Bible Study Notes in John- Chapter 19

John 19

-Pilate took Jesus after the events detailed in the previous chapter and scourged Him. This was a relentless beating from barbarians that killed many who were not strong. Jesus was tough, and endured this torture. The soldiers mocked Him, the King of the Universe, by weaving a crown of thorns and putting it on His Head. They also arrayed Him in a purple robe and came ridiculing Him in His desecrated state, “Hail, King of the Jews!” At the same time, they gave Him blows to His Face. The very hands He created were beating Him mercilessly. Soon, Pilate came back out to the Jews and said, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no guilt in Him.” Then, Jesus came out before them wearing His crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate spoke, “Behold, the Man!” When the chief priests and officers saw Him, they cried out, “Crucify, crucify!” Pilate told them they could go and kill Him by crucifixion themselves since he found no guilt in Him. The Jews weren’t through however. They answered, “We have a law, and by that law He ought to die because He made Himself out to be the Son of God.” Upon hearing this statement, the author tells us that Pilate grew even more afraid. He entered the Praetorium again, and said to the Lord, “Where are You from?” But, Jesus gave him no response. Pilate became somewhat indignant, “You do not speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?” Jesus once again overcame in the moment with total self-control in answering, “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.” This comment prompted Pilate to make even more efforts to release the Christ, but the Jews were having none of this. They completely denied their covenant God by stating, “If you release this Man, you are no friend of Caesar; everyone who makes himself out to be a king opposes Caesar.” Jesus was brought out and sat down on the judgment seat at the place called “the Pavement,” in Hebrew, “Gabbatha.” It was the day of preparation for the Passover, about the sixth hour (around 6am Roman time), when Pilate shouted out, “Behold, your King!” The riled-up throng cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him!” Pilate said, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests, the ones ordained to keep the Law of the LORD including the one about having no other gods but Yahweh, made their answer, “We have no king but Caesar (John 19:1-15).”

-At this point, Pilate gave up the Messiah to the Jews to be crucified for the sins of all mankind. They took Jesus, and He went out carrying His cross to the place called “the Place of a Skull,” in Hebrew, “Golgotha.” There is where He was crucified, along with two other men on either side of Him. Pilate wrote an inscription and put it on the cross for all who passed by to see. It read in three languages (Hebrew, Latin, and Greek), “Jesus the Nazarene, the King of the Jews.” The chief priests of the Jews were ticked off about this inscription. They wanted it to read “He said, ‘I am the King of the Jews.’” But, Pilate was immovable on this, “What I have written I have written.” The soldiers who crucified the Lord took His outer garments as a commodity and made four parts, a part for every soldier. But, when it came to His tunic (the garment worn next to the skin), it had only one woven piece with no seams. Not wanting to rip this piece up, they decided to cast lots for it to find a winner for the prize. They didn’t know it, but they were fulfilling Messianic prophecy, “They divided My outer garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots (Psalm 22:18).” Now, standing by the cross where Jesus died were His mother, Mary, and His aunt, Mary the wife of Clopas, along with Mary Magdalene, whom He had cast out seven demons (Luke 8:2). When Jesus saw His mother and near by a man whom most scholars believe to be the author, John, called here “the disciple whom He loved,” He exclaimed, “Woman, behold, your Son!” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” From that hour, this disciple took Mary into his own household for well-being and care. With this final task now completed of taking precaution for the sustenance of His earthly mother, Jesus spoke on His own behalf, “I am thirsty.” Beside the cross was a jar full of sour wine. So, they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop (a purifying symbolism here, see Exodus 12:22, Leviticus 14:4-6, 49-52, Psalm 51:7, Hebrews 9:19) and brought it up to His mouth. When Jesus received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” He bowed His Head and gave up His Spirit (John 19:16-30).

-Now, the text examines the care of the Lord’s Body post death. The Jews, realizing it was the day of preparation for a high-holy day, did not want bodies to remain on the cursed crosses for the Sabbath. They asked Pilate that their legs might be broken to speed up the process of death by asphyxiation, a most gruesome way to die (the process of dying by crucifixion has been known to last days, read Psalm 22 for basically a medical journal on the throes of this type of death). They wanted to take the bodies away before sundown, which would be the start of the holy day. The soldiers broke the legs of the two men on opposite sides of Jesus, but coming upon the Messiah, they saw that He was already dead (proof of His bodily cessation). This also fulfilled prophetic Scripture. They had no need to break His legs, but one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear producing a flow of blood and water from His Being. John, who bore witness to these things, truthfully relates this for the purpose of faith citing the prophetic texts (Psalm 34:20, Zechariah 12:10). After these things happened, Joseph of Arimathea, whom John describes as being a disciple of Jesus in secret for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate for permission to take away the body of Christ, which was granted. Nicodemus also reappears in the narrative offering us hope that he had become a believer according to the witness Christ had presented back in John 3. He brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes of about 100 pounds in weight. They took the Body of Jesus and bound it linen wrappings with the spices, as was the burial custom of the Jews. In the place where He was crucified there was a garden; and Joseph of Arimathea happened to own a new tomb there (Matthew 27:60). No one had ever been laid in this tomb hewn out of the rock in what was probably a quarry from Herod’s Temple area building project. They laid Jesus here on account of the Jewish day of preparation and its proximity to the area where Jesus had been slain (John 19:31-42).

-*Application*- This passage is a stark reminder of the pain and suffering that obedience requires when breaking the curses of this wicked world. This passage today calls us to meditate on the love of Jesus Christ even in our fallen condition. God didn’t just curse the world and go on His way. He sent His only begotten and beloved Son to come and pay the price for our redemption, and this was a terrible price to pay. The agony of which, we have a hard time even fathoming. If He loves us that much, shouldn’t we extend that love to others, even when they persecuted us? Don’t retaliate, embrace. Don’t get vengeance, seek restoration. This is the mind of Christ. Finish the course (John 19:30, 2 Timothy 4:7).

Verse to Memorize: John 19:30

Bible Study Notes in John- Chapter 18

John 18

-Now that Jesus had completed all He wanted to say to His disciples before His crucifixion, He went forth to complete His mission in giving the world a chance for salvation. He led His disciples out of Jerusalem over the ravine down through the Kidron Valley, which borders the Holy City on the south and east, and came to the base of the Mount of Olives, where there was a garden. This was the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36, Mark 14:32). In other gospel accounts we can read about the prayers of the Savior at this critical juncture (Matthew 26:36-46, Mark 14:32-42, Luke 22:39-46). Judas, knowing that this was the place where the Lord took His disciples to meet and pray often, now received a Roman cohort and certain officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They came to Jesus there with lanterns and torches and weapons preparing for a fight. But the Messiah, with full knowledge of what was about to come upon Him, went forth and asked them, “Whom do you seek?” They flat-out told Him, not fully knowing what He looked like, “Jesus the Nazarene.” The Lord acknowledged that He was the One they were looking for. Judas was standing there with this cohort and the officers siding with the enemy now. When Jesus made this comment, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the earth. Not sure if this was their astonishment or the power of the Living God here, but it is remarkable. Seeing this Jesus remarked again, “Whom do you seek?” Again, they responded, “Jesus the Nazarene.” Jesus told them once more that He was the man they were looking for, and He asked that the rest be let to go their own way in freedom. They had done nothing wrong. This fulfilled another prophecy in the incarceration period (John 17:12). Jesus had not lost one to senseless violence. This point was exacerbated with Simon Peter’s next move. He had a sword, drew it, and struck the high priest’s servant in the ear cutting it off. This slave’s name was Malchus, as John personifies, but Jesus rebuked His disciple for this useless assault, “Put the sword into the sheath; the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?” In another part of Scripture, we see in this account that Jesus actually healed the slain man’s ear in His last known miraculous healing of another (Luke 22:51). Nonetheless, “the Roman cohort and the commander and the officers of the Jews, arrested Jesus and bound Him (John 18:1-12).”

-The Lord was led to Annas first. He was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was the high priest for that particular year. Caiaphas had been the one who advised the Jews that it was expedient for one man to die on behalf of the people. This prophetic word was far more apropos than he undoubtedly realized. Of the disciples, Simon Peter and another disciple were following to see what would occur. This other disciple was known to the high priest and entered with Jesus into the court of the high priest. However, Peter was left standing at the door outside, but the other disciple was able to get Peter access, and he later came in. There was a certain slave-girl, who kept the door there. Upon seeing him, she exclaimed, “You are not also one of this Man’s disciples, are you?” Peter began to fulfill the Christ’s former words, “I am not (John 14:38).” Further, there were more slaves and the officers standing in the area where Peter was warming themselves by a charcoal fire. It was cold outside in this mountainous city, and they were all warming themselves up. As this was occurring, the high priest questioned Jesus about His disciples, and about His teaching. Jesus, knowing that He was now on enemy turf, purported, “I have spoken openly to the world; I always taught in synagogues and in the Temple, where all the Jews come together; and I spoke nothing in secret. Why do you question Me? Question those who have heard what I spoke to them; they know what I said.” As Jesus said this, one of the nearby officers struck Him in rebuke, “Is that the way You answer the high priest?” Jesus responded, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify of the wrong; but if rightly, why do you strike Me?” After this Annas sent the Lord, still bound, to Caiaphas, the high priest. Simon Peter was still standing close by warming himself by the fire, and those with him asked, “You are not also one of His disciples, are you?” He denied a second time, “I am not.” Then a relative of Malchus, whom Peter had attacked earlier by cutting off his ear, noticed this man, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” When Peter denied his Savior a third time just as Jesus had predicted, “immediately a rooster crowed (John 18:13-27).” Though it doesn’t state it in this gospel text, Jesus looked at him, and Peter proceeded to go out in remorse for what he’d done and wept bitterly (Matthew 26:75, Luke 22:61-62).

-Jesus was now led from a night of captivity in the house of Caiaphas into the Praetorium on the northeast side of the Temple Mount area. It was early on this Friday morning, which is now known as “Good Friday” by Christians. It is noted that the Jews would not enter into the Praetorium so that they would not be defiled and be able to eat the Passover. Because of this, Pilate, the Roman in command of the area, went out to them asking what accusations they brought against this Man. They assured him that this individual was an evildoer; otherwise, they wouldn’t be bothering him at all. Pilate wanted them to take Him and judge Him according to their own Jewish law, but there was a problem. They wanted to put Jesus to death, and for that, they had to get Roman permission. This too was in fulfillment of the prophetic words of the Lord as to how the Christ would die (John 12:32). Romans were notorious for crucifying their dissenters, and the Jewish system would have had Him stoned to death. Now, things were getting serious. Pilate summoned Jesus after entering back into the Praetorium and asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” Jesus, still as witty as ever, answered, “Are you saying this on your own initiative, or did others tell you about Me?” Pilate responded, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered You to me; what have You done?” Jesus began to teach the man He created, “My Kingdom is not of this world. If My Kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My Kingdom is not of this realm (literally, not from here).” Pilate therefore said, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered him, “You say correctly that I am a King. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears (comprehends) My Voice.” Pilate now ponders an all-time question, “What is truth?” And when he had said this in his mixed-up, cowardly mind, he went out again to the Jews and proclaimed, “I find no guilt in Him.” He then acquiesced to a tradition among this culture of releasing one criminal at the time of Passover. This, he figured, would be his way out since he knew that the Jews were simply envious of this newcomer professing to be the Messiah (Matthew 27:18, Mark 15:10). But, when he asked the crowd who had gathered there if they wished for the King of the Jews to be released, they cried out again, “Not this Man, but Barabbas.” Barabbas was a thief, an insurrectionist, a murder, and notorious (Matthew 27:16, Mark 15:7, Luke 23:19), but they wanted him excused and Jesus sacrificed (John 18:28-40). This would soon happen as the perfect and divine will of the Father.

-*Application*- Notice how Jesus’ calmness defused a potentially violent situation. Notice too His incredible wisdom in the face of great intimidation and threat. Here was a Man who was in total and absolute control of the situation. In other words, He demonstrated extraordinary peace during conflict. But, what we should grasp most out of this passionate part of the Bible is the willing and sacrificial Servant that Jesus became on our behalf so that we could realize the truth about God’s love for mankind. He truly emptied Himself (Philippians 2:5-8). Thank the Messiah today for His paying the ultimate cost for our redemption. “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me (John Newton).”

Verses to Memorize: John 18:36-38

Bible Study Notes in John- Chapter 17

John 17

-Jesus now offers up prayers for Himself, His disciples, and future believers through the disciples’ word in this chapter, which could be entitled “The High Priestly Prayer.” He begins with asking the Father to glorify His Son so that the Son could glorify Him. This continues the acknowledgement that the gospel writer has previously established that there is a complete unity in the Godhead as well as we will see in His followers by faith. In other words, we are all one, bound together in this spiritual body of righteousness. Jesus expresses that the Father has given His Son authority over all flesh, “that to all whom You (the Father) have given Him (the Son), He may give eternal life.” Then another profound statement is offered in this prayer, “This is eternal life, that they may know (relationally) You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” Jesus proclaimed that He glorified His Father on the earth having accomplished the “work,” which He had been given to do. Now Jesus asks that He be glorified together with the Father with the glory which He had with Him before the world was created (John 17:1-5). This teaches us about the eternality of the Messiah. He is self-existent, timeless, and authoritative, just like His Father (John 1:1-5).

-Jesus now begins to pray for His disciples in a powerful way. Christ had manifested the Name of the Father to the men the LORD had given Him out of the world. They were marked out by the Sovereign and given to the Son, and they had been faithful to keep His word. They had come to know that everything the Father had given the Son was from Him alone. The Messiah had given them His words, and they received them and truly understood them as coming forth from the Father of Lights (illumination). They had believed in the sent One from God. Jesus asks for these things on their behalf (intercession), not on behalf of the unbelieving world, but on those who did have faith in the Son of God given by the Father. He prayed again that all things that were His, were the Father’s, and all things that were the Father’s, were His, plus He had been glorified in them. He said, “I am no longer in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your Name, the Name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are.” The Christ had kept them in the Name of the Father while He was with them, and He guarded them so that none of them perished except the “son of perdition, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled (Psalm 41:9).” Jesus comes to the Father and speaks these words so that their joy may be made full. He had given them His word and now the world hated them because they were not like the lost and dying world. They had become just like Jesus, strangers in a strange land. They were not where they belonged. They were now spiritual pilgrims passing through bound for their glory in Heaven, the Kingdom of God. However, for prudence’s sake, Jesus asks the Father not to take them out of this world, but to deliver them from the evil one. He goes further asking the LORD the sanctify them in the truth, proclaiming, “Your word is truth.” Just as the Father had sent His Son into the world, now the Son was sending His followers into the world, sanctified with the truth and set free from sin and the cares of this world (John 17:6-19)

-Jesus did not ask on behalf of these alone, but for all those (which includes us here today) who would believe in Him through the word of their testimony. He prayed that these would all be one; even as the Father and Son were in each Other, “that they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.” The Lord actually wanted to give His people the same glory that He had been given from the Father, “that they may be one,” just as the Father and Son were one. This is a remarkable prayer when we meditate on it. This, as Jesus continued, would give perfection in unity, so that the world would see that the Son was sent from the Father and loved all His dear children with an agape exactly the same as that given to the Son. Jesus petitioned the Father that His followers be with Him in intimacy where He was and actually see His glory that the LORD had given Him. Jesus said this love by the Father for Him was even before the foundation of the world, and though the world has not known Him, He had known and revealed the Father to humanity, especially those who had believed the message and His sending. Final analysis, Christ had made the Father’s Name known to them, and He would continue to make it known through the witness of His disciples with their coming filling by the Holy Spirit. The true love that was in the Godhead would be in all believers as Christ was indeed IN them (John 17:20-26).

-*Application*- C.S. Lewis has stated that we must conclude that Jesus Christ is either a liar, a lunatic, or the Lord. What are we to make of this mystical union of which Jesus speaks of here in this passage? Is it really possible that God would love His creation to the point that He would indwell the believer and radiate His glory through a once fallen being? Does He really want total and perfect unity with us? If we believe in Him through His word, then all of these things are actually possible. His grace is sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9). Let’s thank God for those who proceeded us that were faithful to deliver this Word, including of course the Apostle John in his faithful writing of the biblical text. These words from our Savior are golden. We should treasure them and live by them. Christ IN us, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27).

Verse to Memorize: John 17:3, 20-21

Bible Study Notes in John- Chapter 16

John 16

-Jesus begins this chapter of His continued dialog with His disciples just before His incarceration and looming crucifixion with this specified purpose, “These things I have spoken to you so that you may be kept from stumbling.” He knew the future and was preparing His faithful followers for what was about to happen. He did not want to lose a single soul. They would be cast out of the synagogue, just like the blind man the Lord had healed (John 9:34). They would be killed by people thinking, in error, they were offering a service unto God. The Messiah warned of the coming storm because of the rejection that would be out of ignorance. These people who professed to be religious did not know the Father or the Son. Jesus called His disciples to remember these things which He spoke. They could not have borne this information earlier, but now they had to handle this truth. The moment was huge. Jesus told them figuratively that He was going to Him who sent Him. Because of this, His disciples were filled in heart with sorrow. But Jesus made an encouraging statement that they did not comprehend initially, “But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper (the Holy Spirit) will not come to you (indwelling form); but if I go, I will send Him to you. And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.” He had much more to tell them, but in His omniscience, He knew they could not bear any more at that time. However, He again assured them that the Holy Spirit was coming as the Spirit of truth to guide them into all veracity based on the Father’s will for what was to come. The Spirit would be sent speaking the words of God by what He hears and not of His own initiative. This was just like Christ’s ministry, but it would be multiplied into every believer. A new age was coming. The Holy Spirit would glorify Jesus and take care of the Messiah’s people disclosing everything needed (John 16:1-15).

-Jesus was teaching vast Trinitarian doctrine here, but these things were difficult to understand for these 1^st Century believers. Jesus’ oxymoron comment, “A little while, and you will no longer see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me” confounded His disciples leading them to ask what this could possibly mean. They did not have a clue as to what He was talking about; although, we can now easily recognize it as the crucifixion and resurrection of the Messiah with the consequential manifestation of the Holy Spirit. Jesus perceived that they wished to question Him and stated, “Are you deliberating together about this, that I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me, and again a little while, and you will see Me’? Truly, truly, I say to you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will grieve, but your grief will be turned into joy.” Then He related this to a woman in childbirth. She has intense pain as her hour comes, but when she gives birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish she had suffered because of the joy that has been brought into the world. He reinforced the fact that while they would have grief for a time, He would surely see them again and that their hearts would rejoice with no one to ever take that feeling away. In that day, Jesus said, they would not question anything any longer, and if they asked anything in the Son’s Name before the Father, He would grant it. Up until that point, they had not asked anything in Jesus’ Name, but He told them to ask so that they would receive and that their joy would be made full. He acknowledged His speech was in figurative language, but now He would tell them plainly about the Father. God loved them because they had loved His Son and believed that He came forth from the Father. Jesus said, “I came forth from the Father and have come into the world; I am leaving the world again and going to the Father.” His disciples now responded, “Lo, now You are speaking plainly and are not using a figure of speech. Now we know that You know all things, and have no need for anyone to question You; by this we believe that You came from God.” Jesus now concludes, “Do you now believe? Behold, an hour is coming, and has already come, for you to be scattered, each to his own home, and to leave Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world (John 16:16-33).”

-*Application*- We too often misinterpret or have misunderstandings about things of a spiritual nature when it comes to the pain of waiting, or intense times of suffering. As Matt Thiessen of Reliant K has said, “When a nightmare finally does unfold, perspective is a lovely hand to hold.” In times of struggle, it is essential to take these words of the Master and hold on to them. Our joy will be unspeakable, and the blessings will soon give birth as we believe in the Name of Jesus to full effect. So have peace and take courage my friends. Enjoy the ride through this world in perfect trust of the One who has overcome it. The way of the cross is redemption. It is all part of His plan. Sorrow may be in the night, but joy comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5).

Verse to Memorize: John 16:33

Bible Study Notes in John- Chapter 15

John 15

-Jesus now begins to teach about His abiding relationship using the Vine and branches metaphor. The Christ is the True Vine and the Father is the Vinedresser. Every branch that is in the Lord not bearing fruit, the Vinedresser takes away. Every branch that bears fruit (spiritually speaking), The LORD prunes (kathairō- to cleanse from filth and impurity, we get our English word “catharsis” from this root) so that it may bear more fruit. Jesus claimed that His disciples were already clean because of the word He had spoken to them. They had received His message. In other words, they were believers in Him. He goes on, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the Vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” This is the ultimate form of discipleship as the Holy Spirit of Christ Jesus leads. The Messiah goes on to tell them that if anyone does not abide in Him, that person is thrown away as a branch and dries up. Those are gathered together and cast into the fire and burned. This He mentions with regard to the eternal torment of those who reject Him as the Messiah, the Living Word of God (Matthew 25:41, Luke 16:19-31, John 15:1-6, Hebrews 10:26-31, Revelation 20:10-15).

-The Lord continues by stating the fact that if the disciples would abide in Him and His words abide in them, they could ask for whatever they wished, and it would be done for them. This is Divine alignment, not some “name it and claim it” theology that is set up against the will of the Father. Jesus told them that the Father is glorified when they bear much fruit. Fruit bearing was the proof of their growth in discipleship. Then, He spoke of the all-powerful love shared between the Father, Himself, and all who abide in Him. Keeping His commandments was stressed. This was the mark of abiding in Him. Just as He kept the Father’s commandments and abided in His love, His disciples should do the same. He spoke to them so that His joy would be in them and that their joy would be made full. He summed it all up thus, “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you.” He then brought them to a new level of understanding in relationship with Him, “No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My Name He may give (notice the subjunctive case verb here) to you. This I command you, that you love one another (John 15:7-17).” This most important point He could make revolved around the disciples love for one another. This was the crux of all the LORD’s command.

-Now He lets them know their relationship with the fallen world on account of their belief of Him as faithful-following disciples. He states matter-of-factly, “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.” He reminded them, “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not great than His master (John 13:16).’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My Name’s sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me.” After saying this, the Lord recognizes that judgment has come upon those who would not believe in the Messiah, “If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates Me hates My Father also. If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would not have sin; but now they have both seen and hated Me and My Father as well.” This too was in fulfillment of prophetic Scripture (Psalm 35:19; 69:4). The Christ was hated without good cause. Demonic deception was prevalent in this world. Now, Jesus finishes up the chapter with more talk on the Holy Spirit’s role. The Christ promises to send the Helper from the Father. He is the Spirit of truth proceeding from the LORD testifying about His Son. The disciples will join in this effort testifying themselves because they had been with Jesus from the beginning of His ministry (John 15:18-27).

-*Application*- The oneness, or unity, we have with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is an incredible joy and comfort to our hearts as believers. This steadfast love should be in us and abounding out of us if we are truly His. His pruning, or shall we say discipline, is always for our benefit and shows us that He does truly care about our direction in life (Hebrews 12:5-14). Abide in the Vine knowing that there will indeed be persecution but blessing with it in the end (Revelation 11:18). Keep a Heavenly perspective on things and continue to trust in the Savior.  

Verses to Memorize: John 15:5, 19, 26

Bible Study Notes in John- Chapter 14

John 14

-Jesus’ High Priestly dialog continues now that Judas has left the building. This is the most intimate discourse before His crucifixion that Scripture details. We thank God that John, through the Holy Spirit years later, denotes this beautiful exchange over the next several chapters. The Savior starts with this:

"Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 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. And you know the way where I am going (John 14:1-4)."

Thomas asked Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” Jesus makes one of His most profound statements, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” Then He assured them that now they would know Him and see Him in this coming glory, or radiance, of the Father’s blessing. Philip spoke up and wanted the Lord to show them the Father. This would be enough he reasoned in his natural heart (John 14:5-8). Jesus diligently and patiently continued His instruction:

“Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it. If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. I 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 see 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. After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also. In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him (John 14:9-21)."

The other disciple named Judas, not Iscariot, wondered, “Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us and not to the world (John 14:22)?” Jesus went on in His disclosure of how the Trinity operates:

“If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father's who sent Me. These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. You heard that I said to you, 'I go away, and I will come to you.' If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. Now I have told you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe. I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me; but so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. Get up, let us go from here (John 14:23-31).”

-*Application*- I cry tears of hope and joy as I re-read these words this morning. We can be one with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit with all the peace and comfort that can possibly be afforded. Even as fallen and sinful people, we can have His redemption through His grace and a Spirit-filled life that produces abundant living (John 10:10). Grow in Him. He is our eternal hope and dream. And remember, if He is in us, we can do even greater works than He performed as the body of Christ.

Verses to Memorize: John 14:6, 12, 27

Bible Study Notes in John- Chapter 13

John 13

-Before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus was knowing that His time had come to offer up His body for the sins of the entire world. This was the fullness of time, which was coming for the redemption of mankind and the glory of God. Jesus would soon depart out of this world back to the Father. God’s love for those in the world that were His by faith propelled the Son to the greatest love ever known. Agape was never ending and persistent all the way through. As the disciples were having supper, the devil already in full control of the heart of the son of Simon, Judas Iscariot, began to stir up the spirit of betrayal against the Messiah. Jesus, with full awareness of all that was going on, got up from the table, laid aside His garments, and girded Himself with a towel. Then He poured water into the basin and began to wash His disciples’ feet wiping them clean with His towel. As He came to Simon Peter in this solemn occasion, there was a conversation designed to teach us all. Initially Peter did not want the Lord to wash his feet thinking this was undignified for the Messiah to do. Therefore, Peter asked, “Lord, do You wash my feet?” After all, John the Baptist had earlier stated that as human, we were unworthy to even untie this Man’s sandal (John 1:27). This seemed unbelievable to the disciples that the Lord God would stoop down and wash their feet. But Jesus responded, “What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter.” Peter became indignant, “Never shall You wash my feet!” Jesus answered, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” Simon Peter now got the point and submissively spoke, “Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and head.” Jesus now went deeper, “He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are completely clean (in a spiritual sense), but not all of you.” God knew who was to betray Him, but He washed all of their feet in spite of this. Afterwards, He took His garments back and reclined at the table again in this intimate setting. He asked them, “Do you know what I have done to you?” He began to instruct them citing their respect He had as their Teacher and Lord. They had done well, and He received those accolades that they bestowed on Him as appropriate. But, He let them know that His sacrificial example was to be emulated as a Kingdom principle. He said this, “Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.” Then He revealed details about His choosing and the fact that the betrayer was in their midst. This was in fulfillment of the Scriptures concerning Him (Psalm 41:9). He let them know these things beforehand to let them know that it was His plan, and that He had all knowledge and control of the situation. This was done so that His beloved would believe. Then He concluded with a statement, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.” The Son had truly been sent by the Father for the saving of the world through faith (John 13:1-20).

-After this conversation, Jesus became very troubled in His Spirit. He plainly called out the enemy, “Truly, truly, I say to you, that one of you will betray Me.” This dumbfounded most all of the disciples, except of course Judas Iscariot. They were at a loss and wondered aloud who could possibly do such a thing. Jesus told them that it was the one for whom He would dip the morsel and give. This was the honored guest’s right and privilege. Jesus was hurling coals upon the head of the demon spirit (Romans 12:20). He gave Judas Iscariot the morsel according to the tradition of the feast and told him, “What you do, do quickly.” Satan had truly entered this man, but those reclining at the table were slow to pick up on this encounter. They supposed that Judas Iscariot was departing to go and get things needed for the feast, since he was the man in charge of the money box. They also erroneously postulated that he might be receiving commands to go and give something to the poor. From this, we can speculate that this was a routine occurrence with the disciples. A giving spirit prevailed. None-the-less, Judas Iscariot departed into the night with corruption premeditated (John 13:21-30).

-When Judas Iscariot had left, the Lord continued His conversation among those He so dearly loved, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him; if God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and will glorify Him immediately. Little children, I am with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, now I also say to you. ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this will all men know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” Simon Peter wanted to know exactly where He was going. Jesus assured him that although he couldn’t follow him now, he would be able to later. Peter then boldly stated that wherever Jesus was going, he would follow, even if it meant laying down his life for the cause. Jesus prophesied now, “Will you lay down your life for Me? Truly, truly, I say to you, a rooster will not crow until you deny Me three times (John 13:31-38).”   

-*Application*- Christ’s sacrificial spirit is abundantly evident to us as we read this passage with hopes of carrying out His sayings. There are some denominations that include feet washings as an ordinance in the church. Despite what we might think of this, the humbling of ourselves for others’ benefit is indeed powerful and helps us understand the Kingdom Spirit in a whole new way. I encourage us all to participate in a feet washing gathering with brothers and/or sisters in Christ. Further, the Lord gives us the key to a united church with a vibrant testimony in this passage. Loving one another just like Christ has loved us is so rare in this age of the Church, but it remains the mark of true discipleship. Let us all work on loving each other better as the future unfolds. It is a command of Christ Jesus, not a suggestion. This command actually is deeper and more involved than the Old Testament command to love your neighbor as yourself. Loving with Christ Jesus’ love is total agape and exceeds our natural limitations. It is supernatural to love as Christ loves, a Divine gift of grace. This necessitates the filling of the Holy Spirit into our born-again existence. It cannot come by our own power.

Verse to Memorize: John 13:34-35