John – God Speaks!
When trouble comes, who wants to remain as the one holding the bat after you hear the sickening sound of glass breaking? Who is left behind when all others slink away in a discussion about what is right and wrong?
Who is the one who denies you were ever part of the group of “religious fanatics” who simply believe in Christ?
Who watches how the conversation is going but does not speak up for what Jesus says is right and good?
Depending on the situation, we have all been faced with choices to speak up, walk away, run before it gets heated, deny and/or be silent when it comes to our faith in Jesus.
The question remains “Don’t you belong to Him?”
We have all denied Christ when pushed into a corner, or faced with a problem we tried to handle all alone. “I can fix it” is our mantra before turning it all over to God. Could this be a form of denial? “I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings” is another excuse. “If I speak up they won’t like me then I won’t be able to be heard at all.” Our actions will always speak louder than our words. They already know.So…let’s not be too hard on Peter. He acted before he thought and cut off an ear of one of Jesus’ attackers. So there’s that. That proved his loyalty but not his wisdom in following God’s will.
Imagine how Peter feels as he warms himself by the fire just outside the building where his Master is being accused. He can’t stay away from the discussion but he is not going to leave Jesus either. He belongs to Him.
John 18, New Living Translation
Peter’s First Denial
Simon Peter followed Jesus, as did another of the disciples. That other disciple was acquainted with the high priest, so he was allowed to enter the high priest’s courtyard with Jesus. 16 Peter had to stay outside the gate. Then the disciple who knew the high priest spoke to the woman watching at the gate, and she let Peter in. 17 The woman asked Peter, “You’re not one of that man’s disciples, are you?”“No,” he said, “I am not.”
18 Because it was cold, the household servants and the guards had made a charcoal fire. They stood around it, warming themselves, and Peter stood with them, warming himself.
The High Priest Questions Jesus
19 Inside, the high priest began asking Jesus about his followers and what he had been teaching them. 20 Jesus replied, “Everyone knows what I teach. I have preached regularly in the synagogues and the Temple, where the people gather. I have not spoken in secret. 21 Why are you asking me this question? Ask those who heard me. They know what I said.”
22 Then one of the Temple guards standing nearby slapped Jesus across the face. “Is that the way to answer the high priest?” he demanded.
23 Jesus replied, “If I said anything wrong, you must prove it. But if I’m speaking the truth, why are you beating me?”
24 Then Annas bound Jesus and sent him to Caiaphas, the high priest.
Peter’s Second and Third Denials
25 Meanwhile, as Simon Peter was standing by the fire warming himself, they asked him again, “You’re not one of his disciples, are you?”
He denied it, saying, “No, I am not.”
26 But one of the household slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Didn’t I see you out there in the olive grove with Jesus?” 27 Again Peter denied it. And immediately a rooster crowed.
LET’S TAKE A CLOSER LOOK…
(With the help of Warren Wiersbe, Commentator)
The third question came from one of Malchus’s relatives! The Greek construction indicates that he expected an affirmative answer: “I saw you in the garden with Jesus, didn’t I? Yes, I did!” After all, this man had gotten a good look at Peter because he was probably standing with Malchus when Jesus was arrested. Some of the bystanders took up the discussion so that Peter may have been surrounded by challengers.
At that point, Peter’s resistance broke down completely. He began to “curse and swear” (Matt. 26:74). This does not mean that Peter let loose a volley of blasphemies, but rather that he put himself under a curse in order to emphasize his statement. He was on trial, so he put himself under an oath to convince his accusers that he was telling the truth.
It was at that point that the cock began to crow (John 18:27) just as Jesus had predicted (Matt. 26:34). There were four “watches”: evening (6–9 p.m.), midnight (9–12), cockcrowing (12 midnight to 3 a.m.), and morning (3–6 a.m.) (see Mark 13:35). The crowing of the cock reminded Peter of the Lord’s words, and he went out and wept bitterly.
The crowing of the cock was assurance to Peter that Jesus was totally in control of the situation, even though He was bound and being harassed by the authorities. By controlling one bird, Jesus affirmed His sovereignty. According to Genesis 1:26, God gave man authority over the fish, the fowl, and the animals. Peter had seen Jesus exercise authority over the fish (Matt. 17:24–27; Luke 5:1–11) and the animals (Matt. 21:1–11), but now he recognized His authority over the birds.
But the cockcrowing was also an invitation to repentance. Luke tells us that Jesus turned and looked at Peter (Luke 22:61), and this look of love broke Peter’s heart. Peter had been a witness of Christ’s sufferings (1 Peter 5:1), and by his own denials he added to those sufferings. Keep in mind that the crowing of the cock was the announcement of the dawning of a new day! “Weeping may endure for a right, but joy comes in the morning” (Ps. 30:5). It is worthwhile to contrast Peter and Judas. Peter wept over his sins and repented, while Judas admitted his sins but never really repented.
Judas experienced remorse, not repentance. When Judas went out from the Upper Room, “it was night” (John 13:30), but when Peter went out to weep bitterly, there was the dawning of a new day. It is the contrast between godly sorrow that leads to true repentance, and the sorrow of the world (regret and remorse) that leads to death (2 Cor. 7:9–10). We will discover that Jesus restored Peter (John 21) and enabled him to serve with great power and blessing.
In the garden that night, you would find both guilt and grace. Peter was guilty of resisting God’s will. Judas was guilty of the basest kind of treachery. The mob was guilty of rejecting the Son of God and treating Him as though He were the lowest kind of criminal.
But Jesus was gracious! Like King David, He crossed the Kidron, fully conscious that Judas was betraying Him. He went into the garden of Gethsemane surrendered to the Father’s will. He healed Malchus’s ear. He protected His disciples. He yielded Himself into the hands of sinners that He might suffer and die for us.
And THAT’S why we sing Reckless Love as it captures our hearts at the core…
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of GodOh, it chases me down, fights ’til I’m found, leaves the ninety-nine
I couldn’t earn it, and I don’t deserve it, still, You give Yourself away
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God, yeah
When I was Your foe, still Your love fought for me
You have been so, so good to me
When I felt no worth, You paid it all for me
You have been so, so kind to me…
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for reminding us that we are, like Peter, standing in need of forgiveness for going our own way, failing to do your perfect will. Thank you for loving us the way you do. Thank you for sending Your Son to die for our sin. Thank you for restoring our souls then inviting us to Your work! Your love is amazing. We are such a work in progress…but you know that and never leave us. Thank you, Lord.
In Jesus Name, Amen
“I am the bread of life.” (John 6:35, 41, 48, 51) As bread sustains physical life, so Christ offers and sustains spiritual life.
5 “Jesus the Nazarene,” they replied.
—THE KISS: Disciples greeted a rabbi by kissing him; it was a sign of devotion and obedience. But Judas was not truly a disciple of Jesus Christ, though he belonged to the disciple band. In the garden, Judas stood with the enemy, not with Jesus’ friends! 
—THE SWORD: Peter’s sword symbolizes rebellion against the will of God. Peter should have known that Jesus would be arrested and that He would willingly surrender to His enemies (Matt. 16:21; 17:22–23; 20:17–19). Peter made every mistake possible! He fought the wrong enemy, used the wrong weapon, had the wrong motive, and accomplished the wrong result! 
The cup represented the suffering He would endure and the separation from the Father that He would experience on the cross. His holy soul must have been stirred to the depths when He contemplated being made sin! 
As believers, we pray for each other often. We pray for good health, for cures to illnesses, for emotional and spiritual help when life gets the best of us. We pray for those who are lost and those who are broken by what others have done. We pray for those who mourn loved ones who have passed from this life to the next. We ALL experience all of these needs in some way and at different times.
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 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.
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.
–Jesus loves us deeply and compassionately.
Jesus prayed for you and I on His way to the cross. He stands ready to come and abide with you today. Listen to Him. Follow where His Holy Spirit leads. His love, mercy, and grace will produce more joy than your heart can hold! 
There is a game we inherently play with infants that make them forget their wants and needs for a little while to laugh and play. It is called hide and seek or peek-a-boo. Remember? Now you see me, now you don’t? 
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. 28 Yes, I came from the Father into the world, and now I will leave the world and return to the Father.”
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.”
“So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy.”
Jesus seems to give them information on a “as needed” basis because they are probably in shock at hearing, “I am going away…”. Their teacher, friend, leader, the One they left the world for…is going away? Why?
Back to the discussion Jesus is having with his followers… 
An advocate is more than an ally and speaks or writes in favor of an idea or person. An advocate supports and stands beside others with a persuasive argument defending them. An advocate details the worth of another person and acts in their behalf for their benefit.
“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. 20 Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you. 21 They will do all this to you because of me, for they have rejected the one who sent me. 22 They would not be guilty if I had not come and spoken to them. But now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Anyone who hates me also hates my Father. 24 If I hadn’t done such miraculous signs among them that no one else could do, they would not be guilty. But as it is, they have seen everything I did, yet they still hate me and my Father. 25 This fulfills what is written in their Scriptures: ‘They hated me without cause.’
WHAT DO WE LEARN?
My prayer is that all who believe in Jesus’ salvation to them would live a life associated with the Holy Spirit as an ally in all circumstances. This union will save our lives and help us to walk the talk more closely in sync with God, the Father.
“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.
9 “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. 10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. 11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! 12 This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. 13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. 16 You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. 17 This is my command: Love each other.
REMAIN is my word for this year (and always has been). Let’s define it as the world does:
–Remain attached to Me and you can ask for anything in My Name and it will be given to you in ways to give God, the Father, The Gardner, glory!
–Proof of remaining is by our behavior…obey my commandments as I have obeyed God…”When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love…” 
I will remain in you always for my love for you is eternal as your love is for me. My hand clings to your Hand. Help me to see your glory at work today and rejoice! Help me to bear your fruit for your glory. I will remain in You, hanging on to You as if my life depended on it…because it does.
Years ago I led a group of women in Bible Study. The women were all ages and represented each decade. They were awesome! One evening we were talking about how it feels to walk into a new place, fearful and alone, which led to how it feels to think about the future. 
15 “If you love me, obey my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. 
23 Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. 24 Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me. 25 I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. 26 But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.
27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. 28 Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, who is greater than I am. 29 I have told you these things before they happen so that when they do happen, you will believe.
–God’s Holy Spirit, our Advocate, will NEVER leave us. 
–The Holy Spirit represents Jesus! 
–The SAME power that defeated death and rose from the grave LIVES in us! Meditate on that for a moment or two.
The world says, “IF you really loved me, you would____.” This is love with strong conditions. When you supply what they say they need, the conditions change and you must jump a new hoop to gain their love. Yes, love in our world is not the kind of love Jesus lived by example. The love Jesus showed the world was rooted in God’s supreme love for us. “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
In this chapter we find a profoundly different kind of love. Jesus began his last meal with his disciples by showing the full extent of his love. Jesus took off his robe that signified he was the Master Teacher, the head of the Table, and bent down as a servant would do, to wash the feet of ALL 
31 As soon as Judas left the room, Jesus said, “The time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory, and God will be glorified because of him. 32 And since God receives glory because of the Son, he will give his own glory to the Son, and he will do so at once. 33 Dear children, I will be with you only a little longer. And as I told the Jewish leaders, you will search for me, but you can’t come where I am going. 34 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
One of the best descriptions of the love Jesus wants us to have for each other is found in Paul’s letter to the Philippians:
5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
We begin to see love as an attitude to be lived out loud to all we know and say we love…without conditions. Self takes a backseat.
LOVE like Jesus. SHINE His light of love to the world. You will find that others seeking truth will be drawn to this love in you.
LOVE as if your life depended on it. Love without conditions.
Jesus knew all along that Judas was not who he said he was. Jesus knew all hearts and what was in the minds of all his disciples at all times. The disciples did not have this power. Did the disciples ever wonder why Judas always watched over the money so carefully that no one really knew how much was in the bag? Did they wonder why THAT ONE among them was appalled and angry at Mary when she broke the expensive alabaster jar of perfume and anointed the feet of Jesus? Remember the reaction of Judas? 
18 “I am not saying these things to all of you; I know the ones I have chosen. But this fulfills the Scripture that says, ‘The one who eats my food has turned against me.’ 19 I tell you this beforehand, so that when it happens you will believe that I am the Messiah. 20 I tell you the truth, anyone who welcomes my messenger is welcoming me, and anyone who welcomes me is welcoming the Father who sent me.”
21 Now Jesus was deeply troubled, and he exclaimed, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me!”
26 Jesus responded, “It is the one to whom I give the bread I dip in the bowl.” And when he had dipped it, he gave it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot. 27 When Judas had eaten the bread, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus told him, “Hurry and do what you’re going to do.” 28 None of the others at the table knew what Jesus meant. 29 Since Judas was their treasurer, some thought Jesus was telling him to go and pay for the food or to give some money to the poor. 30 So Judas left at once, going out into the night.
THAT ONE among the disciples was Judas. Throughout the centuries his name is often used synonymously with betrayal or treason. Don’t be a Judas!
BE THE ONE who loves THAT ONE in spite of what they are doing to you. How did Jesus treat Judas, his betrayer? He loved and served him right to the end. Jesus even washed the feet of Judas to “show the full extent of His love“! Can we wrap our heads around that thought?
THINK before speaking: Is what I am about to say the Truth? Will it be Helpful and Inspiring to this person? Is it really Necessary to say right now at this time? AND most of all, is what I am about to say going to be Kind. THINK before we speak. BE THE ONE, not THAT ONE.
Dear Heavenly Father,
