples that the world will rejoice when He goes away and that they will mourn. Jesus goes on to say that their grief will turn to joy when He returns to them. (Jesus here is referring to His death and resurrection)

·        Jesus instructs His disciples that when He does go away, they should go directly to the Father and ask for things in Jesus’ name.

·        Jesus confirms the Father’s love for His disciples.

·     Jesus explains that He will soon stop using figures of speech and speak plainly about the Father.

·   The disciples begin to understand what Jesus is saying and believe Jesus is all knowing and truly has come from God.

·        Jesus tells His disciples that in this world they will have trouble but to take heart because He has overcome the world.

Lesson: What do I learn from this passage?

·        Jesus tells His disciples in a figurative way that He is going to leave them and then return. Jesus is referring to His death and resurrection.

Jesus clearly told His disciples what was going to happen:

Mark 9:31 New International Version (NIV)

because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.”

·        The Bible clearly explains that when Jesus died on the Cross the disciples scattered.

Why did the disciples scatter? Jesus had told them what was going to happen. Here are 3 reasons:

1.     The disciples could not grasp what Jesus was telling them.

Mark 9:32 New International Version (NIV)

But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.

2.     The disciples were devastated by Jesus’ arrest and were filled with fear about their future.

3.     Fulfilled prophecy about the events surrounding the Cross.

Mark 14:46-50 New International Version (NIV)

⁴⁶ The men seized Jesus and arrested him. ⁴⁷ Then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

⁴⁸ “Am I leading a rebellion,” said Jesus, “that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? ⁴⁹ Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.” ⁵⁰ Then everyone deserted him and fled.

Yes the disciples were living in fear after Jesus’ arrest and death on the Cross but Jesus returns to them just like He promised!

John 20:19 New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Appears to His Disciples

¹⁹ On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”

The disciples sorrow turned to joy when Jesus appeared to them:

Luke 24:35-41 New Living Translation (NLT)

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

³⁵ Then the two from Emmaus told their story of how Jesus had appeared to them as they were walking along the road, and how they had recognized him as he was breaking the bread. ³⁶ And just as they were telling about it, Jesus himself was suddenly standing there among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. ³⁷ But the whole group was startled and frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost!

³⁸ “Why are you frightened?” he asked. “Why are your hearts filled with doubt? ³⁹ Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it’s really me. Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do.” ⁴⁰ As he spoke, he showed them his hands and his feet.

⁴¹ Still they stood there in disbelief, filled with joy and wonder. Then he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?”

·        Jesus reminds His disciples that when He leaves they can pray directly to the Father:

Matthew 18:19-20 New Living Translation (NLT)

¹⁹ “I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. ²⁰ For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.”

·        Jesus even taught His disciples How to pray:

The Lord’s Prayer is a prayer Jesus taught His disciples:

Matthew 6:6-14 New International Version (NIV)

⁶ But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. ⁷ And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. ⁸ Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

⁹ “This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
¹⁰ your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
¹¹ Give us today our daily bread.
¹² And forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
¹³ And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from the evil one. ’

¹⁴ For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

Why should we pray if God already knows everything?

God commands us to pray:

Philippians 4:6-7 New International Version (NIV)

⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

·        Prayer brings us connected and helps us remain close to God

·        Prayer helps us remain in the will of God

·        Prayer prepares us to make Godly decisions

·        Prayer helps us overcome the temptation to sin

·        Prayer helps protect us from the enemy’s schemes

·        Prayer strengthens us so we can deal with the difficult circumstances we will face as followers of Jesus

·        Prayer demonstrates our and trust faith in God

·        Prayer opens the door to Godly wisdom

·        Prayer reminds us of the importance of the needs of others

·        Prayer demonstrates our need for God

·        Prayer is an opportunity for us to worship, revere and glorify God

Even though we will face trials, sorrows, and difficulties, Jesus reminds us He has overcome the world.

God has a good purpose for those He loves:

Romans 8:28 New International Version (NIV)

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

God allows us to face suffering and trials for good reasons:

Romans 5:3-5 New International Version (NIV)

³ Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; ⁴ perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

James 1:2-5 New International Version (NIV)

Trials and Temptations

² Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

Jesus has overcome the world and only through Him do we have peace with God and salvation:

John 14:6 New International Version (NIV)

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Romans 5 New Living Translation (NLT)

Faith Brings Joy

Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. ² Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

We must take to heart the reasons for our separation from God and what God has done to rescue us from eternal separation:

(Below passages referred to as the “Roman Road”)

Romans 3:23

All have sinned, and have fallen short of the Glory of God  

Romans 3:10-12

As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”

Romans 6:23

"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”  

Romans 5:8

"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."   

Romans 10:9

"that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."  

Romans 10:13

"for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Therefore, we can rejoice in what Jesus has done to reconcile us back to God!

Application: How can I apply what I have learned to my life?

·        Grasp the way God is sovereign in all things and how when He says something is going to happen, it happens. An amazing amount of prophecy has already been fulfilled and that is evidence that God’s Word is truth.

·        Staying connected to God helps us rejoice in the spiritual blessings and to stayed focused on the work God has given us to do. If we lose our eternal perspective through focusing on the wrong things, we can be swayed into losing hope and to also miss opportunities to fulfill our calling aligned to God’s purpose.

·        Make prayer a daily and continuous event in your personal life.

·        Remind yourself that God is always present in your circumstances.

Don’t forget:

John’s main purpose in writing this Gospel:

·        To tell the world that Jesus is the Messiah for the Jews and Gentiles

·        The events were recorded so that we might believe and have eternal life

John 20:30-31 New International Version (NIV)

The Purpose of John’s Gospel

³⁰ Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. ³¹ But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Questions to ponder:

·        How are you daily connecting with God, the source of all wisdom, the source of all life?

·        Are you praying specifically about your needs and others?

·        Are you praying that God’s answer to prayer will bring him glory?

·        Are you first confessing your sin before you pray?

·        Do you believe Jesus has overcome the world?

Have a great week…………….Dave