LIVING THE RESURRECTION

EASTER  SEASON  MEDITATIONS constructed on the foundation of the Last
Discourses of Christ to His disciples, John 13-17

Easter as a Season
Easter Season Daily Meditations
        Week One - John 13
        Week Two - John 13 Jesus Predicts His Betrayal
        Week Three -
        Week Four - Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit
        Week Five - John 15
        Week Six - John 15-16
        Week Seven - John 16 - 17
        Our Promise Received - Pentecost
Future Forward. . .

The church year as it has been celebrated since the 4th century AD comprises these seasons:

• Advent
• Christmas
• Epiphany
• Lent
• Easter
• Pentecost / Ordinary time.

Of these, Christmas is by far the most familiar. Easter is also familiar as the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday.

However, Easter as a continuing season of the church year has been largely ignored in modern times in many church communions. We celebrate Easter Sunday and then go blithely on our way, content with the promise of new life that Resurrection Sunday brings.

Easter, however, does continue for 50 days longer, culminating in the celebration of the day of Pentecost (pente means 50), described in the New Testament in the second chapter of the book of Acts. A Jewish reader from the first century would have recognized the significance of the "tongues of fire" sitting on the heads of the 120 in the upper room.

1 When  the  day  of  Pentecost  came,  they were all together in one place.
2 Suddenly  a  sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and
filled  the  whole house where they were sitting.  3 They saw what seemed to
be  tongues  of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.  4 All
of  them  were  filled  with  the  Holy  Spirit and began to speak in other
tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation
under  heaven.   6 When  they  heard  this  sound,  a crowd came together in
bewilderment,  because  each  one  heard  their  own language being spoken.
7 Utterly amazed, they asked:  "Aren't all these who are speaking Galileans?
8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language?
9 Parthians,  Medes  and  Elamites;  residents  of  Mesopotamia,  Judea  and
Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts
of  Libya  near  Cyrene;  visitors  from  Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to
Judaism);  Cretans  and  Arabs-we hear them declaring the wonders of God in
our  own  tongues!"   12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What
does this mean?" (Acts 2:1-12, NIV)

Notice here that all of those present were speaking in known languages (vv8-11) and that all of them had these "tongues of fire" resting upon them.

Now the reason so many Jews were even in Jerusalem was to celebrate the season that FOLLOWED Passover, the celebration of Shauvot. This commemorates the giving of the law on Mount Sinai that was accompanied by smoke and fire in that (even then) ancient time. A similar thing was happening - the giving of the new law of love and the presence of God's Holy Spirit poured out upon "all flesh."

As preparation for this event, Jesus had given his inner circle of disciples with whom he had celebrated the Passover a series of discourses to prepare them for this new life revelation. In these Last Discourses, Jesus defines what the coming resurrection life would look like and how it would be practiced. The final discourse gives the shape of God's kingdom to be realized upon earth.

As we know from the first chapter of Acts, Jesus remained after the resurrection for forty days, teaching them about the kingdom of God. Scholars believe that the Last Discourses from chapters 13-17 of John's gospel may embody those teachings.

Reasons for this belief stem from the extent and unique character of the teachings themselves, relating to the future of the continuing life of Christ on earth through his disciples. These teachings would seem far too extensive to be taught as an after-dinner speech comprising at most a few hours. The fact that the gospels themselves refer to being edited documents (see Luke and Acts, where Luke opens each book with just such assertions) lends reality to this view. It would likely take the 40 days that the risen Christ spent with His disciples to fully explicate such a dense body of teaching.

So it is fitting for us to meditate upon these teachings, just as the first disciples likely did, after the resurrection and in preparation for the inauguration of the body of Christ on earth, the Church. These teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ give us, His followers in this distant day and time, the same insights He gave to His disciples in preparation for them to live His life in the world. We can, in this way, continue the fellowship of the earthly church with the eternal Church Triumphant and be transformed ambassadors of God's Kingdom, responding to His kingdom as He brings it to pass on earth as it is done in heaven.

Text footnotes, indicated by "[ ]", are included at the conclusion of each chapter of Scripture text (i.e., "Chapter 13 Footnotes"). The reading for the next day is added at the end of the readings text (i.e., DAY TWO follows DAY ONE, etc.).

Week One - John 13

---

DAY ONE - Jesus Washes His Disciples' Feet

1 It  was  just  before the Passover Festival.  Jesus knew that the hour had
come  for  him  to leave this world and go to the Father.  Having loved his
own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

JESUS LOVES ALL OF US

Jesus acted out his love for people in general through expressing that love to a particular group of people. For Him, love was personal, not just a good "ideal" or a nice "philosophy." In this prelude to his resurrection, Jesus ensures that His disciples, representing all who were to follow, received His love in a way that was familiar to all of them. Rather than presenting another fine teaching, he demonstrated through the task of a servant how love looks acted out. That He loved them all, even His betrayer, is described in passages that follow. Love is thus established as the context for these last discourses.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to act out Your love for all of us in common
and familiar ways every day.

---

DAY TWO - The evening meal.

2 The  evening  meal  was  in  progress,  and the devil had already prompted
Judas,  the  son  of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus.  3 Jesus knew that the
Father  had  put  all things under his power, and that he had come from God
and  was  returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer
clothing,  and  wrapped  a  towel around his waist.  5 After that, he poured
water into a basin and began to wash his disciples'  feet, drying them with
the towel that was wrapped around him.

THE SERVANT TASK

In that ancient time, servants welcomed dinner guests into a home by washing their feet. Even those who had sandals would be refreshed by this very personal greeting and relaxed from the journey to the house.

In this manner, Jesus relaxes his disciples at the evening meal as well. Perhaps they already had an initial foot washing by a servant; no matter. Jesus, creator God and omnipotent master of the universe demonstrated the importance of physical comfort to receiving the truth of salvation. His action set the tone not only spiritually but physically for what was to follow.

Prayer:  Help us, Lord Jesus, to be more mindful of your gift of our own
bodies  and  the  nourishment  of  a  meal  as  a  means  toward salvation
cooperating with our spirits in receiving all of Your gifts.

---

DAY THREE

6 He  came  to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my
feet?" 
7 Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will
understand."  
8 "No,"  said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet." 
Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me."
9 "Then,  Lord,"  Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my
head as well!"

OUR MISUNDERSTANDING

We often misunderstand what Jesus is doing in our lives just like Simon Peter did. We read our ideas and concepts over onto what Jesus is doing as if we could improve upon it. Even when Jesus explains to Peter that he will understand His actions later, Peter persists in trying to command the Master instead of receiving what He gives.

How often do we do this as well? In our ignorance, we try to "teach" God how to accomplish His purposes in our lives. We think God should be "logical" or "make sense" to us in some way. Many times God is acting to redefine our sense-making so that we may see better what He is doing. This often happens in hind-sight as we look back upon how God has really cared and provided for us in daily ways as well as in life crises. This was a daily way redefinition for Peter - you, Peter, are not in charge.

Prayer:  Lord, give us the discernment we need to receive and act out your
ways in our daily lives.

---

DAY FOUR

10 Jesus  answered, "Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet;
their  whole  body  is  clean.   And you are clean, though not every one of
you."   11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said
not every one was clean.

WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW

Often when we pray for guidance, what we really want is the grand plan so that we can influence that plan and be ready when it happens. What we get far more often is what we need to know today. Jesus used the example of common bathing to indicate the spiritual reality of their fitness for fellowship and service.

Even in the presence of the washed, one betrayer was present. He, too, had been washed but had turned away to his own eventual destruction. Perhaps, as some have guessed, he had hoped to motivate Jesus to call down fire from heaven on his earthly opponents. Whatever his motivation, he missed the eternal message: accept what I give to you today. Let's learn from this gathering that even the washed can choose to turn away from life to death.

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, help us to always turn toward you instead of any
other way, no matter how attractive or compelling those other ways may
seem.

---

DAY FIVE

12 When  he  had  finished  washing  their  feet,  he put on his clothes and
returned  to  his place.  "Do you understand what I have done for you?"  he
asked  them.   13 "You  call  me 'Teacher'  and 'Lord,'  and rightly so, for
that  is  what I am.

JESUS IN HIS PLACE

Some have tried to maintain that Jesus was not fully aware of Who He actually was. This short passage shows that He was fully aware of His place in the world and in the universe. His question takes on weighty meaning as He asks His closest followers, "Do you understand what I have done for you?" Indeed, at that time, they were only dimly aware.

We, on the other hand, have the advantage of 2000 years of salvation history in Christ and the many thoughts others have had. Still we have questions. Jesus, still Teacher and Lord, remains patient with us as we receive His transformation teaching in our individual lives.

Prayer:  Lord, help me not to lean on my own understanding (Proverbs 3:5,6) 
but  to  fully acknowledge and cooperate with you as you transform my life
into Your image daily.

---

DAY SIX

14  Now  that  I,  your  Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also
should  wash  one  another's  feet.  15 I have set you an example that you
should do as I have done for you.

THE SPECIFIC LESSON

If Jesus Christ, Lord and Teacher, washes feet, we as His followers need to be about washing feet also. This is an intimate, personal contact that breaks down barriers and opens us up to one another, an expression of love and care that conditions all of our relationships.

He defines foot-washing as an example. An example can be applied in other ways as well as the specific practice of the example. While the specific example is no longer part of our daily lives, other ways to express our love for one another can embody a similar character and quality without leaving the specifics behind. Serving one another in meaningful and loving ways draws us closer and gives us new insight into His love for us.

Prayer:  May we seek to serve and comfort one another in all the ways that
You, Lord Jesus, lead us to accomplish.

---

DAY SEVEN

16  Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a
messenger  greater  than the one who sent him.  17 Now that you know these
things, you will be blessed if you do them.

THE BIG "IF"

We miss many of life's blessings simply because we fail to act them out. The Master is no less master because he gives the example of the servant task. And we who follow are no more than He is, even when we seem to have places of responsibility and power. Our lives are blessed "if you do them," as we receive from Him the blessing of blessing others with our actions.

Prayer:  May we always take the physical actions that express the
spiritual blessings that we receive from you, resurrected Lord.

Week Two - John 13 Jesus Predicts His Betrayal

---

DAY EIGHT - First Sunday after Easter

18 "I  am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen.  But this
is  to  fulfill  this  passage  of  Scripture:  'He who shared my bread has
turned [a] against me.' [b]

THE BLESSED BETRAYER

No sooner has Jesus blessed His closest followers in this intimate act of servanthood than he acknowledges that "not. . . all of you" are among those who will act out His blessings. Our previous passages indicate that Judas, even though included in Christ's blesing, chose to reject it in favor of his own idea.

We face a similar betrayal liability. Even when counted among the blessed, we can still reject His blessings and choose our own way of self-destruction. Every way that is not God's way destroys God's work in some way, even though it may look like the right thing.

Prayer:   Lord  Jesus,  save  us from our own self-destruction that we may
receive your more abundant life instead.

---

DAY NINE

19 "I  am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you
will  believe that I am who I am.  20 Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts
anyone  I  send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent
me."

JESUS KNOWS OUR LIFE

To us, our lives appear to occur in a line, from past to present to future. To Jesus, our lives appear as events ordered in full view from side to side. Thus, He is fully aware of whatever is coming next in our lives (see Psalm 139:16). He knows all the options that will face us daily; he also knows which choices are best. As the following passages describe, He is willing to guide us into all truth if we will receive it.

So He accents acceptance of Him and "the one who sent me," i.e., the Father. It is accpetance, not our own judgement, that is key to our life in Christ.

Prayer:  May we always accept what you give to us as the best possible
choice among the many choices we have available in our lives.

---

DAY TEN

21 After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, "Very
truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me."

EVIL UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL

Now the discussion gets personal. Evil is present in the fellowship of the Apostles. Some one is asserting that he knows better than the Lord of life. And he has acted to betray.

Whenever we clearly take any matter into our own hands we risk betrayal. No one may die; however, a part of the betrayer dies as they walk away from what God intends with full knowledge that they are doing so.

Prayer:  Lord, preserve us from this critical and fatal error, for when we
separate from You, we separate from life and adopt darkness and death
instead.  May it never be so!

---

DAY ELEVEN

22 His  disciples  stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he
meant.  23 One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to
him.   24 Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, "Ask him which one
he means."
25 Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, "Lord, who is it?"
26 Jesus  answered,  "It  is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread
when  I  have dipped it in the dish."  Then, dipping the piece of bread, he
gave  it  to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.  27 As soon as Judas took the
bread, Satan entered into him.

THE BETRAYER IDENTIFIED.

Now Jesus positively identifies the betrayer. Any hope of being hidden in his actions is removed from Judas. Now Judas is dominated through his own choice by Satan. Judas has now lost control of whatever his intentions are to Satan.

No human being can "successfully negotiate" with Satan. All supposed agreements are null and void; evil only laughs in derision. This is the meaning of "lost." The deceivers are always deceived in the end.

Prayer: Lord, help us to turn away from evil always.  No earthly gain is
worth giving up our lives to evil, no matter what the "reward" may be.

DAY TWELVE

So Jesus told him, "What you are about to do, do quickly."  28 But no one at
the  meal  understood why Jesus said this to him.  29 Since Judas had charge
of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for
the  festival,  or  to  give something to the poor.  30 As soon as Judas had
taken the bread, he went out.  And it was night.

EVIL REALIZED

This situation was not "business as usual" for either Jesus or Judas. Dismissed by the Master from the gathering, the others thought Judas was acting on their behalf. Nothing was farther from the truth.

So it is with us. Our own "business as usual" situation may be far different from "the usual." In this case, the character of the situation was given: "And it was night." Not the usual night, but the night of evil, a night that was about to be dispelled after suffering and death.

Prayer:  Let us be willing to traverse "the night" in Your service,
whenever and wherever that may be in our lives.

DAY THIRTEEN

Jesus Predicts Peter's Denial

31 When he was gone, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is
glorified in him.  32 If God is glorified in him,[c]God will glorify the Son
in himself, and will glorify him at once." 

GOD'S UNEXPECTED GLORY

Our thoughts of God's glory mostly do not include betrayal by those we have trusted in the past. Indeed, the coming circumstance for Jesus was seen as the ultimate unjust disaster and defeat.

But Jesus has other realities in mind. With the vision of eternity, He says that what is about to happen is to His glory and God's glory in Him. What people intended for evil is transformed by God into the glory of His Son without delay. There is no waiting for glory here. The new age of abundant life is commencing even as Jesus speaks.

Prayer:  Lord, transform our vision into your vision of the glory you have
in mind for us in you, the eternal reality of resurrection life in your
way and in your time.

DAY FOURTEEN

33 "My children, I will be with you only a little longer.  You will look for
me,  and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now:  Where I am going, you
cannot come.
34 "A  new  command  I give you:  Love one another.  As I have loved you, so
you  must  love  one another.  35 By this everyone will know that you are my
disciples, if you love one another."

THE LOVE COMMAND

Jesus is leaving, They will no longer see Him and they cannot come where He is going. The immediate fellowship of sight and hand is about to be broken.

Even so, there is new life to be lived. It is a life of love such as they have never lived before. They saw love demonstrated in the physical presence of the Christ. Now, it is up to them to love as He loved. Indeed, it is His command. Their obedience to it identifies them as His disciples.

Perhaps a few of them caught the implication here of His continuing presence. We know from the following discourses that most of them did not. No matter. He was willing to provide everything they needed to obey Him.

Prayer: We are the receivers of Your gift of life and love.  May we always
turn to You for the resources to live out this love command daily.

Week Three -

DAY FIFTEEN - Second Sunday after Easter

36 Simon Peter asked him, "Lord, where are you going?"
Jesus  replied,  "Where  I  am  going,  you cannot follow now, but you will
follow later."
37 Peter  asked, "Lord, why can't I follow you now?  I will lay down my life
for you."
38 Then  Jesus  answered,  "Will you really lay down your life for me?  Very
truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!

OUR GOOD INTENTIONS

It has been said that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. The reason for this is that those intentions are often serously flawed. The disciples were about to act this out. Not only Peter but the other nine who were left either fled the scene (the nine) or denied knowing Him (Peter). The only one who accompanied Him through His ordeal was John, as the following chapters of John's gospel (18 through 21) attest.

Prayer:   Lord,  help  us to surrender our good intentions to your perfect
way  in  our  lives today and always.  Then we can act out your love in the
assurance of your power and grace

John 13 Footnotes:
a 18 Greek has lifted up his heel
b 18 Psalm 41:9
c 32 Many early manuscripts do not have If God is glorified in him.

John 14

DAY SIXTEEN

Jesus Comforts His Disciples

1 "Do  not let your hearts be troubled.  You believe in God[a]; believe also
in  me.   2 My  Father's  house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I
have  told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?  3 And if I
go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me
that you also may be where I am.  4 You know the way to the place where I am
going."

BELIEF IN JESUS

Jesus tells the disciples now that they will be with Him forever. That was great good news to them, the same good news as it is for us, as we will see later on in John 17. He also indicates that He has taught them about this before.

Our lesson here is to listen intently to what Jesus tells us through the Holy Spirit. He teaches us what we need to know as we, again, will see later in these passages.

Prayer: Lord, help us to listen to your voice above all others that clamor
for our attention.

DAY SEVENTEEN

Jesus the Way to the Father

5  Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can
we know the way?"
6  Jesus  answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes
to  the Father except through me.  7 If you really know me, you will know[b]
my Father as well.  From now on, you do know him and have seen him."

UNITY WITH THE FATHER

The disciples had been engaged in many journeys with Jesus. It was only natural for them to presume that He was talking about a physical location to which He was going. They wanted directions, a map, or a guide to His destination.

Jesus turns their attention from a physical location to a personal relationship. He refines the natural sense of their journey from a physical location to relationship with Himself and others on the same journey. If everyone is journeying with Jesus on this way to resurrection, we will (and do!) have a lot of company.

Prayer: Lord, may we always welcome the true fellowship of pilgrims 
on the way to resurrection and through resurrection to eternal life now.

DAY EIGHTEEN

8 Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us."
9 Jesus  answered:  "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among
you such a long time?  Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.  How can
you  say,  'Show  us  the  Father'?   10 Don't  you believe that I am in the
Father,  and  that  the  Father  is in me?  The words I say to you I do not
speak  on my own authority.  Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is
doing  his  work."

ONE WITH THE FATHER

The apostles still see Jesus as a prophet, very powerful and possessing great authority but still separate from God Himself. Now He declares that He is in the Father with no separation between them. When we see one, we see the other. Perhaps now the identification of Jesus as the Messiah is beginning to sink into their minds and hearts. Not only a prophet, Jesus is one with the Father.

Prayer:   Help  us  to  accept, Lord, the truth that we believe  in  one  God 
in three Persons with equality and perfect fellowship among  themselves  who 
offers His perfect life to enliven and transform us.

DAY NINETEEN

11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father  is  in  me;  
or  at  least  believe  on  the  evidence of the works themselves.

THE MIRACLES CONNECTION

There were other "miracle workers" in the ancient world. Some were mere tricksters, others were illusionists and still others cooperated with the power of evil. We even see Jewish exorcists (see Acts 19:13-20, the sons of Sceva) in action.

The miracles of Jesus were miracles of life. He healed physically and spiritually; resurrected people from physical death; and provided provision to thousands at a time, to name a few biblical examples. John's gospel assures us:

30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20: 30, 31 NIV)

Jesus lived a life of miracles. Miracles were the context of His everyday life on planet earth. So the few that were recorded served as a few examples of what He did daily.

25 Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written. (John 21:25, NIV)

The point of the miracles of Christ was to give ". . . life in his name." It was quite a different goal than earning a living or building any earthly reputation, although He did gain one. He calls us to our miracle of transformation for similar reasons.

Prayer:Lord  Jesus,  help us to believe in you that you may live out 
your life through us regardless of any and all earthly circumstance.

DAY TWENTY

12  Very  truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will
do  the  works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than
these, because I am going to the Father.

GREATER MIRACLES

Now He makes an astounding statement: that His followers would do even greater works than He did. Many have questioned the authenticity of this statement, especially in view of what we know all too well about ourselves. However, the statement remains. The only qualification given is this: . . "they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father." His presence with God the Father will produce even greater miracles than His.

So the miracle of belief in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord becomes a greater miracle because Christ Himself empowers that belief. We are thus Christ's ambassadors on earth, empowered and equipped to take the message and reality of salvation (that we exhibit through God's grace) and give glory to God through our lives.

Prayer:   Lord,  make  our  acceptance  of your life in us our daily way of
life, as much a miraculous reality for us as our next breath.

DAY TWENTYONE

13  And  I  will  do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be
glorified  in  the  Son.   14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I
will do it.

IN MY NAME

Here is the great qualification for our prayers. We are to pray with the character and qualities of God in our minds and hearts. This enables God to act in our behalf and activates God's purposes in our lives as well. So we are blessed as we pray in His name, consonant with His purposes of salvation for all and eternal life now in the world.

Prayer:Lord,  make  our prayers your prayers for your world and your people
that we may, as Augustine said long ago, ".  .  .think God's thoughts after
Him." 

Week Four- Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

DAY TWENTYTWO - Third Sunday after Easter

15 "If you love me, keep my commands.  16 And I will ask the Father, and he
will  give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever- 17 the
Spirit  of truth.  The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him
nor  knows him.  But you know him, for he lives with you and will be [c] in
you.    18   I   will   not   leave   you   as  orphans;  I  will  come  to
you.

LOVING OBEDIENCE

Jesus now describes an obedience that is different from the obedience to the law, an obedience motivated by love. There is no threat of punishment here for disobedience; Jesus is teaching us our response to His salvation.

Our promised teacher is the Spirit of truth who "will be in you" after He comes in power, as we know, at Pentecost. Far from being orphaned, the disciples will have new power from that Spirit of truth constantly with them.

This is our reality as well. God is always present as the Holy Spirit that teaches us the truth of our daily situation. We are never alone; He is always present.

Prayer:  Lord, may we realize anew and afresh that Your continual Holy Spirit 
presence empowers and guides us daily as we obey your commands in the context 
of faithful love.

DAY TWENTYTHREE

19  Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because 
I live, you also will live.  20 On that day you will  realize  that  I  am  in  my  
Father,  and you are in me, and I am in you.

JESUS IN SPIRIT

Now the relationship shifts from the familiar form and face of Jesus Christ, well-known and well-loved by the disciples, to a new reality of relationship - the reality of the Spirit. To those with "the world's" sight, Jesus will not be visible.

But the disciples will "see" Him in the reality of the Holy Spirit. Now the physical presence is transitioning to the eternal spiritual reality Who is always present with those who believe in Him and obey His commands.

All that follows addresses this new spiritual reality. As we will see, the disciples have trouble comprehending this, just as most of us experience at first.

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, thank you for your patience with us.  We are so locked
into  our  physical perceptions.  Help us to accept your life of the Spirit
as our daily bread as well.  

DAY TWENTYFOUR

21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me.  The one
who  loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show
myself to them.

LOVE'S EVIDENCE

As any good teacher does, Jesus summarizes His teaching so that His followers can remember it easily. His summary: spiritual life in Him determines our daily lives. Those who keep the commands of Christ demonstrate their love for Him, not as a "work," but as the relationship evidence of their desire to follow Him. The internal love condition of His followers for Him is thus demonstrated. The result is that Jesus is now ever-present in our lives.

This is a far different obedience from mere legal obligation. Love obedience is an internalized relationship response of the follower to the beloved. Not only that, but the reality of Christ will be shown to them. There will be no doubt possible because of the reality of Christ within.

Today, we have the commands of Christ in written form, a tremendous advantage over the Apostles. Our memory is aided by the written word. Now we can study and meditate upon His love commands. Today this is a world-wide phenomenon with the Bible existing in print in more that 2500 languages. The divine presence in the written word is demonstrated in this: no matter what language communicates salvation in Jesus Christ, the result of belief in Him produces a Christian, a "little Christ," that lives out His life in the world.

Now we, too, have the daily, miraculous presence of Jesus Christ in our lives as we obey His love commands. John expands upon this loving obedience in his letter to the churches:

1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. 2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. (1 John 5:1-5 NIV)

His commands to us are not burdensome; indeed, we make that loving obedience our life priority. As we obey His commands in love, His presence comes to life in us. That life becomes our life as we remain in Him.

Prayer:   Lord  Jesus,  help us to continue in our loving obedience to Your
commands daily as we look to You first for our life inspiration, the breath
of Your Spirit that you alone can give.  

DAY TWENTYFIVE

22  Then  Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, "But, Lord, why do you intend to
show  yourself  to  us and not to the world?" 23 Jesus replied, "Anyone who
loves me will obey my teaching.  My Father will love them, and we will come
to  them  and make our home with them.  24 Anyone who does not love me will
not  obey my teaching.  These words you hear are not my own; they belong to
the Father who sent me.

STUDENT RESPONSE

The faithful Judas then asks what may be on the mind of all present: how is the world included in this? If you have come that all may have life, how do they get into that fellowship if you remain hidden from them?

It's a reasonable question. Jesus has already answered it, but remember that we are reading this and they were listening. Rather than berating the questioner and the question, Jesus honors both with an answer.

He states that anyone can be admitted to this new life. There are no qualifications of birth or even prior obedience. Obedience begins now. Any history of disobedience is not a barrier to fellowship. Loving obedience is the door to relationship with God the Father and the Son.

The real amazement is that Father and Son will love the follower as well, not in an arm's-length fashion but in a life-at-home reality. No temple is required, no follower's physical sacrifice is needed and no human standards apply. What does apply is obedience to the love commands of Jesus. He stresses that this is not His idea; it is the idea from the mind and heart of God the Father Himself.

Now all questions about fitness are answered. Obedience is the key. We shall see how that obedience occurs as the discourse continues.

Prayer:   Lord,  help  us  to lay aside our questions after we receive your
answer.   Indeed,  many times we may not understand completely (or at all!)
how you are directing us.  May we rely upon our confidence in You to enable
us to obey in love as you answer all of our questions.

DAY TWENTYSIX

25  "All this I have spoken while still with you.  26 But the Advocate, the
Holy  Spirit,  whom  the  Father  will  send in my name, will teach you all
things   and   will   remind   you   of   everything   I   have   said   to
you.

THE CONSTANT TEACHER

Jesus now introduces a new consideration in the lives of the Apostles: an Advocate. This is a legal term that carryies an image with it, the image of One who has superior knowledge and skill in the area being addressed. Attorneys representing clients were commonly called Advocates, as indeed they are today as well.

Now, Christ's followers have the most knowledgeable and powerful attorney in the universe as their defender and teacher! Jesus is telling them that they will have reliable, certain knowledge to live by and the clout of ultimate power for their lives. Now they (and we!) know how this obedience will commence and continue. We will live in the power of God's Holy Spirit Himself!

Prayer:   Lord, what incredible good news!  God's ultimate power defends us
and enables us to obey His commands.  The believer plus God is always a
majority, regardless of circumstances.  Praise God!

DAY TWENTYSEVEN

27  Peace  I  leave with you; my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as
the  world  gives.   Do  not  let  your  hearts  be  troubled and do not be
afraid.

THE PEACE OF CHRIST

The immediate context that this Holy Spirit presence provides for believers is peace. This peace is a constant for us as we live out our lives in Christ, the gift that Christ gives to His followers, both in that distant time and today. Peace is the gift that we receive as we follow Him.

This is a comprehensive peace. This peace is both internal (the heart) and external (no fear in the world). His part is giving the peace; our part is accepting it. His direction, "Do not let. . ." indicates what our part is: personal control over ourselves in the context of His power and provision.

As His followers, no matter what happens to us or what errors we may make, His peace is always with us as we remain in Him. It is a peace that is different from the materiality and limitations of "the world." The world gives a circumstantial peace; we are given the peace of eternity, beyond circumstance.

We receive it by guarding our hearts (Proverbs 4:23) and saying no to fear. We receive Christ's peace as His powerful equipment to live our lives in the world for Him. So we can fearlessly enagage with the world free of eternal danger in the light that God gives.

Prayer:   Lord, help us always to rely upon you for our peace.  You give us
peace;   help  us  to  receive  it  always,  regardless  of  circumstances.

DAY TWENTYEIGHT

28 "You  heard me say, 'I am going away and I am coming back to you.' If you
loved  me,  you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father
is  greater  than I.  29 I have told you now before it happens, so that when
it does happen you will believe."

LORD OF THE UNIVERSE

Here is a second reference to knowing future events with certainty. We saw before that He made these statements to prove Who He is, ". . . so that when it does happen you will believe." Only God both knows the future with certainty and acts in that future for His purpose.

We are included in that purpose by His revelation of Himself. Our evidence of love for Him is our joy that comes with His purpose in our lives, no matter what that purpose is. Jesus is Lord of circumstance and uses circumstance to teach us His ways.

Let us remember that circumstance is being employed to teach us God's purposes in our lives; it is not the determining factor in our earthly days. Look beyond the circumstance to God's purpose and rejoice in it.

Prayer:  Lord, thank you for revealing the guiding role of circumstances in
our lives, ".  .  .  so that when it does happen you will believe." For you
inhabit  our  lives  at  all times, whether we see darkness or light in our
circumstances.   May  we  always look to You for our joy and understanding,
good students in the journey of life toward our eternal home.

Week Five

DAY TWENTYNINE - Fourth Sunday after Easter

30 I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming.
He  has no hold over me, 31 but he comes so that the world may learn that I
love  the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me.  Come now;
let us leave.

GOD IS SUPREME

Jesus now tells His disciples that the events that are about to happen are under His control. He will appear to be defeated, dishonored and deleted. But that will only be the public impression.

The actual final reality of Christ's complete victory over death and mastery of the entire universe will also be public - but ignored. That ignoring of Him is the actual defeat of the power of evil. "He has no hold over me, 31 but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me."

Those lessons being learned by "the world" are ongoing to this day. There are those who would deny the power of the resurrection as a complete victory over evil. Indeed, the hold of evil was broken over 2000 years ago. That victory is given to anyone who will receive it by relinquishing the death of this world for eternal life. We now have a choice where that choice did not exist before the resurrection.

The eternal life that Jesus gives is an accomplished fact. Everyone is invited to enter into that life now. What a joyous choice to make!

Prayer:  Lord, help us to enter into the victory that you won forever that
we may be where you are and bring your kingdom to pass on earth as it is in
heaven.

John 14 Footnotes:
a 1 Or Believe in God
b 7 Some manuscripts If you really knew me, you would know
c 17 Some early manuscripts and is

John 15

DAY THIRTY

The  Vine  and  the  Branches - 1 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the
gardener.   2  He  cuts  off  every branch in me that bears no fruit, while
every  branch that does bear fruit he prunes [a] so that it will be even more
fruitful.   3  You  are  already clean because of the word I have spoken to
you.

GROWTH IN CHRIST

Jesus now employs a universal teaching illustration to describe this new and active spiritual life in Him. Vines with branches were a common sight in the ancient world. Indeed, many of Christ's followers raised vines with grapes and other vine crops (squash, etc.) as a regular part of their food supply. Thus, people were very familiar with how they were raised and how to keep them healthy and producing. The same process occurs today in many gardens throughout our world. So the process that Jesus is describing is a familiar procedure. Of course, branches need to be cut off and the fruitful ones pruned (cleaned) to be healthier.

Now Jesus teaches that He is the true vine for those who believe in Him. The gardener (the Father) promotes the fruitfulness of the vine (Jesus Christ) through pruning to clean off the "dead wood" (i.e., those who do not obey His commands).

The word that Christ has spoken to His followers has resulted in this pruning process taking place. Those who truly follow obey His commands; those who do not obey are pruned away. The "vine" of Christ thus remains healthy and productive of His life.

Again, this obedience that results in spiritual fruitfulness is a response to God's love for us, as 1 John says:

" 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us." (1 John 4:10-12, NIV)

So the word of Christ has made us clean in the vine.

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, help us to realize that the pruning you do in our
lives has an eternal life result.  May we always obey your commands in
loving response to You, who loved us first.

DAY THIRTYONE

4  Remain  in  me,  as  I  also remain in you.  No branch can bear fruit by
itself;  it must remain in the vine.  Neither can you bear fruit unless you
remain in me.

FRUITFUL IN CHRIST

Here is the end of all self-effort. Whatever He has called us to do is empowered by His eternal life. The result is an especially blessed and empowered life of fruitfulness in Christ.

Notice that the full life of the branch comes from the vine. Those who do not serve Christ have no life in and of themselves, for He is the Source of all life. There is no "independent" life of any kind in the universe.

Notice also that dead branches, separated from the vine, cannot bear fruit no matter how hard they try. Self-effort falls flat; the death of the branch apart from Christ is revealed for all to see.

Prayer:   Lord  Jesus,  may  we  always  acknowledge  You  in  all our ways
(Proverbs  3:5,  6)  so  that  we  can  bear  the fruit that You intend for
us.

---

DAY THIRTYTWO

5  "I am the vine; you are the branches.  If you remain in me and I in you,
you  will  bear  much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.  6 If you do
not  remain  in  me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers;
such    branches    are    picked    up,   thrown   into   the   fire   and
burned.

FRUITFUL NATURE

Fruitfulness is seen as a result of effort in much "spiritual" writing. Methods are described as a way to place oneself in the position of being fruitful.

Here, Jesus states the obvious: the pruned branch is fruitful as a result of its nature. Indeed, fruitfulness follows as any vine bears the fruit of its roots. This fruit-bearing is often unconscious and uncontrived, a result of the nature of being rooted in Christ.

So although bearing fruit can involve much activity, it is the nature of the "branch" in Christ. Fruitfulness is a result of being in Christ, not an accomplishment of the branch.

Prayer:   Lord,  help  us  to  receive  our fruitfulness from You as we are
rooted   in   you,   remaining   in  you  as  the  branch  remains  in  the
vine.

---

DAY THIRTYTHREE

7  If  you  remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish,
and it will be done for you.  8 This is to my Father's glory, that you bear
much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

FRUITFUL CONDITIONS

Here Jesus states the conditions for fruitfulness. Being in Christ and receiving His words (i.e., spiritual realities) are the conditions for receiving "whatever you wish." Indeed, our wishes have been and continually are being transformed into God's intention as we remain in Him.

Even so, God provides the necessary conditions for our fruitful life. We cannot provide these conditions for ourselves because our function is to receive what God gives and bear His fruit, bringing glory and honor to Him. So He welcomes all who obey His love commands into the intimate fellowship of the "vine" of His eternal life. Then our transformed requests are fulfilled.

Prayer:Lord, let us pray in the flow of Your eternal life, always bearing
the fruit that You intend daily and in season. 

---

DAY THIRTYFOUR

9 "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.  Now remain in my love.
10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept
my  Father's  commands  and remain in his love.  11 I have told you this so
that    my   joy   may   be   in   you   and   that   your   joy   may   be
complete.

REMAIN IN CHRIST'S LOVE

The master teacher is again at work here. He states His love command in yet another fashion, employing His obedience as our example of obeying God's commands. Since the Master obeys God's commands, so will His disciples.

Again, this obedience is the result of being "in Christ," not an external "work" to earn His love. We already have received His love. Our obedience to His love commands is our response to God's nature that has been given to us.

The result of this obedience is joy. We are obedient because we love Him; we receive His joy as He receives our joy in Him. That joy is completed as we live every day, all the time in His love. 1 John describes this phenomenon like this: 5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 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, purifies us from all [b] sin.

We respond in glad obedience because He leads us in the light of His love. In turn, we are transformed as He purifies us, enabling us to follow Him.

Prayer:   Lord,  may  we  always  joyfully  walk  in  the  perfect light of
obedience to Your commands. 

---

DAY THIRTYFIVE

12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater
love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends. 14 You
are my friends if you do what I command.  15 I no longer call you servants,
because  a  servant  does  not know his master's business.  Instead, I have
called  you  friends,  for  everything that I learned from my Father I have
made known to you.

THE EXPANDED LOVE COMMAND

Jesus now continues to emphasize his new command. It's new because "love one another as I have loved you expands God's previous legal obligation to love Him and His people, the Israelites.

The law of God is likely the first civil code to include both "love God" and "love your neighbor as yourself." While other ancient codes have some similarities, Israel's law is unique in that an omnipotent authority is the giver, the judge and the enforcer.

Now, Jesus, the Word of God Himself, is adding a new commandment. Although others have attempted to add to that law, only Jesus Christ can authoritatively do so. That addition (as we have already seen) has many aspects. Great personal benefit is provided (relationship with Christ) through loving obedience. Now the results of following that example are expanded.

Now Jesus is about to lay down His life for His friends. If we follow, we are called upon to do so as well. Notice that this may not always include dying for them (a momentary sacrifice) but also living a life of love with them in mind (a lifetime pursuit).

The re-definition of the disciples from servants to friends is also new. Ancient masters could set a servant free and retain him, welcoming him and his family into the master's household. However, it did not often follow that they became friends, knowledgeable about the larger business interests of the master. Indeed, Jesus has revealed ". . .everything that I learned from my Father. . . " to them. Revolutionary indeed!

Loving according to Christ's example was revolutionary; this new expansion into the very home life of the Word of God made flesh is completely astounding. No lack is now even possible. The riches of the cosmos are now available to the disciples.

Prayer:   Lord  Jesus,  you have trusted us with everything.  May we always
respond  creatively  and joyfully to that eternal family relationship as we
commit  the  life  you  have  given to us to your ultimate love and kingdom
purpose for us.

Week Six - John 15-16

---

DAY THIRTYSIX

16  You  did  not  choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you
might  go  and bear fruit-fruit that will last-and so that whatever you ask
in  my  name  the  Father will give you.  17 This is my command:  Love each
other.

ETERNAL FRUIT COMMISSION

Now the love command is turned outward from the fellowship of the apostles into the "field" of fruitfulness. This is no private revelation, no ecstatic experience that has no connection to others. Rather, they (and we!) were and are sent to bear the fruit of love-life in Christ.

They (and we!) also have the ultimate recommendation to God. We are chosen and appointed by Christ Himself to ". . . go and bear fruit - fruit that will last. . . ". We not only have access; we have a "blank check" signed by Jesus Christ Himself. Whatever we ask ". .in [His] name . . " will be given to us.

Our requests will be forever and always in the name of Christ because our hearts and minds have been transformed by God's love for us and by our love for one another. Destruction is excluded. Only eternal life comes as a result of bearing Christ's love-fruit. See other New Testament passages for further elucidations of this fruit (Galatians 5:22-26; Philippians 4:4-9; 2 Peter 1:3-11; & others).

Prayer:   You  have  provided  all  that  we  need in every circumstance to
further  establish  your  kingdom  on earth as it is in heaven.  We are now
friends,  knowing  your  purpose and trusted with your very life as we live
every  day.   Help  us  to  ask largely that we may bear the fruit that you
intend in our lives.

---

DAY THIRTYSEVEN

The  World  Hates  the Disciples - 18 "If the world hates you, keep in mind
that it hated me first.  19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you
as  its  own.   As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen
you out of the world.  That is why the world hates you.  20 Remember what I
told  you:   'A  servant  is  not  greater  than  his  master.' [b] If they
persecuted  me,  they will persecute you also.  If they obeyed my teaching,
they  will  obey yours also.  21 They will treat you this way because of my
name,  for  they do not know the one who sent me.  22 If I had not come and
spoken  to  them,  they  would  not  be guilty of sin; but now they have no
excuse  for their sin.  23 Whoever hates me hates my Father as well.  24 If
I  had  not  done  among  them the works no one else did, they would not be
guilty  of  sin.  As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me
and  my  Father.   25  But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law:
'They hated me without reason.' [c]

CHRISTIANS

The Teacher pauses to remind his friends that there is a "hard edge" to this love-life of His. We are chosen to be Christians, "little Christs" that bear witness to His abundant life. That witness makes us different from "the world."

That difference, that nature foreign to the world that we now bear, results in the same hatred that was directed at Christ during His earthly life and resulted in His crucifixion. We are now completely identified with His life, His purpose and His amazing difference from all that is evil. Like Him, we will (if not already so) be hated because He was.

Any appeal to "reasonableness" or "intellectual honesty" or "science" or any other justification for a disobedient manner of life is here dispelled. It isn't only Jesus and us that are hated. God the Father is included in this hatred as well.

So don't expect the be accepted by the world any more than those who persist in their death-dealing ways accept Christ. Their hatred separates them completely from Christ's life that they could have but refuse to accept. Instead, they live out their "own" life in their own way, denying that all the life they have originates in and belongs to God. The Advocate, the Holy Spirit of Christ, continues to make clear who these worldly haters are and how to deal with them.

The great good news is that we, the bearers of the light of Christ, also expose the insanity of this hatred as well. "They hated me without reason" (Psalms 35:19; 69:4) becomes obvious to all, even to those who hate. Although we reach out to that world that hates with God's love, we cannot expect to see them respond in kind unless and until they personally take the step of accepting that life.

Prayer:  Lord, now you specifically clarify why we are to operate from your
divine peace at all times.  "Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it
be  afraid"  is  our  resource when hatred comes our way.  Help us abide in
your gift and resource of peace as our shield to enable us to live out your
love in the darkness of our world.

---

DAY THIRTYEIGHT

The  Work of the Holy Spirit - 26 "When the Advocate comes, whom I will send
to  you from the Father-the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father-he
will testify about me.  27 And you also must testify, for you have been with
me from the beginning.

TRUTH TESTIMONY

Jesus calls us to testify to the truth about Christ to those who are being saved as well as those who persist in their hatred. This testimony comes from the Father just as Jesus has come from the Father to testify to that same truth.

We need to understand that it is God's revelation to humanity of His truth for His world to which we testify. That revelation is God's truth. When we start with God's revelation, we have the presence of the Holy Spirit of God's truth as our resource and guide.

With that said, our testimony needs to be as consonant with God's truth testimony as that Holy Spirit of truth can make it. Our own ideas, be they called by nice names (i.e., "theology" or "doctrine" or "tradition" or whatever else) might be useful but need to be trailing along behind God's revelation to us, embodied in Scripture. God's statements are astounding enough without our additions. We "must testify" with all the conviction of eyewitnesses to this Scripture revelation that we now hold in our hands.

Prayer:   Thank  you Jesus for your provision of your revealtion to us, the
Word of God embodied in Scripture and further illuminated and elucidated by
the Holy Spirit of truth.  Let us humbly, carefully and rightly employ that
Word to live Your eternal life now in Your world.

John 15 Footnotes:
a 2 The Greek for he prunes also means he cleans.
b 20 John 13:16
c 25 Psalms 35:19; 69:4

1  "All  this  I have told you so that you will not fall away.  2 They will
put  you  out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who
kills  you  will  think they are offering a service to God.  3 They will do
such  things  because  they have not known the Father or me.  4 I have told
you this, so that when their time comes you will remember that I warned you
about  them.  I did not tell you this from the beginning because I was with
you,  5 but now I am going to him who sent me.  None of you asks me, 'Where
are  you  going?'  6  Rather, you are filled with grief because I have said
these things.

The purpose of the promise of life and empowerment is now revealed. Opposition is going to be physical as well as spiritual. Threats will be made by those who have the power to kill His followers. Their time will come and His followers will suffer consequences for doing the right thing.

We would likely be filled with grief as well. That grief is a normal human reaction to evil opposition masquerading as righteousness. Jesus wants them to remember His warning because they will be under death-dealing pressure from those who oppose.

This message is for us as well. The warning as well as the promise of real power and wisdom completes the future vision. Not all will agree and follow because "the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God." The corrupt thinking of those who do not know either the Father or the Son will lead them to kill and destroy.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for preparing us for opposition to Your life
in us.  "Forewarned is forearmed."  No one wants to stare death in the face
but even then You are with us.  Make us strong and faithful as we continue
in your way despite this kind of evil opposition.

7  But  very  truly  I  tell you, it is for your good that I am going away.
Unless  I  go  away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will
send  him  to  you.   8 When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the
wrong  about  sin  and  righteousness  and  judgment:  9 about sin, because
people  do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to
the  Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and about judgment, because
the prince of this world now stands condemned.

Now Jesus tells them directly "the rest of the story." Jesus will influence everyone through the Advocate Who will be present at all times and in all ways. The Advocate has ultimate power at His disposal as the omnipresent member of the Godhead.

The Advocate will prove the world wrong. Notice that sin is defined as unbelief in the Son, not a particular action or attitude. Actions and attitudes can be transformed; unrepentant unbelief cannot be transformed and is proved to be wrong. Righteousness also has another definition - the risen Christ, present with the Father.

But the really big step is this: ". . . and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned." Satan's power is at an end. The Son's obedience has destroyed that power forever. He is now "the prince of the power of the air" without a physical presence to corrupt and kill God's creation. The homeless tempter is now "on the run" from God.

Prayer:  Thank you, Lord, for sending the ever-present Advocate, Your
Spirit of truth that is always alongside of all who believe in You.  His
power sends evil packing, running from the light of God's presence in us.
Praise Your name forever!

12 "I  have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear.  13 But when
he,  the  Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth.  He
will  not  speak  on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will
tell  you  what is yet to come.  14 He will glorify me because it is from me
that he will receive what he will make known to you.  15 All that belongs to
the  Father  is  mine.   That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me
what he will make known to you."

Up until now, Jesus has taught His followers about the results of His coming actions. They need to know all of this to begin to operate in the physical absence of Jesus, now an omnipresent spiritual power through the Holy Spirit.

There is more to come, more than they can now bear. Indeed, it is doubtful that any of them could imagine that more believers in Jesus would follow for more than 20 centuries into the future. Yes, there was and is much more to hear our divine teacher say to us, nothing less than ". . . all the truth."

This is an astounding claim and Jesus wants us to know how to receive this truth teaching. The message is that this Spirit of truth will teach only what is consonant with the rest of Christ's teaching. He will also speak of the future of the followers of Christ. Christ says, "Expect the Spirit to be present with you and continue my teaching."

Prayer:  Thank you, Lord, for sending Your Holy Spirit to be with us
always.  May we always receive His teaching with gladness and willing
obedience as Your teaching continues in our lives.

16  Jesus  went  on to say, "In a little while you will see me no more, and
then  after  a  little  while  you  will  see  me." 17 At this, some of his
disciples  said  to one another, "What does he mean by saying, 'In a little
while  you  will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see
me,'  and  'Because  I am going to the Father'?" 18 They kept asking, "What
does  he  mean  by  'a  little  while'?   We  don't  understand  what he is
saying.

Questions are a necessary part of learning. Try to imagine with me what we would be thinking if present then. Our minds would be reeling with questions, trying to understand what Jesus was saying. No wonder they had questions.

"We don't understand what he is saying." They are "in-process" in their attempt to understand. We often are "in-process" as well. The things of the Spirit are often mysterious to us. Patience is required to receive that teaching through many avenues: experience, other people, and circumstances are often avenues through which this occurs. There is also the phenomenon of those same factors being specifically rearranged in our lives as part of that teaching process.

Even and especially today, we need to ask these good questions so that we can receive the Spirit's answers. Those answers are often a process that God initiates on our behalf to bring us to maturity in Him.

Prayer:   Lord,  make  us adventurous to ask our questions and receive your
life-altering  answers  as we live in You.  Thank you for your faithfulness
to all of us who believe.  The patience you give in the process will remain
as you continue to reveal your life intentions for us

Week Seven - John 16 - 17

19  Jesus  saw  that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them,
"Are  you  asking  one another what I meant when I said, 'In a little while
you  will  see  me no more, and then after a little while you will see me'?
20 Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices.
You  will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.  21 A woman giving birth
to  a  child  has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born
she  forgets  the  anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the
world.   22  So  with  you:   Now is your time of grief, but I will see you
again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.  23 In that
day  you  will no longer ask me anything.  Very truly I tell you, my Father
will  give you whatever you ask in my name.  24 Until now you have not asked
for  anything  in  my name.  Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be
complete.

Jesus employs the metaphor of birth here to describe temporary grief giving birth to lasting joy that none can take away. The miracle of new life in Him is very much like the life that begins in human birth.

The joy that a healthy baby brings to a household is a powerful image to describe that even more powerful life that God creates in His resurrection miracle. As the child grows, learns and matures, so we as believers learn, grow and mature. As the child learns to desire more complete life, so with believers as they mature. They will ask for life and receive it in abundance through the name (the character and quality) of Christ.

Prayer:   Lord,  let  us remember to rejoice in that greatest of all gifts,
eternal life in you, that we enjoy now.  May we daily receive from you that
life and all that you intend for us.

25  "Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will
no  longer  use  this  kind  of language but will tell you plainly about my
Father.   26  In  that day you will ask in my name.  I am not saying that I
will  ask  the  Father on your behalf.  27 No, the Father himself loves you
because  you  have  loved  me and have believed that I came from God.  28 I
came  from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and
going back to the Father."

ALREADY GROWING

Now Jesus is speaking plainly. The devices of metaphor, simile and parable are lain aside in favor of plain descriptions of new spiritual life in Him. The miracle of belief in Christ is the way to the Father.

Saying this directly to His Jewish disciples signals that the new age, the "golden age" expected by the Israelite prophets, has begun. Now, formerly figurative language becomes reality in Christ. All that the prophets have said over centuries of time is standing before them in reality.

The same is true of us. Belief in Christ results in daily transformation as the Father honors the Son who is honored by believers throughout planet earth. Real results of life, health and peace occur. God's action becomes evident and obvious to all, believer and non-believer alike.

This is the first taste of the future that Jesus said the Spirit would reveal. The future is here and is realized in God's hands.

Prayer:  Lord, make us brave to receive what You intend for us.  That new
life you are creating even now is our blessed future.  Help us to walk into
it with rejoicing.

29 Then  Jesus'  disciples  said,  "Now you are speaking clearly and without
figures  of speech.  30 Now we can see that you know all things and that you
do  not  even need to have anyone ask you questions.  This makes us believe
that you came from God."

The disciples admit here that there were still some doubts about Jesus. Even after all the miracles, the teaching, the resurrections of others and the silencing of the Pharisees, "some doubted."

Now the doubts are erased. The way to God through Christ has been made plain. Now they understand. The leap of faith in Christ has been taken. The process of leaving the old legalism behind and beginning to receive the new kingdom of God on earth has begun.

Prayer:   Lord,  we  thank  you  for  your  patience with us.  Make us more
willing  to  respond  quickly  as  you  facilitate  our  growth and life in
You!

31  "Do  you now believe?" Jesus replied.  32 "A time is coming and in fact
has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home.  You will leave
me  all  alone.   Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.  33 I have
told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you
will    have   trouble.    But   take   heart!    I   have   overcome   the
world."

Now the immediate future is revealed. As we have seen, the only disciple who follows Jesus through His trial, suffering and resurrection is John. Everyone else flees fearfully.

Jesus knows that they need to know that fleeing is part of belief development. The physical "fight or flight" mechanism all of us have will prompt them to flee from superior physical force. They need the peace of knowing there is more to come.

They also need to know that He, Jesus called Christ, has overcome the world. The Father is still with Him even as He is crucified; He is never forsaken. Even from the cross, Jesus is still teaching (see Psalm 22). He encourages them to "take heart," for this is a matter of the heart. Despite all appearances, He has overcome the world!

Prayer: Lord, our limited sight is so often occupied with appearances.
Give us better "eyes of the heart" to see what You have prepared for those
who love you, including overcoming the world at our side.

1  After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:  "Father, the
hour has come.  Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.  2 For you
granted  him  authority  over all people that he might give eternal life to
all  those you have given him.  3 Now this is eternal life:  that they know
you,  the  only  true  God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.  4 I have
brought  you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.  5 And
now,  Father,  glorify  me  in  your presence with the glory I had with you
before the world began.

Now Jesus prays for Himself. Obviously He is doing this for the benefit of the disciples. He summarizes the main points of His teaching and defines what divine glory is: obedience to the Father.

He also defines eternal life: knowing the Father and the Son. Notice the presence of what matters: relationship with Father and Son. Nothing else is mentioned. The sum and substance of "correct belief" is knowing the Father and the Son.

He possesses His authority to give eternal life to everyone. The fact that everyone is included is the absence of any definition of a particular group with a particular set of qualifications. "All" is the qualiftying statement. Later writers will declare: "God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance [eternal life]."

He then declares His status as God's Word, the creative, ever-living Word that brings everything and everyone into being. Ultimate power and authority are His - and He wants us to know Him!

Prayer:   Lord,  we have an Advocate in the highest place possible - heaven
itself.   And  we  have  a  Savior  whose  power  to save is unlimited.  He
welcomes  us as we believe in Him and gives us relationship with Himself as
His eternal kingdom is expressed.  We are speechless with worship, inspired
by  the  ultimate  awe, and enegized by life Himself.  Thanks be to God for
His love for us!

6  "I  have  revealed  you  [a] to those whom you gave me out of the world.
They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word.  7 Now
they  know  that everything you have given me comes from you.  8 For I gave
them  the  words  you  gave  me  and  they  accepted  them.  They knew with
certainty  that  I  came from you, and they believed that you sent me.  9 I
pray  for  them.   I  am  not praying for the world, but for those you have
given me, for they are yours.

The Word of God gives God's words to those who accept them and believe. Certainty comes from this demonstrated belief, even in the limited form that people can receive it. He enables people to believe and obey.

At this point, He prays for them, ". . . not. . . for the world, but for those you have given me. . . ". He focuses upon His disciples as a new group in the world, of which these few are the representatives. They are the embryonic body of Christ in the world, the church that is yet to be. They are ". . . those you have given me, for they are yours . . " to make a new beginning in the world He has come to save.

This is a certainty that they needed to continue to obey those revealed words of the Word of God. Those words would be their bulwark and shield when harsh realities would confront them. The memories that the Advocate would bring to mind would strengthen them for the opposition they would face and confirm the victories they would see. Indeed, they were a unique group that needed special resources.

That strength and confirmation would enable their continued obedience to His Word. Tradition tells us that all but the apostle John met a violent death because they obeyed.

Prayer:   Lord, may we follow in their footsteps by continually obeying the
Word  we have received as well.  We have far more resources than they.  May
we  be  obedient as we accept your revelation and live out Your life in our
world today.

LIFE POSSESSED

Jesus desires that believers be one with Him now and in eternity. There is no exception and no break in the life that He gives. Our worthiness for heaven is activated as we abide in Him now and forever.

C.S. Lewis makes a comment about this in reference to Matthew 5:8: "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." He says (among other things) that the pure is heart will see God because they are the ones who want to see Him. In other words, this union with and possession by Christ is an everyday realtiy for those who desire Him and submit to Him. He has already chosen us. It is up to us to choose Him as well.

Prayer:   Lord,  thank You for this complete revelation of how to start and
continue  our  eternal  life now in You.  May we always choose You and Your
way in our lives, trusting and knowing that no other life exists outside of
Your  life.   Help  us  always  to  love  one  another  as  You  have loved
us.

John 17 Footnotes:
a 6 Greek your name
b 11 Or Father, keep them faithful to
c 12 Or kept them faithful to
d 17 Or them to live in accordance with
e 26 Greek your name