Ecclesiasties 1 

As is my practice, I go back and forth between the New Testament and the Old.  So, I finished the wonderful story of the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus as told by John.. so that we can know and believe and live... and return to the Old Testament.. to the Book of Ecclesiastes, and read, "Vanity of vanities! All is vanity."

It is a startling, pessimistic and yet honest account from the "Preacher". Setting his mind on "wisdom and knowledge".. the Preacher makes these observations.. 

"A generation goes and a generation comes."

".. the sun rises and the sun sets.."

"Blowing towards the south, then turning toward the north, the wind continues swirling along."

"All the rivers flow into the sea, yet the sea is not full."

His conclusion is stark.. "All things are wearisome; Man in not able to tell it. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor is the ear filled with hearing. That which has been is that which will be, and that which has been done is that which will be done. So, there is nothing new under the sun." 

We cannot argue with his point there.. but.. we can look ahead.. 

The Preacher says, "I have seen all the works which have been done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and striving after wind. What is crooked cannot be straightened, and what is lacking cannot be counted.. "  And we say.. "Nothing is impossible for our God!"

He didn't see the day that Jesus came.  He didn't know.. with all his wisdom and knowledge.. that God would do a new thing.. something far above anything he could have imagined!

Oh how thankful we are that there was something "new" under the sun!  There was Jesus!  He can make the crooked straight.. He can fill what is lacking!  He is above the wisdom of all men.. indeed His "foolishness" is greater than all the wisdom of mere men.  As Paul wrote, "For the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." ( I Cor. 1:18)

Paul goes on.. "Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe." ( v20-21)  And.. ".. God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong." (v27)

Father, all we can say is "thank You!"  Thank You that life is not "vanity".. we have a purpose.. we have a Savior who came to free us from the wearisome ways of the world.. and to give us abundant life in His love and grace. We do not strive after wind.. we strive after Christ.. clinging to the One who gave His life that we might truly live. Praise God! Amen!

 John 21  "After these things Jesus manifested Himself again to the disciples... "   John says that this is the third time that Jesus came to them.. twice in a closed room.. and this time by the shore of the sea.  Apparently,  7 of the disciples were fishing that night, catching nothing.. until Jesus tells them to throw in the net on the right-hand side of the boat.  When they immediately caught a large haul of fish, John recognized the Lord. 

Peter, ever spontaneous, jumped into the water and swam to shore.  He couldn't wait to be with Jesus.  He didn't care about the fish.. or the others.. just about getting to Jesus as quickly as he could.  As it was, Jesus already had fish and bread prepared for them... cooking on a charcoal fire. 

Jesus had a specific purpose in meeting Peter that morning. "Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?"  He asked Peter.. three times if he loved Him..  Each time Peter responded "yes".  And each time Jesus instructed him what he should do:  "Tend My lambs... shepherd my sheep... Tend my sheep..."   Peter's love for Jesus would lead him to care for those that belong to Him.  

Peter had once promised to die for Jesus.. and now Jesus tells him that he would grow old.. stretch out his hands.. and be taken where he did not want to go..   John tells us that this signified " by what kind of death he would glorify God".   

Peter was given one last instruction, "Follow Me!"   He tried to ask about John.. but Jesus wanted to Peter to focus on himself for that moment.. "You follow Me!"  No matter what happens to any other person.. we each have the same calling and responsibility as believers.. to follow Jesus.. to love Him.. to love others.. to care for the lambs and the sheep.. to glorify God.. in life and in death. 

Father in heaven, give us each that same desire.. to be with Jesus as much as we can.. to say yes, we love You.. to love and care for others.. to follow Jesus wherever He takes us. Come and fill us with Your love and grace that we might glorify You.. in life and in death.. in all that we do and say.  Let Your good and perfect will be done in us today we pray, in Jesus' name. Amen. 

 John 20  Early that Sunday morning..still dark.. but dawn is just about to break through.. Mary and the other women headed to the tomb.  Though Joseph and Nicodemus had wrapped the body and used the burial spices.. the women wanted to do more.. but they found the stone rolled away and the body of Jesus was gone... 

Each of the gospels emphasize a different part of this wonderful story.. 

Matthew and Mark tell of the angel and the command that the women go tell the disciples.   They tell of the women.. or at least Mary meeting Him.  Of His  assurance that He would see His disciples in Galilee.

Luke includes the account of Peter running to the tomb and looking in.  But, John tells us that he was there too.  He ran to the tomb.. "he saw the linen wrappings lying there and the face-cloth which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself."  John tells us that "he saw and believed." 

John tells us about Mary standing and weeping.. about Jesus coming to her and saying her name.  He tells us of the announcement she made.. " I have seen the Lord." 

John tells of being in the closed room that night.. when Jesus "came and stood in their midst, and said to them, 'Peace be with you.' "  He saw the Hands that had been nailed and the side that was pierced.  He received the commission to go.. to tell others.. to forgive sins.. to testify so that others might believe and be saved. 

John tells of Thomas.. who was not there that first Sunday night.. and who still doubted until Jesus appeared again.. inside the closed room.  Jesus made an incredible offer to Thomas.. "Reach here your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand, and put it into My side; and be not unbelieving but believing."   Thomas did not hesitate.. "My Lord and my God!"  No longer unbelieving!

These thing have been written, John says, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name." 

Father in heaven,  may we not hesitate.. but only.. thoroughly.. completely believe and find life in Jesus Christ the Son of God.. the Lamb that was slain.. the Resurrected King!  Thank You for the words of life that Your servants have preserved for us through the ages.  Sanctify us through Your Word, for Your Word is life. Fill us with Your Spirit that we might go and tell what we have believed, even though we have not seen it as Thomas and John and Mary did.  We proclaim the words of truth.. that Jesus is the Son of God and that those who will believe are given life in His name.  Hallelujah! What a Savior! Father we pray for those who are still unsaved.. that You will open their eyes and their hearts to turn away from their unbelief and "be not unbelieving but believing"!

 In Jesus' name we pray. Amen!

 John 19:16-42  Jesus carried "His own cross, to the place called the Place of the Skull, which is called in Hebrew Golgotha."  

The old rugged cross, as the song goes.. "a wondrous attraction to me".... " a wondrous beauty".. yet a symbol "despised by the world".. of "shame and reproach".. stained with His blood.. and cherished by those who love the "dear lamb of God." 

They crucified Him between two thieves.

They divided His clothes and cast lots for His cloak. 

They pierced His side.  But, they did not break His legs. 

They took Him down and laid Him in an unused tomb. 

Every single thing that was done to Jesus fulfilled prophecy.. proving over and over that this was God's plan for Him.. that He is the Messiah.. the Lord's anointed One.  "After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, 'I am thirsty.'"  He received the sour wine.. bowed His head and proclaimed, "It is finished".  

Standing at the cross.. Mary watched.  I can't begin to imagine the agony. All the words and experiences stored up in her heart... did she know that she would see Him again in just a few days?  Was her faith strong enough to bear it all?  We know she was in the room at Pentecost... as were Jesus' brothers.  They believed and were filled with the Spirit of God that day. But, what about that day at the cross?  Mary stood there with John and a few other women.  The cross was not a wondrous thing at all... it was not cherished and she would not cling to it. But, Jesus, her son.. the Son of God.. she cherished with all her heart. 

Father in heaven,  we remember the cross.. we know the height and depth and width and length of Your love.. in the sacrifice of the Precious Lamb of God.  How can we ever thank You for this gift of perfect love and grace.  Jesus, our Savior, we  cling to You.. You are truly Wonderful and we exalt Your Name. Praise to the Father and to the Son and to the Spirit forever... Amen. 

 John 18:28 - 19:16   Jesus was taken to Pilate... who tried every way he could to not have to do what the Jews wanted him to do.. 

Pilate asked for a valid accusation.. (v29)

He told them to judge Him themselves.( v31)

He tried to get Jesus to say something incriminating.. "(v33-37)

He pronounced Him not guilty..(v38)

He offered His release.. (v39)

He scourged Him.. perhaps trying to satisfy the crowd.. (19:1)

Again, he declared Him not guilty..(v4 and 6)

He presented Jesus one last time.. a crown of thorns on His head.. a robe of purple around His beaten, bleeding body.. "Behold, your King!"

Yet, the crowd, led by the chief priests, still cried out, "Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him!"

"So he then delivered Him to them to be crucified,"  (v 16)

Jesus told Pilate, "You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason he who delivered Me up to you has the greater sin." ( v11)   Pilate was not innocent in this death.. for he could have overruled the crowd.  But, he was unwilling to upset the Jews.. perhaps fearing his own potential loss of position.  But, the greater guilt would lie on the Jewish leaders.  "He came to His own and those who were His own did not receive Him." ( John 1:11)

Father in heaven, You sent Your Beloved Son.. set in motion these events.. put in place these people.. to accomplish the most incredible and  incomprehensible act of mercy and grace that has ever been done.  And Jesus, "....knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, went forth.. " He took the cup. He took upon Himself all our sins.  He took the punishment for us all.  He gave His life that we might live. We are His own and we do receive Him.. as our Savior and our King forever!  Jesus, the Son of God, be glorified and exalted!  Thank You!  Amen. 

 John 18:12-27  They found Jesus in the garden.. He was clearly unarmed and compliant.. identifying Himself to them.. and yet they found it necessary.. this large troop of Roman soldiers.. to bind Him.  To tie Him up and take Him away. 

  First, Jesus is taken to Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas and the one who still held some power,  who questioned Him about His teaching and His disciples. 

Simon Peter and "another disciple" followed this procession.  Somehow, this other disciple was "known to the high priest" and was allowed in to the courtyard.  He went and brought Peter in also.  Here, is where Peter begins to fail.. he denies Jesus.. to a "slave-girl". (v17)  Then he denies Jesus again as he stands before a fire with slaves and officers. (v18,25).  A third time, Peter denies Jesus to a relative of  Malchus, the slave that Peter had attacked in the garden. (v26)   

Then the rooster crowed. The BKC comments on this. "A rooster crowing.. reveals God's sovereignty and the movement of all things in His plan and timing."  Jesus had warned Peter that this would happen.  Luke tells us that "the Lord turned and looked at Peter." ( Luke 22:61) And that Peter went out of the courtyard weeping bitterly.  Peter could not even handle being questioned by slaves... he had failed to follow through on his commitment to Jesus. In realizing his failure, Peter's heart broke. 

Jesus, in contrast to Peter, stood firm before the high priest. He spoke openly about His teaching. He was not an insurrectionist. He was not a heretic. There were plenty of witnesses that could testify on His behalf. But, the truth was not wanted here.  "Annas therefore sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest."

Father, we understand just how very weak we are without Your strength. We are thankful that You offer us strength and help in times of trouble.  Yet, we know that we sometimes fail to stand firm.  Please help us to put on the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of peace, the helmet of salvation.. today.  May we take up our shield of faith and our sword of the Spirit, the Word of God.. that we might stand firm in Jesus Christ.. for His glory and for Yours. May we be faithful in prayer and faithful in our witness.. proclaiming Jesus and never denying Him.  We are asking for the power of Your Spirit to work in us what we cannot do on our own. Fill us continually that we might be strong until the end. We ask this in Jesus' powerful Name. Amen. 

 John 18: 1-11 "When Jesus had spoken these words, He went forth... "  He was headed to the garden and then to a trial.. to a cross and a borrowed tomb.. and then, Hallelujah, to the Resurrection!  Every time we take this journey.. reading the old, old story.. remembering His death.. it thrills my heart that the cross is not the end of the story!  Thank God!

John doesn't linger on Gethsemane.  He doesn't record the prayer that Jesus prayed there.. or the fact that they all fell asleep.  He goes directly to the entrance of Judas with the Roman cohort and the officers of the chief priests who came with "lanterns and torches and weapons." 

"Jesus therefore, knowing all the things that were coming upon Him went forth... "  He went forth.. to the garden.. He went forth to the armed crowd.. and He identified Himself to them.  "Whom do you seek?" He asked.  "Jesus the Nazarene. "  they answered.  "I am He." was the answer.. so powerful that they actually "drew back and fell to the ground." 

"I am He."  Makes me think of Saul on the road to Damascus.. when "suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; and he fell to the ground.. "  When Saul asked "Who art Thou..?"  The answer came, "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting." ( Acts 9:3-5) 

We sing about the power of His Name.. "Jesus your Name is power".  But, do we really understand and believe this truth? 

Father in heaven, thank You for the One whose Name is above all names.. for Jesus Christ the Lord who "went forth"  knowing what was ahead... "who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." ( Hebrews 12:2) We have a mighty and blessed Savior and His Name is Wonderful!  Grant us understanding.. down in our hearts and fully in our minds.. of the power and greatness of the Name of Jesus. We bless His name!  We glorify His name! May all the earth rejoice in the Mighty Name of Jesus! Amen and amen. 

 John 17: 22  I am still thinking about this verse.. "And the glory which Thou hast given Me I have given them;... "  What a gift.. what a treasure!  It is in Christ.. "in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge... " that we gain such riches. Romans 9:22-24  tells us that God "endured with much patience vessels prepared for destruction.. in order that He might make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory, even us... "

Charles Spurgeon wrote in a little book called Christ's Incarnation this, "There was a great glory about our Lord Jesus Christ even in His state of humiliation."  As the shepherds heard the angels sing "Glory to God in the Highest!"  As the wise men followed the guiding star.. as they bowed before Him with their gifts to pay homage... we see that  "Wherever Christ is, He is honorable." He is "most glorious".. He is distinguished.   Yet, it is in His great mercy that the glory of Christ shines most brightly.  "It was great mercy that regarded the lowly estate of the shepherds, and it was far-reaching mercy which gathered from lands which lay in darkness a company of men made wise unto salvation. Mercy, wearing her resplendent jewels, was present with Divine sovereignty in the lowly abode of Bethlehem." 

There was glory in the first coming of our Lord... " there lies our rest; the once offered sacrifice hath put away our sin, and made peace with God. As for His second coming, there lies our hope, our joy; for 'we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.' The glories of His royal priesthood shall be repeated in all the saints; for He hath 'made us unto our God kings and priests' and we shall reign with Him for ever and ever."

Spurgeon goes on to say, "At His first advent, we adore Him with gratitude rejoicing that He is 'God with us' making Himself to be our near Kinsman. We gather with grateful boldness around the Infant in the manger and behold our God. But, in the anticipation of His second advent, we are struck with a solemn reverence, a trembling awe. We are not less grateful, but we are more prostrate, as we bow before the majesty of the triumphant Christ. Jesus in His glory is an over-powering vision for mortal man to behold." 

Father, help us to behold "His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth."  May we continually rejoice in the glory of the incarnation.. the Word became flesh!  And may we wait with joyful expectation that day when we will behold His glory face to face.  We know that You loved the Son "before the foundation of the world"... and You have loved us with that same love.  May Your love be in us as Christ is in us.. according to His prayer as He intercedes for us even now in His place of glory.  Amen. 

 John 17:22-26  Jesus passionately prays for His disciples..for us.. interceding for the ones that the Father has given Him.. the ones He will leave in the world, who are not "of the world".  He has prayed for us to be sanctified "in the truth".. in God's Word.  He has sent us "into the world" that others may come to believe in Him.. "that the world may believe that Thou didst send Me." 

Yet, He has an even greater request to bring to His Father.. a request that is so necessary.. so vital to Jesus.. for on it rests the future of His Church... "And the glory which Thou hast given to Me I have given them; that they may be one, just as We are one."  

The first thing I notice is that this oneness depends of His gift of "glory".  The Bible Dictionary defines this glory as.. giving weight or honor, and implies "divine power and majesty".  Jesus asked the Father to glorify Him in the hour that had come.. in the cross and in the resurrection.  John wrote, "and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth."(1:14)  This "glory", Jesus says, He has given to His disciples.. to us... so that we might "be one".  

The Complete Jewish Study Bible translates verse 23 "I united with them and you with me, so that they maybe completely one, and the world thus realize that you sent me, and that you love them just as you loved me."  

Unity. Oneness with Christ and with the Father in love.  This is His prayer for us. This is His passion for us. This is His goal for us.  The Bible Knowledge Dictionary says this, " The goal of unity of believers with each other and with God is twofold: (a) that the world will believe in the Son's divine mission (know that You sent Me), and (b) that the world will sense that God's love for believers is deep, intimate, and lasting as is His love for His unique Son."  

EM Bounds wrote, "The unity of God's people was to be the heritage of God's glory promised to them. Division and strife are the devil's bequest to the church, a heritage of failure, weakness, shame, and woe. The oneness of God's people was to be the one credential to the world of the divinity of Christ's mission on earth. Let us ask in all candor, are we praying for this unity as Christ prayed for it? Are we seeking the peace, the welfare, the glory, the might, and the divinity of God's cause as it is found in the unity of God's people?"  ( emphasis mine)

Jesus poured out His heart for His church.. for our oneness with Him and with the Father.. and with each other.  Bounds writes that Jesus devoted Himself to death that we might  be devoted  to God in life... that we might be sanctified fully.. " a real, whole, and thorough sanctification, embracing soul, body, and mind, for time and eternity."   He continues, "Prayer is the pathway. All the ascending steps of prayer, increasing prayerfulness in spirit and increasing prayerfulness in fact.'Pray without ceasing' is the imperative prelude to 'the very God of peace sanctify you wholly.'" 

Jesus desires that we be with Him forever.. to behold Him in His glory.. the glory found in the love of the Father.. the love that Jesus made known to us.. the love that He desires to be in us as He is in us. 

One last quote from EM Bounds, "We can only meet our full responsibilities and fulfill our high mission when we go forth sanctified as Christ our Lord was sanctified. He sends us into the world as his Father sent him into the world. He expects us to be as he was, to do as he did, and to glorify the Father just as he glorified the Father."

How vital it is that Jesus prays for us.. for us to be so united with Him and with the Father and with each other.. so that we can do what He calls us to do.  How vital it is that we, His people, His church, His disciples pray for this too!

Father in heaven, we do ask that You will give us this glory.. sanctify us through and through.. all of us who believe on the Name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, our Sanctifier and Healer.. our coming King.. Make us one with Jesus and with each other so that we might glorify Your Name and fulfill Your will that "the world may know" that You sent Jesus and that You love them.  Hear our prayers today Lord God.. and move in us Spirit of God to do the work of prayer and of evangelism that You have called us to do.  We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. 

 John 17:13-21  Jesus prayed that He would be glorified so that the Father would be glorified.  He prayed that the Father would "keep" His disciples from evil and the evil one.. from sin and in holiness.  He has made the Father known to them.. He has given them the words that the Father gave to Him,  and He has loved them as the Father loved Him. 

Next, Jesus prays about what will make Him most joyful.. that they would have His "joy full in themselves."  

That joy will not be found in the "world".   The world will hate the disciples of Jesus because they do not belong to it anymore.  Twice Jesus says, "they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world." (v14 and v16)   Again, I find the words of EM Bounds helpful... 

"These disciples were not to be taken out of the world, but kept from its evil, its monster evil, which is itself. 'This present evil world'.  How the world seduces, dazzles, and deludes the children of men! His disciples are chosen out of the world, out of the world's bustle and earthliness, out of its all-devouring greed of gain, out of its money-desire, money-love, and money-toil. Earth draws and holds as if it was make out of gold and not out of dirt; as though it was covered with diamonds and not with graves." 

"They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world,"  Jesus emphasized...  Bounds writes, "Not only from sin and satan were they to be kept, but also from the soil, stain, and the taint of worldliness, as Christ was free from it."   He goes on to say.. "How pronounced, radical, and eternal was our Lord Christ's divorce from the world! How pronounced, radical, and eternal is that of our Lord's true followers from the world! The world hates the disciple as it hated his Lord, and will crucify the disciple just as it crucified his Lord.  How pertinent the question, Have we Christ's unworldliness? Does the world hate us as it hated our Lord? Are his words fulfilled in us?" (Emphasis mine)

Oh how we need the intercession of our Lord Jesus.. this great petition.. "Sanctify them in the truth; Thy word is truth."   This is His petition for us.. "I do not ask in behalf of these alone, but for those who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one." 

Father, hear our prayer.. sanctify us in Your truth.. that we may be one... even as You, Father are in Christ and He is in You, may we also be in You "that the world may believe.. " and be saved. Amen

 John 17:6-12  In His prayer Jesus speaks to His Father about completing His mission.. to glorify the Father and to be glorified through what He has accomplished.. especially what He will do in just a few hours.. complete surrender to the cross.. the sacrificial Lamb who takes away the sins of the world. 

Jesus begins to pray now for His disciples.  They were the men that He revealed Himself to.. " I manifested Thy name to... " them.  They belonged to the Father and were given to the Son.. "out of the world".  These  men "have kept Thy word."  These are the ones who came to know Jesus.. knew His oneness with the Father.. knew that every word He said and every thing He did.. was from the Father.  These were the true believers and Jesus loved them.. so He asked the Father to grant them what they would and we need the most... 

".. to keep them in Thy name." 

He does not ask this for the world.. but only for the ones "given" Him.. the ones who belong to God. 

EM Bounds expounds upon this.. " He prays that they might be kept by the holy Father, in all holiness by the power of his name. He asks that his people may be kept from sin, from all sin, from sin in the concrete and sin in the abstract, from sin in all its shapes of evil, from all sin in this world. He prays that they might not only be fit and ready for heaven, but ready and fit for earth, for  its sweetest privileges, its sternest duties, its deepest sorrows, and its richest joys; ready for all of its trials, consolations, and triumphs. ' I pray not that thous shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from evil.'  He prays that they may be kept from the world's greatest evil, which is sin. He desires that they may be kept from the guilt, the power, the pollution, and the punishment of sin....  Kept from the devil, so that he might not touch them, nor find them, nor have a place in them; that they might be owned, possessed, filled and guarded by God. ' Kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.'" 

And this my friends, is how Jesus Christ intercedes for us.. His own...  Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Father, it is with all of our hearts and minds and wills that we ask that You would grant Jesus all that He has asked for us whom You have given Him.. keep us in Your Name we pray. Amen. 

 John 17: 1-5   In the final hour.. as the betrayer leads the enemy into the garden.. as the completion of His mission is at hand,  Jesus prays.  The first part of this prayer is personal.. between the Father and His Son... and we are privileged to listen in... 

"Father, the hour has come; glorify Thy Son that the Son may glorify Thee."  This has been the desire and purpose of His whole life on earth.. to reveal the One True God.. that we might KNOW Him.  The Father gave the Son "authority over all mankind".  He gave Him the privilege of granting eternal life to those He had "given Him".  Jesus "accomplished the work" that was given to Him.  He asks that He be glorified.. through the suffering, through the sacrifice, through His death, through His resurrection and His restoration to the "glory which [He] had with [the Father] before the world was ."  Jesus asks that He be glorified so that He can glorify the Father.... "that God's wisdom, power, and love might be known through Jesus". ( Bible Knowledge Commentary). 

This ultimate purpose.. the glory of God.. is the reason for everything.  It is why Jesus came.. why He died.. and why He rose again.  It is why He was given authority over all mankind.. and why He could give eternal life to those who belong to Him.  

"Eternal life,"  Jesus says, " .. that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent."  This is the work Jesus was sent to do.. and which He accomplished.... for the Father's glory. 

E.M.Bounds writes about this.. "Let us stop and ask, have we eternal life? Do we know God experimentally, consciously, and do we know Him really and personally? Do we know Jesus Christ as a person, and as a personal Savior? Do we know Him by a heart acquaintance, and know Him well? This, this only, is eternal life. And is Jesus glorified in us? Let us continue this personal inquiry.  Do our lives prove his divinity? And does Jesus shine brighter because of us? Are we opaque or transparent bodies, and do we darken or reflect His pure light? Once more let us ask: Do we seek God's glory?  Do we seek glory where Christ sought it? 'Glorify thou me with thy own self.' Do we esteem the presence and the possession of God our most excellent glory and our supreme good?"

Father in heaven, we pray that You will be glorified. We pray that Christ will be magnified in our lives.. that His glory will be seen and known in our lives.. that we will KNOW You.. the One True God and Jesus Christ the Blessed Son.. Have Your way in our hearts and minds and souls we pray, in Jesus' name. Amen.

 John 16:16-33 Jesus was going away "a little while".. and the disciples didn't know what to think of that.  Even though He had told them.. more than once.. they still didn't get it.  But, Jesus was preparing them for what was about to happen.. that they were going to "weep and lament",  but after that they would rejoice! Like a woman in labor.. there will be a time of pain.. but just like the joy of holding that newborn baby.. they would have a joy that would never be taken away. 

Just like them...we have times in our lives when we "weep and lament".. when life is hard and Jesus seems far away. But, like the disciples.. we can trust in His Words.. "A little while, and you will see Me.."  What joy we will have on that day! We will rejoice with Jesus for all of eternity.  Let us hold on to that promise!

Once again, Jesus reminds His disciples of their privilege .. to pray in His name.. to ask the Father "for anything".. to ask so that their "joy may be made full." He reminds them that the Father loves them.. that He is going to the Father.. but that it is good.  They are about to be "scattered".. but they need to just keep believing .  "In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." 

Father, we ask for this promised joy.. fullness of joy in serving Jesus. We ask you for courage.. to stand firm in faith.. trusting You to provide all we need to live in Your Presence and power.  Help us to cling to the truth and walk in obedience, for Your glory.  Abide in us Lord Jesus.. that we might bear much fruit. We ask this in Your name, Amen

 John 16:1-15  All that Jesus told His disciples in those few hours were for this purpose.. "that you may be kept from stumbling.."  His warnings.. His words were vitally important because of what would happen in just a little while.  They needed to know why.. a question we often want to ask our Lord.. Why?  Here Jesus says, "And these things they will do, because they have not know the Father, or Me." 

When that hour came.. the disciples needed to rest in Jesus.. to remember what Jesus told them, so they could stand firm. It took them a while.. but they did stand firm in the end. 

 When we face our own trials, we also need to remember what Jesus said.. that trials would come, persecution would come, suffering would come..  and when they do.. .He would be with us.. that we can KNOW the Father.. we can KNOW Jesus.. that the Spirit has been given to us to guide us into all truth. He will enable US to stand firm too!

"But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper shall not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you."  The "Helper".. the "Paracletos"..one called alongside to help.. has been given to us who believe.. to speak the Words of Jesus.. to disclose His truths.. and to "convict the world concerning sin, and righteousness, and judgement." ( v8)

The "Spirit of truth" has been given to us.. to work in us.. that we might continue to walk in the Truth that Jesus speaks.  Truth that the world needs to hear.. so that He can bring conviction "concerning sin".. to those who do not yet believe in Jesus.  

He will convict "concerning righteousness" Jesus said, "because I go to the Father and you no longer behold Me."  Jesus is the supreme example of righteousness.. and we, as His followers, are called to walk in righteousness.. shining as lights in this dark world.. so that through us, the world can see what a righteous life looks like.. and the Spirit can work in their souls.. revealing to them the need for repentance.  

The Spirit will also convict the world "concerning judgement"..  the reality that just as Satan "has been judged".. everyone faces a certain judgement before God.  The world desperately needs to know that their lives.. their words and their actions.. their thoughts and motives.. are known by God.. nothing hidden.. and that they will face the consequences for their choices before the throne of a Holy God. 

The Spirit of truth is in us to speak the Word into us.. into our minds and hearts and souls..  to transform our thinking... to transform US..  by taking the things of Jesus and disclosing them to us.. As we read in I Peter 4:1 last night in our church Bible study.. "... arm yourself with the same way of thinking... " as Christ.. the same "purpose" the NASB says.. the same "attitude" the NIV says.  We are given His Spirit so that He can work in us His works through His Word.. that people will be convicted of their sins, know what is right ( and see what is wrong).. and realize that there will be a Judge who sees all.. knows all... and will render a final verdict. 

Father in heaven, pour out the Spirit of truth to fill our hearts and minds with the Truth of the Word that we might bear witness of Jesus and lead others to Him. Abide in us Lord Jesus as we abide in Your Word that we might bear much fruit to the glory of the Father. Amen. 

 John 15:18-27  "Hate".   Such a strong word.  We don't like it.  We don't want to be hated. We don't want to hate.  But, here it is.  Jesus says, " ... the world hates you.. "  And, we know that this is reality. 

Jesus tells us that the reason we will be hated by the world is because of their hatred for Him and because we are no longer "of the world" with them.  We have been separated.. chosen..and belong to Him now.  

The Bible Dictionary defines hate or hatred as "A strong negative reaction, a feeling toward someone considered an enemy as well as loving someone less than another."  We are commanded NOT to hate our enemies.. but we are expected to hate those things that oppose God.  Hatred is not always an emotional hostility.. but a "conscious establishment of priorities".. such as loving God more than ourselves or our families.. 

Jesus is teaching us here that we will be hated by the world because of our life in Him.. He is hated by the enemy just as His Father is hated by the enemy.  There is no excuse for this hatred.... sin is the root cause. When people hate God.. when they hate Jesus.. they will hate us who belong to Him too.   They would rather have darkness than the light. They would rather keep their idols than the True and Living God. They would rather hate.. than to love.  This hatred is irrational.. there is no real cause.. there is not excuse.. but it is real. 

Our world today is hostile to Christians.. without cause.  Rationally it makes no sense to me.. think about the persecution in many parts of our world.  They imprison, beat, ostracize, and even kill people just because they love Jesus.  Innocent, kind, caring, non-violent, honest, hard-working, and precious people are hated.. for no cause.  Just like Jesus was.  We are beginning to see this in our own country.. law suits against Christian business owners.. targeted because of their religious beliefs... and now slander and threats against those of us who do not believe in their propaganda.. especially regarding abortion rights and sexual immorality. 

Hatred..  is a reality.  Jesus said it would be so and it is. But, as He reminded His disciples.. "When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of Truth. who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness of Me, and you will bear witness also, because you have been with Me from the beginning."  The Bible Knowledge Commentary says it this way, "As the apostles witnessed, the Holy Spirit persuaded, and people were saved. The same combination of human obedience to the divine command coupled with the witness of the Spirit is needed in every generation." 

Father, may we bear witness of these truths.. of Jesus our Lord... so that others may be saved. May we stand firm. May we love and not hate. May we abide in Christ and Christ in us. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen. 

 John 15:12-17     Jesus has given us the secret to living fruitful lives.. "Abide in Me... " like a branch abides in the vine. (v4) .. "abide in Me".. and I will abide in you (v5).. "If you abide in Me and My words abide in you..." (v7) then ask.. and fruit will be produced to the glory of God.  Keeping His commandments is evidence of abiding in His love.  (v10)

And His number one commandment is " that you love one another, just as I have loved you."  The Father loves the Son.. and the Son loves us. His love is the foundation.. the prototype.. the perfect example.. and the necessary ingredient for keeping His commandments and living a fruitful life that glorifies God and brings joy to the Savior. 

"Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends."  Jesus called His disciples His friends.. He "made known" to them "all things that I have heard from My Father.."  He chose them.. He appointed them to be fruit-bearers.  He loved them and He commands them to "love one another". 

Jesus repeated His promise again.. "..  that whatever you ask of the Father in My name, He may give to you.."  The promise is connected to abiding.. and producing fruit... lasting fruit.    Our prayers are necessary.. for abiding in Jesus and for being fruitful.  We have been taught that we cannot do anything apart from Jesus. ( v5) We can't abide.. we can't love.. we can't bear the likeness of our Lord.. unless we pray and ask the Father in Jesus' name.  If we neglect prayer.. we cannot abide.. and we cannot be fruitful.. we will be branches that must be pruned.. or worse...  

Father in heaven, we come in the Name of Jesus, to ask that You will abide in us as we abide in You.. knowing that we cannot even do this without Your love moving in our lives.. You have called  us to Yourself.. You have brought  us to faith in Christ the Lord.  We want to live.. to abide in Jesus.. as branches to the Vine, that we might bear much fruit for Your glory.  We ask that You would fulfill Your purpose in us today according to Your perfect and good will.  In Jesus' name. Amen.

 John 15:1-11  Jesus and His disciples were on their way to Gethsemane.. the trial and the crucifixion were only a few hours away.. and Jesus is teaching some very important and deep truths.. things that the Holy Spirit would bring to their remembrance and clarify to them later.. 

" I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser."    We need to grasp this important truth first of all.  This is a picture of the relationship between the Father and the Son. The Vine is meant to have branches. The branches are meant to bear fruit.  The Father tends the Vine and the branches.. He is at work.   "He takes away.. " every branch that is not fruitful.  He prunes or cleanses every branch that is producing fruit so that it bears more fruit.  There is purpose in all that the Father does.. as Romans 8 tells us.. His purpose is that we "become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren." ( Romans 8:29)  The Vinedresser is doing what is going to be for our good.. that we might bear fruit for his glory. 

Jesus tells us that this pruning begins with His words.  His words call us to "abide" in Him.. to stay.. to be present.. in relationship with Him.  Without abiding in the Vine, the branch dies and is cut off.  Only in the connection to the Vine is there life in a branch.. and only in the careful attending by the Vinedresser is the branch capable of bearing any fruit. 

Jesus makes this promise.. "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish and it shall be done for you. By this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples."

Lest we become confused about what kind of fruit we are supposed to be producing, Jesus says, "Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.  If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. "  

Every plant produces fruit according to its kind..we can go back to the beginning.. "Then God said, 'Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit after their kind, with seed in them, on the earth'; and it was so." ( Genesis 1:11)  Jesus taught on the Mount that .. "You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they?"  

The fruit from the True Vine will be evident. This fruit will be after His kind.. it will reflect His life.. it will glorify the Father.  Every person is known by "their fruits".. their character, their actions, their walk, their love...  It is abiding in Jesus.. loving Him and keeping His commandments.. that produces a life that bears "much fruit".. that looks like Him.. conformed to His image.. doing His will and bringing Him joy. 

Father in heaven, cleanse us.. prune us.. tend us.. work in us that we might bear much fruit "and so prove to be" disciples of Jesus.. conformed to His image.. doing Your will and bringing glory to Your Name.  You have called us.. destined us... for this purpose. May Your will be done. Amen. 

 John 14:19-31  Jesus told the disciples these things.. these hard to understand.. confusing truths.. so that "when it comes to pass, you may believe".   We know the disciples were confused .. because of the questions asked.  But, Jesus told them that when the Holy Spirit came "He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you." 

They would understand that the world would not be able to see Him any longer but that they ( the disciples)  would "behold" Him.  That because He lived.. they would also live. (v19)

They would understand that keeping His commandments would reveal their love for Him.... and that those who loved Him would be loved by the Father.  They would understand that His love for them would not end.. and that He would "disclose" Himself to them.  (v21)

They would understand that loving Him and keeping His word.. are the way to abiding with Him and with the Father.  (v23-24)

They would understand that all Jesus did was in obedience to the Father and because of His love for the Father..  ( v 31)  

He wasn't asking them to do anything that He Himself did not do.  Jesus is the Standard, the Alpha, the Beginning.. He taught them with His words and His actions.  These are the truths that we can live by.. lived out in the life of the Son of God. 

"Peace I leave with you.." Jesus told them.. and we hold on to that promise.. of a peace that is outside of the world's reign.. a peace that takes troubled and fearful hearts and brings the sweet Presence of God into all those who trust in Him.. who love Him.. who keep His commands. 

Father in heaven, we need Your peace.. we need Your Presence.. help us to trust in You fully and to rest in Your love. Give us hearts of love and obedience to Your word and open eyes to see Jesus and to follow Him always. We ask this in His name. Amen. 

 John 14: 13-18   Because Jesus and the Father are One.. and because He went to the Father.. He has given over the task of doing the Father's works.. His works.. to His disciples.. to this who believe in Him.  Just as He has called us to a "greater love" -  He calls us to greater works.. works that will bring others to believe. 

In order to have this greater love and do these greater works.. Jesus tells us "And whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it."   And then, He reminds us again of the most important condition.... "if you love Me, you will keep My commandments." 

It is in the deep abiding love of Jesus that we can.. keep His commandments.. have a greater love.. and do the greater works.  But, Jesus is not through yet.. for He tells us that He will "ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive, because it does not behold Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." (v16-18) 

The Father, the Son, and the Spirit are calling us to believe.. to love.. to do His works and keep His commands.. and we find that it is in the abiding Presence of our God that He is glorified.. that we find purpose and peace.. that the life we live is not longer ours but Christ's.. because He lives that we live.. because He loves.. we love.. and because He is working, that we work and His will is accomplished.. His kingdom comes.. and His Name is exalted. 

Father in heaven, we only seek to keep Your commands.. to do Your will. We ask this in the Name of Jesus.. complete in us all that You desire for Your glory. Amen. 

 John 14:1-14  Still in the upper room.. the traitor gone, the meal complete, the new commandment given.. the Lord tells His disciples, "Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me." 

Trouble was coming.. as trouble always does.. the night would end with the arrest of the Savior, the scattering of the disciples, the denial by Peter, the trial before the Sanhedrin... Trouble seems to follow us too sometimes.. and in this passage Jesus gives us the solution.. belief in God and belief in Him. 

We learn to trust Him through the trials. To trust His promises. To trust in the hope of eternity in the Father's house.. for Jesus made a promise.. " And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also." 

Jesus tells us that He is the way..He is the road.. the mode and the means.. He is the route we take to go to His promised home.  He is also the truth.  We cannot go His way unless we go in the Truth.  Jesus is "the life" and without Him we are dead.. and without hope. We need all that Jesus provides.. so that we can not "be troubled"... even in the most trying of times. 

Jesus says that we "know the way".. because we know Him. When we know Him, then we know the Father.  To see Him is to see the Father.  To hear Him is to hear what the Father says. To experience His work is to experience the works of the Father. 

What a great mystery.. the Trinity is... The Father, the Son, and the Spirit.. hard to grasp, but so awesome and beautiful.  The power of God is revealed... so that our hearts can not "be troubled".  We can believe.. trust in Jesus and look forward to the day when the Way will be opened and He leads us to the place that He has prepared for each of us.  Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Father in heaven, may we grasp the greatness of Your promises to us.. may we walk in the Way of Jesus in Truth and in Life.. through the One who came to us and has gone to prepare a place for us. May we learn to believe so that our hearts are not troubled.. but resting in Your perfect peace.  Come quickly Lord Jesus! Amen.