Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus)

We have all heard and lived the phrase, “seeing is believing.”  We want to see with our own eyes before accepting something to be real and true as others have said   before we believe, right?  Seeing before believing is a process of looking at something carefully, picking it up, turning it over in our hands, feeling the texture and strength of it, listening to hear sounds, all while investigating it for authenticity.  We want evidence before we believe that something is real.  We demand to see it for ourselves.  We are human.  We are curious.  We have been fooled before.  We are not easily convinced. 

God knows this about us and gives us Jesus—all the evidence needed to verify Truth.                                                                                                                                          

“Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” –Jesus

John 20, The Message

To Believe

^19-20 Later on that day, the disciples had gathered together, but, fearful of the Jews, had locked all the doors in the house. Jesus entered, stood among them, and said, “Peace to you.” Then he showed them his hands and side.

^20-21 The disciples, seeing the Master with their own eyes, were awestruck. Jesus repeated his greeting: “Peace to you. Just as the Father sent me, I send you.”

^22-23 Then he took a deep breath and breathed into them. “Receive the Holy Spirit,” he said. “If you forgive someone’s sins, they’re gone for good. If you don’t forgive sins, what are you going to do with them?”

^24-25 But Thomas, sometimes called the Twin, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples told him, “We saw the Master.”

But he said, “Unless I see the nail holes in his hands, put my finger in the nail holes, and stick my hand in his side, I won’t believe it.”

²⁶ Eight days later, his disciples were again in the room. This time Thomas was with them. Jesus came through the locked doors, stood among them, and said, “Peace to you.”

²⁷ Then he focused his attention on Thomas. “Take your finger and examine my hands. Take your hand and stick it in my side. Don’t be unbelieving. Believe.”

²⁸ Thomas said, “My Master! My God!”

²⁹ Jesus said, “So, you believe because you’ve seen with your own eyes. Even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing.”

^30-31 Jesus provided far more God-revealing signs than are written down in this book. These are written down so you will believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and in the act of believing, have real and eternal life in the way he personally revealed it.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

“Blessed are those who believe without seeing.”  Jesus was talking about us!

We must evaluate our belief often with these “test questions” to stay healthy, eyes fixed, minds alert, hearts filled with the One we say we believe:

“Do I really believe that what Jesus did for me and still does through me really real?”  Why ask?  Because what we truly believe will be revealed in our behaviors.  “What flows from the heart” is revealed as we live our lives.  What we fill our minds with is soon revealed in our actions toward others.  What we feed our souls reflects our priorities of life. 

Believe God sent His Son to save us and give us eternal life. 

Repent in Jesus Name and be cleansed.

Worship God alone with all that is in us.

Love like God who first loved us.

In this “act of believing;” this“believing without seeing,” is a daily life responsive to His will with eagerness to obey His Holy Spirit’s guidance and leading.  We become active and alive in our new life with Jesus, throwing out the old life with destructive habits like yesterday’s trash.  His Light of Love reflects His glory in us—so others will believe.   And the bonus?  Real and eternal Life!

Caution.  This act of believing is not a “act” as we think of playacting; but a decision to give all of ourselves, heart, mind, and soul to God.  He gave His Son for us.  We belong to Him who believe Jesus and what He did for us to save us. In this act of believing we begin each day with focused attention on God who solidifies our believing without seeing and matures our faith as we embrace His guidance.  Here’s how:

“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.” Romans 12:1-2, MSG

Don’t stop believing in God who is real.  To avoid the lies of the enemy of God we must prayerfully ask Him, in Jesus Name, to help us recognize and examine what is true.  Ask for wisdom and He will give us all we need.

“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.” 1 John 4:1-3, NIV

And Love as if our lives depended on it! Don’t fake it.  (Read Romans 12) People notice when the true love of our real God is in us and is demonstrated through us to others.  We are different than the world when we love like Jesus loves us.  This is vital  and mandatory in our “act of believing.”

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”1 John 4:7-12, NIV

This is believing without seeing.  “Blessed are those who believe without seeing.”

We are all like Thomas from time to time when life brings uncertainty coupled with fear of the unknown.  But when believers pray, God, help my unbelief, He answers with the blessed assurance that is stored deep within us when we ask in Jesus Name.  He was there all the time, we just needed to recognize Him—and believe.  When we do, we see Him for who He really is—

“My Master! My God!”

Lord,

Thank you for teaching us that we are blessed by you in so many ways.  First you loved us.  Then You blessed us with your Son who redeemed us of all our sin.  You continue to bless us with a love that knows no limitations.  You bless us with Life to the full with adventures that grow and mature us in your character.  You bless us by pouring out your peace and assurance as we walk with courage through the storms of life. Like the wind, we don’t have to see You to know You are right here with us.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

In Jesus Name, Amen

When something out of the ordinary happens that seems too good to be true, humans are skeptical at first.  We rub our eyes to see if what is in front of us really real.  We’ve been fooled, tricked, trapped, and betrayed in our past that has tampered with our ability to believe now.  We look for ways to explain what has happened because if we can explain it, we can believe it.  When it is news that is so great and so good, we first hold it to ourselves, giving our minds time to catch up before we truly believe it so we can tell it! 

Given these human tendencies, we wonder about all that is going on in the minds of the devoted followers of Jesus who are overcome with grief coupled with fear over what happened to their Master just three days before.  Fear keeps them in hiding. 

Mary Magdlene and other women are the first to go to the tomb only to discover that the body isn’t there!  They go tell the disciples.  John took one look inside the tomb, saw the evidence—and believed.  Was he the first to remember what Jesus said about rising on the third day and believe?  What exactly did he believe?

After seeing to investigate, the disciples went back home.  Were they thinking, nothing to see here?  Were they reeling from fear of what might happen next to them who have now discovered an empty tomb?  What will the religious police do to us?  Whatever is in their minds, they went back to their hiding place.

Mary stayed at the last place she saw her Lord—the garden tomb.  Still weeping and  wondering, she was the first to see Jesus!  Jesus was indeed fully alive, risen from death to life, scars, and all! “Go and tell the others, Mary.”  She was the first to tell the Good News!

John 20, The Message

Resurrection!

^1-2 Early in the morning on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone was moved away from the entrance. She ran at once to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, gasping for breath. “They took the Master from the tomb. We don’t know where they’ve put him.”

^3-10 Peter and the other disciple left immediately for the tomb. They ran, neck and neck. The other disciple got to the tomb first, outrunning Peter. Stooping to look in, he saw the pieces of linen cloth lying there, but he didn’t go in. Simon Peter arrived after him, entered the tomb, observed the linen cloths lying there, and the kerchief used to cover his head not lying with the linen cloths but separate, neatly folded by itself. Then the other disciple, the one who had gotten there first, went into the tomb, took one look at the evidence, and believed. No one yet knew from the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead. The disciples then went back home.

^11-13 But Mary stood outside the tomb weeping. As she wept, she knelt to look into the tomb and saw two angels sitting there, dressed in white, one at the head, the other at the foot of where Jesus’ body had been laid. They said to her, “Woman, why do you weep?”

^13-14 “They took my Master,” she said, “and I don’t know where they put him.” After she said this, she turned away and saw Jesus standing there. But she didn’t recognize him.

¹⁵ Jesus spoke to her, “Woman, why do you weep? Who are you looking for?”

She, thinking that he was the gardener, said, “Sir, if you took him, tell me where you put him so I can care for him.”

¹⁶ Jesus said, “Mary.”

Turning to face him, she said in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” meaning “Teacher!”

¹⁷ Jesus said, “Don’t cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I ascend to my Father and your Father, my God and your God.’”

¹⁸ Mary Magdalene went, telling the news to the disciples: “I saw the Master!” And she told them everything he said to her.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Mary Magdelene, (and few other women according to other gospel reports) came very early, before the light of day, to prepare the body of their Lord with spices and herbs.  The process had to be delayed because according to The Law, they would not be allowed to take care of burial preparation until after the Sabbath.  So, here they come, with broken hearts, tears in their swollen eyes to do what they must do after the Sabbath. Did their grieving hearts weaken their physical resolve? On the way, did it occur to them how they would roll the heavy stone away so they could enter the tomb to do what they came to do?  Was there relief and wonder when they saw that the stone was not only rolled away, but the body not where they placed him three days before? 

When they heard the news of the empty tomb, Peter and the other disciples who ran to the garden to see for themselves but then went back home with wonder.  Maybe they wondered if they would be blamed for the disappearance. Fear and wonder sent them back home to hide and wait.

The glorious truth of the resurrection was not understood immediately by even His closest followers. It gradually dawned on these grieving people that their Master was not dead, but alive! And what a difference it made when the full realization of His resurrection took hold of them! For Mary Magdalene it meant moving from tears to joy (John 20:1–18), for the ten disciples it meant going from fear to courage (vv. 19–23); and later, for Thomas it meant moving from doubt to assurance (vv. 24–31).

Consider these thoughts written by Max Lucado.  The Good News changes everything when we believe!

“For three days Jesus’ body decayed. It did not rest, mind you. It decayed. The cheeks sank and the skin paled. But after three days the process was reversed. There was a stirring, a stirring deep within the grave . . . and the living Christ stepped forth.

And the moment he stepped forth, everything changed. The resurrection is an exploding flare announcing to all sincere seekers that it is safe to believe. Safe to believe in ultimate justice. Safe to believe in eternal bodies. Safe to believe in heaven as our estate and the earth as its porch. Safe to believe in a time when questions won’t keep us awake and pain won’t keep us down. Safe to believe in open graves and endless days and genuine praise.

Because we can accept the resurrection story, it is safe to accept the rest of the story.

Because of the resurrection, everything changes. Death changes. It used to be the end; now it is the beginning. The cemetery changes. People once went there to say goodbye; now they go to say, “We’ll be together again.” Even the coffin changes. The casket is no longer a box where we hide bodies, but rather a cocoon in which the body is kept until God sets it free to fly.

And someday, according to Christ, he will set us free. He will come back: “I will come back and take you to be with me” (John 14:3). And to prove that he was serious about his promise, the stone was rolled and his body was raised.

For he knows that someday this world will shake again. In the blink of an eye, as fast as the lightning flashes from the east to the west, he will come back. And everyone will see him—you will, I will. Bodies will push back the dirt and break the surface of the sea. The earth will tremble, the sky will roar, and those who do not know him will shudder. But in that hour you will not fear, because you know him.”  Lucado, Encouraging Word Bible

Because of Mattthew, Mark, Luke, and John, we are blessed with all the details for one purpose: “These are written down so you will believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and in the act of believing, have real and eternal life in the way he personally revealed it.” John 20:31

Believe and be saved!

Lord,

I believe!  Thank you for saving my soul and making me whole. Thank you for taking away the sins of the world with the bonus gift of eternal life to all who believe you.  Thank you thank you, thank you!

In Jesus Name, Amen

“And I, as I am lifted up from the earth, will attract everyone to me and gather them around me. He put it this way to show how he was going to be put to death.” –Jesus, John 12:33, MSG

It is tiresome in any people group to work with on a task with someone who demands that their way is the best way.  Most times when people arrogantly demand attention and allegiance to doing things their way it has nothing to do with the goal of the project.  Getting their own way is just their way of life. People who demand their own way are not going to stay silent while their way is not being heard with compliance.  In fact, in their minds, not heeding to their demands becomes the fault and stupidity of the person not doing what they say.  Blame, shame, and pain seem to be the name of the game.  (Sorry, I was a first-grade teacher—we rhyme.)

These thoughts occur to me as we read again of the pain our Savior went through to show the world that the glory of God was about to be revealed—even as He was crucified on a cross.  The mission from God to save us is completed by His One and Only Son, Jesus.  Jesus came into the world to seek and to save the lost, not to be served but to serve.  Jesus completes the mission by demonstrating the full extent of God’s love for us by willingly laying down His life to pay the debt of the sins of the world—then and now.  This amazing act of Love was The Way, God’s Way, to eternal Life.  Jesus’ work on earth is the Way to God, the Truth of God, and provides Life from God.

Reading this passage for the first time, it would seem that—

• The Jewish leaders got their way.  Jesus is crucified and will no longer be a threat to their conscience—or so they think.
• The coerced crowd got their way.
• Pilate put up a sign to get his way in rebellion to the religious leaders who put him on the spot to get their way.
• The soldiers got their way.

But God’s Way and Plan to save us prevailed as does His love for us. 

Scripture is fulfilled in every way.  When “it is finished”, Love and Grace wins.

John 19, The Message

The Crucifixion

They took Jesus away. Carrying his cross, Jesus went out to the place called Skull Hill (the name in Hebrew is Golgotha), where they crucified him, and with him two others, one on each side, Jesus in the middle. Pilate wrote a sign and had it placed on the cross. It read:

JESUS THE NAZARENE

THE KING OF THE JEWS

^20-21 Many of the Jews read the sign because the place where Jesus was crucified was right next to the city. It was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. The Jewish high priests objected. “Don’t write,” they said to Pilate, “‘The King of the Jews.’ Make it, ‘This man said, “I am the King of the Jews.”’”

²² Pilate said, “What I’ve written, I’ve written.”

^23-24 When they crucified him, the Roman soldiers took his clothes and divided them up four ways, to each soldier a fourth. But his robe was seamless, a single piece of weaving, so they said to each other, “Let’s not tear it up. Let’s throw dice to see who gets it.” This confirmed the Scripture that said, “They divided up my clothes among them and threw dice for my coat.” (The soldiers validated the Scriptures!)

^24-27 While the soldiers were looking after themselves, Jesus’ mother, his aunt, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene stood at the foot of the cross. Jesus saw his mother and the disciple he loved standing near her. He said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that moment the disciple accepted her as his own mother.

²⁸ Jesus, seeing that everything had been completed so that the Scripture record might also be complete, then said, “I’m thirsty.”

^29-30 A jug of sour wine was standing by. Someone put a sponge soaked with the wine on a javelin and lifted it to his mouth. After he took the wine, Jesus said, “It’s done . . . complete.” Bowing his head, he offered up his spirit.

^31-34 Then the Jews, since it was the day of Sabbath preparation, and so the bodies wouldn’t stay on the crosses over the Sabbath (it was a high holy day that year), petitioned Pilate that their legs be broken to speed death, and the bodies taken down. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man crucified with Jesus, and then the other. When they got to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead, so they didn’t break his legs. One of the soldiers stabbed him in the side with his spear. Blood and water gushed out.

³⁵ The eyewitness to these things has presented an accurate report. He saw it himself and is telling the truth so that you, also, will believe.

^36-37 These things that happened confirmed the Scripture, “Not a bone in his body was broken,” and the other Scripture that reads, “They will stare at the one they pierced.”

* * *

³⁸ After all this, Joseph of Arimathea (he was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, because he was intimidated by the Jews) petitioned Pilate to take the body of Jesus. Pilate gave permission. So Joseph came and took the body.

^39-42 Nicodemus, who had first come to Jesus at night, came now in broad daylight carrying a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. They took Jesus’ body and, following the Jewish burial custom, wrapped it in linen with the spices. There was a garden near the place he was crucified, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been placed. So, because it was Sabbath preparation for the Jews and the tomb was convenient, they placed Jesus in it.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

To fully understand, let’s go back and review what Jesus said to his disciples as He prepared them for what was soon to come;

“Listen carefully: Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over. In the same way, anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you’ll have it forever, real and eternal.

“If any of you wants to serve me, then follow me. Then you’ll be where I am, ready to serve at a moment’s notice. The Father will honor and reward anyone who serves me.

“Right now I am shaken. And what am I going to say? ‘Father, get me out of this’? No, this is why I came in the first place. I’ll say, ‘Father, put your glory on display.’”

A voice came out of the sky: “I have glorified it, and I’ll glorify it again.”

The listening crowd said, “Thunder!”  Others said, “An angel spoke to him!”

Jesus said, “The voice didn’t come for me but for you. At this moment the world is in crisis. Now Satan, the ruler of this world, will be thrown out. And I, as I am lifted up from the earth, will attract everyone to me and gather them around me.” He put it this way to show how he was going to be put to death.” John 12:25-31, MSG

What is our response?  

Do I want (demand) my own way, which is limited and unpredictable?  Or do I seek, trust, love, and serve God’s Way, putting aside my own interests?  (Philippians 2)

My way or God’s way is a decided choice I make every day in every detail of my life.  (Romans 12:1-2)

PAUSE TO PRAY AND REFLECT

• Do I believe, really believe that God loved me so much that He sent His Son to die in my place for my sins—the punishment I deserved? 
• Do I really believe that Jesus then defeated death and in resurrection power rose from the tomb, scars and all, to walk and talk with His beloved once more? 
• Do I believe in The Way or still demand my own way?  Do I stop to ask God what HE wants? 

“Don’t hold back your love, says Jesus.  Let go, be reckless with our love, without conditions to earn our love.  Just love.  Love God, then love others like He loves us.  Powerful!

This way of love is diligent in our obedience to God for our obedience is a pure and holy expression of our love for God!

One last precious demonstration of pure, holy love is shown by Jesus to his mother and to John (most likely).  “Woman, here is your son.” “Here is your mother.”  Wow.

I choose God’s Way to love and to live.

Lord,

Thank you for teaching us the power of Your Love from the cross.  Surely, these acts of love and sacrifice teach us Your Way to love that are far above human love.  But with your love growing in us, we can become more and more like you in your ways and in your love.  All because you first loved us.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

In Jesus Name, Amen

“You’re The Man!” We say this colloquial phrase when we are congratulating someone who has accomplished a great feat or completed a great work beyond all others.  We say this when a friend has crossed the finish line of a great race of endurance and strength.  We also say this to those who have done a great favor for us or given us a gift beyond our wildest dreams. 

Pilate presents Jesus to the crowd in almost the same way; Jesus, the Man.  In Eugene Peterson’s paraphrase of John, Pilate remarks, “Here he is: the Man,” as if to say I’m giving you what you asked for.  (But it also seems he is like those investors on Shark Tank who say, “I’m out”! when they want no part of what is being sold.)

Jesus is indeed The Man, but He is also the Son of God who God sent as the greatest gift to mankind.  The gift, when accepted and believed, is Life forever!  But the Jews in charge rejected The Man who claimed to also be Messiah, Son of God.  The leaders instead used what He said as evidence to kill Him—just as the prophets said centuries earlier.  Claiming to be Son of God was against The Law.

John 19, The Message

The Thorn Crown of the King

^1-3 So Pilate took Jesus and had him whipped. The soldiers, having braided a crown from thorns, set it on his head, threw a purple robe over him, and approached him with, “Hail, King of the Jews!” Then they greeted him with slaps in the face.

^4-5 Pilate went back out again and said to them, “I present him to you, but I want you to know that I do not find him guilty of any crime.” Just then Jesus came out wearing the thorn crown and purple robe.

Pilate announced, “Here he is: the Man.”

⁶ When the high priests and police saw him, they shouted in a frenzy, “Crucify! Crucify!”

Pilate told them, “You take him. You crucify him. I find nothing wrong with him.”

⁷ The Jews answered, “We have a law, and by that law he must die because he claimed to be the Son of God.”

^8-9 When Pilate heard this, he became even more scared. He went back into the palace and said to Jesus, “Where did you come from?”

Jesus gave no answer.

¹⁰ Pilate said, “You won’t talk? Don’t you know that I have the authority to pardon you, and the authority to—crucify you?”

¹¹ Jesus said, “You haven’t a shred of authority over me except what has been given you from heaven. That’s why the one who betrayed me to you has committed a far greater fault.”

¹² At this, Pilate tried his best to pardon him, but the Jews shouted him down: “If you pardon this man, you’re no friend of Caesar’s. Anyone setting himself up as ‘king’ defies Caesar.”

^13-14 When Pilate heard those words, he led Jesus outside. He sat down at the judgment seat in the area designated Stone Court (in Hebrew, Gabbatha). It was the preparation day for Passover. The hour was noon. Pilate said to the Jews, “Here is your king.”

¹⁵ They shouted back, “Kill him! Kill him! Crucify him!”

Pilate said, “I am to crucify your king?”

The high priests answered, “We have no king except Caesar.”

^16-19 Pilate caved in to their demand. He turned him over to be crucified.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

No one on earth could claim that he is the Son of God, it’s against The Law—but Jesus did—because He was. This pain of rejection by His own was felt as the Son of Man.  They could have had Life but the religious establishment chose death offered by the enemy of God.

As we continue John’s telling of how Jesus, Son of God, was beaten beyond recognition, spit on by all his accusers, mocked as “king of the Jews,” used as a human pawn in a torturous game played by Roman soldiers before being nailed to a cross of shame, we must center our thoughts on Jesus, the Man. 

Jesus the Man felt every blow of the strap with metal spikes at the end as it ripped the flesh from his bones.  He endured the pain every human feels when slapped and pushed back and forth while being bound by bullies enjoying their momentary “power” over another human.  The Man endured the abusive mocking meant to humble Jesus, in front of all who shouted, “crucify him!”  Yes, Jesus was indeed, “The Man.”

Jesus, also the Son of God, had the power to stop it all—but He did not.  Instead, Jesus, “who knew no sin” willingly took the blame, bore the shame, and endured the excruciating pain for the punishment we desire.

The Son of God obediently completed the mission God sent Him to do with all the love of God in Him.  This Love of God in Him as Son of God pleaded from the cross, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing.”  This is what Jesus meant and now demonstrates when he said, “Pray for your enemies.”  We are to pray for those who hurt us and sin against God; because a heart like Jesus prays for their salvation, too.  (All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.)

And they didn’t know.  They did not and would not understand the gift God had sent.  They chose ignorance over knowledge of God.  They chose death over life eternal.  When we choose what is the worst for us, God grieves for us because He knows what could be—His best!

However, do not pity Jesus for that would lessen the importance of what He did for us.  Jesus sacrificial act provided hope and a future!  Indeed, the cross involves much more than an exhibition of innocent suffering. On that cross, the Son of God paid the price for the sins of the world and thereby declared the love of God and defended the holiness and justice of God. We are not saved by feeling pity for Jesus. We are saved by repenting of our sins and trusting Jesus, the sinless substitute.

From the human standpoint, the trial of Jesus was the greatest crime and tragedy in history. From the divine viewpoint, it was the fulfillment of prophecy and the accomplishment of the will of God. The fact that God had planned all of this did not absolve the participants of their responsibility. In fact, at Pentecost, Peter put both ideas together in one statement—

“This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.”         Acts 2:23, NIV

Jesus—Son of Man felt the pain while the Son of God paid the price for our redemption.  “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16-17

Be the one who knows, accepts the gift, and believes, really believes Jesus as you declare Him as Savior and Lord!  He is God’s best for you and for me.

Lord,

You took the blame and shame for my sins and then endured the pain for the punishment I deserved.  How can I thank you enough or praise you enough for what you did to save me and the rest of the believing world?  I can live for you, even as imperfect as I am, for I am perfectly forgiven. Thank you, thank you, thank you!  I pray even now for our enemies who do not know you and still reject your gift of love, mercy, and grace.  Give me the right words at the right time in the right spirit so they will know you, too. 

In Jesus Name, Amen

We are starving for one honest person to tell us the truth.  We long to trust those who seem to be “in the know” and who tell us when they don’t know.  We are not looking for perfection—just honesty!  We hope that we are hearing the truth about the future service of a needed appliance we are about to invest our hard-earned dollars in but it seems that is hard to find.  We must do the work to seek the truth.  In this world we must understand that the salesman has been trained to sell not necessarily tell the truth. 

The truth might lead us against buying the top dollar commission maker and lead us to what really works best for our needs at half the cost.  The repair industry offers free evaluations of your home’s roofing, heating, and air systems, etc., only to find what they can repair.  Car dealers will offer free oil changes but with the intent of finding costly trouble spots in the engine to bolster their budget.  The truth is, companies are looking for something to repair so their business stays busy and profitable. 

Why is truth so hard to find?  It appears that self and self-interest trump truth-telling in any conversation about anything of importance.  The prince of liars easily leads many of us down this path to the dark side of self-seeking power and importance by convincing us we deserve better.  Loving and serving others is not on the agenda of darkness.  Laying down your own interests for the interest of others is not agendas of the arrogant.

Jesus is Truth.  “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”. John 14:6

Jesus was sent to earth by God to be, show and tell Truth.  Jesus provided the Way back to Truth—reconciling people with God!  Believing Truth, reconciling to God through Jesus, comes with the gift from God of eternal Life! It sounds too good to be true, but it is!  Why did God do this?  He loved us. 

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16-17

Jesus delivered Truth first to God’s Chosen—the Jews.  But even though the leaders had read about him, debated about when Messiah would come and what He would do; Truth fell on deaf ears and closed minds.  They chose to manipulate a way to kill Truth because they felt that would be in their best interests!

“He came unto his own, and his own received him not.” John 1:11

But God was still in control.  His Plan was still in motion. “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21

Even the unbelieving Roman’s couldn’t find enough evidence to convict Jesus!

John 18, The Message

The King of the Jews

^28-29 They led Jesus then from Caiaphas to the Roman governor’s palace. It was early morning. They themselves didn’t enter the palace because they didn’t want to be disqualified from eating the Passover. So Pilate came out to them and spoke. “What charge do you bring against this man?”

³⁰ They said, “If he hadn’t been doing something evil, do you think we’d be here bothering you?”

^31-32 Pilate said, “You take him. Judge him by your law.”

The Jews said, “We’re not allowed to kill anyone.” (This would confirm Jesus’ word indicating the way he would die.)

³³ Pilate went back into the palace and called for Jesus. He said, “Are you the ‘King of the Jews’?”

³⁴ Jesus answered, “Are you saying this on your own, or did others tell you this about me?”

³⁵ Pilate said, “Do I look like a Jew? Your people and your high priests turned you over to me. What did you do?”

³⁶ “My kingdom,” said Jesus, “doesn’t consist of what you see around you. If it did, my followers would fight so that I wouldn’t be handed over to the Jews. But I’m not that kind of king, not the world’s kind of king.”

³⁷ Then Pilate said, “So, are you a king or not?”

Jesus answered, “You tell me. Because I am King, I was born and entered the world so that I could witness to the truth. Everyone who cares for truth, who has any feeling for the truth, recognizes my voice.”

^38-39 Pilate said, “What is truth?”

Then he went back out to the Jews and told them, “I find nothing wrong in this man. It’s your custom that I pardon one prisoner at Passover. Do you want me to pardon the ‘King of the Jews’?”

⁴⁰ They shouted back, “Not this one, but Barabbas!” Barabbas was a Jewish freedom fighter.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Jewish leaders hoped to crucify Jesus but did not have the authority to do this, so they brought him to the Roman governor, Pilate. Shrewd Pilate knew that the Jewish leaders wanted him to act as their executioner. He pronounced Jesus innocent and tried to save him, but finally consented to the crucifixion because of public pressure.  When what leaders are saying doesn’t seem right it is imperative that we examine the evidence with a mind bent on seeking Truth.  We must not be so complacent in our faith that we, too are easily led to “follow the crowd” who were led by the Liar against Truth.  We face this daily. 

God gave believers extreme Help!  “I will send you the Helper from the Father. The Helper is the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father. When he comes, he will tell about me.” –Jesus, John 15:26 We cannot do Life without the Voice of Truth to guide us through the maze of lies.  So Jesus sent us a Counselor from God who will lead us to Truth.  Pay attention to that “gut feeling” that something might be untrue for that might be the Voice of God warning us.  Listen to His Voice above all the other voices clamoring for our attention, and follow Truth! 

Ask God for wisdom to know Truth.  “Lean not on your own understanding but trust God” says the voice of God’s Holy Spirit who lives within us.  God is always with us to guide us to Truth.   

When in doubt, pause to pray for Truth to be known.  God answers this prayer!

Pilate knows what the Jews are trying to do, but he turns to the crowd for the final decision to be made.  How cowardly—but a politician at heart!  Truth is not on his agenda. Pilate wants to let Jesus go. Just give me a reason, he thinks, then I’ll set you free.  His thoughts are interrupted by a tap on the shoulder. A messenger leans and whispers. Strange. Pilate’s wife has sent word not to get involved in the case. Something about a dream she had.  Pilate walks back to his chair, sits, and stares at Jesus. “Even the gods are on your side?” he states with no explanation.  How many wide eyes have stared at him, pleading for mercy, begging for acquittal by real criminals?  But the eyes of this Jesus are calm and now He is silent.  He’s not angry with me. He’s not afraid. He seems to understand.  “What should I do with Jesus, the one called the Christ?”

“What is Truth?”Pilate exclaims, exasperated at the situation.  What do you do with a man who claims to be God, yet hates religion? What do you do with a man who knows the place and time of his death, yet goes there anyway?

You can reject him.

Or you can accept him. You can journey with Jesus. You can listen for the Voice of His Holy Spirit rise above the hundreds of voices in the world and choose to follow Him.

Lord,

I have decided to follow you.  You are Truth.  You speak Truth in Love always and forever.  You guide me to Truth when all I can see around me is false.  Truth gives me Hope and certainty of a future with you forever. You teach me to speak the language of Truth!  Thank you, thank you, thank you!  To you be the glory!

In Jesus Name, Amen

It seems most of the people in our world today work harder to keep what they truly believe a secret than openly admitting it.  We like to “play it safe, close to the vest.”  This seems to be at the heart of most politicians today.  We are tired of politicians who say one thing but do another.  Trust in broken.  We vote for our choice so that our choice will do what we want done.  But this is hard when the truth of what they believe is hidden—until they are elected and behaviors reflect what the really believe.

It might surprise you, but every one of us has more than once played the part of a politician. The basic definition of a politician is to please the most people as many times as possible so that your power of influence remains intact.  We do care about what others think of us no matter what we say or deny. 

A politically minded person works hard to bring people to some form of agreement to keep the peace.  Truth may get lost as the main priority becomes agreement.  For example, we have learned that to express our basic beliefs in the work place is not acceptable by most employers—especially if you work for the government, public schools, military.  You are hired to do the work without offending, coercing, or promoting your beliefs among your coworkers and those you serve so that your assigned work is done in ways not complicated by division.

We play politics in our families, workplaces, and in our churches without much thought for what is best because we desire peace at all costs. However, that means Truth can be lost in order to please as many people as possible.  Pleasing people is a short-lived power over people that does not end well when Truth is ignored or denied.

I don’t know why these thoughts occur to me as we read how Jesus was interrogated abusively with telling the Truth, but there it is.  Do I deny to play it safe; or openly and eagerly tell the Truth?

John 18, The Message

The Interrogation

^19-21 Annas interrogated Jesus regarding his disciples and his teaching. Jesus answered, “I’ve spoken openly in public. I’ve taught regularly in meeting places and the Temple, where the Jews all come together. Everything has been out in the open. I’ve said nothing in secret. So why are you treating me like a traitor? Question those who have been listening to me. They know well what I have said. My teachings have all been aboveboard.”

²² When he said this, one of the policemen standing there slapped Jesus across the face, saying, “How dare you speak to the Chief Priest like that!”

²³ Jesus replied, “If I’ve said something wrong, prove it. But if I’ve spoken the plain truth, why this slapping around?”

²⁴ Then Annas sent him, still tied up, to the Chief Priest Caiaphas.

²⁵ Meanwhile, Simon Peter was back at the fire, still trying to get warm. The others there said to him, “Aren’t you one of his disciples?”

He denied it, “Not me.”

²⁶ One of the Chief Priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, “Didn’t I see you in the garden with him?”

²⁷ Again, Peter denied it. Just then a rooster crowed.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Jesus is Truth.  He openly speaks Truth to all who will listen.  He is without sin.  He is the opposite of evil so Jesus has never lied to people to get them to do what He wants.  He has not manipulated minds but instead consistently and compassionately points out the difference between good and evil ways to think and behave.  “You have heard it said, but I say to you…”  Jesus is driven by God’s relentless love for us.  Jesus did not provide miracles of healing, demon departures, and rising from death to life to please people momentarily but to glorify God in ways that bring people to God forever!  Jesus was sent to save us from our sins.  Jesus is the Way to Truth who is God who provides eternal Life.  Truth just is—Truth.  You can choose to believe Truth or not.  Truth doesn’t change but Truth changes us who believe.

Peter openly denies Truth.  Peter denies knowing Jesus so that he can safely be near the action.  We want to judge him or give excuses for his denials times three that were predicted by Jesus.  But we are reminded “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”! 

Peter wants stay close, in the courtyard, that surrounds where the Jewish religious leaders hold “court” accusing Jesus.  We understand Peter’s emotions.  He wants to see what will happen to his beloved Friend.  Peter, in panic mode, momentarily forgets Jesus’ words telling them this very act would occur.  But if Peter is too scared to admit he knows Jesus, how will he be able to stop what is happening to Jesus?  Seriously, Peter, what were you thinking.

The bottom line is Peter is disobedient.  Disobedience to God’s Will opens up a Pandora’s box of impure acts of behavior.  Open denial is the opposite of why Peter came to the courtyard in the first place—to somehow protect Jesus.  Peter will learn that he cannot save the Savior.  Only Jesus saves.  This is Truth. This is God’s Plan.  We cannot and should not get in the way of God’s perfect plan.

If we want to be like Jesus, we must speak the Truth with the Love of God leading us.  It was God’s Love that led Jesus to lay down His life willingly and obediently in our place to pay for our sins—not the soldiers, religious leaders, Roman politicians, or Jewish police.  It was Jesus!  “And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” Philippians 2:8

Paul teaches us about Truth telling based on Love:

“…we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.”             Ephesians 4:14-15, NIV

Believe and be saved.  Jesus saves.  Our directive is to point the Way to Jesus by openly telling the Truth with the Love of God flowing from us. 

True Believers persuade others to know Jesus so they can be saved and follow Him.  The politically minded manipulate so that people will follow them.  Know the difference.

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way!  Redeemed Peter will tell other believers later…

“God always knew he was going to do this for you. It’s because of this sacrificed Messiah, whom God then raised from the dead and glorified, that you trust God, that you know you have a future in God.  Now that you’ve cleaned up your lives by following the truth, love one another as if your lives depended on it. Your new life is not like your old life. Your old birth came from mortal sperm; your new birth comes from God’s living Word. Just think: a life conceived by God himself!” 1 Peter 1:21-25, MSG 

Lord,

Peter learned some hard lessons.  We all must learn that following you is Life eternal and real Life is sustained by our obedience to You.  Trusting in what you say and what you do is the best way to live in your peace, not like the fleeting peace the world manipulates and attempts to manufactures.  Your gift of sweet peace appears right in the middle of trials that challenge our faith.  I am thankful, grateful for all the lessons you teach and continue to teach me!  Extreme joy does come in the morning after a night of learning!  Trust and obey.  There is no other way for your eternal, unending joy to live in and through us. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen

How exciting it is to receive status updates of what we have ordered through the vendors of our choice!  We have a need, Amazon has it!  The price might be high but if it is exactly what we need to repair, restore, or gain access to what we are trying to fix or enter; we will pay the price.  And who doesn’t smile when our package moves past fulfillment to “your full order is on its way” status? Admit it, we love the ability to track the path our package takes along with the time it takes to get to from there to our house or place of business.  Humans do not like waiting, so the invention of status updates somehow console us and brings us into the process of the fulfillment of our need.

There is a distinctly divine process going on as Jesus fulfills God’s mission to save the world of our sin problem.  John, known as the beloved disciple, writes from his heart as he tells us how our need for a Savior is fulfilled through Jesus, God’s Son.  Jesus is The Package that contains all we need to restore, repair, and gain access to God, originated with God. 

In this next passage of John, The Package is now in the process of “fulfillment” and will soon be delivered to His accusers.  The Package will be bound tightly and then delivered to religious accusers in a divine process meant to ultimately deliver us!

Here are the status updates…

John 18, The Message

Seized in the Garden at Night

Jesus, having prayed this prayer, left with his disciples and crossed over the brook Kidron at a place where there was a garden. He and his disciples entered it.

^2-4 Judas, his betrayer, knew the place because Jesus and his disciples went there often. So Judas led the way to the garden, and the Roman soldiers and police sent by the high priests and Pharisees followed. They arrived there with lanterns and torches and swords. Jesus, knowing by now everything that was imploding on him, went out and met them. He said, “Who are you after?”

They answered, “Jesus the Nazarene.”

^5-6 He said, “That’s me.” The soldiers recoiled, totally taken aback. Judas, his betrayer, stood out like a sore thumb.

⁷ Jesus asked again, “Who are you after?”

They answered, “Jesus the Nazarene.”

^8-9 “I told you,” said Jesus, “that’s me. I’m the one. So if it’s me you’re after, let these others go.” (This validated the words in his prayer, “I didn’t lose one of those you gave.”)

¹⁰ Just then Simon Peter, who was carrying a sword, pulled it from its sheath and struck the Chief Priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. Malchus was the servant’s name.

¹¹ Jesus ordered Peter, “Put back your sword. Do you think for a minute I’m not going to drink this cup the Father gave me?”

^12-14 Then the Roman soldiers under their commander, joined by the Jewish police, seized Jesus and tied him up. They took him first to Annas, father-in-law of Caiaphas. Caiaphas was the Chief Priest that year. It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it was to their advantage that one man die for the people.

^15-16 Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. That other disciple was known to the Chief Priest, and so he went in with Jesus to the Chief Priest’s courtyard. Peter had to stay outside. Then the other disciple went out, spoke to the doorkeeper, and got Peter in.

¹⁷ The young woman who was the doorkeeper said to Peter, “Aren’t you one of this man’s disciples?”

He said, “No, I’m not.”

¹⁸ The servants and police had made a fire because of the cold and were huddled there warming themselves. Peter stood with them, trying to get warm.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

The divine process begins with Jesus’ prayer to God. (See John 17)  Jesus divine conversation with His Father is said out loud in front of His disciples as a status update of God’s divine care for them.  Jesus asks for God’s help to fulfill the mission, protection for his followers, and then asks for God to protect believers to come who will benefit from what He is about to do to redeem us from sin.

Delivery Status Updates:

God answered Jesus’ prayer with readiness of mind with resolute peace as Jesus fulfills what God has sent His One and Only Son to do.

Judas leads the way for Package pick up so He can be delivered to the Accusers.  NOTICE the line up:  Judas—Roman soldiers—Jewish police—last came the Pharisees who followed in the shadows and who placed the order for the Package to be destroyed! 

Interruption of delivery service update: 

Human will gets in the way of God’s Plan.  John, appalled at Peter’s never-ending impetuousness, is the gospel writer who relates the “ear incident.” Peter interrupts the Divine process with his actions of trying to stop what God has ordered. 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 Jesus heals the ear and the divine process is back on track.

Jesus willingly confirms who He is and obeys their commands to go with them.  The Package is on his way…

Stops made along the way:  Jesus is delivered first to the chief priest who prophesied earlier that “one man die for the people”, unknowing fulfilling the words of the prophets who foretold Jesus’ mission.  The mind of Caiaphas has already decided Jesus must die. 

Peter and “another disciples” attempt to follow The Package as if…  We do not know who the other disciple was who went with Peter into the courtyard of the home of the high priest. It was probably John, though it is difficult to understand how a fisherman could be acquainted with the high priest and his household. Was this “other disciple” possibly Nicodemus or Joseph of Arimathea? They would certainly have access to this home.  We don’t know.  But we do know there is nothing they can do to stop what God has planned for the divine deliverance from sin. 

Tomorrow we will follow The Package to His destined finish of what God gave Him to do on earth.  The Package will be placed on a cross, willingly sacrificing His life once and for all.  Jesus delivered us in this divine process to redeem us from sin. Believe and be set free!  ALL who believe and follow Jesus have full access to God—the place of fulfillment of all we need. So, we ask…

What are you in need of most? 

To whom do you place your order for need and help? 

Who do you trust to deliver exactly what you need when you need it most?

Lord,

The Divine process of our deliverance from sin reminds us again how much you compassionately love and care for us.  Through it all, above all, while we were yet sinners, you died for our sins.  You set us free from being tied up in sins that serve to destroy us.  You knew from Creation exactly what we needed most—a Savior and Lord to live life to the full.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  There are not enough words to express my gratitude so may my life reflect what is in my heart.

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen

Imagine Someone you love, adore, admire, and trust, raising their eyes to the heavens to literally see God and commence to pray to God specifically for you!  Imagine Someone who knows you inside and out, loves you no matter what, praying on your behalf, so your life is blessed with protection, wisdom, strength, and maturity by God, the Father in ways you never dreamed possible! 

Wouldn’t that be the greatest prayer ever?! Jesus thought so…

John 17, The Message

Jesus’ Prayer for His Followers

17 ^1-5 Jesus said these things. Then, raising his eyes in prayer, he said:

Father, it’s time.
Display the bright splendor of your Son
So the Son in turn may show your bright splendor.
You put him in charge of everything human
So he might give real and eternal life to all in his care.
And this is the real and eternal life:
That they know you,
The one and only true God,
And Jesus Christ, whom you sent.
I glorified you on earth
By completing down to the last detail
What you assigned me to do.
And now, Father, glorify me with your very own splendor,
The very splendor I had in your presence
Before there was a world.

* * *

^6-12 I spelled out your character in detail
To the men and women you gave me.
They were yours in the first place;
Then you gave them to me,
And they have now done what you said.
They know now, beyond the shadow of a doubt,
That everything you gave me is firsthand from you,
For the message you gave me, I gave them;
And they took it, and were convinced
That I came from you.
They believed that you sent me.
I pray for them.
I’m not praying for the God-rejecting world
But for those you gave me,
For they are yours by right.
Everything mine is yours, and yours mine,
And my life is on display in them.
For I’m no longer going to be visible in the world;
They’ll continue in the world
While I return to you.
Holy Father, guard them as they pursue this life
That you conferred as a gift through me,
So they can be one heart and mind
As we are one heart and mind.
As long as I was with them, I guarded them
In the pursuit of the life you gave through me;
I even posted a lookout.
And not one of them got away,
Except for the rebel bent on destruction
(the exception that proved the rule of Scripture).

* * *

^13-19 Now I’m returning to you.
I’m saying these things in the world’s hearing
So my people can experience
My joy completed in them.
I gave them your word;
The godless world hated them because of it,
Because they didn’t join the world’s ways,
Just as I didn’t join the world’s ways.
I’m not asking that you take them out of the world
But that you guard them from the Evil One.
They are no more defined by the world
Than I am defined by the world.
Make them holy—consecrated—with the truth;
Your word is consecrating truth.
In the same way that you gave me a mission in the world,
I give them a mission in the world.
I’m consecrating myself for their sakes
So they’ll be truth-consecrated in their mission.

* * *

^20-23 I’m praying not only for them
But also for those who will believe in me
Because of them and their witness about me.
The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind—
Just as you, Father, are in me and I in you,
So they might be one heart and mind with us.
Then the world might believe that you, in fact, sent me.
The same glory you gave me, I gave them,
So they’ll be as unified and together as we are—
I in them and you in me.
Then they’ll be mature in this oneness,
And give the godless world evidence
That you’ve sent me and loved them
In the same way you’ve loved me.

* * *

^24-26 Father, I want those you gave me
To be with me, right where I am,
So they can see my glory, the splendor you gave me,
Having loved me
Long before there ever was a world.
Righteous Father, the world has never known you,
But I have known you, and these disciples know
That you sent me on this mission.
I have made your very being known to them—
Who you are and what you do—
And continue to make it known,
So that your love for me
Might be in them
Exactly as I am in them.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

This is the most powerful, loving, and compassionate prayer offered by our Savior and John records it!  Jesus prayed for that God’s glory and splendor be seen in what was about to happen on the cross He will bear for our sins. 

Jesus prayed for His beloved disciples who left everything to follow Him, learn from Him, knowing they would “do even greater things” as the torch of Truth would be grasped and carried on as they proclaimed to the godless world that God so loved He sent His Son to die for their sins.

Jesus prayed for all who would later believe from the witness of these disciples down through the generations. 

It is good now to center our thoughts prayerfully and gratefully on the specifics of what Jesus prayed for His Beloved then and now.  What Jesus compassionately prayed demonstrates the heart of God and what He wants most from His believers:

• “That they know you, The one and only true God, And Jesus Christ, whom you sent.”  (Psalm 46:10)
• “You put him in charge of everything human So he might give real and eternal life to all in his care.  (John 3:16-17)
• They know now, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that everything you gave me is firsthand from you,  (John 12:49)
• They believed that you sent me.  I pray for them.  (Mark 1:35)
• Holy Father, guard them as they pursue this life …So they can be one heart and mind as we are one heart and mind.
• I’m saying these things in the world’s hearing So my people can experience
  My joy completed in them. (John 15:11)
• I’m not asking that you take them out of the world; But that you guard them from the Evil One.  (2 Corinthians 4:4)
• Make them holy—consecrated—with the truth; Your word is consecrating truth.
• My mission is their mission. (Matthew 28:20)
• Worth repeating…The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind—Just as you, Father, are in me and I in you, (John 8:28; Philippians 2:2)
• Then the world might believe…  (John 13:35)
  
  
  

Jesus is now our supreme Advocate who goes before the Father on behalf of all who believe and call Him Savior and Lord.  

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”. –Jesus, John 14:6



Lord,

How precious is your prayer for believers—and at the same time how very humbling.  You prayed for me before I was born!  I was on your mind as you willing laid down your life for me and others in need of forgiveness.  Your prayer cannot be matched by any human on earth.  You are God.  We are not.  You saved us.  You accomplished what we cannot do for ourselves.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!  Because of you, we have eternal life!  Because of your prayer for all of us, we have the power to become One with You!  May your goal of being of one mind be our goal in real life lived for you.

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God
Born of his Spirit, washed in His blood

This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long
This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long

John 16, The Message

¹⁶ “In a day or so you’re not going to see me, but then in another day or so you will see me.”

Joy Like a River Overflowing

^17-18 That stirred up a hornet’s nest of questions among the disciples: “What’s he talking about: ‘In a day or so you’re not going to see me, but then in another day or so you will see me’? And, ‘Because I’m on my way to the Father’? What is this ‘day or so’? We don’t know what he’s talking about.”

^19-20 Jesus knew they were dying to ask him what he meant, so he said, “Are you trying to figure out among yourselves what I meant when I said, ‘In a day or so you’re not going to see me, but then in another day or so you will see me’? Then fix this firmly in your minds: You’re going to be in deep mourning while the godless world throws a party. You’ll be sad, very sad, but your sadness will develop into gladness.

^21-23 “When a woman gives birth, she has a hard time, there’s no getting around it. But when the baby is born, there is joy in the birth. This new life in the world wipes out memory of the pain. The sadness you have right now is similar to that pain, but the coming joy is also similar. When I see you again, you’ll be full of joy, and it will be a joy no one can rob from you. You’ll no longer be so full of questions.

^23-24 “This is what I want you to do: Ask the Father for whatever is in keeping with the things I’ve revealed to you. Ask in my name, according to my will, and he’ll most certainly give it to you. Your joy will be a river overflowing its banks!

^25-28 “I’ve used figures of speech in telling you these things. Soon I’ll drop the figures and tell you about the Father in plain language. Then you can make your requests directly to him in relation to this life I’ve revealed to you. I won’t continue making requests of the Father on your behalf. I won’t need to. Because you’ve gone out on a limb, committed yourselves to love and trust in me, believing I came directly from the Father, the Father loves you directly. First, I left the Father and arrived in the world; now I leave the world and travel to the Father.”

^29-30 His disciples said, “Finally! You’re giving it to us straight, in plain talk—no more figures of speech. Now we know that you know everything—it all comes together in you. You won’t have to put up with our questions anymore. We’re convinced you came from God.”

^31-33 Jesus answered them, “Do you finally believe? In fact, you’re about to make a run for it—saving your own skins and abandoning me. But I’m not abandoned. The Father is with me. I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

God is unstoppable in the ways of Love.  God, our Father, is relentless and powerful as He demonstrates His Love and care for us.  When we ask for help in Jesus Name for living life on God’s terms, God responds.  When we pray in Jesus Name, with hearts fully committed to Him, asking for wisdom in understanding God at work in our lives, He responds!  God is always work. God is always with us. God always hears us and responds to us.

This gift of a responding God is made possible by Jesus, His Son.  Jesus provided The Way for each one of us to go the Father humbly and boldly, in Jesus Name, and talk with Him—about everything!  There is no longer a priest or middleman between God Almighty and His beloved children.  Jesus became sin, who knew no sin, for us.  He died in our place of punishment for our sin.  This act of God’s Love for us by the sacrifice of His One and Only Son torn down all the barriers between God and mankind.

They say this mountain can’t be moved
They say these chains will never break
But they don’t know You like we do
There is power in Your name

We’ve heard that there is no way through
We’ve heard the tide will never change
They haven’t seen what You can do
There is power in Your name
So much power in Your name

Move the immovable
Break the unbreakable
God we believe
God we believe for it

(“Believe For It”, Writer(s): Cece Winans, Dwan Hill, Kyle Lee, Mitch Wong)

Do I really believe what John says about Jesus and the relationship I can have with God to be really real? 

Pause to pray.  Be still and know that He is God.  Be still and know God. Be still. Be.

Believe and be saved from all sins for eternity. 

Be blessed, unshakable and assured as we live Life to the full in Jesus Name! Peace follows assurance.

I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.”—Jesus

Lord,

Thank you for Your Word that not only convicts us but assures us to confidently come before you with all that is on our minds.  Thank you for listening to our cries for help along with our praises to You for always being there. Thank you for saving my soul and making me whole. Make us holy by daily cleansing our hearts, renewing our minds, refreshing our souls with new mercies, and restoring the joy of your salvation at work within us.

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen!  I believe!

The greatest blow to new believer’s lives in Jesus is when the first hint of trouble comes or calamity happens that robs our joy and wipes the smile off our faces.  Our first thought is nearly always, “Why is this happening to me (or us)?” This comes because of not remembering or totally ignoring the warnings Jesus told us would occur in this imperfect, sin-filled world of people who do not know or believe Jesus and are led by the coach of the other team—the team of demons.  We must choose whose team we are on before troubles come.  Troubles will come and go.  When we least expect it, expect it.  “Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”—Jesus, John 16:33

Jesus knew his beloved humans seated around the Passover Meal would need help to understand what was about to happen to Him and then to his disciples who would follow Him in Kingdom of God teaching and living.  They will suffer what Jesus is about to suffer from those who want to put a stop to the Way, Truth, and Life.  Imagine what the disciples are going to face when their Compassionate, Wise Teacher, whom they have relied on to be the Spokesperson for God in their midst, leaves them to go back to his Father in heaven?  What then??  What must each man be thinking as Jesus is speaking of “things to come” very soon?

Try to put yourself there at the Table with Jesus.  Try to imagine the fear, anxiety and wondering that is growing in their minds as Jesus talks about things that will happen that are far worse than they can wrap their brains around.  Imagine hearing all this for the first time!  We have read the outcomes; they are just now trying to understand it.  “I’ve told you these things so that when the time comes and they start in on you, you’ll be well-warned and ready for them.”  Wait, what?!

John 16, The Message

^1-4 “I’ve told you these things to prepare you for rough times ahead. They are going to throw you out of the meeting places. There will even come a time when anyone who kills you will think he’s doing God a favor. They will do these things because they never really understood the Father. I’ve told you these things so that when the time comes and they start in on you, you’ll be well-warned and ready for them.

The Friend Will Come

^4-7 “I didn’t tell you this earlier because I was with you every day. But now I am on my way to the One who sent me. Not one of you has asked, ‘Where are you going?’ Instead, the longer I’ve talked, the sadder you’ve become. So let me say it again, this truth: It’s better for you that I leave. If I don’t leave, the Friend won’t come. But if I go, I’ll send him to you.

^8-11 “When he comes, he’ll expose the error of the godless world’s view of sin, righteousness, and judgment: He’ll show them that their refusal to believe in me is their basic sin; that righteousness comes from above, where I am with the Father, out of their sight and control; that judgment takes place as the ruler of this godless world is brought to trial and convicted.

^12-15 “I still have many things to tell you, but you can’t handle them now. But when the Friend comes, the Spirit of the Truth, he will take you by the hand and guide you into all the truth there is. He won’t draw attention to himself, but will make sense out of what is about to happen and, indeed, out of all that I have done and said. He will honor me; he will take from me and deliver it to you. Everything the Father has is also mine. That is why I’ve said, ‘He takes from me and delivers to you.’

¹⁶ “In a day or so you’re not going to see me, but then in another day or so you will see me.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND TODAY?

The disciples, who lived and worked with Jesus, had been his close friends for three years. They were saddened and afraid to hear him talk of leaving them. Jesus tried to help his friends see the bigger picture—that God had a purpose and a plan. But he also comforted them by promising to be with them through his Spirit.  The “Friend” Jesus is talking about is His Holy Spirit who comes to live within our souls that nano second we say yes to Jesus!  God-Jesus-Holy Spirit, Three-In-One, leading us to victory over sin, through all the troubles of this imperfect world.  His Holy Spirit is always with us providing wisdom, comfort, conviction and resolve in power, the same power that resurrected Jesus from the grave!

Our Father has no intention of letting us fall. We may fail but we will not fall.  We can’t see Him, but He is present and is always at work in us. We are “shielded by God’s power” (1Peter 1:5). And He is “able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy” (Jude 24).

“The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” Romans 8:15-17, NIV

May we center our thoughts on this Truth. God is able to keep us from falling! Does He want us living in fear? No! Just the opposite. The Spirit we received does not make us slaves to sins any longer, so that we live in fear again; rather, the Spirit we received brought about our adoption to sonship—We are family! And by Jesus we cry, “‘Abba, (Daddy in Hebrew) Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

We have been well-warned and made ready.  Jesus died for our sins, removing them as far as the east is from the west.  Three days later, Jesus defeated the Enemy, Death, and rose again to declare the glory and power of God over the Enemy. 

Eternal Life is the Gift is for ALL who believe in Jesus!  “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16-17 

Power is the gift of His Holy Spirit to endure suffering for a little while through the troubles of this world and with the promise to share in His glory as “joint heirs with Christ” when we leave earth to be with Him forever.

Lord,

Thank you for the warnings with words of readiness to prepare us for the troubles of this world.  Troubles come and go, but most of all we remember that you are with always—even until the end of this age.  With us means we are given the power and strength to endure momentary sufferings here until we see you there.  The power to endure also restores the joy of your salvation work within us! Thank you, thank you, thank you. 

To you be the glory!

In Jesus Name, Amen

I know not why God’s won­drous grace
To me He hath made known,
Nor why, un­wor­thy, Christ in love
Redeemed me for His own.

But I know whom I have believed,
And am per­suad­ed that He is able
To keep that which I’ve com­mit­ted
Unto Him against that day.