To access the John 13:18-30 PODCAST, click here
18 “I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill this passage of Scripture: ‘He who shared my bread has turned against me.’ 19 “I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am. 20 Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.” 21 After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.” 22 His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. 23 One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. 24 Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.” 25 Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?” 26 Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” 28 But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. 29 Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival, or to give something to the poor. 30 As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night. ~ John 13:18-30
The Lord Jesus quotes Psalm 41:9, written by David 1,000 years before these events. In doing so, the Lord Jesus is showing He is in control, though for a few hours it will seem that He is not. Psalm 41:9 predicted that one would betray the Messiah. Judas did not have to betray Him. Judas could have turned away from his betrayal. Judas was not forced into being a betrayer. He chose to be the betray by the day-to-day choices which he made.
In v.20, we read, "Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me." The reason Judas betrayed the One whom he had never believed in and received as Messiah. He had never bowed his will to the Lord, but had pursued his own definition of life, regardless of God's definition of life.
The Lord Jesus was "troubled in spirit." We see His human side through these words. He was troubled because He knew that Judas was about to betray Him. It is comforting to realize that, as a human, the Lord Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father interceding for us right now.
It was difficult also for the disciples to believe this. The other gospels tell us they began to look at one another and say to the Lord, "Lord, is it I?" This response is one of the greatest signs of spiritual health in us. We are spiritually healthy when we do not point the finger.
This response is a commentary on the fact that we do know ourselves very well. All of us at times have done things that shocked us, things we did not know we were capable of doing, or said things we did not realize we could have said. The disciples feel this. Filled with self-distrust they ask, "Lord, is it I?"
An amazing statement is given to us through Matthew's gospel, and it reveals why Judas was the one who betrayed the Lord Jesus. We read in Matthew 26:25, in response to the Lord Jesus' announcement that one of the disciples would betray Him, "Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?” Did you catch that? Contrary to the other disciples' response, Judas said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?” Judas saw the Lord Jesus as his servant rather than seeing himself as the servant of the Lord Jesus.
We find it amazing that after three and a half years of living with the Lord Jesus, Judas came to this conclusion. Of course, Judas probably expected the Lord Jesus to be a political power, and he turned out to be so different. As v.25-26 makes clear, when Jesus identified him, he did so only to John.
In v.26, the Lord Jesus gave the bread to Judas who reclined to the left of the Lord Jesus. The one who reclined to the left of the Lord Jesus had the honored position. One last time the Lord Jesus reached out to Judas. Interestingly, according to v.23, John was reclining on the Lord Jesus right side. Judas reclined away from the Lord Jesus and John reclined toward the Lord Jesus.
John 13:27-30 refers to more than simply the darkness of night. Judas consistently refused the help of the Lord Jesus to choose differently. He consistently refused to surrender his will and let the Lord Jesus into his heart. As a consequence, Judas rendered power over his life to Satan and closed the door to the One who could open his eyes to real reality. When Judas closed the door of his heart to the Lord Jesus, he opened his heart to Satan.
John's gospel began with the words in John 1:5, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” Only the Lord Jesus can remove us from the control of the darkness. Only we can keep the seal of darkness upon our hearts. There are two choices: darkness or light, Satan or the Lord Jesus.
Friday, December 06, 2019
Thursday, December 05, 2019
John 13:12-17
Click here for the John 13:12-17 Podcast
12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. ~ John 13:12-17
One of the biggest mistakes we make when reading Scripture is that we read it as spectators. We mistakenly think of the Scripture as a collection of stories and events that took place thousands of years ago. We must view the ancient stories as our stories, because they are our stories. We are in the narrative. We are Abraham, Sarah, Jacob, Rebekah, Moses, Isaiah, Ruth, Peter, Paul, and John. The scriptures are our story. To read them as a mere spectator looking on is to miss the point. Scripture is our story. As we read it, we must enter into it.
Their questions are our questions which are fuel to our pursuits and our passions. A fair count of the questions the Lord Jesus used in the Gospels renders at least 100. Questions are most often unwanted. Yet, questions are essential to our walk with the Lord. Questions are designed to make us think and seek.
In today's text, the Lord Jesus asked, "Do you understand what I have done for you?" The Lord Jesus is saying there is more to the washing your feet than you realize. The application of the Lord Jesus previous statement was quite different for each disciple, especially Judas. He was at the crossroads of betraying the Lord Jesus. The washing of the feet of the disciples was a symbol of something far more important, a vital principle in the kingdom of God.
In v.15 we read, "I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you." The word "as" is a translation of the Greek word kathos, which means "according as." If He were establishing footwashing as a pattern of ritual to be practiced in the church, He would have used the Greek word ho, which means "that which." Then He would have been saying, "I have given you an example that you should do what I have done to you."
He is not saying "Do the same thing I have done"; He is saying, "Behave in the same manner as I have behaved." The example we are to follow is not the washing of feet, it is His humility. The humility of the Lord Jesus is the real lesson in this passage.
The result of that kind of humility is always loving service—doing the humiliating tasks for the glory of Jesus Christ. That demolishes most of the popular ideas of what constitutes spirituality.
In addition, the Lord Jesus was teaching His disciples this principle: "real authority comes from loving service.” A true leader will always be engaged as a servant.
Years ago, when I was teaching Bible to eleventh graders at a local Christian school, I asked the class what a leader was. A young Chinese student who did not talk much in class blew us all away with one simple word. He said, "empathy." I was silenced. Then we had a great discussion about leadership which begins with feeling with those who are following.
Sadly, we live in a culture which is preoccupied with self, which will always prevent us from being others minded. The Lord Jesus taught he who serves wins the hearts of others. They will obey the servant leader, because he loves them and serves them.
Notice what the Lord Jesus said in v.16-17. "16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them." The emphasis is on doing. It is not enough to teach it, to hold it as a mental principle, but to do it, to serve.
To be fulfilled and happy, we must develop a servant's heart. This begins with being His servants first, otherwise, we will quickly get exhausted. The Lord Jesus reminds us that "the servant is not greater than his master." The Lord Jesus stepped down from a position of deity to become a man, humbled Himself to be our servant. He is the servant of undeserving sinners. His choice emanated out of His relationship with the Father. So must ours, as well.
12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. ~ John 13:12-17
One of the biggest mistakes we make when reading Scripture is that we read it as spectators. We mistakenly think of the Scripture as a collection of stories and events that took place thousands of years ago. We must view the ancient stories as our stories, because they are our stories. We are in the narrative. We are Abraham, Sarah, Jacob, Rebekah, Moses, Isaiah, Ruth, Peter, Paul, and John. The scriptures are our story. To read them as a mere spectator looking on is to miss the point. Scripture is our story. As we read it, we must enter into it.
Their questions are our questions which are fuel to our pursuits and our passions. A fair count of the questions the Lord Jesus used in the Gospels renders at least 100. Questions are most often unwanted. Yet, questions are essential to our walk with the Lord. Questions are designed to make us think and seek.
In today's text, the Lord Jesus asked, "Do you understand what I have done for you?" The Lord Jesus is saying there is more to the washing your feet than you realize. The application of the Lord Jesus previous statement was quite different for each disciple, especially Judas. He was at the crossroads of betraying the Lord Jesus. The washing of the feet of the disciples was a symbol of something far more important, a vital principle in the kingdom of God.
In v.15 we read, "I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you." The word "as" is a translation of the Greek word kathos, which means "according as." If He were establishing footwashing as a pattern of ritual to be practiced in the church, He would have used the Greek word ho, which means "that which." Then He would have been saying, "I have given you an example that you should do what I have done to you."
He is not saying "Do the same thing I have done"; He is saying, "Behave in the same manner as I have behaved." The example we are to follow is not the washing of feet, it is His humility. The humility of the Lord Jesus is the real lesson in this passage.
The result of that kind of humility is always loving service—doing the humiliating tasks for the glory of Jesus Christ. That demolishes most of the popular ideas of what constitutes spirituality.
In addition, the Lord Jesus was teaching His disciples this principle: "real authority comes from loving service.” A true leader will always be engaged as a servant.
Years ago, when I was teaching Bible to eleventh graders at a local Christian school, I asked the class what a leader was. A young Chinese student who did not talk much in class blew us all away with one simple word. He said, "empathy." I was silenced. Then we had a great discussion about leadership which begins with feeling with those who are following.
Sadly, we live in a culture which is preoccupied with self, which will always prevent us from being others minded. The Lord Jesus taught he who serves wins the hearts of others. They will obey the servant leader, because he loves them and serves them.
Notice what the Lord Jesus said in v.16-17. "16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them." The emphasis is on doing. It is not enough to teach it, to hold it as a mental principle, but to do it, to serve.
To be fulfilled and happy, we must develop a servant's heart. This begins with being His servants first, otherwise, we will quickly get exhausted. The Lord Jesus reminds us that "the servant is not greater than his master." The Lord Jesus stepped down from a position of deity to become a man, humbled Himself to be our servant. He is the servant of undeserving sinners. His choice emanated out of His relationship with the Father. So must ours, as well.
Wednesday, December 04, 2019
John 13:6-11
To access the John 13:6-11 PODCAST, click here
6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” 9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” 10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. ~ John 13:6-11
Peter was aghast that Jesus was about to wash his feet, so he tried to prevent Him from doing so. The Lord Jesus doesn't rebuke Peter, rather He gives him a promise: "but later you will understand." This is the adventure of the Christian life. This is what makes it so fascinating. We do not know how the events of this day will impact eternity.
This summer I spoke at a camp in the mountains in North Carolina. Two weeks later I received an online message from a young man who attended that camp. I had no idea that he was contemplating suicide. In his words, "your messages changed my mind." Wow, I had no idea, and I suspect when we get to heaven, we will be amazed of how the Lord used our yielded lives for the good of others.
Peter's reaction to this promise is typical: "You shall never wash my feet!" He's so sure he's right, and so totally unaware of his pride, self-righteousness, and ignorance wrapped up in his response. The response of the Lord Jesus comes with a warning: "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me." The Lord Jesus is talking about Peter's progression in his relationship with Him. The Lord Jesus is saying, "your walk with me will be stunted."
In typical fashion, Peter seeks to demonstrate his love for the Lord Jesus. Peter says, "Then, Lord, not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!" Like many Christians Peter did not have good doctrine. He seems to say all the wrong things, yet his heart seemed to always be right. And, the Lord Jesus saw Peter's heart.
In v.10-11, the Lord Jesus responds to Peter again. He says to Peter, "Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean."
The Lord Jesus brings attention to the fact that people take baths in the morning, and thus were "clean." But as they went about the dusty streets their feet became dirty. This didn't mean they needed another bath, however, they only needed to wash their feet. The Lord Jesus explains to the disciples, "You are clean." They were born again, and that only occurs once.
At the end of v.10, the Lord Jesus brings attention to the fact that Judas was not clean, he was not right with God. But the eleven are clean. They have bathed and they are clean. That is, they are born again. They had believed in the Lord Jesus. Only Judas is excluded. Peter is clean, even though he messes up often.
The first year of my Christian experience, I walked the isle at the end of almost every message that was preached. My Pastor one day said to me, "Bobby, you do not have to come down here every time I preach." To which I responded, "But, Frank, I sinned this week." Afterwards, we had a good discussion and Frank corrected my bad theology.
In 1 John 1:8–9, we read, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” This is a picture of Peter’s and my mistake. What we failed to realize is, even though we are “completely clean” (John 13:10), that is, even though we were born again, there were sins that needed daily confession but not for forgiveness. These sins were forgiven the moment we became believers in Christ. This daily confession of sin is spiritual foot-washings. The purpose for confession of sin for the Christian is for a clear conscience, that our walk with the Lord would not be impeded by a distracted conscience.
Believers of the Lord Jesus know our true, unshakable standing with God as “completely clean” and we do not claim that we have no sin, but we know how to deal with our ongoing sins. We confess our forgiven sin and we receive daily cleansing of our consciences. We do this for the sake of our fellowship with God which is different than our relationship. Our relationship gets us into heaven, whereas our fellowship gets heaven into us now. When the Lord Jesus offers to wash our feet, we say, "yes," so that our fellowship with God will deepen.
To help BYM, click here
6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” 9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” 10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. ~ John 13:6-11
Peter was aghast that Jesus was about to wash his feet, so he tried to prevent Him from doing so. The Lord Jesus doesn't rebuke Peter, rather He gives him a promise: "but later you will understand." This is the adventure of the Christian life. This is what makes it so fascinating. We do not know how the events of this day will impact eternity.
This summer I spoke at a camp in the mountains in North Carolina. Two weeks later I received an online message from a young man who attended that camp. I had no idea that he was contemplating suicide. In his words, "your messages changed my mind." Wow, I had no idea, and I suspect when we get to heaven, we will be amazed of how the Lord used our yielded lives for the good of others.
Peter's reaction to this promise is typical: "You shall never wash my feet!" He's so sure he's right, and so totally unaware of his pride, self-righteousness, and ignorance wrapped up in his response. The response of the Lord Jesus comes with a warning: "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me." The Lord Jesus is talking about Peter's progression in his relationship with Him. The Lord Jesus is saying, "your walk with me will be stunted."
In typical fashion, Peter seeks to demonstrate his love for the Lord Jesus. Peter says, "Then, Lord, not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!" Like many Christians Peter did not have good doctrine. He seems to say all the wrong things, yet his heart seemed to always be right. And, the Lord Jesus saw Peter's heart.
In v.10-11, the Lord Jesus responds to Peter again. He says to Peter, "Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean."
The Lord Jesus brings attention to the fact that people take baths in the morning, and thus were "clean." But as they went about the dusty streets their feet became dirty. This didn't mean they needed another bath, however, they only needed to wash their feet. The Lord Jesus explains to the disciples, "You are clean." They were born again, and that only occurs once.
At the end of v.10, the Lord Jesus brings attention to the fact that Judas was not clean, he was not right with God. But the eleven are clean. They have bathed and they are clean. That is, they are born again. They had believed in the Lord Jesus. Only Judas is excluded. Peter is clean, even though he messes up often.
The first year of my Christian experience, I walked the isle at the end of almost every message that was preached. My Pastor one day said to me, "Bobby, you do not have to come down here every time I preach." To which I responded, "But, Frank, I sinned this week." Afterwards, we had a good discussion and Frank corrected my bad theology.
In 1 John 1:8–9, we read, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” This is a picture of Peter’s and my mistake. What we failed to realize is, even though we are “completely clean” (John 13:10), that is, even though we were born again, there were sins that needed daily confession but not for forgiveness. These sins were forgiven the moment we became believers in Christ. This daily confession of sin is spiritual foot-washings. The purpose for confession of sin for the Christian is for a clear conscience, that our walk with the Lord would not be impeded by a distracted conscience.
Believers of the Lord Jesus know our true, unshakable standing with God as “completely clean” and we do not claim that we have no sin, but we know how to deal with our ongoing sins. We confess our forgiven sin and we receive daily cleansing of our consciences. We do this for the sake of our fellowship with God which is different than our relationship. Our relationship gets us into heaven, whereas our fellowship gets heaven into us now. When the Lord Jesus offers to wash our feet, we say, "yes," so that our fellowship with God will deepen.
To help BYM, click here
Tuesday, December 03, 2019
John 13:1-5
To access the John 13:1-5 PODCAST, click here
1 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. ~ John 13:1-5
John's Gospel has two main sections: John 1-12 eternal life is offered, John 13-21 eternal life is explained. The Lord Jesus came to earth as a man in order to deliver eternal life. In John 10:10, we read, "I have come that they might have life. and that they might have it more abundantly."
With the first section of John completed, we turn to the second half. In John 13 the Lord Jesus is in the Upper Room with his disciples. They are there to celebrate the Passover, and the Lord Jesus takes the opportunity to teach His followers about His cross. This would be a different Passover for this Passover was the ultimate Passover, bringing to an end the sacrifice. The sacrifice of the Lord Jesus would be once and for all.
Before doing so, the Lord Jesus washes the feet of the disciples. He knew His cross was imminent. From the beginning of His ministry He knew He was to be the "Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world." He also knew when it would occur. It would occur when the nation was gathered to offer the Passover lamb.
At the end of v.1, we read, "Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end." He dreaded separation from the Father, but, He loved His own. He was separated from the Father so that you and I would not have to be. Within twelve hours from this Upper Room meal, He will be hanging on the cross. He loved us to the end of His life here on earth.
In v.2, we read, "The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus." The Lord Jesus was always aware of the powers of darkness. He knew that the devil was positioning Judas to betray Him. And yet, He loved Judas, too.
In v.3, we are reminded of the three identity questions of all of mankind: where did I come from?, where am I going? why am I here? When we know the answers to these three questions, we will be the most secure and potentially selfless people on the planet.
At the beginning of v.3, we read, "Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power." He knew the sovereignty of His Father. He was not a helpless victim of the scheming of the Jewish leaders and Roman authorities to put Him to death. He knew what He had to do, and He Himself would see that it was carried out.
In the second half of v.3, we read, "He had come from God and was returning to God." He knew exactly who He was. He knew His origin: He was "secure." Throughout this account the Lord Jesus never panicked.
We read in v.4, "so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist." We can only imagine what went through the minds of the disciples as the Lord Jesus assumed the position of the servant of the house. Knowing who He was enabled Him to do this. He lacked nothing, therefore He could embrace humility at its worse.
In v.5, "After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him." It is evident the disciples ought to have done this. In those days it was customary for the servant of the house to wash the feet of anyone entering from the dusty roads.
According to Luke 22, the disciples began to argue among themselves who was the greatest. Then, without a word the Lord Jesus arose, took off His outer clothing, and, kneeling in front of each disciple in turn, including Judas, He washed their feet and dried them with a towel. They were shocked, stunned, and embarrassed. They didn't know what to make of this.
Only absolute humility can generate absolute love. Love's nature is to be selfless and giving. Christ's love and His humility are inseparable. He could not have been so consumed with a passion for serving others if He had been primarily concerned with Himself.
To help BYM, click here
1 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. ~ John 13:1-5
John's Gospel has two main sections: John 1-12 eternal life is offered, John 13-21 eternal life is explained. The Lord Jesus came to earth as a man in order to deliver eternal life. In John 10:10, we read, "I have come that they might have life. and that they might have it more abundantly."
With the first section of John completed, we turn to the second half. In John 13 the Lord Jesus is in the Upper Room with his disciples. They are there to celebrate the Passover, and the Lord Jesus takes the opportunity to teach His followers about His cross. This would be a different Passover for this Passover was the ultimate Passover, bringing to an end the sacrifice. The sacrifice of the Lord Jesus would be once and for all.
Before doing so, the Lord Jesus washes the feet of the disciples. He knew His cross was imminent. From the beginning of His ministry He knew He was to be the "Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world." He also knew when it would occur. It would occur when the nation was gathered to offer the Passover lamb.
At the end of v.1, we read, "Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end." He dreaded separation from the Father, but, He loved His own. He was separated from the Father so that you and I would not have to be. Within twelve hours from this Upper Room meal, He will be hanging on the cross. He loved us to the end of His life here on earth.
In v.2, we read, "The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus." The Lord Jesus was always aware of the powers of darkness. He knew that the devil was positioning Judas to betray Him. And yet, He loved Judas, too.
In v.3, we are reminded of the three identity questions of all of mankind: where did I come from?, where am I going? why am I here? When we know the answers to these three questions, we will be the most secure and potentially selfless people on the planet.
At the beginning of v.3, we read, "Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power." He knew the sovereignty of His Father. He was not a helpless victim of the scheming of the Jewish leaders and Roman authorities to put Him to death. He knew what He had to do, and He Himself would see that it was carried out.
In the second half of v.3, we read, "He had come from God and was returning to God." He knew exactly who He was. He knew His origin: He was "secure." Throughout this account the Lord Jesus never panicked.
We read in v.4, "so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist." We can only imagine what went through the minds of the disciples as the Lord Jesus assumed the position of the servant of the house. Knowing who He was enabled Him to do this. He lacked nothing, therefore He could embrace humility at its worse.
In v.5, "After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him." It is evident the disciples ought to have done this. In those days it was customary for the servant of the house to wash the feet of anyone entering from the dusty roads.
According to Luke 22, the disciples began to argue among themselves who was the greatest. Then, without a word the Lord Jesus arose, took off His outer clothing, and, kneeling in front of each disciple in turn, including Judas, He washed their feet and dried them with a towel. They were shocked, stunned, and embarrassed. They didn't know what to make of this.
Only absolute humility can generate absolute love. Love's nature is to be selfless and giving. Christ's love and His humility are inseparable. He could not have been so consumed with a passion for serving others if He had been primarily concerned with Himself.
To help BYM, click here
Monday, December 02, 2019
John 12:42-50
To access the John 12:42-50 PODCAST, click here
42 Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved human praise more than praise from God. 44 Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. 45 The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. 47 “If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day. 49 For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. 50 I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.” ~ John 12:42-50
Many believed in the Lord Jesus but were fearful to let others know of their faith in Him. Their fear was hindered by potential rejection. They valued the itinerary of man more than that of God, thus their faith was not lasting. God gave to all of them what they absolutely needed to believe, yet they chose not to believe. In this way “He blinded their eyes and hardened their heart.”
The Lord Jesus Christ is so central to history that no one can afford to ignore Him. In v.44, John writes, “Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me.” These are the last words the Lord Jesus says before He eats the Last Supper with His disciples.
On many occasions, the Lord Jesus said He and the Father were one. Like a pot of boiling water, the steam is the same as the water in the pot, just different expressions. In order to be our savior, the Lord Jesus must be God, and vice versa. And, if He isn't our Savior, God is not our Father. The Lord Jesus came to reveal things as they really are, real reality. The last reference in this Gospel of the Lord Jesus as the light of the world is found in v.46.
Again, in v.47-48, the Lord Jesus reiterates the fact that He came into the world to save the world, not to condemn it. When we hear His words and ignore them, He does not punish us for that. He gives us the opportunity to hear, again and again, that we might turn to Him. Though judgment does not come immediately, it will come, if we reject His free offer.
God does not condemn us for what we have not heard, but for ignoring what we have heard. The final judge is the word we have heard, the sayings of Jesus we already know. This means that those who are condemned on that day are self-condemned. They will stand silent before the One who will sits on His throne, rendered speechless by their guilty knowledge of truth they have not received and believed.
According to v.49-50 we all have a capacity for faith, we all can believe truth when we hear it and know it to be truth, but unused faith gets weakened. When we insist on some compromise, we cover our eyes and we turn away from His definition of things, our faith clings to another source which does not and will not deliver that life we truly desire.
The reality the Lord Jesus leaves us with is this: Will we experience true life? Will we experience His life? Or, will we be unable to live by the great promises of the gospel that highlights the fact that God chooses to inhabit our believing lives? Where we close our eyes to truth, eventually leads us to a life He died to free us from. Ours is that daily choice.
42 Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved human praise more than praise from God. 44 Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. 45 The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. 47 “If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day. 49 For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. 50 I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.” ~ John 12:42-50
Many believed in the Lord Jesus but were fearful to let others know of their faith in Him. Their fear was hindered by potential rejection. They valued the itinerary of man more than that of God, thus their faith was not lasting. God gave to all of them what they absolutely needed to believe, yet they chose not to believe. In this way “He blinded their eyes and hardened their heart.”
The Lord Jesus Christ is so central to history that no one can afford to ignore Him. In v.44, John writes, “Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me.” These are the last words the Lord Jesus says before He eats the Last Supper with His disciples.
On many occasions, the Lord Jesus said He and the Father were one. Like a pot of boiling water, the steam is the same as the water in the pot, just different expressions. In order to be our savior, the Lord Jesus must be God, and vice versa. And, if He isn't our Savior, God is not our Father. The Lord Jesus came to reveal things as they really are, real reality. The last reference in this Gospel of the Lord Jesus as the light of the world is found in v.46.
Again, in v.47-48, the Lord Jesus reiterates the fact that He came into the world to save the world, not to condemn it. When we hear His words and ignore them, He does not punish us for that. He gives us the opportunity to hear, again and again, that we might turn to Him. Though judgment does not come immediately, it will come, if we reject His free offer.
God does not condemn us for what we have not heard, but for ignoring what we have heard. The final judge is the word we have heard, the sayings of Jesus we already know. This means that those who are condemned on that day are self-condemned. They will stand silent before the One who will sits on His throne, rendered speechless by their guilty knowledge of truth they have not received and believed.
According to v.49-50 we all have a capacity for faith, we all can believe truth when we hear it and know it to be truth, but unused faith gets weakened. When we insist on some compromise, we cover our eyes and we turn away from His definition of things, our faith clings to another source which does not and will not deliver that life we truly desire.
The reality the Lord Jesus leaves us with is this: Will we experience true life? Will we experience His life? Or, will we be unable to live by the great promises of the gospel that highlights the fact that God chooses to inhabit our believing lives? Where we close our eyes to truth, eventually leads us to a life He died to free us from. Ours is that daily choice.
Friday, November 29, 2019
John 12:37-41
Click here to Access the JOHN 12:37-41 PODCAST
37 Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. 38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: “Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”
39 For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere: 40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn—and I would heal them.” 41 Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him. ~ John 12:37-41
Miracles do not create faith. Confronted by the message and miracles of the Lord Jesus, most of Israel chose unbelief. He was crucified and their hearts still were not changed. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him, as Messiah. Israel's unbelief aided the fact that the Lord Jesus came to die in our place and make salvation possible for the whole world.
The fact that God blinded the eyes and hardened the hearts of Israel does not take away or contradict their personal responsibility to believe and receive the free gift the Lord Jesus came to offer. The Lord Jesus said in John 3:18, “Whoever believes in me is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” Israel could have believed, in fact some of them did, but all of them didn't. And, they bare the guilt of their choice.
In our text, the Apostle John quotes the prophet Isaiah. John could have left Isaiah out and simply said: the unbelief of Israel was planned by God and their hardness and blindness is owing to His sovereign choice. But what he did was quote two different places in Isaiah.
In John 12:38, John quotes Isaiah 53:1. And in John 12:40 he quotes Isaiah 6:10. Isaiah 53 is a description of the suffering servant, whom we know now as the Lord Jesus. And the two verses that follow go like this: “He had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men” (Isaiah 53:2–3).
So the point is that Isaiah prophesied that this suffering servant would be rejected. Israel would not believe on Him. Which is why John says in John 12:38, “Who has believed?” Why did they not believe? Because He was simply not the kind of Messiah they wanted.
Then, in John 12:40, John quotes Isaiah 6:10 which describes what was going to happen when Isaiah preached the vision that he saw of God’s glory. God told Isaiah that when he preached this great message the people would not believe. They would, in fact, be blinded and hardened. Why? Because they did not want to hear such a message.
God blinded and hardened them by sending a savior who was not what they expected. He sent a lowly servant, knowing that they would despise and reject Him. He didn't make them reject Him, He knew in advance how they would respond to Him. The problem was not Him, it was them, their pride and ignorance.
The Lord Jesus didn’t deserve to feel the shame of sin, but He did. He didn’t deserve the humiliation of the cross, but He did. He had never sinned, yet was treated like a sinner. He became sin, so that His perfection could be deposited into our account. This gospel changes hearts, some hearts.
37 Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. 38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: “Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”
39 For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere: 40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn—and I would heal them.” 41 Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him. ~ John 12:37-41
Miracles do not create faith. Confronted by the message and miracles of the Lord Jesus, most of Israel chose unbelief. He was crucified and their hearts still were not changed. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him, as Messiah. Israel's unbelief aided the fact that the Lord Jesus came to die in our place and make salvation possible for the whole world.
The fact that God blinded the eyes and hardened the hearts of Israel does not take away or contradict their personal responsibility to believe and receive the free gift the Lord Jesus came to offer. The Lord Jesus said in John 3:18, “Whoever believes in me is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” Israel could have believed, in fact some of them did, but all of them didn't. And, they bare the guilt of their choice.
In our text, the Apostle John quotes the prophet Isaiah. John could have left Isaiah out and simply said: the unbelief of Israel was planned by God and their hardness and blindness is owing to His sovereign choice. But what he did was quote two different places in Isaiah.
In John 12:38, John quotes Isaiah 53:1. And in John 12:40 he quotes Isaiah 6:10. Isaiah 53 is a description of the suffering servant, whom we know now as the Lord Jesus. And the two verses that follow go like this: “He had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men” (Isaiah 53:2–3).
So the point is that Isaiah prophesied that this suffering servant would be rejected. Israel would not believe on Him. Which is why John says in John 12:38, “Who has believed?” Why did they not believe? Because He was simply not the kind of Messiah they wanted.
Then, in John 12:40, John quotes Isaiah 6:10 which describes what was going to happen when Isaiah preached the vision that he saw of God’s glory. God told Isaiah that when he preached this great message the people would not believe. They would, in fact, be blinded and hardened. Why? Because they did not want to hear such a message.
God blinded and hardened them by sending a savior who was not what they expected. He sent a lowly servant, knowing that they would despise and reject Him. He didn't make them reject Him, He knew in advance how they would respond to Him. The problem was not Him, it was them, their pride and ignorance.
The Lord Jesus didn’t deserve to feel the shame of sin, but He did. He didn’t deserve the humiliation of the cross, but He did. He had never sinned, yet was treated like a sinner. He became sin, so that His perfection could be deposited into our account. This gospel changes hearts, some hearts.
Thursday, November 28, 2019
John 12:28-36
To accèss the John 12:28-36 PODCAST, click here
28 Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him. 30 Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die. 34 The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever, so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?” 35 Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. 36 Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them. ~ John 12:28-36
The Lord Jesus understood very clearly what awaited Him and He struggled with it. As recorded here in our text, for the third time the voice of God spoke from heaven. Upon hearing His Father's voice, He continued on the right path, the path the Father had mapped for Him.
This voice had first been heard at the baptism of Jesus when the Father said, "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:17). The second time the Father spoke happened at the transfiguration of the Lord Jesus, a few weeks before the final week in Jerusalem. During that experience on that mountain, Moses and Elijah talked with the Lord Jesus. And now, for the third time, as He faced the cross, the voice of the Father expresses His pleasure at the willingness of His Son to be the Passover Lamb.
In v.32, the Lord Jesus says, "And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." When Christ was lifted up on the cross, He purchased and guaranteed the homecoming of His sheep, the ingathering of His followers.
The word “draw” is the same word used in John 6:44, where the Lord Jesus says, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.” We drew near to Him because He drew us to Himself. Could we have rejected His draw? We had to have had that option, otherwise we would be robots.
According to v.33, "He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die." These words are clearly a reference to the cross. By means of the cross the Lord Jesus would draw all kinds of people home.
In v.34-36 we learn of the crowd's reaction which constitutes a remarkable study in unbelief.
Unbelief is selective faith, a faith that believes some, but not all, of the words of God. The people said, "We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever.'" In other words, "Messiah will not die on a cross." This is to ignore such passages as Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53 where the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus was predicted and described.
In addition, unbelief caused these people to miss their opportunity to believe. In v.35-36, the Lord Jesus said to them, "You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. 36 Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light."
This was the crowd's last opportunity to hear the words of Jesus. He never spoke to the multitudes again. At the end of v.36, we read, "When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them." The point? When God is speaking, while His word is illuminating your mind, when you begin to see reality from God's perspective, that is a critical hour. Seize it! Don't let it pass. Act on it. Yet these people let their opportunity pass.
28 Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him. 30 Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die. 34 The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever, so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?” 35 Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. 36 Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them. ~ John 12:28-36
The Lord Jesus understood very clearly what awaited Him and He struggled with it. As recorded here in our text, for the third time the voice of God spoke from heaven. Upon hearing His Father's voice, He continued on the right path, the path the Father had mapped for Him.
This voice had first been heard at the baptism of Jesus when the Father said, "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:17). The second time the Father spoke happened at the transfiguration of the Lord Jesus, a few weeks before the final week in Jerusalem. During that experience on that mountain, Moses and Elijah talked with the Lord Jesus. And now, for the third time, as He faced the cross, the voice of the Father expresses His pleasure at the willingness of His Son to be the Passover Lamb.
In v.31, we read, "Now is the time for judgment on this world." The sins of the world were judged as the Lord Jesus hung on the cross. The Greek word used for the word "judgement" is krisis, which is a decision point, where a choice must be made.
The remainder of v.31 reads, "now the prince of this world will be driven out." Since his rebellion in heaven, the devil has been the god of this world. According to 2 Corinthians 4:4, "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."
This means God has given to the devil a certain measure of authority in the earth. This makes sense of the fact that often people blindly follow demonic delusions that Satan sends into the world without even knowing it. The people of this world are manipulated by Satanic values and have no idea of how helpless they are to change, apart from Christ. Given these facts, at the cross the fangs of death were wrestled from this protector of death, the devil himself.
In v.32, the Lord Jesus says, "And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." When Christ was lifted up on the cross, He purchased and guaranteed the homecoming of His sheep, the ingathering of His followers.
The word “draw” is the same word used in John 6:44, where the Lord Jesus says, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.” We drew near to Him because He drew us to Himself. Could we have rejected His draw? We had to have had that option, otherwise we would be robots.
According to v.33, "He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die." These words are clearly a reference to the cross. By means of the cross the Lord Jesus would draw all kinds of people home.
In v.34-36 we learn of the crowd's reaction which constitutes a remarkable study in unbelief.
Unbelief is selective faith, a faith that believes some, but not all, of the words of God. The people said, "We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever.'" In other words, "Messiah will not die on a cross." This is to ignore such passages as Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53 where the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus was predicted and described.
In addition, unbelief caused these people to miss their opportunity to believe. In v.35-36, the Lord Jesus said to them, "You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. 36 Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light."
This was the crowd's last opportunity to hear the words of Jesus. He never spoke to the multitudes again. At the end of v.36, we read, "When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them." The point? When God is speaking, while His word is illuminating your mind, when you begin to see reality from God's perspective, that is a critical hour. Seize it! Don't let it pass. Act on it. Yet these people let their opportunity pass.
Wednesday, November 27, 2019
John 12:25-28
Click here for the John 12:25-28 PODCAST
25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. 27 “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name!” ~ John 12:25-28
The theme of John's Gospel is Christ's fullness and mankind's emptiness. In our text today, the Lord Jesus is underlining the reason for mankind's emptiness: we rejected God's definition of life and we tried to define our lives for ourselves.
The Lord Jesus reminds us in v.25 that infatuation with the way we think life should be leads to our destruction. The gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ begins with dying, it begins with His cross. God's culture confronts the philosophy of this world where self is placed squarely at the center. The Lord Jesus advises that if we follow this philosophy, we will lose. The life we so desire will slip through our fingers no matter what we do.
In v.25, we read, "Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life." This means we must recognize that living for self will never supply what we really want out of life. Only as we surrender to the Lordship of Christ can that happen. That is why the gospel includes His cross, and why His cross has become the symbol of Christian faith.
The cross is the symbol of death. It stands for the end of the our will. When we came to Christ we did not bring our life up to a higher plane. The grain of wheat must fall into the ground and die. That is the beginning of the gospel.
In v.26, we read, "Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me." Surrendering our claim on our lives, and bowing our knee to the Lordship of the Lord Jesus is a form of dying. The result, as promised in v.26, is that we will truly begin to live.
In v.27 the Lord Jesus reveals that He struggled with this idea of going to the cross. His struggle was not caused by His lack. His struggle was linked to the impending separation from the Father. He had never known such separation. We are motivated in the reverse order of that which the Lord Jesus was. Our insecurities are linked to our lack which creates the potential for greed and covetousness. This is not so for the Lord Jesus for He has no insecurities caused by any type of lack. His apprehension was caused by having to become sin while hanging on the cross. He who had never committed one sin embraced all sin so that God would punish that sin in His body as He hung on that tree.
The latter part of v.27 and v.28 reveals that the Lord Jesus concluded His cross was His calling in order to rescue mankind from our emptiness. His cross was a necessary evil, otherwise, you and I would be damned for eternity. Imagine that, we would be guaranteed an eternity in hell. The Lord Jesus was emptied in the worse possible way so that we would be able to know the fullness of God's forgiveness and presence in our lives.
25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. 27 “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name!” ~ John 12:25-28
The theme of John's Gospel is Christ's fullness and mankind's emptiness. In our text today, the Lord Jesus is underlining the reason for mankind's emptiness: we rejected God's definition of life and we tried to define our lives for ourselves.
The Lord Jesus reminds us in v.25 that infatuation with the way we think life should be leads to our destruction. The gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ begins with dying, it begins with His cross. God's culture confronts the philosophy of this world where self is placed squarely at the center. The Lord Jesus advises that if we follow this philosophy, we will lose. The life we so desire will slip through our fingers no matter what we do.
In v.25, we read, "Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life." This means we must recognize that living for self will never supply what we really want out of life. Only as we surrender to the Lordship of Christ can that happen. That is why the gospel includes His cross, and why His cross has become the symbol of Christian faith.
The cross is the symbol of death. It stands for the end of the our will. When we came to Christ we did not bring our life up to a higher plane. The grain of wheat must fall into the ground and die. That is the beginning of the gospel.
In v.26, we read, "Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me." Surrendering our claim on our lives, and bowing our knee to the Lordship of the Lord Jesus is a form of dying. The result, as promised in v.26, is that we will truly begin to live.
In v.27 the Lord Jesus reveals that He struggled with this idea of going to the cross. His struggle was not caused by His lack. His struggle was linked to the impending separation from the Father. He had never known such separation. We are motivated in the reverse order of that which the Lord Jesus was. Our insecurities are linked to our lack which creates the potential for greed and covetousness. This is not so for the Lord Jesus for He has no insecurities caused by any type of lack. His apprehension was caused by having to become sin while hanging on the cross. He who had never committed one sin embraced all sin so that God would punish that sin in His body as He hung on that tree.
The latter part of v.27 and v.28 reveals that the Lord Jesus concluded His cross was His calling in order to rescue mankind from our emptiness. His cross was a necessary evil, otherwise, you and I would be damned for eternity. Imagine that, we would be guaranteed an eternity in hell. The Lord Jesus was emptied in the worse possible way so that we would be able to know the fullness of God's forgiveness and presence in our lives.
Tuesday, November 26, 2019
John 12:17-24
Click here for the John 12:17-24 PODCAST
17 Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. 18 Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!” 20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus. 23 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. ~ John 12:17-24
In John 12:17-21, the Lord Jesus is popular. The whole world seemed to want to see Him because He had raised Lazarus from the dead. This kind of word spreads fast. So popular was the Lord Jesus that some visiting Greeks went to Philip and Andrew, requesting to see Him. This request underlines the fact the Lord Jesus was popular. But, this kind of popularity repulses Him.
This kind of popularity isn't high on His list. And, even though He came to be the King, He didn't come to be the King that was expected by these gathered in Jerusalem. In fact, by the end of this week their praises turn to "crucify Him".
In v.23, we read, "The hour has come for the Son of man to be glorified!" This is the first time the Lord Jesus has gone along with the people's desire to acknowledge Him as such. Several times in this gospel we have heard Jesus say "My hour has not yet come." These responses give clear indication that He was in utter subjection to the will of His Father in heaven.
In v.24, we get the explanation for His acceptance of the people's adulation: He goes on to utter words introduced by what I have described as the formula of focused attention: "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds."
Of course, He is talking about Himself. He is the grain of wheat. Unless He is willing to die, unless He goes to the cross, His whole purpose in coming to earth will have been wasted, we will remain alone. "But if it dies, it produces many seeds." These Greeks, perhaps, represent the many seeds, converts with changed hearts and minds.
The Lord Jesus is that grain of wheat. To realize its purpose, the seed must be planted. It has to be left in the cold, dark earth. In time, a green sprout will appear, then the blade, then the plant, then the stem, and finally the head. Then, the harvest. On the cross He accomplished something no one else could have: He conquered sin and death so that we could be reunited to God. Had the Lord Jesus not embraced death on the cross, we would not be redeemed.
The word redeem means “to buy out.” The term was used specifically in reference to the purchase of a slave’s freedom. The application of this term to Christ’s death on the cross is quite telling. If we are “redeemed,” God has purchased our freedom, and we are no longer in bondage to sin or to the Old Testament law.
In the Old Testament, redemption involved deliverance from bondage based on the payment of a price by a redeemer. The Hebrew root word includes a substitution required for the person delivered from the bondage of another.
According to the New Testament, deliverance of mankind from its state of alienation from God has been accomplished through the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. In the New Testament, redemption requires the payment of a price. Mankind is held in the bondage of sin from which only the atoning death of Jesus Christ can liberate.
Redemption is the promise of God to deliver us from the penalty, power and presence of sin. Before sin entered this world, Adam and Eve had intimate relationship with God. But now, mankind has forfeited that relationship by choosing to reject God. The good news is that the Lord Jesus has purchased our redemption through His death on the cross by dying as a kernel.
James Montgomery Boice tells the story of a young Russian, the son of a close friend of Czar Nicholas, who was caught stealing from the Czar. As treasurer of a border fortress of the Russian army, the young man was to manage the Czar’s money and dispense the wages to the troops. But he began gambling and trying to cover his losses by borrowing from the army treasury.
One day he heard that a government auditor was coming to examine the books. He sat down and added up what he had taken. It was a huge amount. He emptied out his own resources, subtracted it from what should have been in the account and noted the great discrepancy. Under the amount due, he wrote: “A great debt; who can pay?” He couldn’t, and he knew no one who could help him. So he drew his revolver and decided to kill himself at midnight.
But as he waited for the clock to strike, he fell asleep, and while he slept, Czar Nicholas paid a surprise inspection visit. He saw the books, the despairing note and the revolver, and he realized that the young man had betrayed his trust. But rather than arrest the young man, he had mercy on him. He stooped and wrote something next to the man’s note and quietly left.
When the young man awoke, he again picked up the gun and was about to pull the trigger when he noticed something. Next to his note, “A great debt; who can pay?” was a single word: Nicholas. And the next morning, a bag of coins arrived from Nicholas that covered the exact amount owed.
Our debt was much, much steeper. We faced an eternity apart from God and all that is good. But while we were yet enemies of God, Christ died for us. My friend, I trust you have believed in the Lord Jesus and received His free gift of redemption.
17 Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. 18 Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!” 20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus. 23 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. ~ John 12:17-24
In John 12:17-21, the Lord Jesus is popular. The whole world seemed to want to see Him because He had raised Lazarus from the dead. This kind of word spreads fast. So popular was the Lord Jesus that some visiting Greeks went to Philip and Andrew, requesting to see Him. This request underlines the fact the Lord Jesus was popular. But, this kind of popularity repulses Him.
This kind of popularity isn't high on His list. And, even though He came to be the King, He didn't come to be the King that was expected by these gathered in Jerusalem. In fact, by the end of this week their praises turn to "crucify Him".
In v.23, we read, "The hour has come for the Son of man to be glorified!" This is the first time the Lord Jesus has gone along with the people's desire to acknowledge Him as such. Several times in this gospel we have heard Jesus say "My hour has not yet come." These responses give clear indication that He was in utter subjection to the will of His Father in heaven.
In v.24, we get the explanation for His acceptance of the people's adulation: He goes on to utter words introduced by what I have described as the formula of focused attention: "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds."
Of course, He is talking about Himself. He is the grain of wheat. Unless He is willing to die, unless He goes to the cross, His whole purpose in coming to earth will have been wasted, we will remain alone. "But if it dies, it produces many seeds." These Greeks, perhaps, represent the many seeds, converts with changed hearts and minds.
The Lord Jesus is that grain of wheat. To realize its purpose, the seed must be planted. It has to be left in the cold, dark earth. In time, a green sprout will appear, then the blade, then the plant, then the stem, and finally the head. Then, the harvest. On the cross He accomplished something no one else could have: He conquered sin and death so that we could be reunited to God. Had the Lord Jesus not embraced death on the cross, we would not be redeemed.
The word redeem means “to buy out.” The term was used specifically in reference to the purchase of a slave’s freedom. The application of this term to Christ’s death on the cross is quite telling. If we are “redeemed,” God has purchased our freedom, and we are no longer in bondage to sin or to the Old Testament law.
In the Old Testament, redemption involved deliverance from bondage based on the payment of a price by a redeemer. The Hebrew root word includes a substitution required for the person delivered from the bondage of another.
According to the New Testament, deliverance of mankind from its state of alienation from God has been accomplished through the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. In the New Testament, redemption requires the payment of a price. Mankind is held in the bondage of sin from which only the atoning death of Jesus Christ can liberate.
Redemption is the promise of God to deliver us from the penalty, power and presence of sin. Before sin entered this world, Adam and Eve had intimate relationship with God. But now, mankind has forfeited that relationship by choosing to reject God. The good news is that the Lord Jesus has purchased our redemption through His death on the cross by dying as a kernel.
James Montgomery Boice tells the story of a young Russian, the son of a close friend of Czar Nicholas, who was caught stealing from the Czar. As treasurer of a border fortress of the Russian army, the young man was to manage the Czar’s money and dispense the wages to the troops. But he began gambling and trying to cover his losses by borrowing from the army treasury.
One day he heard that a government auditor was coming to examine the books. He sat down and added up what he had taken. It was a huge amount. He emptied out his own resources, subtracted it from what should have been in the account and noted the great discrepancy. Under the amount due, he wrote: “A great debt; who can pay?” He couldn’t, and he knew no one who could help him. So he drew his revolver and decided to kill himself at midnight.
But as he waited for the clock to strike, he fell asleep, and while he slept, Czar Nicholas paid a surprise inspection visit. He saw the books, the despairing note and the revolver, and he realized that the young man had betrayed his trust. But rather than arrest the young man, he had mercy on him. He stooped and wrote something next to the man’s note and quietly left.
When the young man awoke, he again picked up the gun and was about to pull the trigger when he noticed something. Next to his note, “A great debt; who can pay?” was a single word: Nicholas. And the next morning, a bag of coins arrived from Nicholas that covered the exact amount owed.
Our debt was much, much steeper. We faced an eternity apart from God and all that is good. But while we were yet enemies of God, Christ died for us. My friend, I trust you have believed in the Lord Jesus and received His free gift of redemption.
Monday, November 25, 2019
John 12:12-16
Click here for the John 12:12-16 Podcast
12 The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the king of Israel!” 14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written: 15 “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.” 16 At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him. ~ John 12:12-16
We have now entered into the final week of life on earth for the Lord Jesus as recorded by the Apostle John. In fulfillment of the prophecy found in Zechariah 9:9, the crowd in Jerusalem cried out, "Hosanna!" meaning, "Save us now!" They saw the Lord Jesus as the political king of Israel come to deliver them from Roman rule. They wrongly thought politics rendered the answer for mankind's condition. Our hope comes from way beyond the powers of this world, our hope comes from the One who overcame sin and death.
John tells us in v.12, "The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem." These people who welcomed the Lord Jesus were not residents of Jerusalem. These were visitors who were in Jerusalem for the Passover. According to Matthew's account, the whole city of Jerusalem was stirred when they saw this procession coming down the Mount of Olives. But instead of joining in with the crowd, they suspiciously asked, "Who is this?" The crowd making up the procession had to inform them, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth."
The disciples of the Lord Jesus, also, did not understand this at first. They had been with the Lord Jesus in Galilee when the crowd had tried to crown Him king following the feeding of the five thousand, but He prevented it. Here, He is willing to be the center of the crowd's adulation. They did not know what this meant until after the Lord Jesus was glorified and they had been filled with the Holy Spirit.
Those who had been with the Lord Jesus when He called Lazarus to come out of his tomb were also present. They were attracted to the Lord Jesus because He had raise Lazarus from the dead. Here, also, was the amazed multitude, caught up with the exciting news that the Lord Jesus had raised a man who had been dead four days. They were all anxious to see the One who had done this amazing thing.
Then, there were the religious leaders who had decided not to take Jesus as prisoner during the Passover because they feared the reaction of the masses. But now, as they see the sweeping response of the people, they say, "You see that you can do nothing; look, the whole world has gone after him." Their plans were changing real fast.
All of these groups had incomplete views of the Lord Jesus. So do I. What helps us with our incomplete views of the Lord Jesus? Of course, the answer is the word of God and prayer. I am finding the more I invest in these two forgers of eternity in our souls, the more I see beyond the obvious.
In our text, the prophecy in Daniel 9:24-27 is unfolding before the eyes of all to see. In that prophecy there are 490 years predicted for the nation of Israel. Jeremiah 30:7 tells us that it is a time of Jacob's trouble. Jacob is Israel in unbelief.
Daniel 9:24-27 is a prophecy which begins with seventy "sevens" until the restoration of Jerusalem. The seventy "sevens" is a reference to a period of 490 years. It is divided into three sections: seven sevens (49 years), sixty-two sevens (434 years), and one seven (7 years).
The first period of time, seven sevens (49 years) began with the issuing of the decree to rebuild Jerusalem until the it's completion. The issuing of the decree to rebuild Jerusalem is recorded in Nehemiah 2:1-8. It was 444 BC when King Artaxerxes issued the decree and Jerusalem was rebuilt in 395 BC. This 49 year period accounts for the first part of this prophecy.
The second period of time began with the completion of the rebuilding of Jerusalem til the coming of the "Anointed One" who would be "put to death". This Anointed One, of course, is the Lord Jesus. This period of time (7 times 7 years, plus 62 times 7 years) equals 483 years. When these 483 years elapsed, Messiah, would then be presented to the people. In fact, the very day when Jesus rode into Jerusalem was 483 years after the issuing of the commandment to rebuild Jerusalem!
Daniel 9:26 then speaks of prophecy following the time of Jesus' death on the cross. "The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed. He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven.' In the middle of the 'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him."
Comparing this passage with prophecies in Revelation, the coming Antichrist ("the ruler who will come") will destroy Jerusalem and the sanctuary during the middle of the 70th seven or the middle of what most refer to the tribulation period. The Bible never refers to this seven year period as "the Tribulation". There will be a flood, war, desolations, and a covenant for one "seven" (seven years). He, Antichrist will desecrate the temple at the midpoint of the tribulation and ultimately be defeated at his "decreed" end.
Clearly, design is seen in these prophesied events. God truly is sovereign and is in control, even when it appears that He is not. He has the ability to work all things for the good for those who are learning to love Him. Therefore, we can trust Him. We should live every day henceforth with great excitement and anticipation, anticipating the life He has for us. This is real life, this is His life come to bear on ours. To realize His plan for and through our lives is a privilege because he has deemed that we play a role in what He is doing in this world.
12 The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the king of Israel!” 14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written: 15 “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.” 16 At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him. ~ John 12:12-16
We have now entered into the final week of life on earth for the Lord Jesus as recorded by the Apostle John. In fulfillment of the prophecy found in Zechariah 9:9, the crowd in Jerusalem cried out, "Hosanna!" meaning, "Save us now!" They saw the Lord Jesus as the political king of Israel come to deliver them from Roman rule. They wrongly thought politics rendered the answer for mankind's condition. Our hope comes from way beyond the powers of this world, our hope comes from the One who overcame sin and death.
John tells us in v.12, "The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem." These people who welcomed the Lord Jesus were not residents of Jerusalem. These were visitors who were in Jerusalem for the Passover. According to Matthew's account, the whole city of Jerusalem was stirred when they saw this procession coming down the Mount of Olives. But instead of joining in with the crowd, they suspiciously asked, "Who is this?" The crowd making up the procession had to inform them, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth."
The disciples of the Lord Jesus, also, did not understand this at first. They had been with the Lord Jesus in Galilee when the crowd had tried to crown Him king following the feeding of the five thousand, but He prevented it. Here, He is willing to be the center of the crowd's adulation. They did not know what this meant until after the Lord Jesus was glorified and they had been filled with the Holy Spirit.
Those who had been with the Lord Jesus when He called Lazarus to come out of his tomb were also present. They were attracted to the Lord Jesus because He had raise Lazarus from the dead. Here, also, was the amazed multitude, caught up with the exciting news that the Lord Jesus had raised a man who had been dead four days. They were all anxious to see the One who had done this amazing thing.
Then, there were the religious leaders who had decided not to take Jesus as prisoner during the Passover because they feared the reaction of the masses. But now, as they see the sweeping response of the people, they say, "You see that you can do nothing; look, the whole world has gone after him." Their plans were changing real fast.
All of these groups had incomplete views of the Lord Jesus. So do I. What helps us with our incomplete views of the Lord Jesus? Of course, the answer is the word of God and prayer. I am finding the more I invest in these two forgers of eternity in our souls, the more I see beyond the obvious.
In our text, the prophecy in Daniel 9:24-27 is unfolding before the eyes of all to see. In that prophecy there are 490 years predicted for the nation of Israel. Jeremiah 30:7 tells us that it is a time of Jacob's trouble. Jacob is Israel in unbelief.
Daniel 9:24-27 is a prophecy which begins with seventy "sevens" until the restoration of Jerusalem. The seventy "sevens" is a reference to a period of 490 years. It is divided into three sections: seven sevens (49 years), sixty-two sevens (434 years), and one seven (7 years).
The first period of time, seven sevens (49 years) began with the issuing of the decree to rebuild Jerusalem until the it's completion. The issuing of the decree to rebuild Jerusalem is recorded in Nehemiah 2:1-8. It was 444 BC when King Artaxerxes issued the decree and Jerusalem was rebuilt in 395 BC. This 49 year period accounts for the first part of this prophecy.
The second period of time began with the completion of the rebuilding of Jerusalem til the coming of the "Anointed One" who would be "put to death". This Anointed One, of course, is the Lord Jesus. This period of time (7 times 7 years, plus 62 times 7 years) equals 483 years. When these 483 years elapsed, Messiah, would then be presented to the people. In fact, the very day when Jesus rode into Jerusalem was 483 years after the issuing of the commandment to rebuild Jerusalem!
Daniel 9:26 then speaks of prophecy following the time of Jesus' death on the cross. "The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed. He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven.' In the middle of the 'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him."
Comparing this passage with prophecies in Revelation, the coming Antichrist ("the ruler who will come") will destroy Jerusalem and the sanctuary during the middle of the 70th seven or the middle of what most refer to the tribulation period. The Bible never refers to this seven year period as "the Tribulation". There will be a flood, war, desolations, and a covenant for one "seven" (seven years). He, Antichrist will desecrate the temple at the midpoint of the tribulation and ultimately be defeated at his "decreed" end.
Clearly, design is seen in these prophesied events. God truly is sovereign and is in control, even when it appears that He is not. He has the ability to work all things for the good for those who are learning to love Him. Therefore, we can trust Him. We should live every day henceforth with great excitement and anticipation, anticipating the life He has for us. This is real life, this is His life come to bear on ours. To realize His plan for and through our lives is a privilege because he has deemed that we play a role in what He is doing in this world.
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