John 13:21-38  I really don't understand the idea of "reclining at the table".      How is it that the 12 disciples and Jesus gathered around a table, reclining or leaning.. close enough that John was able to lean back onto Jesus.. yet none of them knew what Jesus said to Judas or understood why he left? 

When Jesus said  "one of you will betray Me".. all the disciples looked at one another. They had no clue.  They even wondered about themselves!  Only Judas knew that he himself was the betrayer.  He must have been shocked that Jesus knew too. 

After Judas left Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him; "  The time was at hand. Judas would betray Him. Peter would deny Him.. but those things were small in comparison of what Jesus said next.. "  A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved You, that you also love one another."  This love would be the proof of discipleship.  Following Jesus means to love like  Jesus.. this is the service that we render to Him that glorifies Him and glorifies the Father. 

We have known this love.  A love that glorifies Jesus and glorifies the Father.  God's people lifting us up in prayer in a time of need.  Hearts and hands reaching out to encourage and care.. We are praising God for this display of His love in our family and in our church family.. Prayers were offered on our behalf this last week.. and prayers were answered!  We have hearts overflowing with thanksgiving for what God has done for us.  We praise the Lord that this commandment to "love one another" was displayed so wonderfully and God's name was glorified. 

Thank You Father for Your faithful servants have obeyed Your command to love like Jesus.. Amen

 John 13   Jesus knew "His hour had come".  He knew His disciples.  He knew about Judas. He knew about Peter. He knew He was going back to His Father.. and knowing all of that and more.. He got up, removed His robe, took a towel, and washed the disciples' feet. 

His purpose was to be an example to those He loved. How important was this lesson.. that Jesus would take these moments during the Passover meal.. on the last evening of His life in the world?  Vital! How often do we willingly take on the role of a servant?  "If you know these things, you are blessed to do them." Jesus said.  The disciples had yet to learn this lesson.. but they would.. except for Judas.  He had already turned away and allowed Satan to fill his heart.  He would not choose servanthood.  He wanted much more for himself. 

Jesus said, "If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me and where I am there shall My servant also be; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him."  (12:26)  Servants obey the voice of their Master.  A servant loves and listens and serves.  Yes, we are made the children of God through Jesus Christ.. but we are called to serve Him.  Revelation 7:15 tells us that those who washed their robes and made them white in the blood of Jesus will be "before the throne of God; and they serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne shall spread His tabernacle over them."  This place of servanthood is a place of honor.. a place of shelter.. a place where there is no hunger or thirst.. a place where tears are wiped away.  

Father, we are Your servants and we come to Your throne to serve You.  We bring worship and praise to the Lamb. We give You glory and honor.  May we be good and faithful servants, loving one another, praying for one another, washing the feet of one another. ..  lifting up the Name that is above all names. Let the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing to You. Equip us for every good work that You have planned for us and work in us all that delights You. We are Yours and You are our God. Amen. 

 John 12:12-50  Jesus came into Jerusalem, riding on the donkey, fulfilling Scripture and receiving the worship of the multitudes who believed.. for they had seen with their own eyes Lazarus brought out of the grave.  Even foreigners .. the Greeks.. wanted to see Jesus.. the whole city was looking for Him.

John recorded the words of Jesus on this occasion.. and it is not what we would have expected if we were  part of that great multitude  singing "Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel."   No.. Jesus said, "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 by itself alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit." 

Jesus had one prayer, "Father glorify Thy name," (v27)    He had been talking about life and death. He knew that the people would not understand.. that many would not believe. But there was a truth that He was about to live out in front of them that they needed to learn.. "He who loves his life loses it; and he who hates his life in this world shall keep it to life eternal."  Which life do we want more?  A life of self-love.. or a life that is eternal?  A life that serves and follows Jesus?  Or a life that only serves one's self?

Jesus desired a life that would glorify the name of the Father.  He wants His followers to have this kind of life too.  He was ready to demonstrate this kind of life by being "lifted up from the earth".  This is what would bring judgement upon the world and upon the "ruler of this world".   Jesus would willingly lay down His life so that He could "draw all men" to Himself.  This is what would bring glory to the Father. 

Jesus warned His followers to "walk while you have the light'.  It is a good warning for all of us continually.. walk in the light "in order that you may become sons of light."  Walking in darkness leads us nowhere. Walking in unbelief is walking in darkness.. blinded.. hard-hearted... lost.  But.. walking in the light.. in the Words that Jesus was speaking.. the Word of the Father.. this it what brings healing and salvation.. and eternal life. 

Jesus said "I have come as light into the world that everyone who believes in Me may not remain in darkness." (v45)  His words brought light and life.. they were exactly what the Father wants us to hear and receive and walk in. These are the wonderful words of life. 

Father, may we hear Your word, receive Your word, and believe.  This important lesson that Jesus lived out before us is what we want to live by.. to choose Jesus.. to walk in His Light.. to glorify Your Name.. a life willingly laid down at Your feet.. surrendered to You..  Help us to fully understand what You desire of us.. hating our life in the world.. loving Jesus more than our own life.. so that Your name is glorified in us as it was in the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross.  We can do nothing on our own Lord, so we seek Your Spirit to fill us with faith and love.. that the life of Jesus be in us and we in Him. Amen. 

 John 12:1-19  Six days.. Passover was coming.. His days were numbered. Jesus and His disciples went back to Bethany, to Lazarus's house. 

 Martha was serving. 

Lazarus was sitting at the table.  

Mary was worshipping... she took the costly nard  and "anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair."  

Judas complained.. even as he was "intending to betray Him."  

The multitude gathered..

... and the Pharisees plotted. 

The scene is set. We can picture that moment.. bring it to our minds and pause it for just a second.. knowing what lies ahead, but waiting to grab on to what Jesus is doing..

He receives both the service and the worship.. 

He celebrates His friends. 

He defends the actions of Mary. 

He rebukes Judas.. gently. 

He tells them that He will not always be with them.. that this is the way He is being prepared for His burial. 

Where would I be in this picture if I could be there?  Would I be in the background, serving a meal?  Would I have the courage to bring the expensive perfume and wash His feet with my hair?  Would I complain about the waste of money?  Or would I simply stay silent and watch the events happening before my eyes? 

Where would you be?

Father in heaven,  I want to be at the feet of Jesus.. giving all I have.. worshipping and anointing Him with oil. Yet.. I don't know if I would have been so brave.. so completely surrendered. Make me over.. transform me.. lead me..Spirit of God fill me today I pray. Jesus is all and is in all.  Let my life be Yours I pray, Amen. 

 John 11 When Lazarus became ill his sisters sent for Jesus, "Lord, behold he whom you love is sick."  They expected Jesus to come immediately.. or just say the word and Lazarus would be well.  They believed. They trusted. They prayed.  But.. Jesus did not come and Lazarus died.  They buried him.. they mourned him.. their lives would never be the same.  And still, Jesus did not come. 

For four long days, the sisters waited. 

Jesus had a different plan for Lazarus and for his sisters.  He knew that Lazarus would die.. but He knew that He was about to do something wonderful.. He would go and call Lazarus back to life.  He told His disciples.. " Lazarus is dead, and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there so that you may believe; but let us go to him."  To Thomas, this was a call to their own deaths. But.. they chose to follow Jesus even then. They were learning that even death and life were in His Hands. 

Martha met Jesus on the way into town. She did not stop trusting Him.  But, she did not know what He could do.. Lazarus was dead and his body was decaying after 4 days in the tomb. She was willing to wait until the resurrection to see her brother again. But.. her heart was broken that Jesus had not come and healed Lazarus before it was too late.  Mary felt the same. Their tears were genuine and it broke His heart too... even knowing what He was about to do. 

When Jesus told them to open the tomb, they hesitated.  Jesus told them to just believe. ".. if you believe, you will see the glory of God."  And so they did.  Jesus spoke and Lazarus came out of the tomb. 

Many saw this miracle and believed.  The chief priests and Pharisees saw and plotted His death.  One cannot be any blinder.. to see God glorified in a resurrected life and still not give Him glory. 

Father in heaven, You are the giver of Life and the authority over death.  There is nothing that is out of Your control.  No sickness, no grief, no pain, and not even death can overcome.. You are Sovereign and You are glorified!  Lord God, You see the hurting, the sorrowful, the helpless and the hopeless in our world.. and You know our grief.  The tears of Jesus are genuine.. flowing down along with  our own when sorrow overflows.. but You have promised to wipe away every tear and we long for that glorious day!  Hold us close to Your heart, Father. May the love and compassion of our Lord Jesus fill our hearts and lives today we pray. Thank You. amen. 

 John 10:30 -42   Jesus said, " I and the Father are one."  The Jews really didn't like this and took up stones to throw at Him.  They considered Him a blasphemer, claiming to be God..   Yet, Jesus pointed them back to the Scripture.. to Psalm 82 where it said, "I said, you are gods.. " 

The psalmist was talking about the people of God, men who were set apart to serve Him as judges and rulers.. given divine authority to carry out the judgements of God.  They were supposed to  "vindicate the weak and fatherless; do justice to the afflicted and destitute. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them out of the hand of the wicked.. "  But, they failed at doing the work of God.. the work of the "sons of the Most High.." 

Jesus said to the Jews, "I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?"  (v32)  He was doing what the "sons of God" were meant to do.  He was sent by the Father for this purpose.. "If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; but if I do them, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me and I in the Father. " 

Jesus did the works of the Father.. those spoken about in Psalm 82.. those things that the rulers failed to do. The rulers of the Jews in His time were failing to judge justly.. they were failing to do the work of the Father too.. just like in the times of the Psalmist.  The proof of Jesus' statement, "I and the Father are One" is found in the "works of the Father" .. those very works that the "sons of God" were supposed to do..  He did. 

Jesus vindicated, or defended, the poor and fatherless. He showed justice to the poor and needy.  He delivered them from evil  and helped the helpless.  He was sent from the Father to do the work of the Father.. and He did it in complete unity with the Father.  

Though the Jewish leaders wanted to stone Him.  Others recognized the truth and followed Him.  "And many believed in Him there." 

Father in heaven, thank You for showing us Your works through the Life of Your Son, Jesus.  These are the precious works of God that are most glorious.. justice and mercy.. deliverance and help.. abundant lovingkindness..forgiveness and restoration.  We give You thanksgiving and worship.  You alone are God and Jesus Christ is the Beloved Son who has made a way that we might also be Your sons and daughters.. sanctified to do Your works among those around us.  Surround us and fill us Spirit of God that we might be faithful to do the Father's work today. We ask this in the Name of Jesus our King. Amen.

 John 10:1-30

  Jesus told a parable about sheep. There are two characters.. actually three.. that we need to recognize in this story...  First there is the doorkeeper.  He is the one who opens the gate for the shepherd.  Secondly, there is the shepherd. The shepherd goes to the doorkeeper and the door is opened. The shepherd calls his sheep and they follow him, knowing His voice. Thirdly, there is the stranger. the thief, the robber.. the one who comes to "steal and kill, and destroy." 

Jesus calls Himself the "good shepherd".  He also calls Himself "the door".   He came to give life to His sheep. He came to lay down His own life for His sheep.  Jesus tells us that He knows His sheep.. and that they know Him.  It is a relationship founded in the Father, Who loves the Son.. who gave the Son authority to lay His life down and to take it up again.. on behalf of the sheep. Jesus.. promises to bring "other sheep" to join His flock.. His flock will be all those who hear His voice and follow Him.  He knows His sheep, He tells us.. for the Father has given them to Him and "no one shall snatch them out of My hand."  -  the thief and robber cannot snatch those who belong to the Father for the Father is" greater than all".

To belong to the Father and to the Son is to have abundant life.. eternal life.. to be His sheep.. is the gift to all who will believe.  The Jews would not believe and Jesus told them that because they would not believe the witness of the works that He did in the Father's name.. they were not His sheep.  Those who don't hear His voice and follow Him.. those are the ones He does not know. They are the ones who will perish.. who will be snatched out of His hands... out of the Father's hand.. stolen by the great thief. 

Father, we pray to You.. to bring more sheep into the flock of Jesus Christ. More to hear His voice and follow Him.. more to believe so that they might not perish but have eternal life in Jesus.  Our hearts break to see so many who refuse to believe..who refuse the Truth. Oh Father of mercy and grace.. let Your Light shine through us, Your children, so that others might turn from unbelief and find life in Christ our Good Shepherd.. the only One to lead us to salvation .. Thank You for patiently waiting , for hearing our prayers. and for bringing others into the flock.. into the family of Heaven.  Amen.