John Bible Study - Lesson 45

John Bible Study - Lesson 45

Read the passage below using the 2 different Bible translations:

John 18:1-14 New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Arrested

When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it.

² Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. ³ So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.

⁴ Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?”

⁵ “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.

“I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) ⁶ When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.

⁷ Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?”

“Jesus of Nazareth,” they said.

⁸ Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” ⁹ This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.”^[a]

¹⁰ Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)

¹¹ Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”

¹² Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him ¹³ and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year.¹⁴ Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for the people.

John 18:1-14 New Living Translation (NLT)

Jesus Is Betrayed and Arrested

After saying these things, Jesus crossed the Kidron Valley with his disciples and entered a grove of olive trees. ² Judas, the betrayer, knew this place, because Jesus had often gone there with his disciples. ³ The leading priests and Pharisees had given Judas a contingent of Roman soldiers and Temple guards to accompany him. Now with blazing torches, lanterns, and weapons, they arrived at the olive grove.

⁴ Jesus fully realized all that was going to happen to him, so he stepped forward to meet them. “Who are you looking for?” he asked.

⁵ “Jesus the Nazarene,”^[a] they replied.

“I am he,”^[b] Jesus said. (Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.) ⁶ As Jesus said “I am he,” they all drew back and fell to the ground! ⁷ Once more he asked them, “Who are you looking for?”

And again they replied, “Jesus the Nazarene.”

⁸ “I told you that I am he,” Jesus said. “And since I am the one you want, let these others go.” ⁹ He did this to fulfill his own statement: “I did not lose a single one of those you have given me.”^[c]

¹⁰ Then Simon Peter drew a sword and slashed off the right ear of Malchus, the high priest’s slave. ¹¹ But Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back into its sheath. Shall I not drink from the cup of suffering the Father has given me?”

Jesus at the High Priest’s House

¹² So the soldiers, their commanding officer, and the Temple guards arrested Jesus and tied him up. ¹³ First they took him to Annas, since he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest at that time.^[d]14 Caiaphas was the one who had told the other Jewish leaders, “It’s better that one man should die for the people.”

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?

·       Judas betrays Jesus by leading contingent of Roman soldiers and Temple guards to a grove of olive trees (Mount of Olives) where Jesus and the disciples were praying.

·        Jesus knew He was about to be arrested.

·        Jesus is confronted by the detachment of soldiers along with some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees.

·       Peter drew a sword and slashed off the right ear of Malchus, the high priest’s  slave.

·        Jesus pleads with the contingent to let His disciples go.

·   Jesus was arrested and brought to Annas, the father-in-law of the high priest  Caiaphas.

·        Caiaphas foretold about Jesus’ death by saying, “It’s better that one man should  die for the people.”

John 11:50-51 New International Version (NIV)

⁵⁰ You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.”

⁵¹ He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation,

Lesson: What do I learn from this passage?

·        Judas goes through with His betrayal of Jesus.

·        Jesus knew He was going to be arrested, yet in order to fulfill God’s plan, goes to meet the contingent of soldiers, officials and Pharisees.

Jesus knew in advance He was going to be arrested and then crucified. He told His disciples what was going to happen. All the Gospels confirm this:

John 3:14-15 New International Version (NIV)

¹⁴Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, ¹⁵ that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”

John 8:28 New International Version (NIV)

So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.

John 12:32-33New International Version (NIV)

³² And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” ³³ He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.

Matthew 20:18-19 New International Version (NIV)

¹⁸ “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death ¹⁹ and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!”

Mark 10:33-34 New International Version (NIV)

³³ “We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, ³⁴ who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.”

Luke 18:31-33 New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Predicts His Death a Third Time

³¹ Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. ³² He will be delivered over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him and spit on him; ³³ they will flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.”

·        Jesus asks them who they are looking for. They replied, “Jesus the Nazarene.” 

·        Jesus tells them that He is the one they are looking for.

·        When Jesus says “I am He” they all fell to the ground. By falling to the ground they must have experienced the power of Jesus revealing His true identity.

Jesus’ true identity: 

John 1:1-4 New International Version (NIV)

The Word Became Flesh

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was with God in the beginning. ³ Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.⁴ In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.

By starting out his gospel stating, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God,” John is introducing Jesus with a word or a term that both his Jewish and Gentile readers would have been familiar with. The Greek word translated “Word” in this passage is Logos, and it was common in both Greek philosophy and Jewish thought of that day. For example, in the Old Testament the “word” of God is often personified as an instrument for the execution of God’s will (Psalm 33:6; 107:20; 119:89; 147:15-18). So, for his Jewish readers, by introducing Jesus as the “Word,” John is in a sense pointing them back to the Old Testament where the Logos or “Word” of God is associated with the personification of God’s revelation. And in Greek philosophy, the term Logos was used to describe the intermediate agency by which God created material things and communicated with them. In the Greek worldview, the Logos was thought of as a bridge between the transcendent God and the material universe. Therefore, for his Greek readers the use of the term Logos would have likely brought forth the idea of a mediating principle between God and the world.

Jesus’ identity as the “I AM”:

Jesus used the same phrase “I AM” in seven declarations about Himself. In all seven, He combines I AM with tremendous metaphors which express His saving relationship toward the world. All appear in the book of John. They are:

I AM the Bread of Life (John 6:35, 41, 48, 51)

I AM the Light of the World (John 8:12)

I AM the Door of the Sheep (John 10:7, 9)

I AM the Good Shepherd (John 10:11,14)

I AM the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25)

I AM the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6)

I AM the True Vine (John 15:1, 5)

(Above from Gotquestions.org)

·        Jesus repeats His question again and confirms that He is the one they are looking for.

·        Jesus asks the contingent to let His disciples go.

·        Simon Peter drew a sword and slashed off the right ear of Malchus, the high priest’s slave.  According to the Gospel of Luke Jesus heals Malchus’ right ear. Jesus by healing Malchus probably saved Peter’s life. The other Gospels don’t name Peter due to the fact they were written while Peter was still alive and could have put Him in danger if he was mentioned being the one who attacked the High Priests servant.  It is also good to note that hours earlier Peter told Jesus that he would lay down his life for Him. So in keeping his promise, Peter drew His sword to keep Jesus from being arrested.

·        Jesus asks to let His disciples go in order to fulfill his own statement: “I did not lose a single one of those you have given me.”

·        According to the Gospels, none of the disciples were arrested or harmed. In fact, according to the Gospels of Matthew and Mark the disciples deserted Jesus and fled.

·    Jesus was arrested and brought to Annas, the father-in-law of the high priest Caiaphas to be put on trial.

At this point I am going to include other accounts of Jesus’ arrest from the other Gospels to give you the full picture and greater detail.

The Gospel of Luke:

Luke 22:1-6 New International Version (NIV)

Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus

22 Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, ² and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people. ³ Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve.⁴ And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. ⁵ They were delighted and agreed to give him money. ⁶ He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.

Luke 22:47-53 New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Arrested

⁴⁷ While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, ⁴⁸ but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

⁴⁹ When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” ⁵⁰ And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.

⁵¹ But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.

⁵² Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? ⁵³ Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour—when darkness reigns.”

·        Luke includes the detail that Judas approached Jesus with a kiss.

·        Jesus heals Malchus’ slashed off the right ear.

Matthew’s Gospel:

Matthew 26:47-56 New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Arrested

⁴⁷ While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. ⁴⁸ Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” ⁴⁹ Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.

⁵⁰ Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.”^[a]

Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. ⁵¹ With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

⁵² “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. ⁵³ Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? ⁵⁴ But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”

⁵⁵ In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. ⁵⁶ But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.

·        Matthew confirms Jesus was betrayed with a kiss.

·        Matthew confirms Peter cutting off Malchus’ right ear.

·        Jesus acknowledges that He has the power to stop contingent but confirms that the scriptures must be fulfilled.

Here is the prophecy of Jesus’ betrayal:

Psalm 41:9 New International Version (NIV)

Even my close friend, someone I trusted,
one who shared my bread, has turned against me.

Here is the prophecy of Jesus’ sacrifice and the result of His work:

Isaiah 53:5-7 New International Version (NIV)

⁵ 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.
⁶ We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
    each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
    the iniquity of us all.

⁷ 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.

****Here is a link to get more prophecies that Jesus fulfilled:

https://www.thoughtco.com/prophecies-of-jesus-fulfilled-700159

·        The disciples deserted Jesus and fled.

The Gospel of Mark:

Mark 14:43-52 New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Arrested

⁴³ Just as he was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders.

⁴⁴ Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.” ⁴⁵ Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. 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.

⁵¹ A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, ⁵² he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.

·        Mark confirms the sign of a kiss as the way the contingent would know who Jesus was.

·        Mark confirms the attack by Peter on Malchus.

·        Mark also confirms the disciples fled.

**Next time we will look at Jesus on trial

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

·        Look at all the prophecies that Jesus fulfilled about His death and resurrection.

·        Trust in God’s Word and the Holy Spirit to confirm real truth about who Jesus is and what He can do to transform your life.

·        Embrace the fact that Jesus willingly died to save us from our sin.

·        Respond to Jesus’ loving sacrifice.

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:

·        Would you willingly lay down your life for your friends?

·        What role does Jesus play in your life?

·        How often do you find yourself defending your faith?

·        Do you shy away from your identity in Christ?

Have a great week…………….Dave

John Bible Study - Lesson 44

John Bible Study - Lesson 44

Read the passage below using the 2 different Bible translations:

John 17:20-26 New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Prays for All Believers

²⁰ “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, ²¹ that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. ²² I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— ²³ I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

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

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

John 17:20-26 New Living Translation (NLT)

²⁰ “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. ²¹ I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.

²² “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. ²³ I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. ²⁴ Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!

²⁵ “O righteous Father, the world doesn’t know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me. ²⁶ I have revealed you to them, and I will continue to do so. Then your love for me will be in them, and I will be in them.”

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 for all believers

Lesson: What do I learn from this passage?

·        Jesus prays for all believers

·        Jesus prays for unity among all believers  

The Apostle Paul in his letter to the Ephesians also exhorts believers to be unified:

Ephesians 4:3-6 Living Bible (TLB)

³ Try always to be led along together by the Holy Spirit and so be at peace with one another.

⁴ We are all parts of one body, we have the same Spirit, and we have all been called to the same glorious future. ⁵ For us there is only one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ and we all have the same God and Father who is over us all and in us all, and living through every part of us.

·        When Jesus prays He is also praying for people to believe that He is the true Messiah sent to save His people.

·        I believe this prayer of Jesus continues with our generation. We have lots of proof from God’s Word, God Himself, and testimony from many people that Jesus really is the Messiah. Check out this link below and look at all these prophecies that Jesus fulfilled: https://www.thoughtco.com/prophecies-of-jesus-fulfilled-700159

·        Jesus states that He has given His disciples the same glory given to Him.

·        This glory Jesus speaks about is a special unity that unites believers with the God head (Father, Son and Holy Spirit). Like a tree, Jesus is the vine and we are His branches. In Him and through Him we can bear fruit and bring glory to God. The glory that believers share is that they can bear fruit for God’s Kingdom when they remain connected to the Vine, Jesus Christ:

John 15:1-8 New Living Translation (NLT)

Jesus, the True Vine

“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. ² He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. ³ You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you.⁴ Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

⁵ “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. ⁷ But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! ⁸ When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.

·        Also, believers are a new creation in Christ which can be deemed as a way believers share in God’s glory:

2 Corinthians 5:17 New Living Translation (NLT)

¹⁷ This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

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.

So, if believers are created to be like Christ then they share in His glory. But Christians know that if we share in His glory, they will also share in Jesus’ suffering:

Romans 8:17 New Living Translation (NLT)

And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.

We need to understand how Jesus suffered:

Jesus suffered severely throughout His trials, torture, and crucifixion (. His suffering was physical: Isaiah 52:14 declares, “There were many who were appalled at Him—His appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness.” His suffering was emotional: “All the disciples deserted him and fled” (Matthew 26:56). His suffering was spiritual: “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus had the weight of the sins of the entire world on Him (1 John 2:2). It was sin that caused Jesus to cry out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). Jesus’ brutal physical suffering was augmented by His having to bear the guilt of our sins and die to pay our penalty (Romans 5:8).

(From Gotquestions.org)

Followers of Jesus suffer because they bear His name and identity.  And they know that the unbelieving world hates Jesus and because of this Jesus tells them that they will be hated as well.

John 15:18-19 New Living Translation (NLT)

The World’s Hatred

¹⁸ “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. ¹⁹ The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.

·        Again we see those who share in Jesus’ glory also share in His suffering.

Here is the good news about suffering for Christ:

Romans 5:1-5 New International Version (NIV)

Peace and Hope

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ² through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 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.

John 16:33 New International Version (NIV)

 “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.”

As new creation in Christ believers have received the glory that comes with the inheritance of eternal life and the gift of faith. We are part of God’s glorious kingdom. We have received the Holy Spirit. We are given spiritual gifts to use for God’s glory. We are ambassadors for Christ.

John 3:5 New Living Translation (NLT)

⁵ Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.

John 1:10-14 Living Bible (TLB)

¹⁰ But although he made the world, the world didn’t recognize him when he came. ^11-12 Even in his own land and among his own people, the Jews, he was not accepted. Only a few would welcome and receive him. But to all who received him, he gave the right to become children of God. All they needed to do was to trust him to save them. ¹³ All those who believe this are reborn!—not a physical rebirth resulting from human passion or plan—but from the will of God.

¹⁴ And Christ became a human being and lived here on earth among us and was full of loving forgiveness* and truth. And some of us have seen his glory*—the glory of the only Son of the heavenly Father!*

Believers have been given a special purpose which includes serving God, sharing the hope they have and reflecting the love of Jesus and making an appeal to others to become followers of Jesus.

2 Corinthians 5:17-20New International Version (NIV)

¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! ¹⁸ All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: ¹⁹ that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. ²⁰ We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.

Matthew 28:18-20 New International Version (NIV)

¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Acts 1:8 New International Version (NIV)

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Jesus’ prayer includes these important statements:

·        “Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am”

·        “your love for me will be in them, and I will be in them”

Jesus wants to be connected to His followers in a supernatural way and that is why the Holy Spirit was given to His people when Jesus left to be with the Father in heaven. The Holy Spirit is not only the sign, seal and assurance of salvation, but is also the way Jesus lives in His people, transforms their hearts and minds and works through them to share His message of salvation.  The truth is, believers are with Jesus and His love remains in them for eternity.

John 14:15-21 New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

¹⁵ “If you love me, keep my commands. ¹⁶ And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—¹⁷ the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. ¹⁸ I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.¹⁹ Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. ²⁰ On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. ²¹ Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

John 14:23 New International Version (NIV)

Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.

Finally:

God in an amazing supernatural way is connected to the true followers of Jesus. For those who are connected to Jesus have a new life and a new purpose to live for the glory of God!

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

·        Do everything you can to stay connected to the Vine, Jesus.

·        Bear fruit for God’s kingdom by allowing the Holy Spirit to guide your thoughts and actions.

·        Pray for the non-believing world to come to know and receive Jesus as Lord and Savior.

·        Share your faith and the hope you have in Jesus.

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:

·        Are you praying for non-believers to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior?

·        In what ways are you supernaturally connected to God?

·        Does the Holy Spirit have access to your thoughts and actions?

·        What are you doing to break down the barriers that still keep you from fully living for God and His purpose?

·        How can you better reflect the love of Jesus in a world that hates Him and you because of your faith?

Have a great week…………….Dave