Sovereign Authority to Crucify

John 19:7-11 
7 The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God.” 8 Therefore, when Pilate heard that saying, he was the more afraid, 9 and went again into the Praetorium, and said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. 10 Then Pilate said to Him, “Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?” 11 Jesus answered, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.”

Jesus was killed for saying He is God's Son, equal to God and more than just a religious man or prophet.  Pilate the was afraid because he was about to anger God - but still thought it was up to his will to bring life or death.  Jesus mad it clear that He, God alone, has power over these and all else in creation.  So we can rest in knowing Jesus Christ is God among us, bringing life according to His free will and not our own powerless will or effort. 

No Fault in Him

John 19:4-6 
4 Pilate then went out again, and said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him.” 5 Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, “Behold the Man!” 6 Therefore, when the chief priests and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him.”

The law could not accuse Jesus because He was most innocent.  Yet the soldiers beat and humiliated Him, and the religious authorities demanded Jesus be put to death while blameless - He was so led as a sinless lamb to the slaughter to die in our place.  The one without any fault, the Son of God, willingly died so we, every one sin-filled and deserving the wrath of judgment, might be made faultless in Him.

What is Truth?

John 18:38 - 19:1   
38 Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no fault in Him at all. 39 “But you have a custom that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Do you therefore want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” 40 Then they all cried again, saying, “Not this Man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.  1 So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him.

Though Pilate could not grasp the higher truth of who Jesus is, he did see the truth of His innocence.  But the will of the mob put on the robe of righteousness like wolf among sheep, a thief was released instead of the righteous and true one, and Jesus was whipped in preparation for death on a cross.  Truth never changed.

Not of This World

John 18:36-37   
36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.” 37 Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”

Our kingdom is in the heavenly places before the presence of Almighty God Himself.  So Jesus did not fight to create politics to gain an earthly throne, and we must follow Him, not fighting and entangling ourselves here.  Jesus was born to bear witness to the truth, and we who are His hear His voice and so bear witness to that same truth as citizens of that kingdom. 

Knowing the King

John 18:33-35   
33 Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered him, “Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?” 35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?”

Did Pilate know the King stood before him?  He knew the Jews brought Jesus to be judged, so He asked Pilate if that was his belief also.  Pilate said it was the charge brought to him and so asked what Jesus did to have them bring Him up on charges.  So we must answer the question - do we know Jesus is the King of kings, or is it just what others tell us that we echo?  Our answer is eternally significant.

Predestined Death

John 18:29-32   
29 Pilate then went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this Man?” 30 They answered and said to him, “If He were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him up to you.” 31 Then Pilate said to them, “You take Him and judge Him according to your law.” Therefore the Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death,” 32 that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled which He spoke, signifying by what death He would die.

Jesus was to be crucified, nailed to a tree and hung for all to see whom they pierced, just as God said would happen long before.  In His sovereignty, God allowed His Son to be tried as a sinner while without sin, judged falsely by the law of God's word whom He was in the flesh, and put to death in our place to pay the price for us and take away God's just wrath from all who find Justification in Jesus Christ.  Looking back, this is why we celebrate Christmas where God brought this plan into the world.

Denial Crowed

John 18:25-27 
25 Now Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. Therefore they said to him, “You are not also one of His disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not!” 26 One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off, said, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” 27 Peter then denied again; and immediately a rooster crowed.

Peter was afraid and refused to be identified as Christ's; he outright denied Jesus to avoid being identified with and suffer with Him, even when he was seen with Jesus before.  Then Peter remembered when the rooster woke him up in mourning.  Do we openly identify with Christ, or do we hide until awoken to the great privilege we have as His children?

Speak Openly

John 18:20-23 
20 Jesus answered him, “I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing. 21 Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them. Indeed they know what I said.” 22 And when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, “Do You answer the high priest like that?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?”

Jesus spoke publicly of many things, yet was questioned what He said and taught by those set against the truth.  He did not say anything evil, yet was hit for his answer of truthfulness.  They did not want truth, but their religious views and control over the people, so they began to find a way to stop God's word from speaking further lest people tun and be set free.  Any system that does not hear His word and attacks those who do is against Christ, the word and Son.

Expedient For One Man to Die

John 18:12-14 
12 Then the detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him. 13 And they led Him away to Annas first, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was high priest that year. 14 Now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.

Jesus was taken to the high priest who was the father in law of the other high priest that spoke without knowing that Jesus would die for His people.  Just as this was for God's chosen people of Israel, so He died for His chosen from every people and nation in the world. And so they began legal proceedings to put Him to death to bring it to pass - thinking they would stop Jesus, they fulfilled His will.

Drink Deeply of the Cup

John 18:8-11 
8 Jesus answered, “I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way,” 9 that the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke, “Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none.” 10 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. 11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?”

God already planned that Jesus would die and those given to Him would live in Him.  We do not get lost again.  Nothing could stop what He planned and written of - not fighting, but drinking deeply and fully according to plan.  He is sovereign. 

I AM

John 18:4-7   
4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, “Whom are you seeking?” 5 They answered Him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am He.” And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. 6 Now when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 Then He asked them again, “Whom are you seeking?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”

When the soldiers and religious leaders came to arrest Jesus to try Him for blasphemy, Jesus told them He was the I AM - God.  This truth literally knocked them to the ground in the presence of almighty God.  When we read Jesus' words, we must remember that they are God's and not a mere man's with power and authority. 

Betrayal in the Garden

John 18:1-3 
1 When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered. 2 And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with His disciples. 3 Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons.

Right after Jesus spoke with the disciples of His glory and their unity, He took them to the garden to deal with the sin of the original garden by offering up His life.  He was betrayed as He said would happen long ago, being confronted with armies of soldiers and adversaries of religious leaders and teachers.  They came armed for the One who allowed it to save all who were His.  And Jesus willing and knowingly permitted it all to pay the price for our sin once and for all.  This is why He came into the world, and we remember this at Christmas.

Loved Before Time Began

John 17:24-26   
24 “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. 26 And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”

We know Jesus who was with the Father before the world was created, and who came into the same world as a man to bring us into His presence of that same glory.  The word became flesh as a baby, grew in wisdom and stature, told us the good news, suffered, died, and rose again.  So His love to come to us and which is now in us is what we tell others, good news to a wayward world heading only to destruction. 

Faith Unites Us in Christ

John 17:20-23 
20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

Jesus prayed for His followers standing before Him then, but also for all through time called out who believe as well.  Why?  So we can all be united in God as Father and Son by His Spirit living in us.  Then others see and give glory to God for this, knowing Jesus was sent to us to bring us, reconciled, to God in and through Him.  That is the good news of God's love that Christmas begins.

Sanctified by Word of Truth

John 17:14-19 
14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.

We who belong to Christ are no longer part of this world - its ruler, system of morality and religion, or anything else opposed to God's law.  As Jesus was while in the flesh, so do we follow, and so do we need protection from the evil ruler in the unseen realm.  So we are made holy and set aside for our God by His word and will (seen by Jesus prayer here).  The truth sets us free and guides our every step, so knowing we are not loved for truth and being conformed to Christ should bring joy and nothing else.

None is Lost

John 17:12-13 
12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves.

Jesus keeps those who are His, but not those who were set aside not to be of God, like Judas.  He chooses and calls us from being lost to forever adopted as sons and daughters who cannot be cast out.  This is unmerited favor, grace.  This is a call we cannot initiate nor cancel.  So we also have joy in this good news as the disciples did here.  His word to us is all the authority and certainly we require, based on God's unchangeable and good character.

Given to Christ

John 17:9-11   
9 “I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. 10 And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are.

Jesus prayed for those who are God's, the ones chosen by the Father to bring God glory.  We are in this world that He came and ascended from, but the prayer is that we be kept by the Father for the Son (by His Spirit living in us as well).  We are called and chosen, the church, and are one with each other as the Son and Father are.  So He keeps us for His glory - we are never lost again...

Elected to Christ

John 17:6-8 
6 “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. 7 Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. 8 For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me.

God chose men and Jesus showed them who the Father is by words and deeds. They came to know God was with them, and so followed in obedience and with open ears and eyes.  As they listened, they received faith to believe who He is and what He did for them after the resurrection.  So we are called, chosen, and faithful to listen and follow our master's voice.

Son Glorified in the Father

John 17:4-5   
4 I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. 5 And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.

Jesus glorified His Father by completing the work He had to do.  His own glory was as God's Word from before time and creation, become flesh to complete our redemption and reconciliation by teaching, suffering, dying, and rising again to life from death for us.  We who are called out glorify God in Christ's sufferings and for the gospel, the good news of God's work in Jesus and in us.

Know God and Jesus He Sent

John 17:1-3 
1 Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, 2 as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

The Son of God glorified His Father through obedience to the cross so He could give unending life with God to all His Father gives to Him through the grace of faith. So we have eternal life in knowing (not facts alone, but intimate knowledge) Jesus Christ sent and so God in and through Him.  There is no other God who is truth and life and so the only way - only knowing Jesus is knowing God.

Overcoming Trouble

John 16:32-33   
32 Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. 33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Peace comes in the midst of hard times, not in good times alone.  We have tribulations and trials because of being Christ's, yet can have great joy in knowing He overcame and continues to overcome all things of this world.  We are so much more than conquerors in Christ! 

Gospel Spoken Plainly

John 16:28-31 
28 I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father.” 29 His disciples said to Him, “See, now You are speaking plainly, and using no figure of speech! 30 Now we are sure that You know all things, and have no need that anyone should question You. By this we believe that You came forth from God.” 31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe?

Do we believe as the disciples, only when it is clearly laid out for us by God and not in parables or allegory?  Or do we trust that His word has both clear and hidden or hard to understand parts as well, and yet put our trust fully in Him in the known and unknown?  Do we now believe....

Believe Jesus is from God

John 16:25-27 
25 “These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but I will tell you plainly about the Father. 26 In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; 27 for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God.

When Jesus was nearing the cross, He began speaking clearly and no longer with allegory or parables.  He told them of God our Father and how they and we can pray to Him in Jesus' name because of the Father's love since they love the Son.  If you see Jesus you see God.  If you believe Jesus Christ is God's Son sent into the world (the Word become flesh), you are loved by God.  This is the true God and eternal life. 

Ask in His Name for Joy

John 16:23-24   
23 “And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

Jesus told the disciples many things, asking about some things - yet when He left and they received His Spirit, they would know and so ask less.  But they could then ask for things that He would do while still walking with them.  They could thus pray with confidence to Him, in His name, for God's will to be done as when Jesus was there with them.  Joy flows from such prayer, not from selfish asking, but for the glory of God.

Joy Resurrected

John 16:19-22 
19 Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them, “Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’? 20 Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. 21 A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22 Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.

The world rejoiced as Jesus died, but His followers were sad; after He arose, the situation was turned upside down with the world itself.  We who are His now can also have great joy in His death because He arose from it.  So will we.  Nobody can take that deep seated joy from us.

Spirit of Truth Within

John 16:12-15   
12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.

We can bear to hear some things only when God's Spirit lives in us, leading and guiding our understanding of the truth of God's word and its impact.  His Spirit in us glorifies God as the things of Christ become real in our minds and hearts as God gives to His Son and on to us. We now can bear to hear many things, and more will follow in eternity.  Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

Ruler of World is Judged

John 16:7-11   
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

Jesus left bodily so that God as Spirit could take over to help us by living in His whom He calls out.  He also, through us, convicts those around us of their sin which we all have against a holy God, their need of righteousness found only in Christ, and their certain judgment apart from Jesus Christ taking their place to justify those repenting with faith in Him - this victory has overcome Satan's destruction of us by disobedience in Eden, leading to his absolute judgement and sentence in the end.

Killing Christians

John 16:2-4   
2 They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. 3 And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me. 4 But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them. “And these things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you.

Followers of Jesus were excommunicated from the synagogues because of the testimony of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ Alone, apart from the works necessary in keeping the Law.  Through time His followers were burned at the stake and drowned as witches for not adhering to church laws; yet they stood firm in God's grace in Christ when church leaders thought they did service to God in their religion.  So we look back as the apostles to remember that Jesus said these things will happen.  We stand valiant for the truth before Rome and others like them.

Helper Keeps Us

John 15:26 - 16:1 
26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.  1 “These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble.

God puts His Spirit in His children, the regenerated and reconciled ones called out to Himself.  So we known Him and of Him by the inner testimony of God Himself living in us, and so we show this truth and reality to others - bearing witness.  So we should also not stumble, to run into obstacles to continue to hold to truth and hold it out to others, no matter the verbal or physical assaults from those opposed to Jesus Christ we bear witness of.

No Excuse for Sin

John 15:22-25   
22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 He who hates Me hates My Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. 25 But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’

Once God had shown us our sin by the inability to keep the Law, we have no excuse.  And if we hate Jesus Christ, we hate God because we are accountable to Him and refuse to admit He is Lord of all.  That is no good reason to hate God when we are the guilty ones; so Jesus said He was hated without a real reason.  Ah, but when we admit our sin and turn from it to Him for who He is, then we love Him and are loved by Him forever.

Hated Ambassadors

John 15:18-21 
18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.

Because the world hates good and denies accountability to God, it hates Jesus Christ who demands repentance and faith.  So it hates and persecutes us who are His ambassadors, attacking the heavenly kingdom we represent. He chose us out of this world and so we are no longer its citizens, but those of a larger kingdom, without end.  Why are we attacked?  Because they do not know God through Christ and refuse to bow to the King of kings, at most having a form of religion but denying its source. 

Command: Love One Another

John 15:14-17 
14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. 17 These things I command you, that you love one another.

We are Christ's friends when we obey, especially the commands to love each other.  We serve, but are more than mere servants in Christ; we have been chosen, not choosing Christ ourselves, to be fruitful in a way that lasts.  So in Him we ask for what is fruitful and God-honoring to receive those things for Him.

Abide in His Love

John 15:9-13 
9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. 11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.

To really dwell in God's love, we should be doing what He told us. This is Jesus' example as the Son of God, and as His sons and daughters we must be no different.  So we are not only to love God, but to love each other even to the point of laying down our lives.  But this is primarily possible only because we are abiding in God's love in loving obedience. 

"He is committed to the display of his glory (Isaiah 43:7) and invites you to embrace that mission as one of utmost importance (1 Corinthians 10:31)."

Vine of His Word

John 15:5-8 
5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

To abide or remain in Christ means we must grow in and out of Him, just as a branch does from a grape vine.  If we are not getting nutrients from Him we wither, die, and are cast aside to be disposed of.  But if we remain in Him then we listen and obey His words to us, and so are fruitful and can expect answers to prayer for those things He wants and not our own.  This is how we glorify God in Christ, by remaining in His living and written word and communing with Him.

Pruned for Fruitfulness

John 15:1-3 
1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.

If we grow in Christ, we will be pruned in the areas needed - especially when we are not bearing godly fruit for eternity. If we do not conform to Him in character and obedience, that part must be cut off in order to grow back properly.  Though we are already clean (pruned) in our position in Christ, sanctified in position, we must grow into His image daily.  This means discipline and pruning by His hand from the Word and Spirit.

That the World Knows

John 14:28-31 
28 You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I. 29 “And now I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me. 31 But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do. Arise, let us go from here.

Jesus went to His Father and returned after dying. We should all rejoice in this, for it is what we believe (the gospel), and we need reminding as the adversary stalks us a a lion without hope and without Christ.  Jesus did His Father's will so we could follow from death to life so we can arise and go from here in this grace by faith in which we stand. And He is coming back for us again...

Holy Spirit Will Teach Us

John 14:25-27 
25 “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. 26 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 things that I said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

When Jesus walked the earth with His disciples, He told them many things, many of which were written down for us.  But when He left, God's Spirit came to His followers to not only remind us of all He said, but to teach us those things with understanding.  The apostles then wrote down the rest of what we need for His Spirit to teach us. So we have God's peace and do not have to worry or fear - He lives in us who are called out and reborn.

Obedience is Love

John 14:21-24 
21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 24 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.

Do we follow Jesus Christ to put off sin and put on His righteousness?  Or do we purposefully refuse out of a lack of love for Him?  He called us out of sin into a life of following; that is how we really see Him, as we choose to read His word and - in His strength - then choose to not do what is dishonoring to instead do what honors Him who suffered and died for us.  He shows Himself to us whom He calls out, and He alone gives the ability to follow.  We do not work for faith, but work out this faith given to us with fear and trembling.

Indwelling Spirit of Truth

John 14:15-18 
15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

We who love God obey Him out of love and honor in return. He has even given His own Spirit to live in us forever, the same Spirit who moved on the face of the waters at creation and was around the disciples before being in them after Jesus arose at Pentecost.  We are His children, never orphaned and never alone.  The world around us cannot see or know Him unless we tell them and God opens their eyes; so we are driven by Him to them - as He commands and out of love.

Greater Works of the Gospel

John 14:12-14 
12 “Most assuredly, 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 My Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.

We do "greater works" to reach a greater part of the world with the gospel by Spirit's work (Ac.1:8), not works that are more miraculous or that have greater authority than Jesus's.  So if we ask aligned with His will to accomplish His work (not indulging our own wants) of the gospel, we as the church will collectively reach more than Jesus within Israel at that time.  He is the one who gets the attention of glory, that is what "in My name" means.  We do not use prayer selfishly nor self-willed to get what we want by affixing "in Jesus name" to our demands.

Show us the Father

John 14:9-11 
9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.

Philip did not understand that seeing the Son of God meant he was also seeing the Father - they are the same God who said let Us make man in our image.  All that time Jesus was with the disciples He spoke words as no mere mortal, just as He discussed detailed knowledge and understanding with scholars while only 12 years old. The living Word and Son in the Father and the Father in the Son spoke and did wonders that man cannot.  So we see God in Christ, backed by all He said and did.

A Place Prepared For You

John 14:1-6 
1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.” 5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Why worry, unless we do not believe in Jesus Christ as we do God? He has made a place for us with Himself, and the only way there is through faith in Him. There is no other truth, and no other way to the life He is and offers. No other religion or work of the mind or hands can work up enough effort to go through death to life without end in God's presence.  Jesus Christ is the absolute only way to be reconciled with God and remain with Him.

Follow Jesus into Life Everlasting

John 13:36-38 
36 Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward.” 37 Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake.” 38 Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times.

The disciples could not follow Jesus through the suffering and death and back, they could not lay down their lives to pay the price for others - only Jesus could do that as both man and God.  Like Peter, we think we can perfectly obey and follow, but we stumble, and even more without His power and strength in and through us.  However, the good news is that we can follow Him as the one who leads us through death into life unending.  So daily we lay down our lives in picking up the cross to die to self and live to Him.

Love as He Loved Us

John 13:34-35   
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

To love others as Jesus loves us is a new command, since He loves us when we do not deserve it. We often love conditionally, seeking something in return or based on how someone measures up to a set of standards (often our own).  Followers of Jesus reflect His love for each other. We must imitate Christ. 

Jesus Glorified in the Father

John 13:31-33 
31 So, when he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him. 32 If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and glorify Him immediately. 33 Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come,’ so now I say to you.

Jesus was glorified in Himself, which meant God was glorified in Him because they are God. Jesus said He would immediately or shortly be giving and given glory - He spoke of the suffering, death, and resurrection about to transpire.  When leaving, the disciples could not yet follow into death and back.  That would come only after Jesus had gone first as the first fruits of we who are His.

Satan Entered Judas

John 13:21-28   
21 When Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” ... 26 Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it.” And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. 27 Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.” 28 But no one at the table knew for what reason He said this to him.

Judas was prepared for perdition; it just took the right timing in God's plan to be known. Even the dipping bread to eat with Jesus was set in motion, and Jesus told the others about it. Then Judas was told to get it over with, to betray Jesus to begin the suffering, crucifixion, death, and resurrection to come. But still the others did not grasp all of God's plan until later - until He opens our eyes we cannot see His works.  Ah, but when He opens our eyes with faith...

Chosen and Rejected

John 13:18-20   
18 “I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.’ 19 Now I tell you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe that I am He. 20 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”

Jesus spoke to those He chose out of the world, the ones He called out, so they could also see the one who was not called and how He knew the betrayal to come. But the ones called receive Him truly, even through them and us as we tell the good news of reconciliation with a holy God in Him.  So we believe, and so we bear witness to all that some may receive Him through us.

Wash One Another's Feet

John 13:12-17 
12 So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16 Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

Jesus gave the example to serve, not to lord position or authority over others. We are not greater than Him who sends us, so humility should move us to do the things which fulfill the second greatest commandment, both to those within and without.  Do we "wash each others' feet?"

God's Planned Hour

John 13:1-4   
1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. 2 And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray Him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, 4 rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself.

God had the plan in place before Jesus stepped into the world, and so the Son knew exactly when it was time to leave it to return to Father God. He loved those who were His fully, the enemy made desperate plans to vainly stop Jesus, and Jesus then demonstrated serving to those called out to Himself.  God determined in advance all these things, calling some to Himself while knowing the gates of hell could not overcome His called out ones - the church. So we must continue to follow and serve as He demonstrated, knowing His call.

Son has Father's Authority

John 12:47-50   
47 And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48 He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. 49 For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. 50 And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.”

Jesus has the authority as God to command we have life that cannot end - not just existing forever in hell, but eternally in God's very presence with joy instead of the torment we deserve. If we believe Him, we receive life; if we reject Jesus, we receive completed justice, the sentence on our sin from birth. We can therefore but turn and live by believing He died in our place by grace to find life.

Praise of Men, or God?

John 12:41-43 
41 These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him. 42 Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

The prophet Isaiah saw God's glory long before Jesus came to us, and many saw this and believed - but the religious leaders wanted their own importance and kicked out anyone who did not go along and reject Jesus.  Even now some will go by the name of Christ, yet only as it profits them.  Those disagreeing by believing what God said in the Bible they shun or attack.  But those of us who were blind yet now see find joy in all God said and did for us, humbly receiving grace over judgment in knowing we deserve one and cannot attain the other.

Blinded and Hardened to Signs

John 12:37-40 
37 But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, 38 that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: “Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” 39 Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again: 40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, Lest they should see with their eyes, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.”

Some cannot believe because God has closed their eyes and ears of their hearts, choosing to show Himself to the ones He chooses.  This is a hard saying, and so many refuse to believe even when they see God working in front of them and hear of all He does around them.  For those who believe what we hear God shows His power, mercy, and goodness because He opened our eyes and heart.

Walk in Light as Sons

John 12:35-36 
35 Then Jesus said to them, “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.

We see clearly what is in front of us when light shines our way.  So it is with Christ - we are blind to what is around us and above us until He opens our eyes to truly see. With opened eyes we know where we are going, for we have believed the light of the world and are God's children of His light. Jesus is only hidden to those unable to see.

Lifted Up to Lift Us Up

John 12:32-34 
32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” 33 This He said, signifying by what death He would die. 34 The people answered Him, “We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever; and how can You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?”

Jesus rose from death in order to draw people, not to offer a free deal to all.  He calls and we respond as we are made able because He died to offer us life and righteousness. The Christ, the messiah, does exist forever - through death into eternity from where He came. As the Son of Man, Jesus provides this certainty of hope (no mere wish) because He died as one of us to make payment on God's just wrath to give deliverance and reconciliation to us who He calls and draws out. 

Saved for This Hour

John 12:27-31 
27 “Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.” 29 Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to Him.” 30 Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake. 31 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.

Jesus as a man was troubled to go through the beatings and crucifixion, but as God knew the purpose to glorify the Father and defeat the ruler of this world in final judgment. So the Father spoke from above as thunder, promising glory through it all. So Jesus came, spoke good news, suffered, was beaten, hung on a tree to die, and then rose from the grave - that glorifies God and gives us a certain hope.

Honored to Serve

John 12:24-26 
24 Most assuredly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 He who loves his life will lose it. He who hates his life in this world will keep it to eternal life. 26 If anyone serves me, let him follow me. Where I am, there will my servant also be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

We must all die to live. The old has gone and the new has come when we are reborn by faith in the Son of God alone. Only then can we bear true fruit of righteousness to Him, and that means giving up the hold on our life to live towards eternity. So serving Christ we honor and glorify the God who made and sustains us, and so are honored by Him.

Greeks Wish to see Jesus

John 12:20-23 
20 Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast. 21 Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus. 23 But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified.

Those who were not Jews, God's people, wanted to talk with Jesus and asked His followers to see the men.  But Jesus pointed beyond just seeing or speaking to the fact that He was about to be glorified in the torture, ridicule, death, burial, and resurrection.  But even the disciples only vaguely knew what Jesus meant. The hour had come and Jesus had said most of what He came to tell the world. Now it was time to come and see Jesus glorified.

Behold Your King!

John 12:12-19 
12 The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: “Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ The King of Israel!” 14 Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written: 15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion; Behold, your King is coming, Sitting on a donkey's colt.” 16 His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him. 17 Therefore the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of his tomb and raised him from the dead, bore witness. 18 For this reason the people also met Him, because they heard that He had done this sign. 19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, “You see that you are accomplishing nothing. Look, the world has gone after Him!”

Those seeing Lazarus brought to life came to see Jesus enter Jerusalem, putting down branches and quoting the Old Testament about the Messiah as King coming. Not even they probably knew who He was, but were moved to worship - and the Pharisees grew more afraid and frustrated as the world went after Jesus. Later the disciples understood as we can also look back to see God's sovereignty on display on the way to the cross.  Our King came, died, and rose again to accomplish everything.

Lazarus, Hope of Resurrection

John 12:9-11 
9 Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. 10 But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, 11 because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.

While coming together to celebrate the week of Passover, Jesus sat with Lazarus - many came to see a dead man and the one who brought him back to life after being dead 4 days. The religious leaders looked for ways to kill the evidence as well as Jesus for claiming to be God and ruining their religious system with its power and control over others.  So others like Hus were killed for revealing the truth of Christ and His work to justify us by faith alone. But we fight the good fight.

Fragrance Filled the Air in Honor

John 12:3-8 
3 Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. 4 But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, who would betray Him, said, 5 “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it. 7 But Jesus said, “Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. 8 For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.”

A gift for Jesus to honor His death was turned by Judas to disdain because he wanted the monetary value to take for himself. Even as the aroma of his perceived waste filled the room, personal gain filled his heart and crowded out any honor to glorify God. We can always earn money and help the poor; to honor God with our hearts and possessions reveals where our love lies.

Christ Died for His People

John 11:49-53   
49 And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, 50 nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.” 51 Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad.  53 Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death.

Jesus did many things which revealed who He is, and so the religious leaders were afraid of losing their standing and political security.  So they began looking for ways to kill Jesus. One even said it was best for Him to die in place if all the rest. So true, for that is what happened on the cross.  So in the 16th century others stood up and pointed to Christ Alone as the one who died for all, and the political church of those dark times sought to stop those like Luther bringing out God's word and the gospel to bring light and life. 

Take Away the Stone!

John 11:39-43 
39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” 41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42 And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” 43 Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!”

Even after being dead for four days, nothing was too hard for God among us.  He showed God's glory by doing the impossible, bringing a quite obviously dead man back to a normal life. All so we could see and believe Him, trusting what Jesus told us is true and sent as the Messiah to die and come back to life for us.  So we can trust He will do the same for us!

Resurrection and the Life

John 11:23-27
23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

When faced with death, Martha trusted in the sure hope of life after death - a resurrection to life. Jesus made it clear that He was that hope. Faith in Christ means death will be followed by life again, and we will never die again.  But this only is through Jesus the Christ who came into the world to die and be the forerunner of resurrection from the grave - so we have a certain, demonstrated hope of forever!

No Stumbling in the Light

John 11:7-10 
7 Then after this He said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” 8 The disciples said to Him, “Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone You, and are You going there again?” 9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10 But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”

Jesus faced being stoned to death for saying He was God, yet as divine went into danger in the daylight to dispel the darkness.  He told the disciples, and us, that we must keep our eyes on the light of the world and not the darkness around us.  If we keep our eyes on Jesus, we can see where we are going to avoid stumbling.  Without Him we stumble about aimlessly in the dark.  We now have God's word available for the last 500 years after being suppressed to be able to see the light. Post tenebras lux.

Many Believed in Him

John 10:39-42 
39 Therefore they sought again to seize Him, but He escaped out of their hand. 40 And He went away again beyond the Jordan to the place where John was baptizing at first, and there He stayed. 41 Then many came to Him and said, “John performed no sign, but all the things that John spoke about this Man were true.” 42 And many believed in Him there.

Jesus was able to not let others take hold of Him for the wrong reasons, yet still openly allow those who believed Him by His works to draw near. Because Jesus was divine, He could do things such as make wine from water and give life to a man dead for four days - and call some to open the eyes of their hearts to believe as others refused to do so.  It started with John at that place calling for repentance...

Believe the Works

John 10:34-38 
34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your law, “I said, ‘You are gods” ’? 35 If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), 36 do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? 37 If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; 38 but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.”

Corrupt judges were called God's representatives - so how much more the real God, Jesus the Son, be called more than God's judge?  He is God Himself, demonstrated by miraculous deeds no mere mortal could do.  So Jesus pointed to believe those if they would not believe His word.  When we see the Son, there is the Father who spoke and things just were because He made the universe and us in it.

Jesus Declared Himself God

John 10:30-33 
30 I and My Father are one.” 31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him. 32 Jesus answered them, “Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?” 33 The Jews answered Him, saying, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God.”

Jesus was almost stoned to death because He made himself God by saying He and the Father are one.  He equaled Himself with God, and that was blasphemy to the Jews who said there is only one God; they could not accept that God was Father, Son, and Spirit in one God.  His nature is not as ours, so we deny this truth.  The things Jesus did even proved who Jesus is, yet denial and violence riled against truth, even as it does today.

Sheep Hear and Follow Forever

John 10:26-29 
26 But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. 27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand.

Why do some refuse to believe Jesus?  To put it simply, they are not His sheep, so they cannot hear His call over others. This Shepherd gives life unending with assurance of its certainty and absolute security - nobody can take His away from Him (including ourselves). God gives to His Son, and we are held secure by the promise and faithful character of God Himself.  This is the true God and eternal life.

Jesus' Power Over Death

John 10:17-21 
17 “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. 18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.” 20 And many of them said, “He has a demon and is mad. Why do you listen to Him?” 21 Others said, “These are not the words of one who has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

Jesus was not raised from death by God the Father, but raised Himself as God the Son - not only did Jesus make blind men see, as God He has power over life and death.  So who do you say Jesus is?  Just a man, or God among us?  Only He can give you life as you take Him at His word and submit to Him in admitting you sin against God and trust His Son alone for deliverance from justice. No religion or philosophy offers this free redemption.

His Sheep Hear His Call

John 10:13-16 
13 The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. 15 As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.

Jesus knows us and so we know Him; we don't know those who claim to know another way to God, because we do not belong to them in the first place. He also laid down His life for us, whereas false leaders expect us to die for them instead. So He brought Jew and Gentile together by His suffering, death, burial, and resurrection.  We can trust Him because we know Him and what He has done. This is not true for any other way.

Christ is the Only Door to Life

John 10:7-10 
7 Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

We who are Christ's hear His call and enter through Him to life, not listening to those leading nowhere.  Those who offer doors to nowhere only cause ruin in the lives of the ones listening to them - but we are saved from that which leads to God's anger and judgment, finding freedom in life to come and go with Him.  Grace gives us ears to hear and eyes to see, so we listen and follow through the door of Christ to see His glory. 

Sheep Hear the Master's Voice

John 10:1-4 
1 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.

False teachers and religions do not go God's way through Jesus Christ.  They offer another door, one which steals truth and gives no care for the sheep.  Jesus entered the door prepared from the creation of the world as the only way to the Father.  So we who are His sheep hear and follow Him as the only door to life as we know the voice and trust the one we belong to.

Judgment on Self-Righteous

John 9:39-41 
39 And Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.” 40 Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, “Are we blind also?” 41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.

Jesus came not only to save but also to judge the world - He gives sight, but also leaves those blind who in their own power and wisdom claim to see. Such pride of claiming to see apart from God enabling the sight is spiritual blindness that keeps sin in.  The humility of faith acknowledges inability to see unless sight is first given, and allows grace to heal our souls.

Lord, I Believe!

John 9:35-38 
35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, “Do you believe in the Son of God?” 36 He answered and said, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?” 37 And Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.” 38 Then he said, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshiped Him.

Do you believe in the Son of God?  That is the real question we all need to answer for eternity.  This man believed Jesus because He could now see - and worshipped Him.  If we answer who Jesus is and do we believe (have faith in) Him, we see God in the question and answer. 

God Opens Eyes

John 9:30-33 
30 The man answered and said to them, “Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes! 31 Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. 32 Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. 33 If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing.”

Jesus is attacked by those who refuse to admit they miss the mark of God's standards of right, and so claim even to not know where He is from - yet the scriptures already say where. So instead these try to discredit those who have admitted their lost state under His wrath and found forgiveness and a new life. Only the holy God can open blind eyes as Jesus did.  He still does open eyes blinded and dead to Him.

Life From the Dust

John 9:15-17 
15 Then the Pharisees also asked him again how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.” 16 Therefore some of the Pharisees said, “This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.” Others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them. 17 They said to the blind man again, “What do you say about Him because He opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.”

When God heals a man on the outside, many questions cast doubt; when He does the real healing of the soul on the inside, many doubt when we are not instantly perfected and so doubt he changed us.  But he opened our eyes, and the signs of a changed life which continues to change us can be seen - even if denied by those who do works in the dark and do not want to admit they are sinners in the hand of a holy God...

Light and Sight of the World

John 9:6-8 
5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. 7 And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing. 8 Therefore the neighbors and those who previously had seen that he was blind said, “Is not this he who sat and begged?”

Light gives sight; so Jesus made a man's eyes well to see Him and understand who healed him.  The one who made Adam from the ground and breathed life into him now used that same ground to make him anew.  So Jesus makes us new in the whole, new creatures via a second birth as it were, out of more than just dust and breath.  We are reborn in Him to be able to see the height and depth and breadth and unending length of God's love to us in His Son's sacrifice for our hope and His glory.

God's Works Revealed in Us

John 9:1-5 
1 Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. 4 I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

The light came into the world by God's word in creation, and again when that living word brought the light of sight to a grown man born blind.  The man's parents did not sin to bring punishment on their son, nor he himself - God brought light to his eyes to see God's glory. So Jesus is the light of the world to make some of us see so He gets all the glory and allows us to see it. 

Jesus is God, I AM

John 8:56-59 
56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” 57 Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” 59 Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

As God told His name to Moses as "I AM," so Jesus said He was I AM - the one who just exists without beginning or end.  God is who He is.  So is Jesus.  This is how Moses saw Jesus then and to come as a man on earth, God among us, Emmanuel.  Do we see Jesus as God?

Believe to Eternal Life

John 8:50-55 
50 And I do not seek My own glory; there is One who seeks and judges. 51 Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.” ... 54 Jesus answered, “If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing. It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God. 55 Yet you have not known Him, but I know Him. And if I say, ‘I do not know Him,’ I shall be a liar like you; but I do know Him and keep His word.

Keeping God's word in Christ (turn and believe) brings life unending. We honor the Son who honors the Father because we know Him and do what He says. It is not following a set of rules to keep His word, but believing in the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He sent for us to honor and obey.  Do you know, trust, and obey Him?

Only the Elect Hear

John 8:43-47 
43 Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. 46 Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? 47 He who is of God hears God's words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.”

The one who is God's hears Jesus Christ.  The one who does not hear is not God's. Truth can only be heard by those who are God's - the ones He knows and calls out.  Others remain in a lie unless called.  This is why so many heard Jesus speak, but so many were not His sheep and called Him a liar.  They did not have ears to hear.

Truth of the Word Frees Us

John 8:31-36 
31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” .. 34 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

Living in God's word means to hear and trust God is absolutely true. This reveals His truth and is the only way to be set free from our sin and it's just punishment.  We are either slaves of sin or we are His as sons and daughters.  We are truly free only in Christ - through the faith that come only from hearing His word. The truth sets us free indeed.

Who is Jesus Christ?

John 8:25-30 
25 Then they said to Him, “Who are You?” And Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning. 26 I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him.” 27 They did not understand that He spoke to them of the Father. 28 Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. 29 And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” 30 As He spoke these words, many believed in Him.

People still ask who Jesus is as the Son of Man and God.  He told us He and the Father (God) are one - if you see one, you see the other.  He showed us by turning water to wine and bringing Lazarus from death to life after 4 days.  But we refuse to believe what we see and hear when the finger of God stands before us as He did.  He told us to turn from sin, but then to turn to believe in Him who would die for our sentence, freely pardoning and setting us free.  As He speaks, many may yet believe in Him...

Not of This World

John 8:21-24 
21 Then Jesus said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin. Where I go you cannot come.” 22 So the Jews said, “Will He kill Himself, because He says, ‘Where I go you cannot come’?” 23 And He said to them, “You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”

We cannot follow Jesus through the grave and back as those in His time; they sought Jesus in their own wisdom and strength, and still were dying in their sin. He was going to heaven where God our Father is, and made it clear that the only way not to die in our sin is to believe He is the I Am, the Messiah God-man.  Only believing in the divine Jesus as both the I Am and Son of Man keeps us from dying in sin by being saved from wrath in Him.

Know Jesus to Know God

John 8:15-19 
15 You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. 16 And yet if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent Me. 17 It is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is true. 18 I am One who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me.” 19 Then they said to Him, “Where is Your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither Me nor My Father. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also.”

Jesus is the only Judge with the Father. So all He says is testified to by God as Himself who is true. So if we know Jesus, we know God.  This is why we listen to the Son of God to hear God, and what He said is in the Bible for us to hear and know God through Him.

The Light of Life

John 8:12-14 
12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” 13 The Pharisees therefore said to Him, “You bear witness of Yourself; Your witness is not true.” 14 Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from and where I am going.

Light from Jesus allows us to walk and see where we are going.  Without Him we stumble around in the darkness as we try to find the door; but Jesus said He alone is the door, so the light from it draws us to and through Him into that marvelous light. He told us so, and we know it is true because He came from heaven and returned there from the grave.  So he knows and has told us He is that true light that comes int the world. 

Go and Sin No More

John 8:7-11 
7 So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” 9 Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10 When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”

Are we eager to throw rocks at others to say how bad they are and how they must be punished?  But do we look at ourselves and see the guilt and the just punishment we deserve instead?  God is the judge, and He accuses unless we by faith trust in His work on the cross to forgive us.  So let us not condemn others, turn, and then stop sinning against our merciful God.

Nobody Spoke Like Him!

John 7:46-51 
46 The officers answered, “No man ever spoke like this Man!” 47 Then the Pharisees answered them, “Are you also deceived? 48 Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed in Him? 49 But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.” 50 Nicodemus (he who came to Jesus by night, being one of them) said to them, 51 “Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?”

Judging Jesus before listening to what He says goes against the Jewish law - but also against ours today.  Prejudice in a court is out of place, and so with us if we do not hear Jesus first by reading the Bible for ourselves.  Many who dismiss or attack Jesus never listen, only hearing others against Him and not looking for themselves, and don't know what is going on or what is even true.  What do you do?

The Prophet's Coming Foretold

John 7:40-42 
40 Therefore many from the crowd, when they heard this saying, said, “Truly this is the Prophet.” 41 Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Will the Christ come out of Galilee? 42 Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?”

Many read that the Christ was coming, but they told of Bethlehem, not Nazareth of Galilee.  But they did not know of the census and Jesus' family moving, so they refused to fully believe what He said and did based on incomplete knowledge of scripture and events.  So we too must look deep and patiently wait at times for understanding of God's word and work.

Thirsty? Come and Drink

John 7:37-39 
37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

At the festival of booths when prayer for rain was made and remembrance of water flowing from the rock in the wilderness in Israel's journey, Jesus spoke.  He said He was the source of living water in us through faith in Him - who He is and what He offers.  He now gives us His Spirit when we truly repent and believe, taking away the heart of stone, and that new water flows like a river from us.  You have all His Spirit if you are reborn, and without it you are not His.  We in Him honor and please Him as we let Him flow.

Follow Christ after His Resurrection

John 7:33-36 
33 Then Jesus said to them, “I shall be with you a little while longer, and then I go to Him who sent Me. 34 You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you cannot come.” 35 Then the Jews said among themselves, “Where does He intend to go that we shall not find Him? Does He intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks? 36 What is this thing that He said, “You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you cannot come’?”

Jesus knew when He would be crucified.  When He said they would not be able to follow Him, they did not understand that they could not die on a cross, lay in a tomb for days, and then bring themselves back to life and into the Father's presence as only the God-man could.  So we can only follow by being made new and able in Christ the first fruits to follow through death into life.

Know Him Who is Known

John 7:27-31 
27 However, we know where this Man is from; but when the Christ comes, no one knows where He is from.” 28 Then Jesus cried out, as He taught in the temple, saying, “You both know Me, and you know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know. 29 But I know Him, for I am from Him, and He sent Me." 31 And many of the people believed in Him, and said, “When the Christ comes, will He do more signs than these which this Man has done?”

The Jews did not see the scriptures telling where Jesus would come from, but the real issue of where the Christ was to come was not the town but from above.  The signs He did were only to backup the words as divine in origin. So they should see and know where He is from - God the Father in heaven.  So we should see and remember who He is as well; not what we are expected to by men or even churches, but from what He has said already.

Don't Judge by Appearance

John 7:21-24 
21 Jesus answered and said to them, “I did one work, and you all marvel. 22 Moses therefore gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. 23 If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so that the law of Moses should not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath? 24 Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”

Jesus healed a man on a day that religious leaders said no work could be done on, yet they did a work all the time to satisfy the letter of the Law for circumcision (before Moses' law).  So Jesus pointed out the real issue, that of their hearts not using righteous judgment.  They were looking at the outward acts as absolute and absolutely missed caring for others in the process.  Loving God first and others next is why laws were given to show us righteousness. 

Jesus' Authority

John 7:15-18 
15 And the Jews marveled, saying, “How does this Man know letters, having never studied?” 16 Jesus answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. 17 If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority. 18 He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him.

Jesus spoke with authority because He is more than just a man; as God, as His living word, Jesus knew evert jot and tittle of all scripture.  He was the author of it, and they did not understand how he could know more than they of Jewish academia.  Pride and disbelief drove them to seek their own glory over God's.  But the Messiah was sent sinlessly to glorify the Father as we were meant to do and would if it were not for our sin.

World's Works are Evil

John 7:4-8   
4 For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” 5 For even His brothers did not believe in Him. 6 Then Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil. 8 You go up to this feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, for My time has not yet fully come.”

People who don't believe Jesus demand that He dance to their flutes, they say He must show Himself in the ways and at the times they command.  Yet Jesus knows the beginning to the end and has plans set by His word to accomplish.  So the world hates the Jesus who does not fit their own doctrine of expectations.  Yet Jesus still goes and does as told in His time.  Our time is always to follow; His time and ours is in His hands.

You Have Words of Eternal Life!

John 6:66-69 
66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. 67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” 68 But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Many left Jesus when He challenged them with truth and confronted their hearts to repent.  But the 12 (11 actually) were asked if they also wanted to leave, Peter answered for them.  Where else could they go?  They knew Jesus had words that gave unending life with God, and believed He was the Son of God and the Anointed One.  So they followed on to the death - and beyond.  Do we follow at all costs also?

Believe Only if Granted Faith

John 6:64-66 
64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. 65 And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.” 66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.

God knows who will believe, but also has to draw men and grant them to come and be His.  Many who hear that it is up to God to call and grant faith to then believe just walk away angry, because pride says they must do it in their own power.  Jesus said we must be called out, and He knows who we are that are enabled to believe - all by His work and grace, not ours enabled by rules or others, but by Christ alone. 

Words of Spirit and Life

John 6:60-63 
60 Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?” 61 When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.

When we are faced with difficult things from God's words, we can question and complain, or turn an ear to hear and remember that Jesus rose from the grave, alive forevermore.  He gives us that same life by His Spirit; our own efforts and abilities cannot give the understanding that comes only from God.  Our pride therefore takes offense and complains or turns away instead of stopping to listen.

Eat and Drink Christ for Life

John 6:54-58 
54 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. 56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. 58 This is the bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.”

We only find life in Jesus Christ; His body was broken to take our punishment and His blood was given to pay the price, to atone for our sin.  So we can find new life in Him alone and can eat of Him as our whole provision wherever we journey or wander.  Partaking of Christ means living forever in and with Him.

Come Only If Drawn to Christ

John 6:44-47   
44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me. 46 Not that anyone has seen the Father, except He who is from God; He has seen the Father. 47 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.

When God draws someone, He gives them ears that can hear and teaches them as they are called and come to Him through Christ. The time He opens our eyes is when the faith to trust with active belief becomes the moment of rebirth that has assurance of life forever with Him - now and through death. This mystery of drawing and calling out to a new life is as the wind blowing, the unseen but felt work of God in those He calls, justifies, and glorifies.

None Lost, Eternity Gained

John 6:38-40 
38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. 40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

Jesus called out those given by the Father.  He lost none really His (Judas was not), and promises life forever with Him to all who are His.  So we are called out, enabled to believe with eyes opened and ears unstopped so we can believe to receive Jesus Christ and be reborn.  Our hope of final resurrection is proven by His, and His we are!

Elect All Come to Christ for Bread

John 6:34-37 
34 Then they said to Him, “Lord, give us this bread always.” 35 And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.

Being consumed with Jesus Christ means we never go hungry or thirst for those things which satisfy the soul.  But this only comes when we see who He is and believe what He told us.  That leads to forgiveness and marks us as His forever - nobody (not even ourselves) can change His work by throwing us out.  Have we consumed and are we consumed by Him?

Manna from Heaven

John 6:30-33 
30 Therefore they said to Him, “What sign will You perform then, that we may see it and believe You? What work will You do? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ” 32 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

God gave Israel manna as bread down from heaven for forty years; it was not Moses, but God, and now here He does again coming down to allow us to partake of God Himself with life giving bread. Jesus Christ is who we eat of, not a teacher or leader or prophet.  Only God gives life, and we find our nourishment in fellowship and union with Him.

Acceptable Work is to Believe

John 6:28-29   
28 Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”

We try to do good things to earn a way to God, but we all fall short and never can work the true work of God - to believe Jesus Christ whom He sent.  This is the good news, that all our work fall shot but one, His work we trust and believe fully and only in.

Work for Eternal Food

John 6:25-27   
25 And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, “Rabbi, when did You come here?” 26 Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. 27 Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”

People followed after Jesus to hear more, such as here where He walked out to catch a boat to the other side of the lake and they could not find Him. More importantly, Jesus told them why they did it - because they ate from multiplied food that made them hungry for more. Then Jesus pointed out the real desire should be for everlasting food for the soul that only He can give (the anointed one, the Messiah/Christ). If they had ears to hear...

Peace in the Storm

John 6:18-21 
18 Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing. 19 So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid. 20 But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” 21 Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.

Fear in life's storms comes when we stare at the tempest and not the one over it all.  Jesus came to the disciples walking over the waves to bring them peace.  So He does for us when we face dark and tumultuous times in our lives. So we continue to do what is right, keep our eyes on Him, and walk on in trusting faith that knows these things. We will get to land in the boat with Him. 

Suffering Servant

John 6:15 
Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.

Jesus came as Messiah to rule, but not as the people thought - they tried to make Him an earthly King, while Jesus wanted to rule their hearts.  So He went away from the crowd to pray and then kept telling us why He came until it was time for sacrifice and the beginning of a spiritual kingdom to begin in men's hearts and souls. 

Nothing Lost

John 6:12-14 
12 So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.” 13 Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. 14 Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.”

Feeding 5,000 with 5 loaves of bread made everyone there believe Jesus was the prophet spoken of who would come.  But Jesus was the manna from heaven sent to feed us from Himself, to partake of Him in a new life with God as Spirit living in us.  The miracle was not in feeding so many, but feeding so many from Himself.  There is always enough left over for more.

Faith Tested for Sustenance

John 6:2-6   
2 Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased. 3 And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples. 4 Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near. 5 Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” 6 But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.

Many came to Jesus for a miracle, not wanting to suffer any more.  But Jesus was concerned for their sustenance, and asked the disciples where to get food - yet Jesus knew already He would provide it without cost.  So He began to test their faith and show them again where all comes from, the hand of God Himself.  This is where we also receive all we need for both life and godliness.

OT Speaks of Christ

John 5:45-47   
45 Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you—Moses, in whom you trust. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. 47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”

The Jews had God's word from Moses and the prophets, who all pointed to Jesus the Messiah.  Yet they did not accept that they fell short of God's standards in their hearts and motives, and  missed that they also with the nations were accused by God and under His wrath.  So by not believing Jesus' words, they did not believe the Old Testament.  God's written word as a man told them.  Do we accept all of the Bible as from God, and listen to how Jesus explained it all?  It is all or none, and none leaves us under judgment we are due...

Seek Honor from God

John 5:41-44   
41 “I do not receive honor from men. 42 But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you. 43 I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. 44 How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?

So few honor Jesus Christ as God's Son; they honor others for their deeds or position and welcome honor for themselves, yet reject God come to offer life in reconciliation.  To believe in Christ one must seek honor from God for believing His words and not from others.  Religion will not honor God, only honoring what He said - Jesus is the only way, truth, and life in the only God.  Do we honor Him in all things?

Search the Scriptures!

John 5:36-40 
36 But I have a greater witness than John's; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me. 37 And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. 38 But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. 39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. 40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.

John witnessed who Jesus was, but so did the impossible works Jesus did.  But above that, God the Father testified, especially through all the scriptures from Genesis to Malachi. Jesus as the Son heard the Father's voice, while others did not.  So many search the bible to see Jesus, but are unwilling to come to Him for forgiveness and life.  When God calls, He enables the ear to hear and eye to see by faith; otherwise we do not believe any witness or testimony.