The Blessed Assurance of Christ's Love

One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table at Jesus’ side, so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. So that disciple, leaning back against Jesus, said to him, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it.” So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. Some thought that, because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor. So, after receiving the morsel of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night (John 13: 23-30).

Two disciples are highlighted by our Teacher in today’s text. One was so sure of His close intimate relationship with Jesus He was almost arrogant in identifying himself as the disciple… “Whom Jesus loved”. Both Scripture and history confirm that this disciple is our author John the Evangelist. (See John 21:20-23). The other disciple would betray Jesus. Judas accepted the bread from the hand of Jesus that identified him as the betrayer, and at that very moment… “Satan entered into him”. John believed the best about his relationship with Christ while Judas believed the worst. The blessings of intimacy, protection, and revelation belong to those disciples who rest in the blessed assurance of Christ’s love.

If we’re honest, we all have moments of doubt. Sometimes the stress of life produces hours or days of doubt. Occasionally the trials of life lead us into seasons of doubt. These are the times that shake our heart and test our faith. We often discover what we truly believe in the midst of times like these. And it is what we believe that will determine how we come out on the other side of such trials.

The Holy Spirit promises that as we journey through this temporal world we all will have faith testing trials… “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). The Teacher exhorts us to prepare ourselves for such trials by examining and nurturing our fellowship with Christ… “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” (2 Corinthians 13:5). He further encourages us to hold onto Jesus, to allow trials to draw us closer to Him… “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). Finally, the Spirit promises that when, like the dearly loved apostle John, we rest in Jesus and look to Him through the faith testing moments of life, our faith will be refined and strengthened… “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:6-7). Our trial tested faith glorifies God and honors our Savior.

No trial could shake John’s confidence in Christ’s love for him. The Spirit wants us to know and hold onto Christ’s love too… “For this reason I bow my knees before the Father… that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may… know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge” (Ephesians 3:14-19). God has given us a clear revelation of His great love… “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). And He tells us that nothing is more secure than His love for us… “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,  nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).

As we grow up into Christ as we stay close to Him, the trials of life will only make us more certain of…

The Blessed Assurance of Christ’s Love.

Confident, Maturing Discipleship

I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”

After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke (John 13: 18-22).

Once again Jesus revealed His troubled spirit. He was reflecting on this group of followers gathered around His table. He knew that not all of them were true disciples. Some were there for the wrong reasons. Some heard but did not listen to His words. Some saw but secretly doubted His miracles. Some were not there because He chose them, but they were there for their own selfish reasons. He made a clear distinction among those at His table. Some had received Him and some had not. And among those who had not received Him there was one that would soon betray Him. Though His spirit was troubled, Jesus made it clear that God was still in control of this moment… “The Scripture will be fulfilled”. Though His spirit was troubled, Jesus made it clear that He knew the hearts of His disciples better than they did… “The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke”. Through His troubled spirit, Jesus revealed three steps toward confident, maturing discipleship.

The Teacher strikes deep in the heart today. He challenges those of us who call ourselves disciples of Christ to look deep into our hearts with a penetrating question. How do I know I am a true disciple of Christ? How do I know I am not just a follower of Christ? How do I know I am not just like the disciples at the His table who were so unsure of their relationship with Him they wondered secretly if they might be the betrayer? If confronted or threatened, might I deny or betray my Savior? Both the Bible and history are filled with stories of those who were faced with such life and death confrontations. When we reflect on our own lives we can identify moments that were not as dramatic, but still were opportunities to confess or deny the Lord. At times we have been faithful to honor Him. But at other times we have let Him down. Today’s text shows that less than wholehearted discipleship makes us vulnerable to be used by the enemies of Christ to bring reproach upon His name.

As He exposed His heart at the table with His disciples, Jesus also revealed three truths that will help us become and remain confident, maturing disciples. First, He said, “I am not speaking of all of you”. The truth is that not everyone that followed Jesus truly listened when He spoke. The first step toward confident, maturing discipleship is nurturing a hunger for time in Christ’s presence… “Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst’” (John 6:35) and listening closely for Him to speak through His word… “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him” (Matthew 17:5). Next, Jesus said, “I know whom I have chosen”. The second step toward confident, maturing discipleship is believing that He has chosen you, not that you have chosen Him... “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide” (John 15:16). As we die to self and live for Him we grow closer to Him and are less willing to betray Him. Finally, Jesus said, “Whoever receives me receives the one who sent me”. The third step toward confident, maturing discipleship is embracing Christ and His truth. The Greek word translated “receive” here is lambanō, and it means to catch, grasp, or take hold of. Followers hear His words but disciples grasp and trust His truth… “For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you” (John 17:8). As we embrace and apply His truth we are less likely to renounce our Lord.

As we grow up into Christ listening to His word, living for Him, and embracing His truth, we become…

Confident, Maturing Discipleship.

Holy Servant Leadership

When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them” (John 13: 12-17).

In the time when Jesus walked on earth, people usually wore sandals. Walking on dirty, dusty, roads made their feet dirty. It was the duty of the lowest slave in the household to clean the feet of guests as they arrived. At the home the disciples used for this meal, there were no servants, and therefore, their feet were not washed. Normally, if there was no servant present to wash the guests' feet, the first one or two to arrive would wash the feet of the rest of the guests. But that did not happen here. No one volunteered. Despite the fact that everyone was aware of the uncomfortable, filthy condition of their feet as they reclined at the dinner table, no one took the initiative to do anything about it. The reason is revealed in another account of this meal. The Holy Spirit inspired Luke to record that at this supper the hearts of the disciples were consumed with something else. It led to an argument right there in front of Jesus… “A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest” (Luke 22:24). While the disciples were concerned about position and power, their “Teacher and Lord” laid aside His position and power to teach them an important leadership lesson. He would soon commission them to lead the world to Him and He wanted them to know that their success would require an understanding and demonstration of holy servant leadership.

 You may be ready to dismiss today’s lesson because it deals with leadership. You may not think of yourself as a leader. But in so many ways we are all either leaders of followers. In some relationships the leadership role is very obvious. Parents lead children. Teachers lead students. Pastors lead parishioners. In other relationships the leadership role may be more subtle. In a friendship, if one of you is hurting, the other can lead them to help. In a work setting, sometimes it’s an alert employee that can lead a supervisor to the solution to a problem. I believe the most obvious and overlooked leadership opportunity exists in the life of every true disciple of Christ. We know Him, the world does not, and He has called us to lead others to Him by presenting them with His gospel truth… “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation” (Mark 16:15). We are His disciples because we have embraced His truth and that includes the truth that we are leaders.

The question is what kind of leader are we to be? Is there a difference between worldly leaders and Christian leaders? Jesus taught there is a big difference… “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave” (Matthew 20:25-27). Then He offered Himself as an example of true servant leadership… “Even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). The Holy Spirit teaches that Jesus Christ served us by meeting our greatest need, the need for sin’s atonement, through His death at Calvary. He showed leadership by taking the initiative and going to the cross even while we were still trapped in sin… “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). In today’s text, Jesus called His disciples to imitate His servant leadership by confessing and forgiving sin within the fellowship of believers… “You also ought to wash one another’s feet”. The Spirit exhorts disciples to practice this kind of confession and repentance to promote healing and power within the local church as it shares the gospel with the world… “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working” (James 5:16).

As we grow up into Christ the church is empowered to lead the world to Him as we imitate His…

Holy Servant Leadership.

The Promises of Perpetual Purity

He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean” (John 13: 6-11).

The Master set aside His position and ministered to His disciples. The Teacher set aside His lesson plan and served His students. The King of Glory set aside His robe and got His hands wet and dirty caring for His subjects. His passion and humility covered and shined through this amazing moment as He taught His disciples that servant leadership is leading the way by being the first to serve. But not everyone got the message. Peter resisted. Jesus was undeterred. The Master Teacher demonstrated flexibility and responsiveness by pausing to give the extra attention necessary to help His special disciple Peter get the point of the lesson. In the exchange that followed encouraging and precious truth is revealed regarding the very special and privileged relationship between Jesus and His disciples for all time. As He reached out to Peter’s heart, Jesus touches our hearts too with an invitation to deeper intimacy through the promises of perpetual purity.

Thirty years of pastoral ministry have produced many lessons. One of them is that people who go missing from church have usually already gone missing from other important spiritual disciplines. Usually they have already withdrawn from fellowship with other believers and dropped out of serving in Christian ministries. Often the first habit to go is the daily sacred place, the time of meeting with the Lord in His word and prayer. And one of the primary reasons we stop meeting with the Savior is sin. Jesus knew His disciples would be continuing His work in a hostile world… “If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15:19). Jesus knew the world in which they lived and worked was in the grip of a relentless adversary… “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). To grasp and embrace today’s truth, we must understand a few terms used by Jesus from His perspective. We must ask why Jesus used the words washed and bathed, and why He intentionally chose to wash the feet of His disciples.

The Spirit inspired the apostle Paul to teach that washing is when disciples are cleansed and sanctified or set apart from sin… “And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11). We are bathed when we are immersed or baptized into Christ by faith… “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:3-4). After our whole life is bathed, we walk in a new life but through a dirty, old world. Along the way our feet will get dirty as we are persistently tempted to sin, but as we mature in the faith we will increasingly overcome sin if we stay close to the Savior… “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7) and if we regularly invite Jesus to wash our feet by confessing and repenting our sin… “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). The promises of keeping our feet clean are a growing intimacy with Jesus and increasing victory over temptation and sin. That’s why true disciples do not run from Christ when they sin, rather we should run quickly to Him!

As we grow up into Christ we learn to run to Him when we sin that we might enjoy…

The Promises of Perpetual Purity.

The Passion and Humility of Christian Service

Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him (John 13: 1-5).

John the Evangelist was moved by the Holy Spirit to highlight the incredible focus that Jesus had during this last week of His incarnation. He was fixed and determined to journey to the cross, the grave, and the resurrection. But along the way, He was also concerned about preparing His disciples to assume their part in God’s great plan to save souls and build the Church. The disciples would have to know and be ready to die for the gospel, but they were learning about what was at the heart of the gospel message. In a meal near the beginning of this most intimate and important week, Jesus paused to teach a precious lesson about the passion and humility of Christian service.

True disciples have always been known as imitators of Christ. They are set apart from the rest of the world as they follow His example of serving others… “But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. Even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:43-45). If we look closely at the example Jesus presents in today’s scripture, we learn that He was motivated to serve by some important truth that filled His heart.

Jesus knew the devil was fighting for the hearts of His disciples… “The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him.” He wanted them to know He was aware of the great temptations they faced and He would always be quick to forgive and cleanse them as they overcame the power of sin… “If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7).

Jesus knew His Father was in control of His life… “Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands.” His heart was not consumed by the approaching ordeal of the cross because God was in control of His circumstances, He was free to stop and care for what really mattered, the hearts of His children. This was His moment to prepare their hearts for ministry by showing them His own servant heart… “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2).

Jesus knew He was soon to return to His Father. He would leave His disciples to carry on the work He began and He promised that they too would join Him in heaven at the end of their work here on earth. Jesus looked forward to the Father’s joy at their reunion, and He wanted His disciples to anticipate the same blessing from the Father… “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.” (Matthew 25:21).

What Jesus knew prompted Him to serve His disciples. He showed His great love for them by meeting the growing needs in their hearts. They would soon need the assurance of forgiveness and cleansing in their relentless war against temptation and sin. They would soon need the assurance that the Father was in control of their lives as they followed His lead and trusted His power in the battle for the souls of men and women. They would soon need the assurance of heaven to get them through the trials of earth. In washing the feet of His disciples, Jesus set aside His position of authority and status and became a passionate and humble servant. In this act He pointed to the cross and showed us how to serve others… “Christ Jesus… emptied himself by taking the form of a servant… he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:5-8).

As we grow up into Christ we learn to imitate and share His great love with the world through…

The Passion and Humility of Christian Service.

God's Word Judges Our Hearts

And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me” (John 12: 44-50).

Jesus continued with the theme of judgment. He reached out to the Jews who rejected Him with an appeal to consider His words and deeds in the light of God’s word. First he repeated the point that He was God. The Holy Spirit moved the apostle Paul to affirm this truth… “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.” (Colossians 1:15). Then He said that He came into the world to give light to anyone who will believe in Him. Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist prophesied this truth… “The people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.” (Matthew 4:16). Jesus did not come to judge, but He spoke the word and did the work of The Judge in order to illuminate the truth of The Judge. He made the point that the truth of God’s word judges our hearts.

The Spirit teaches this important truth elsewhere in God’s word… “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12). The piercing, discerning work of God’s word judges believer and non-believer alike… “And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” (Hebrews 4:13). For the believer, God’s word offers tremendous blessings as we journey through this temporal world on the way to eternal life… “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” (John 5:24). I believe there is proof of this precious Biblical truth in the life of every believer.

If you’re like me, you may remember how difficult it was to read the Bible before you trusted Christ. I remember trying to read the Bible from beginning to end like a story book. I got confused at the start by sentences like… “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness’” (Genesis 1:26). I wondered who us was. Then there were the ark and the flood, the Old Testament sacrifices, the virgin birth, the Trinity, and much more. I never got as far as the strange events of the Revelation. But when I trusted Christ, I began to understand the Bible as I read. One of the surest evidences of God’s grace in the believer’s life is the understanding and hunger for more of God’s word.

For believers, God’s word is a guide to judge our lives, keep us in the center of His will, and prepare us for eternity as we listen to and apply His truth every day… “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). The Spirit teaches that God’s truth is a light to lead and help keep us close to the Lord through the darkness of this temporal world… “Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling!” (Psalm 43:3).

Non-believers avoid and resist the judging truth of God’s word because it illuminates their sin… “And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.” (John 3:19). But the consequences of not listening to God’s word are serious… “And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him.” (Deuteronomy 18:19) and eternal… “For those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.” (Romans 2:8).

 As we grow up into Christ our hunger for His word grows and we become more like Him as…

God’s Word Judges Our Hearts.

God's Grace and Gospel Truth

When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them. Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him, so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

“Lord, who has believed what he heard from us, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”

Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said, “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them.”

Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him. Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God (John 12: 36-43).

The Holy Spirit inspired the Evangelist to record that the Jews still rejected Jesus, in spite of the signs and miracles He did, and the truth He spoke. The Spirit had moved Isaiah to declare long ago that the Jews’ rejection of Christ will be a sign confirming that Jesus is the Messiah… “So that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled.” Of course, not every Jew rejected Jesus. In previous passages we saw that many Jews trusted in Christ… “Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him” (John 11:45) and… “On account of him (Lazarus) many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.” (John 12:11). In today’s text we see the profound impact in the hearts of people of God’s grace and gospel truth.

The Spirit moved John to quote two passages of Isaiah. The first teaches that God reveals truth to whomever He chooses… “Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?” (Isaiah 53:1). Here we see the sovereignty of God in the work of evangelism. The truth that leads men and women to repentance and salvation is under the authority and control of God, and He reveals this truth as He pleases. This should be reassuring as we fulfill the Great Commission to make disciples of all people… “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19). God’s sovereignty in the process of making disciples requires that serious soul winners depend on Him in the work. As we share His gospel He imparts His grace… “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people.” (Titus 2:11). And Jesus promised He will be with us in this most precious work… “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20). One sure way for disciples to enjoy the grace and presence of Christ is to be fully engaged in the ministry of evangelism.

The second scripture the Spirit moved the Evangelist to quote teaches that the truth of the gospel can have a very negative effect on the non-believer… “Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.” (Isaiah 6:10). When Jesus did miracles and taught truth that confirmed that He was the Christ, many believed. But at the same time, other hearts were hardened, ears were deafened, and eyes were blinded. The same truth that saves some produces a form of judgment in others… “I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.” (Romans 1:16). What makes the difference? Today’s text shows that it’s in the heart… “They loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.” God’s grace and truth will always find a home in the heart that longs for Him… “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” (John 6:37).

As we grow up into Christ sharing the faith with others, we learn more about the power of…

God’s Grace and Gospel Truth.

Live and Die for the Glory of God

”Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not mine. Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die. So the crowd answered him, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light”. (John 12: 27-36).

Jesus acknowledged that His soul was troubled. Speaking from His humanity, the Son of Man also acknowledged that when confronted with the difficulty of doing God’s will, human beings have a choice… “And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? He showed His disciples how to make the right choice. He declared the primary reason He came into the world He created was to glorify God… “For this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name”. With these words, spoken in the shadow of His revelation that glorifying God was going to cost His life (see v. 23-24), Jesus established the foundational truth that the chief goal for His disciples should be to live and die for the glory of God.

Today our Teacher, the Holy Spirit asks… What are we living for? What consumes our mind, our heart, our energy? Where do we spend the bulk of our time, our money, our gifts and talents? What brings us the most happiness, satisfaction, fulfillment, or joy? Are we working where God wants us working, living where God wants us living, and serving where God wants us serving? One very helpful question that earnest disciples should always be asking is who’s getting the glory in my life today?

When Jesus chose the path that would glorify God, His Father answered immediately… “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again”. Jesus assured His disciples who seek to glorify God that they can expect the same answer from heaven… “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son” (John 14:13). He taught that when God is glorified, the world is judged and Satan is cast out… “Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out”. He shared God’s glory with His disciples so that we might show God’s glory to the world… “The glory that you have given me I have given to them… so that the world may know that you sent me” (John 17:22-23). Whenever Christ’s disciples choose the path that will give glory to God, Jesus is lifted up, the world around us is judged, and Satan is defeated… “They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints” (2 Thessalonians 1:9-10).

Sometimes the path that glorifies God is attractive and full of joy and life… “Let the godly exult in glory; let them sing for joy on their beds” (Psalm 149:5). Often the choice to glorify God calls us to imitate and lift up Christ through the death of a vision, a ministry, a relationship, or a loved one… “We see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death” (Hebrews 2:9). Jesus promised Peter would glorify God in his death… “This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God” (John 21:19). As His disciples we are exhorted to imitate Christ in glorifying God in everything we say and do… “For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s” (Romans 14:8).

As we grow up into Christ He will be lifted up in every victory and trial as we learn to…

Live and Die for the Glory of God.

Christ's Most Glorious Hour

Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him (John 12: 20-26).

What attracted Greeks to the Passover Feast? They were in Jerusalem to worship. They were not born Jewish but were proselytes or converts. What prompted them to seek Jesus? Perhaps it was the testimony about the resurrection of Lazarus (see v. 17-18). Perhaps it was the crowd’s incessant declaration that Jesus was King of Israel (see v. 13). Truth seekers know it was the work of God that drew these Greeks to Himself through Jesus… “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him” (John 6:44). The desire to meet Jesus compelled them to approach Philip, a Jew with a Greek name. He was possibly named after Philip the Tetrarch who had shown great benevolence to his hometown Bethsaida in Galilee. They came to Philip with a burning desire… “Sir, we wish to see Jesus”. This request was clear evidence of the grace of God working in the hearts of non-Jews to include them among the disciples of Christ. It seems the approach of these Gentiles signaled that a very special event in the life and ministry of Christ was imminent. The request was met with a promise that they would soon see Jesus. In fact they would soon see the glorification of “the Son of Man”. Then Jesus used a parable to teach His disciples the truth that the cross was soon to be Christ’s most glorious hour.

Evidence that we are born again disciples of Christ is a strong longing in our hearts for the glory of God… “Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:2). The very reason the Word of God became flesh was to reveal God’s glory to the world… “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). The Spirit teaches through the pen of the apostle Paul that disciples are compelled to live above the sin and corruption of this temporal world by a driving desire to see the glory of Christ… “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ’ (Titus 2:11-13).

In today’s scripture, the Teacher inspired the Evangelist to reveal two precious truths about the glory of God as revealed by the Son of God. First, Christ’s greatest revelation of God’s glory would be revealed through His death… “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit”. The Spirit echoes this truth elsewhere in scripture… “But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone” (Hebrews 2:9). Second, Jesus called His disciples to share His glory with the world by imitating His willingness to live and die for the glory of God… “Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me”. The Spirit used the apostle Peter’s pen to encourage disciples to allow trials to refine our faith and reveal the glory of Christ… “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed” (1 Peter 4:12-13).

As we grow up into Christ imitating Him in every trial we will show the world the beauty of…

Christ’s Most Glorious Hour.

Christ, the Humble King

 The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written,

“Fear not, daughter of Zion;

behold, your king is coming,

sitting on a donkey’s colt!”

His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him. The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him” (John 12: 12-19).

The celebration dinner was followed by a journey to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast. All attention was drawn away from the religious feast of Passover and focused on Jesus’ arrival. What a precious confirmation of the truth that He was the Messiah. Perhaps this was a moment of déjà vu for John the Evangelist. He may have remembered the moment not long ago when the Holy Spirit so firmly prompted him to direct attention away from his ministry and toward the Lamb of God… “The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). The proclamation from the crowd was different now. They did not acknowledge Jesus as the Lamb of God, the Son of God, or as the Christ. Today they proclaimed Him to be the One sent in God’s name to save them (Hosanna: Greek: Oh save us) and to be their King… “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” Jesus confirmed that He was no ordinary king, but that He was God’s choice to be King of His children as He fulfilled prophecy by entering the city, riding on a donkey’s colt. His disciples did not fully understand the implications of His rule. In fact, the murmurings of the Pharisees were really closer to the truth about the sovereignty of this humble King… “Look, the world has gone after him”. In His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, on His way to the cross, we see the inseparable relationship between the meekness and sovereignty of Christ, the humble King.

Those who are merely following Christ often miss the blessing of His sovereignty in their lives. John recorded that many in the crowd followed Jesus because of the miraculous resurrection of Lazarus. But those who were willing to look beyond the miracle were able to discern the relationship between Christ’s sovereignty and His humility. Where is it that you need a miracle? Are you willing to surrender your demand for a miracle in that circumstance to the sovereignty of God? That’s one of the differences between mere followers and true disciples of Christ. His best answer to our prayers is not always the kind of miracle that we seek. Our Teacher, the Holy Spirit makes this point very clearly in today’s text.

Here are some truths about Christ’s sovereignty as He journeyed toward the cross for disciples to embrace today. Christ is King “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world” (John 18:37). Even as King, Christ submitted to God’s will… “Though he was in the form of God… he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him” (Philippians 2:6-9). To enjoy the blessings and grace of His sovereignty, disciples must follow Christ’s example of humility by surrendering every circumstance to His sovereignty… “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you” (1 Peter 5:6).

As we grow up into Christ we experience His grace in every trial as we learn to surrender our will to…

Christ, the Humble King.

On Account of Our New Life

When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus (John 12: 9-11).

Among the Jews that followed Christ were the chief priests who hoped to discredit, humiliate, arrest, or kill Him. They followed Christ to Bethany where John notes that they also sought out Lazarus. Did they seek the formerly dead man to confirm the miracle of his resurrection? Were they looking for faith-bolstering proof of the divinity of Christ? Lazarus was now Jesus' star witness. He had been dead for four days and now he was alive. He was hanging out with Jesus just like a faithful, grateful disciple should. Our Teacher, the Holy Spirit reveals nothing in the scriptures about Lazarus beyond his relationship with Mary and Martha and his friendship with Jesus. Lazarus never said or did anything the Holy Spirit deemed worthy of recording. But Lazarus had become one of the greatest witnesses for Christ… “On account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus”. He was so sought after by the Jews that their religious leaders conspired to kill him along with Jesus… “The chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well”. Many believed and others sought to take his life not because of what Lazarus said or did for Jesus. He was an effective witness and his life was on the line because of what Jesus did for Lazarus. Every born again disciple has a life-changing testimony that will attract the interest or the wrath of others. If we are willing to live for Christ and let Him use our resurrected lives to share His gospel with our dying world, like Lazarus, many will believe in Him on account of our new life.

What should the life of a world-impacting disciple look like? If we hope to show the world that Christ lives in us, there should be an obvious, attention-getting, thought provoking, and faith challenging difference in us. We were dead but now we live… “And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses” (Colossians 2:13). We are living a life of increasing victory over sin and temptation… “And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11). We no longer fear death because we’re bound for eternity… “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life” (John 5:24). We were once lost but now we’re found and living in fellowship with Christ and with other disciples… “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).  We were just going through the motions of life, but now we live to bring glory to God and to share the good news about Christ with others… “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 4:10-11).

We may not bring much in the way of natural talent, beauty, or genius to Christ. But when we believe in Him, Jesus Christ immerses us into His life, making us a brand new creation, with a brand new life full of ministry and mission, and the world cannot help but notice the difference in us… “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:17-18). We were once dead and buried deep within the tomb of our sins until God’s grace called us to… “Come out” (John 11:43). We have been raised to a whole new life and the Lord has commanded… “Unbind him, and let him go” (John 11:44). We have been transformed into undeniable witnesses and unanswerable arguments for the claims of Jesus Christ.

As we grow up into Christ and our resurrected lives reflect Christ to others, many will believe in Him…

On Account of Our New Life.