Monday Morning: 18 Feb 2019 – John 14:1-14 ~ Only one way!

Monday Morning

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Almighty God: to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid; cleanse the thoughts of my heart through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that I may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name, through Christ my Lord. Amen.
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Morning Reading – John 14:1-14 (NLT)

Jesus, the Way to the Father

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.”

“No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”

Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”

Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do.

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!
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Morning Reflection:

The disciples are troubled because Jesus has just told them that he would soon be leaving them. Where was he going? Why couldn’t they go with him? What would they do without him? And Jesus responds –

“Trust in God, and trust also in me.” – John 14:1b

And then Jesus adds –

“I am the way, the truth, and the life.
No one can come to the Father except through me.” – John 14:6

In tomorrow’s reading, Jesus promises to send his Spirit to be with us while we await his return. But let’s look at how Jesus’ “I am…” declarations speak to us today.

+ Jesus is the “Lamb of God,” the only Way into the presence of God.
+ Jesus is “God with us,” the personification of the Truth of God.
+ Jesus is the “Word of God,” the giver of Life with God, now and forever.

Questions for your consideration:

How do you respond to the popular notion that all religions lead to God? What significance do you place in Jesus’ unique role as the “Lamb of God?” Please explain.
How do you respond to the popular notion that all truth is subjective, i.e. my truth is not necessarily your truth? What significance do you place in Jesus’ unique role as “God with us,” the personification of Truth? Please explain.
How do you respond to the popular notion that this life is all there is, “the one with the most toys at the end wins?” What significance do you place in Jesus’ unique role as the “Word of God,” the giver of a full, satisfying life – both now and forever? Please explain.
How do you respond to the popular notion that evangelism is an intrusion into another person’s personal space, even hateful? If you believe that Jesus is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life” and that no one can come to the Father except through him, what responsibility do you have to say so? Please explain.

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Morning Prayer:

Lord Jesus Christ: You alone are the “Lamb of God,” who takes away our sin; you alone are “God with us,” the one who reveals absolute Truth; you alone are the “Word of God,” the giver of Life – there is no other Way to come to the Father. Fill us with a wellspring of love for the lost, that we might overcome all our inhibitions and reach out to them for their good and your glory. I ask this in your Name. Amen.
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“The Way” – Pat Barrett (New Horizon)

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Closing:

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, and protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Saturday Morning: 16 Feb 2019 – John 13:21-38 ~ prove to the world that you are my disciples

Saturday Morning

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening (Collect for Purity)

Morning Reading – John 13:21-38 (NLT)

Jesus Predicts Judas’ Betrayal

Now Jesus was deeply troubled, and he exclaimed, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me!”

The disciples looked at each other, wondering whom he could mean. The disciple Jesus loved was sitting next to Jesus at the table. Simon Peter motioned to him to ask, “Who’s he talking about?” So that disciple leaned over to Jesus and asked, “Lord, who is it?”

Jesus responded, “It is the one to whom I give the bread I dip in the bowl.” And when he had dipped it, he gave it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot. When Judas had eaten the bread, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus told him, “Hurry and do what you’re going to do.” None of the others at the table knew what Jesus meant. Since Judas was their treasurer, some thought Jesus was telling him to go and pay for the food or to give some money to the poor. So Judas left at once, going out into the night.

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial

As soon as Judas left the room, Jesus said, “The time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory, and God will be glorified because of him. And since God receives glory because of the Son, he will give his own glory to the Son, and he will do so at once. Dear children, I will be with you only a little longer. And as I told the Jewish leaders, you will search for me, but you can’t come where I am going. So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

Simon Peter asked, “Lord, where are you going?”

And Jesus replied, “You can’t go with me now, but you will follow me later.”

“But why can’t I come now, Lord?” he asked. “I’m ready to die for you.”

Jesus answered, “Die for me? I tell you the truth, Peter—before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.
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Morning Reflection:

During the Passover meal with his disciples, Jesus predicts Judas’ betrayal and Peter’s denial. And sandwiched in between these two astounding prophecies, Jesus gives his disciples a new commandment –

“Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.
Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
– John 13:34-35

But what does that say about the Church’s witness to the world today – with church fights and divisions, court battles over property, denominational antipathy, cultural pride and arrogance, and the outright dismissal of historic church traditions.

Is it any wonder that the church is losing its influence over an increasingly secular society? If we can’t love each other as Christ has loved us, our witness to the world rings hollow.

In any family, there are disagreements. So how can we disagree without being disagreeable?

+ Be kind – in speaking to and about one another; in interacting personally with one another, in praying for and serving one another.

+ Be sympathetic – in entering into another’s pain or sorrow; in showing compassion for the sick and broken, in showing mercy to the undeserving.

+ Be self-less – in serving the needs of others; in seeking the good of others; in promoting the achievements of others.

+ Be patient – in forbearing annoying people; in bearing the foolishness of the young; in deference to elders; in thinking before speaking.

+ Be forgiving – as we have been forgiven, now and forever, through the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross; freely we received, freely give.

Questions for consideration:

Have you experienced conflict between people who claim to follow Jesus? How was it resolved? How did outsiders view the conflict? Please explain.
How do you relate to people from different traditions who claim to follow Jesus? How can you express love for them? Please explain?
What, or who, comes to mind when you think of annoying people who claim to follow Jesus? How can you express love for them? Please explain.

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Morning Prayer:

Lord Jesus: I confess that I have not loved my brothers and sisters in Christ as you have loved me. I have been critical, indifferent and dismissive of those with whom I disagree. I have put my interests before theirs, and written them off as apostate. Please forgive me, and show me how to love them – that the world might know we are one in you. For your glory and Name’s sake I ask it. Amen.
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“Love Each Other” – Graham Kendrick

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Closing:

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Friday Morning: 15 Feb 2019 – John 13:1-20 ~ follow my example

Friday Morning

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening (Collect for Purity)

Morning Reading – John 13:1-20 (NLT)

Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet

Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end. It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.

When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.”

“No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!”

Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.”

Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!”

Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.” For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.

Jesus Predicts His Betrayal

“I am not saying these things to all of you; I know the ones I have chosen. But this fulfills the Scripture that says, ‘The one who eats my food has turned against me.’ I tell you this beforehand, so that when it happens you will believe that I am the Messiah. I tell you the truth, anyone who welcomes my messenger is welcoming me, and anyone who welcomes me is welcoming the Father who sent me.”
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Morning Reflection:

The Example of Christ

Jesus washed his disciples’ feet and they were taken aback, they didn’t know what to make of it all – the master served the slaves. And Jesus explains –

“I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.
I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master.
Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message.
Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.”
– John 13:15-17

So what do we already know that we can emulate, that God will bless us for doing?

+ Humility – The Word of God became a human being. Jesus voluntarily gave up his divine privileges, his perks… and was born as a human being. (Philippians 2:7)

Q: Do you consider yourself privileged? In what way are you better off than others? What advantage could you relinquish to love and serve others?

+ Self-denial – Jesus lived counter-culturally, embodying the values of the Kingdom of God – even though he “faced all the same testings we do….” (Hebrews 4:15)

Q: How does your lifestyle affect your emulation of Christ? Can you think of an act of self-denial that would bless and serve someone else?

+ Unrelenting love – For Jesus, loving meant serving others, even giving up his life for those who rejected him – washing the feet of the one who would betray him.

Q: Have you ever been betrayed? How did you respond? What would it mean for you to love them with unrelenting love?

Jesus had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth,
and now he loved them to the very end.
– John 13:1

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Morning Prayer:

Heavenly Father: Show me how to love and serve others, especially my siblings in Christ, as he has loved and served me. Empty me of my pride and feelings of self-importance. Show me where my lifestyle conflicts with your Kingdom values. And fill me with the love of Jesus, that I might love and serve even the most difficult people in my life. Help me fulfill your purpose for my life. through the power of your Spirit at work within me, and for your glory. Amen.
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“Build my life” – Housefires

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Closing:

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Thursday Morning: 14 Feb 2019 – John 12:34-50 ~ Jesus: light in a world of darkness

Thursday Morning

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening (Collect for Purity)

Morning Reading – John 12:34-50 (NLT)

Jesus Predicts His Death (Continued)

The crowd responded, “We understood from Scripture that the Messiah would live forever. How can you say the Son of Man will die? Just who is this Son of Man, anyway?”

Jesus replied, “My light will shine for you just a little longer. Walk in the light while you can, so the darkness will not overtake you. Those who walk in the darkness cannot see where they are going. Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light.”

After saying these things, Jesus went away and was hidden from them.

The Unbelief of the People

But despite all the miraculous signs Jesus had done, most of the people still did not believe in him. This is exactly what Isaiah the prophet had predicted:

“Lord, who has believed our message? To whom has the Lord revealed his powerful arm?”

But the people couldn’t believe, for as Isaiah also said,

“The Lord has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts—so that their eyes cannot see, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and have me heal them.”

Isaiah was referring to Jesus when he said this, because he saw the future and spoke of the Messiah’s glory. Many people did believe in him, however, including some of the Jewish leaders. But they wouldn’t admit it for fear that the Pharisees would expel them from the synagogue. For they loved human praise more than the praise of God.

Jesus shouted to the crowds, “If you trust me, you are trusting not only me, but also God who sent me. For when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me. I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark. I will not judge those who hear me but don’t obey me, for I have come to save the world and not to judge it. But all who reject me and my message will be judged on the day of judgment by the truth I have spoken. I don’t speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it. And I know his commands lead to eternal life; so I say whatever the Father tells me to say.”
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Morning Reflection:

Jesus: light in a world of darkness

In today’s reading, Jesus uses the metaphor “light in the darkness” to describe his God-given mission. Earlier he declared himself to be “the Light of the World” (John 8:12), and he continues that theme as he addresses the crowd gathered in Jerusalem for the celebration of Passover.

But what does that have to do with us? Let’s see –

“Put your trust in the light while there is still time;
then you will become children of the light.” – John 12:36

+ Time is of the essence – Jesus was speaking specifically of his time left on earth, but it’s also true for us today. The clock is ticking until we go to meet Jesus, or Jesus returns to meet us in all his glory.

+ The world is enveloped in spiritual and moral darkness – Satan, the ruler of this world, delivers deception, distortion, death, destruction, and blindness in an attempt to extinguish the loving-kindness and goodness of God.

+ Spiritual and moral darkness disorient us – We don’t know who we are, or where we’re going. The darkness creates a kind of spiritual vertigo – where up is down and down is up – that results in lives spinning out of control, filled with chaos and confusion.

+ Spiritual and moral darkness threaten to overcome us – We get used to living in darkness where deception and distortion replace truth, death and destruction replace life, and spiritual and moral blindness become our new normal.

“I have come as a light to shine in this dark world,
so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark.”
– John 12:46

Jesus’ appeal is to us:

+ To trust him, the light of the world – Faith in Jesus involves believing that he is who he says he is, and the world around us is what he says it is. Trusting him involves following him, even when it makes no sense to us and we don’t know where we’re going.

+ To become children of light – Becoming children of light is a process through which we grow ever brighter through faith and trust. It’s not just a matter of having a light to see where we’re going, it’s also a matter of radiating the life of Christ in us to others. In other words, to let our little light shine.

+ To live forever in the light – Our choice to trust and obey, or reject and ignore has eternal consequences. Jesus has come to save us from judgement. Rejection leads to judgement.

“For they loved human praise more than the praise of God.”
– John 12:43

Questions for consideration:

Do you believe that the world around you is spiritually and morally blind? How does that affect you? Please explain.
If you were to publicly declare that you are a follower of Jesus, how would that affect your relationships – with your family? with your friends? with your neighbors? with your coworkers or associates? Please explain.
How would living as a child of the light affect your behavior, your choices, your lifestyle? Please explain.

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Morning Prayer:

Lord Jesus: Every day is a new adventure walking as a child of the Light. Fill us with joy and wonder as we discover afresh your beauty, your loving-kindness, and your goodness in this dark world. Fill us with your Spirit that we might radiate your light and life to those around us. Our hope is in you, Lord; you alone have the words of eternal life. Amen.
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“Light of the World” – Tim Hughes

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Closing:

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Wednesday Morning: 13 Feb 2019 – John 12:12-33 ~ We want to meet Jesus.

Wednesday Morning

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening (Collect for Purity)

Morning Reading – John 12:12-33 (NLT)

Jesus’ Triumphant Entry

The next day, the news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept through the city. A large crowd of Passover visitors took palm branches and went down the road to meet him. They shouted,

“Praise God! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hail to the King of Israel!”

Jesus found a young donkey and rode on it, fulfilling the prophecy that said:

“Don’t be afraid, people of Jerusalem. Look, your King is coming, riding on a donkey’s colt.”

His disciples didn’t understand at the time that this was a fulfillment of prophecy. But after Jesus entered into his glory, they remembered what had happened and realized that these things had been written about him.

Many in the crowd had seen Jesus call Lazarus from the tomb, raising him from the dead, and they were telling others about it. That was the reason so many went out to meet him—because they had heard about this miraculous sign. Then the Pharisees said to each other, “There’s nothing we can do. Look, everyone has gone after him!”

Jesus Predicts His Death

Some Greeks who had come to Jerusalem for the Passover celebration paid a visit to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee. They said, “Sir, we want to meet Jesus.” Philip told Andrew about it, and they went together to ask Jesus.

Jesus replied, “Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.

“Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But this is the very reason I came! Father, bring glory to your name.”

Then a voice spoke from heaven, saying, “I have already brought glory to my name, and I will do so again.” When the crowd heard the voice, some thought it was thunder, while others declared an angel had spoken to him.

Then Jesus told them, “The voice was for your benefit, not mine. The time for judging this world has come, when Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out. And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” He said this to indicate how he was going to die.
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Morning Reflection:

Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem was certainly sensational. Jesus himself orchestrated the event that he knew would put him on a collision course with the religious authorities. Palm Sunday began Jesus’ journey to the resurrection.

Everyone wanted to see Jesus, but how many would follow him?

Jesus attracted a huge crowd, but what were they hoping to see?

+ The promised King of Israel – the one who would throw off Roman rule, and resurrect the Davidic Kingdom?
+ The miracle worker – the one who raised Lazarus from the dead, and even Lazarus himself in the parade?

Everyone wanted to see Jesus, but who were they?

+ The crowd – Passover visitors who heard the news and came out to see what was going on.
+ The curious – Greek Jews in town for Passover, who wanted to meet Jesus personally.
+ The committed – Disciples, and close friends, who believed in Jesus, but had no idea where all this would lead.

And how many would follow Jesus to the end?

Those who love their life in this world will lose it.
Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity.
Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me,
because my servants must be where I am.
And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.
– John 12:25-26

Ordinarily, Palm Sunday is a cause for celebration and rejoicing. But John’s account and the subsequent reading leaves me with a profound sense of sadness – sadness for Satan’s grip on this world, sadness for the clueless people he came to save, sadness for the necessity of Jesus having to endure the torturous cross, and sadness for every disciple who takes up his/her own cross and follows Jesus – it’s not an easy path to follow. But it is the path that leads to eternal life.

“Now my soul is deeply troubled.
Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from this hour’?
But this is the very reason I came! Father, bring glory to your name.”
– John 12:27-28

Questions for consideration:

What do you expect from Jesus? Please explain.
Can you remember when you first met Jesus? Please explain.
What would it mean for you to “care nothing for [your] life in this world?” What would you lose? Please explain.
Can you remember a time when you followed Jesus down a path that didn’t want to go? Please explain.

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Morning Prayer:

Lord Jesus: Less of me, and more of you. Give me the courage of my convictions – that, empowered by your Spirit, I may walk in your footsteps and carry the cross you have given me – all to the honor of your Name. Amen.
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“Lead Me to the Cross” – Hillsong

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Closing:

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

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