GEMS FROM THE GOSPEL JOHN 12-15 #52days

GEMS FROM THE GOSPEL

JOHN 12-15

John 12 & 13 – Six days before Passover, Jesus had dinner at the home of Lazarus, Martha, and Mary. Martha served the mean. Mary poured perfumed oil on Jesus’s feet and wiped them with her hair. Judas Iscariot said it could have been sold for a year’s wages and given to the poor. He wasn’t concerned for the poor but wanted to line his own pocket as he stole from the common purse. Jesus said Mary had kept this for the day of His burial, so leave her alone. Some Judeans came to the dinner to gawk at Lazarus since Jesus had raised him from the dead. The religious leaders decided they should kill Lazarus because people were trusting Jesus because of his testimony. The next day as Jesus entered Jerusalem, people waved Palm branches and shouted, “Deliver us! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord,” fulfilling Psalm 118:26. Jesus rode on a donkey colt in fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9. After Jesus ascended, the disciples remembered the prophecies and put it all together.  Some Greek speaking Jews wanted to see Jesus and approached Philip who told Andrew. The two of them took the request to Jesus. Jesus sad that it was time for the Son of Man to be glorified and that a grain of wheat must die to produce the harvest. The Complete Jewish Study Bible noted that a wave offering of wheat sheaves was given to the Lord of the Harvest. Jesus had come to earth to harvest souls! Jesus said one must lose his life in order to save it, and the Father will honor anyone who serves Jesus. TAKE A STAND even if it costs your life. Jesus said He came for the very reason to die for sinners. He said, “Father, glorify your name!” A voice from heaven replied, “I have glorified it before, and I will glorify it again.” The crowd thought the voice was thunder or maybe an angel. Jesus explained that the voice for their sake, not His. He said it was time for the ruler of this world (i.e. Satan) to be judged. Then He said, “When I am lifted up, I will draw everyone to myself.” He was indicating His death on the cross. Jesus planned to TAKE A STAND. The people questioned how the Messiah could die if He remains forever. Jesus urged them to “trust in the Light to become people of light.” Despite miracles, most of them still did not trust. Those leaders who did trust did so covertly to avoid being banned from the synagogue. They loved the praise of the people more than praise from God. The did not TAKE A STAND. Jesus taught that those who put their trust in him were also trusting the One who sent Him. He said He did not come to judge but to save, but the words He had spoken would judge those who reject Him. It was now just before Passover, and Jesus knew it was time for Him to go back to the Father. The Enemy had put it in the heart of Judas Iscariot to betray Him. Even though Jesus had all power and authority from God, He clothed Himself as a servant and washed the disciples’ feet. Peter balked at this idea, but Jesus explained that if He did not wash His feet, Peter could have no part of Him. Then Peter wanted an entire bath, but Jesus assured him that he was clean and need only wash his feet. However, Jesus said, “Not all of you are clean,” meaning Judas Iscariot. Jesus told the disciples that He was setting an example for them of servant leadership. As they began to eat the Passover meal, Jesus said, “The one eating my bread has turned against me,” a fulfillment of Psalm 41:9. Peter prompted John to ask Jesus who would betray Him. He said, “The one I give the bread to after dipping it in the dish.” He dipped bread and gave it to Judas Iscariot, and the devil immediately entered Judas. Jesus told him to do it quickly. The clueless disciples thought Jesus might be sending Judas to buy items for the festival or give some money to the poor. Judas went out into the night. Jesus told the remaining Eleven that He would only be with them a little while longer, and they could not go where He was going yet. He gave them a new commandment to love each other as He had loved them so that everyone would know they were His disciples. Peter asked where He was going, and Jesus told him he would have to come later. Peter asserted that he would lay down his life for Jesus, but Jesus prophesied, “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” Even though in the verses to come, we will see not only Peter but all the apostles fleeing in fear, eventually they bravely stood for Jesus despite persecution or even martyrdom. It wasn’t until Jesus’s mission was complete and the Holy Spirit indwelled them that they could do what they had sincerely desired to do at that last supper.  Those of us who are believers today have the benefit of the Holy Spirit inside us empowering us to TAKE A STAND for Jesus.

John 14 & 15 – Jesus said those who trust in God should trust in Him also. Jesus went before us to prepare a place for us in His Father’s house, and He will return to take us there. Thomas asked, “We don’t even know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus proclaimed, “I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life—no one come to the Father except through me.” HE IS THE WAY to the Father. He said if they knew Him, they knew the Father. Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father.” Jesus explained that those who had seen Him had seen the Father because they are united, the Father was doing His works through Jesus. He told them that those who trust in Him would do even greater works than He. He instructed them that if you love Jesus, you will keep His commands. He then explained that the Father would send the Holy Spirit as their Counselor to be with them forever. Then He stated, “Because I live, you too will live.” The Holy Spirit would remind them of everything Jesus had taught them. Jesus promised to leave them with peace (shalom – wholeness, nothing missing, nothing broken). HE IS THE WAY to perfect peace. Jesus told them these things in advance to help them trust more deeply when it all happened. He ended with, “The Ruler of this world has no claim on me. This is happening so the world will know I love and obey My Father.” Then He said, “Let’s go.” Jesus gave an illustration of Himself as the true Vine, His followers as branches in the vine, and God the Father as the gardener or vine dresser. The gardener cuts off branches that do not bear fruit but prunes the good branches to bear more fruit. We are pruned by the words of Jesus, and we cannot bear fruit apart from Him. Those who do not trust in Jesus, like barren branches, are thrown into the fire. If you remain in Jesus and His words remain in you, you may ask in His name, and it will be answered. Glorify God and prove you are His disciple by bearing much fruit. Stay in His love and keep His commandments in order to have complete joy. HE IS THE WAY to complete joy. Jesus commanded us to keep on loving each other just as He has loved us. Then He stated, “No greater love has a man that this, that a man lays down his life for his friends.” HE IS THE WAY to true love. He said we are His friends if we do what He has commanded. Jesus told the disciples, “You did not choose me. I chose you and commissioned you to bear fruit that lasts.” Once again, He reiterated that they were to keep on loving each other. He reminded them that a servant is not greater than the master. If they hated Him, they would hate His followers. The hatred for Jesus fulfilled the prophecies of Psalm 35:19 and 69:4. The Holy Spirit testifies on Jesus’s behalf as do the disciples who were with Him from the beginning. Many people have confirmed that HE IS THE WAY.