John 17:1-3 - Jesus Prays That He Might Glorify the Father

John 17:1-3

1 Jesus spoke these things; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You, 2 even as You gave Him authority over all flesh, that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life. 3 This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

Message: Jesus Prays That He Might Glorify the Father

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."  

What the Lord is Saying: Since chapter 14, Jesus has been speaking over a small period of time in what has been labeled as His Farewell Discourse and now in chapter 17 this is often called the High Priestly Prayer of Jesus. 

Intercession is interesting. In Numbers 14, most of the chapter is an exchange between Moses and the Lord. The Lord speaks and then Moses pleads for his people. Moses asks for the forgiveness of Israel and God grants Moses' request and doesn't kill them, but does punish them. In 2 Chronicles 30:27 it is the Levitical priests who speak on behalf of the people. Hebrews 7:25 says of Jesus, "Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them."

As Jesus begins, we see this is a prayer as it describes Jesus, "lifting up His eyes to heaven." I have always thought it was interesting how we always bow to pray. I wonder if we do this so as to not be distracted and yet in some ways it seems more natural to speak to God in the way we speak to one another but with the difference of looking up to the heavens. 

Jesus says, "Father, the hour has come." John 7:30, "His hour had not yet come." John 8:20, "His hour had not yet come." John 12:23, "Jesus [answered them], saying, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified." - The Hour is the appointed time for Lord's death on the cross. And though while here in this verse it is not yet arrived, the events that culminate it have begun. This is the time. It has arrived. There isn't a surprise. This time has been planned. 

And then Jesus speaks of himself in the third person asking the Father to glorify Himself, the Son. I wonder if Jesus is speaking of His divinity in referring to the Son. This hour that is coming is the result of Jesus being glorified - Jesus' work on earth being completed. Jesus has really done a lot on earth, in a short amount of time. 

In this passage, as has been the focus very often in this gospel - Jesus is pointing to the Father. Now, is he just doing this to make his message more palpable to his audience, primarily Jews? Possibly. Or Possibly his focus is meant to be on God the Father. 

On a typical Sunday at church, I often will people watch and observe what is going on in the church and one thing I notice in our church, more than others I have attended is the complete focus on Jesus. The song selection is really focused on Him. I suppose as I read scripture I see this very even focus in Scripture on all members of the Trinity and as I read John, I see a focus that Jesus has often on the Father. 

The focus in these words is what God has done - "You gave Him authority over all flesh." Jesus and the Father clearly have the same authority. And this authority has a purpose, "He may give eternal life." This is the purpose of Jesus - to give eternal life to all, in His name. If there is one big message in the book of John this is it -- the giving of eternal life to all in the name of Jesus from the authority of the Father. 

John 17:3 is such a huge verse that Jesus is speaking, "This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." To know God, the only true God and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. Eternal life is what we want. We want to know that our future is secure. We don't want to go to another place of not being with God. We are selfish in this way. We only want good things to come in our life. We hate mistakes and bad times and situations. But Jesus takes us beyond what we want to declare that the goal of our lives is to know God. We are to know God. Life is about knowing God. And Jesus Christ. This is the purpose of God's spirit, to communicate the knowledge of Jesus and what He has done and Jesus is all about the Father and His business. 

Summary: Jesus voices in this prayer that the hour has come for the son to be glorified with the Father. Jesus came to give us all eternal life and this is a life of knowing God and His Son Jesus. 

Promise: "This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent."

Prayer: Lord, what a joy it is always to read and study your word and specifically the words you have given to us through John and the difference a little in his emphasis from the other gospel writers, namely that Jesus gives eternal life. That is clear and remains clear. Lord, I love to study your words but it remains hard at times to talk to people and spend time sharing with others and conveying these words that I am learning and talk to people open and honestly about them. Lord, your words seem clear. I am to know God and in the process I receive eternal life, but my zeal and goal in life is knowing God. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

John 14:4-6 - The Only Way to the Father

John 14:4-6 

4 And you know the way where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me."

Message: The Only Way to the Father

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."  

What the Lord is Going: Always interesting to see the context of those verses that we hold on so much to in our lives. Jesus is preparing to be glorified and will be going somewhere the disciples will not be able to go - maybe dying and then returning again when He is resurrected. But the point of this verse is the disciples are struggling with Jesus' words. He is instructing them and asking them to trust Him. Peter wondered in 13:36 where Jesus was going. And now Thomas as well in verse 5 wants assurance of the way. Jesus expands on this idea, moving us to the understand that He is the Way - He is the Truth - He is the Life -- The Way to the Father is through Him. 

This entire book has been Jesus asking people to believe in Him. To trust that He has been sent by the Father. Everywhere this message is key to this gospel. And the plot thickens and now Jesus says that the only way to get to the Father is through Him. Radical statement. And in some ways this text is a turning point to the rest of this gospel. This idea has already been central to this book when Jesus stated:

• John 4:14 - Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life. 
• John 5:24 - Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.
• John 6:35 - Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst."
• John 6:40 - For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”
• John 6:51 - I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.”
• John 7:37-38 - If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’
• John 8:12 - Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”
• John 8:58 - Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am." 
• John 10:9 - I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 
• John 11:25-26 - Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”

So now to say, "I am the way, the truth, the life, no one comes to the Father, bur through Me" is simply a culmination of all that He has said so far. 

Summary: Like Peter, Thomas does not know where Jesus is going when He says is going away, but Jesus confirms He is the only way to the Father. 

Promise: Let us resolve never to deny that Christ is the only way to the Father, and let us pray for strength to confess this truth no matter the pressure to say salvation is available through other means as well.

Prayer: O Lord, Your message is clear and consistent and yet it is hard when people don't understand You. And yet You have said some will not. It is hard for those to keep their blinders on. Help me to be good about giving a response even when I struggle to do this. It helps me and helps my faith. Help me to continue to speak Your truth. Thank You for being clear in Your word. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

John 12:44-46 - Seeing the Son, Seeing the Father

John 12:44-46

44 And Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me, does not believe in Me but in Him who sent Me. 45 He who sees Me sees the One who sent Me. 46 I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness.

Message: Seeing the Son, Seeing the Father

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."  

What the Lord is Saying: In the previous lesson, I saw how John mentions that there were some rulers that believed in Him. Prior to this there was mention of some that despite the signs they were receiving they still did not believe and this unbelief was actually a fulfillment of prophecy. But there were some who believed, like rulers. Yet while believing, their external witness of their belief was still met with fear of being put out of the synagogue. It made me wonder first of all if their belief was real. It also made me wonder if believing in Jesus meant not being part of the synagogue, but some sort of different fellowship. But John mentions while believing they still sought the approval of men, which can be a problem still today, even with me. 

And so now the rest of this chapter will be Jesus speaking, from verse 44 through verse 50. These verses form a paragraph as recorded in my Bible (that division of words being a conclusion of the translators). In these words, Jesus will now again talk about His relationship to the Father and that union He has with the Father to the point that believing in Jesus is actually believing in God. Jesus is God's representative. 

Much of this chapter has been about believing - believing that Lazarus was risen from the dead, Following belief in Jesus should be a desire for the approval of God and yet people can still at times continue to seek the approval of man instead. 

At first, I am looking at verses 44-46 today and seeing a few different ideas:

(1) Believing in Jesus is actually believing in the Father who sent Jesus. As I saw previously in John 3:16, God loves us so much and therefore sent His son. It all starts with God's love or God's desire and I think Jesus is trying to communicate this idea to the Jewish people. Jesus has come on the scene and sort of upset their notion of God. Many were still learning about Jesus and many were not sure about who Jesus is and that it was important to believe in Him. Many felt like their belief in God was enough. Some are believing but some are not. And this will continue throughout history. As Jesus says in verse 44, "He who believes in Me, does not believe in Me but in Him who sent Me."

(2) Jesus has a special union with God the Father for He states that Seeing Jesus is seeing God - verse 45, "He who sees Me sees the One who sent Me." Jesus is saying there is no difference. He is asking people not to choose Jesus over the Father. Jesus is not saying He is better than the Father. This is important because I think some future false prophets will proclaim themselves not only equal with God but better than God. It is hard to not then conclude that Jesus and God are the same in essence. I might live my life in a way to point it to God and give Glory to God through my life, but I would not say that seeing me is the same as seeing Father God. We are different than God and different Jesus. Man is different. 

(3) After establishing this union He has with God, Jesus remarks that He is the light of the world. Without believing in Jesus, people live in darkness or separation from God. And believing in Jesus transforms a person from darkness to light. "I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness." Jesus said this in John 8:12 previously, "I am the light of the world, he who follow Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life." Something happens to a person when they are awakened by the Spirit of God and now walk in the Light. Darkness is still present in their life as they give in to sin or the ways of the world, but they now see life differently. There is a revelation that occurs, a sensitivity to the things of God, a recognition that we see our condition as sinners, in need of a Savior, not able to save ourselves, and live to Glorify God. It is a transformation that I notice. It is not simply a desire to go to church, but is deeper than that as this is a person that wants the things of God. 

None of these verses are unique to John. I think we have heard them before in what He has said. 

Summary: Believing in Jesus is believing in God who sent Jesus, and seeing Jesus is seeing God and believing in Jesus transforms people away from living in darkness. 

Promise: We must be insistent that the only way to see and to know God is to believe in Jesus alone for salvation.

Prayer: God, you have sent Jesus to this world and I believe that you sent Him and I believe in Him and by believing my life has been transformed. It is such a clear transformation that has occurred. Thank you for transforming me and yet it is is hard to be transformed while others are not - to see see that notion of darkness showing up in people's lives and them still living in it. Lord, I pray that you would transform lives and that you would transform people from darkness to light. Wake people up. Help them see You as never before. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

John 10:31-42 - Charges of Blasphemy Refuted

John 10:31-42

31 The Jews picked up stones again to stone Him. 32 Jesus answered them, “I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?” 33 The Jews answered Him, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God.” 34 Jesus answered them, “Has it not been 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 them, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father.” 39 Therefore they were seeking again to seize Him, and He eluded their grasp.

40 And He went away again beyond the Jordan to the place where John was first baptizing, and He was staying there. 41 Many came to Him and were saying, “While John performed no sign, yet everything John said about this man was true.” 42 Many believed in Him there.

Message: Charges of Blasphemy Refuted

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)." 

What the Lord is Saying: After Jesus says in 10:30, "I and the Father are one" these Jews immediately pick up stones to stone Him for they recognize that the words of Jesus are that He is making Himself equal to God and they believe this to be blasphemy. Jesus then responds to them speaking further about himself being the Son of God. The Jews do not respond favorably and want to seize him, but he eludes their grasp. Chapter 10 then concludes that Jesus has left to go beyond the Jordan to the place where John had first been baptizing. And many believed in Him there. 

Deuteronomy 13:1-5 is a tough passage for it says that false prophets shall be put to death or executed. It speaks of people coming and asking you to serve other gods that you do not know. I think this could also mean people who ascribe to God ways about Him that are not true, thus they fashion God into their own image rather than accepting Him for Who He is. Perhaps at this time, this is what the Jews were doing, though they were simply at that moment trying to seize Him but they thought Jesus was making Him out to be equal with God. 

Jesus states that He is the Son of God and that the works that He is doing support the idea that the Father is in Him and He in the Father. I was speaking to a Muslim man a couple of weeks ago that said no where does it say that Jesus states He is God and yet these words mention that He and the Father are one and then the Jews of the day go to stone Him and He comes back that they need to look at the work that He does and they will see that the Father is in Him and He is in the Father. I wish I would have responded with these words at the time. 

Believers can state that they are in God and God in them. John 3:21, "But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.” Romans 8:9 - "However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him." These words are different though from Jesus saying in response to him and the father being One that He is basically of the same essence of God. Jesus is still responding to the question of who He is? For the other writings are speaking of practicing our faith and that as we practice we can be in Christ as doing the work of Christ. This is different from what Jesus said when he was stating that His works will testify that the Father is in Him and He is in the Father. 

Tabletalk says, "If Scripture can call men gods who are in reality not divine, how much more is it right to refer to the One who is God as the Lord and Creator of all?" This is to explain how Jesus responds initially to being confronted about blasphemy. Jesus responds by first saying that in scripture, going back to Psalm 82:6 where it says, "I said, “You are gods, and all of you are sons of the Most High."  

Hmm. I don't understand that word from Ligonier at the moment and the referencew to Psalm 82 seems still to be confusing. So in trying to understand Psalm 82 a little more, My Open Bible says Psalm 82 is "Rebuke of Israel's Unjust Judges." I notice in the NIV and KJV the reading is a little different as verse 1 of Psalm 82 says, "God presides in the great assembly; he renders judgment among the “gods”." So NIV and KJV says among the "gods" instead of NASB saying "in the midst of the rulers." So rulers in this passage are gods. Verse 1 - God takes a stand and judges even the rulers, even the gods. Both are elohim, but the particles are different. One means God the most high and the other a man, probably what rulers were sometimes called in that day. So these judges, while all ordained by God, are not doing what they are supposed to be doing as judges. Verse 2 - they judge unjustly. Verse 2 - they show partiality to the wicked. And yet they in verse 3, vindicate or act harshly toward the weak and fatherless. Verse 4 God says they need to "Rescue the week and needy; deliver them out of the hand of the wicked." So these rulers which are also called gods are not acting correctly. As such, these rulers or gods are actually instruments of God. The Word of the Lord comes to these judges, thus they are called sons of Elyon. As such, for Jesus to call Himself the Son of God is not blasphemy. 

Summary: The Jews sought to stone Jesus for speaking a statement of blasphemy but Jesus states God can name him the Son of God, even men from Psalm 82 held this distinction, but Jesus is God incarnate. 

Promise: Christ possesses divine authority inherently according to His divine nature. 

Prayer: Lord, it is a joy to read and study your word, though it takes me time sometimes to understand it. Continue to provide me understanding of Your word here. Thank you for the clarity of Your word in showing that you a mission that many don't understand, but we stand by You and trust in You. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

John 7:25-31 - Speculating About the Christ

John 7:25-31

25 Therefore some of the people of Jerusalem were saying, "Is this not the man whom they are seeking to kill? 26 And look, He is speaking publicly, and they are saying nothing to Him. The rulers do not really know that this is the Christ, do they? 27 However, we know where this man is from; but whenever the Christ may come, no one knows where He is from." 28 Jesus therefore cried out in the temple, teaching and saying, "You both know Me and 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 I know Him; because I am from Him, and He sent Me." 30 They were seeking therefore to seize Him; and no man laid his hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come. 31 But many of the multitude believed in Him; and they were saying, "When the Christ shall come, He will not perform more signs than those which this man has, will He?" 

Message: Speculating About the Christ

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."

What the Lord is Saying: Jesus is still in Jerusalem, having arrived there from Capernaum where he also spoke to people in the synagogue and here in Jerusalem he is speaking in the temple (7:14). In many ways this text today is similar to what He said in Capernaum in the synagogue in which He spoke of the Father having sent Him (6:39). In those verses he mentions He is the Bread of Life (6:48) and in believing in Him a person will have eternal life (6:47). 

He is in Jerusalem sort of incognito. He has arrived there perhaps a little secretly. He will continue to preach but He also knows that His time has not yet come to die on the cross and John lets us know this as well (7:30). 

The difference in these verses is what Jesus says as recorded in verse 28 and 29. First that "He sent Me." He is sent by God the Father. And "I am from Him." I need to remember He is in a different place. While I hear similar words form John 6, Jesus is speaking to a different crowd and perhaps based upon what has been said earlier, a more hostile crowd. There was a hope for the Messiah at this time and for many people they are probably studying Jesus to determine if He is the Christ. 

His words to those that are listening are hard words as He tells them that they do not know God. He says in verse 28, "He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know." This must have angered those listening. In the previous verse it is stated that no one should know where the Messiah has come from. This is what they had been taught and so in Jesus they do not believe He is the Messiah. It is interesting to consider where this idea came from as there instances in the Old Testament that speak of Jesus coming from the seed of a woman (Gen. 3:15). John 7:42 mentions that from the Scripture it says Jesus will come out of the seed of David and out of Bethlehem.  And yet Isaiah 53:2 refers to a root out of dry ground. Isaiah 7:14 says - "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." Many Rabbi's spoke of him not coming from earthly parents or appearing out of the blue, but those were Rabbi's. It seems his origin was varied in ideas. So what Jesus does here is make it clear. He makes it clear that He is from God. He has been sent by God. 

There are more speculations that could be considered, but Jesus has already mentioned His authority in other ways, albeit other cities and other settings. We can be confident in Him and only Him. We must be leery of others who claim being sent by God. 

Summary: Jesus at the temple in Jerusalem now provides clarity that His origin is from the Father, whom they do not know. 

Promise: From Matthew Henry, "This declaration, that they knew not God, with his claim to peculiar knowledge, provoked the hearers; and they sought to take him, but God can tie men's hands, though he does not turn their hearts."

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for your origin and speaking with authority and coming from God and the confident that we can have in You as our Savior and Lord, to this day. Open people's eyes to this. Open my family's eyes and those I am in contact with. Help me to bring light of understand to others as You direct me. Be praise. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.  

John 7:14-24 - Judging with Right Judgment

John 7:14-24

14 But when it was now the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and began to teach. 15 The Jews therefore were marveling, saying, "How has this man become learned, having never been educated? 16 Jesus therefore answered them, and said, "My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me. 17 If any man is willing to do His will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it is of God, or whether I speak from Myself. 18 He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who is seeking the glory of the one who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him. 19 Did not Moses give you the Law, and yet none of you carries out the Law? Why do you seek to kill Me?" 20 The multitude answered, "You have a demon! Who seeks to kill You? 21 Jesus answered and said to them, "I did one deed, and you all marvel. 22 On this account Moses has given you circumcision (not because it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and on the Sabbath you, circumcise a man. 23 If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath that the Law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made an entire man well on the Sabbath? 24 Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment." 

Message: Judging with Right Judgment 

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."

What the Lord is Saying: Jesus is in Jerusalem, having arrived there at the petition of his brothers as all Jews journeyed there for the Feast of Booths. Jesus had stated to his brothers that he would not go with them because he did not want to be at the center of attention as the Jews were seeking to have him killed and this was not yet His time. But here in verse 14 records Jesus going to the temple and people are alarmed at his knowledge and education. 

And as Jesus speaks he mentions once again that He speaks not on His own, but what the Father has sent Him to speak. And the teaching that then is most important is teaching from God. Otherwise a person speaks for His own glory. Jesus' teaching is one to give God all of the glory and there is therefore no unrighteousness in Him. The focus is on obedience to what God has delivered. And so therefore why would someone want to kill Him if He is about His father's business and wanting to give glory to God? 

The multitude respond with surprise, perhaps wondering why someone would kill Jesus over this. 

Jesus then speaks of circumcision and how the Jews did it on the 8th day of the child's life even if that day fell on the Sabbath. Jesus is trying to help them see the hypocrisy of what they state, bothered that He has healed on the sabbath and yet they perform the act of circumcision at times if the 8th day falls on the Sabbath. And so Jesus doing a work of healing on the Sabbath (healing the paralyzed man on the Sabbath) making the point that he should not be judged by which day it is on, but rather the motive of wanting to heal a person and make them well. His point is to not stare at the day of the week, but instead to look at why something is done. In essence, false judgment was Jesus' accusation toward them. 

Can we apply this in other ways? What about the Sabbath day and worshiping on Sunday or Monday or Friday night or some other time than the Sabbath day? Is the day important or is it the motives of the people that gather and worship? The same people want to practice the same thing - worshipping God, so why should it be so important that it is on a certain day. We need to look at the motives. We need to look at what is the intention or overall purpose in doing what we are doing rather than focusing on the letter of the law. There is a danger in this in that we get focused on following the letter of the Law and we start to think that this is all that is really important because we are the only one's that are practicing it correctly. 

I am thinking of a conversation I had with a woman in my office that attends the 7th Day Adventist church that believes that worship can only occur on the Sabbath day. They believe that is the only day. I am fine with them holding on to that day but I don't believe that it is proper then to say other days of worship are invalid. Because then I think we are coming against what Jesus is saying. The day of the week does not matter, but what is the intent of the heart.  

Summary: In Jerusalem, Jesus speaks in the temple, speaking from the will of God, and defends healing on the Sabbath reminding people that we need to remember motives and intention over rule-keeping. 

Promise: By seeking to apply God’s law justly and holding others to the same standard to which we hold ourselves, we can judge with right judgment.

Prayer: O Lord, conversing with people sometimes is difficult and the difference we have in applying and understanding scripture in a certain way is strong. We have so many different brands of churches and beliefs in our world today that I think all have the right focus - to love God and be obedient to Him and yet so many have different definitions of what that means. I pray we as a people can put aside the differences and see what we have in common. Help us to judge rightly and not say one thing and do another. Repair our church body throughout the World and these United States. Help us understand how to be more united. Strike our pride. Thank you for speaking truth here and pricking our heart to understand rightly what You are telling us from the Father. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.  

John 6:45-51 - The Bread of Christ's Flesh

 John 6:45-51

45 It is written in the prophets, 'AND THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT OF GOD.' Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me. 46 Not that any man has seen the Father, except the One who is from God, He has seen the Father. 47 Truly, Truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he shall live forever; and the bread also which I shall give for the life of the world is My flesh." 

Message: The Bread of Christ's Flesh

Time:  John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."

What the Lord is Saying: And so the bread of life discourse continues. Jesus is the bread of life from the Father go give us eternal life, to those who believe. By believing, we will have our most significant need met in Him. We will have no need to hunger and thirst for God's acceptance of us as we will have what we need for all time. The Father provides the Son the people that will believe in Him, drawing them to himself. Jesus will never lose them. Jesus has seen the Father. He is the only one. He is exclusive. 

We are told here that we can eat of the bread, thus we can eat of Jesus. This is interesting as we even observe the Lord's Supper. His body is broken for us and we eat it. We are to take the Lord and He is to be a part of us. He is not simply a trophy in our lives but we are to make Him life, in our life. In contrast to the manna of the wilderness, eating of this bread will bring about eternal life. 

I do not see in these verses any instance of "easy believism" or the idea that just believe and a person is all good and accepted into the kingdom of God. What I see is verses that confirm that the Father is the one that draws the person to an understanding and desire to believe and the person responds in faith. I don't think this is automatic, but the convert has a response of faith. In these verses, the willing person eats of the bread. Again, something is required of the person. 

Throughout this book thus far, the message is simple: believe and receive eternal life. Our response is simple, Answer the Call. 

Summary: We must eat the bread of heaven in order to have eternal life, and this eating consists in believing in Christ. 

Promise: God chooses His elect for salvation, but we cannot know we are saved until we believe. Believe in Him alone this day for salvation. 

Prayer: Lord, the message is clear to me. Believe. I am to answer your call and believe and you will grant me eternal life. I believe God this is the way to be saved. I know some believe this is a way to be saved, only for a certain time, this time, and later on more is required of a person, but these words seem to communicate to me that this is not simply for a time period, but for all time for this is the message throughout this gospel. Continue to enlighten me though Lord. And continue to draw people to an understanding of You. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

John 6:41-44 - Drawing People to Faith

John 6:41-44

41 The Jews therefore were grumbling about Him, because He said, "I am the bread that came down out of heaven." 42 And they were saying, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does He now say, "I have come down out of heaven?" 43 Jesus answered and said to them, "Do not grumble among yourselves. 44 No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day." 

Message: Drawing People to Faith

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."

What the Lord is Saying: The tension is building. Jesus is in the synagogue (v. 59) speaking to the multitudes and explaining further who He is and how He has come into this world to save people, to give them eternal life. John 3:15 says, "that whoever believes may in Him have eternal life." And as John writes this book and tells of Jesus, Jesus making these assertions of Himself is drawing criticism from many. Jesus continues to speak with purpose, that people need to believe in Him. He has stated that He is the bread, giving eternal life, and people do not need to hunger again. The message is being repeated. Jesus is repeating, "everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him, may have eternal life." 

And while the multitudes are present, Jews are also present. And these words are making them feel uneasy and grumble and Jesus brings forth another idea that "No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him." As I have seen before, the Spirit must draw people. The Father must draw people to this belief in Jesus being the bread, the bread of life, that takes away people's sin. People must be born again (John 3:7) and born of the Spirit (John 3:8). 

This continues to be an incredible statement and piece of doctrine that no one comes to God on their own accord, but one must be drawn. And after being rightly drawn, that person will not be lost. In verse 39 Jesus said, "All that He has given Me I lose nothing." None that come to Jesus will ever be lost. So two natural thoughts come to mind - 1. I do know of people that have come to the Lord, admit salvation, and follow the Lord from our perspective. Some even are pastors and have written books to help many, but then turn away from the Lord. And so we seem to be able to conclude that they were never saved. Only Jesus knows who is truly saved. 2. Only certain people are saved. I mean, this is clearly evident in our world today as many people have no regard for God and many are not living their lives in service to Him or love to Him or seeking to love Him with all of their heart, mind, strength. And yet only the Father draws people to Him. I suppose we would rather see people reject Him than God not calling them? 

Albert Barnes states this:

In the conversion of the sinner God enlightens the mind John 6:45, he inclines the will Psalm 110:3, and he influences the soul by motives, by just views of his law, by his love, his commands, and his threatenings; by a desire of happiness, and a consciousness of danger; by the Holy Spirit applying truth to the mind, and urging him to yield himself to the Saviour. So that, while God inclines him, and will have all the glory, man yields without compulsion; the obstacles are removed, and he becomes a willing servant of God.

It is true one must be drawn by God, but one must also yield to God without compulsion. So people are drawn, but people must still respond. So perhaps this is the message we must see in this. That the drawing maybe does not always guarantee the changed life. God is the active agent in people's lives, yes. Without Him, we can do nothing, but as is clear in the scripture, we still must turn to Him and we are asked to turn from Him. 

There are more questions on this. They do continue, but I stop for now. 

Summary: Jesus is the Bread from Heaven, sent by God. God enlightens the mind and urges people to yield themselves to the Savior. 

Promise: We must preach the gospel to all people, trusting God to draw His elect from the nations to Himself. He clearly calls us to preach. Though not always, He wants us to be involved. 

Prayer: Father God, I thank you for these words that You speak, but I admit, they still are words that I have a hard time accepting. I admit. I have heard them spoken and I understand them in theory, but in my heart, I struggle. As I go through this world and see people and watch them, I do clearly see a people that doesn't want to even follow You and know You, but instead do their own thing and define their lives in their own way. For these it seems easier to understand this and yet hard still that it seems they are that way because they haven't been drawn, so why not? Why do some come to faith and some not if God you are the active agent? Lord, I struggle but I am thankful for the grace I have in You, for the calling, for elevating me to eternal life and for the special union I have in Christ. For me, I am greatly blessed, but still hard to be with others that don't have that same peace and that possibly Lord you have not drawn them. But, help me Lord. Help me to understand this text further, of what You mean by Your words here. And bring to me peace. I will continue to preach and share and await with expectation changed lives for You. You are there and truly there and I need You. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

John 5:30-36 - Testifying to Jesus

John 5:30-36

30 I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 31 If I alone bear witness of Myself, My testimony is not true. 32 There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the testimony which He bears of Me is true. 33 You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. 34 But the witness which I receive is not from man, but I say these things that you may be saved. 35 He was the lamp that was burning and was shining and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. 36 But the witness which I have is greater than that of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish, the very works that I do, bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me. 

Message: Testifying to Jesus

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."

What the Lord is Saying: Jesus continues to speak, answering (v. 19) the Jews (v. 18) and how they were seeing Him do things on the sabbath day that they felt He should not do, but also was God His own Father (v. 17), making Himself equal with God. 

And Jesus testifies that He does what He sees the Father doing. The Father begot the Son, yes. And yet the two have always existed. In believing in Jesus we have eternal life (v. 24) and Jesus has the same authority as the Father (v. 27). 

Jesus mentions (recorded in v. 30) that He works not on His own, but on the initiative of the Father. His judgment is just, because He does it by the will of Him (Father God) who sent Him. 

He makes it plain that He cannot bear witness of alone Himself (v. 31). An interesting note because of how many other religions get started because of one person's testimony or belief or even thought of God's appearance on their life. And then afterwards seek out others to bear witness, but the witness of Jesus is first from John. His witness precedes His testimony to people. Again, I think of two notable individuals in history that started religions - Mohammed and Joseph Smith. Would not their arrival been true if their was someone that preceded their arrival? And yet, neither had such a person. And there are many more like this in which someone self-proclaims themselves. 

And then He shows that His true calling and true witness is greater than John, but of the Father (v. 36). He is sent by the Father. The witness of Jesus is not merely from a man though this is of great impact to many hearers. But Jesus is clear that his chief witness is that He is from God (v. 34). 

As I look further at verse 35 in which Jesus refers to John as the lamp, I also remember John 1:8 in which John states, "He was not the light, but came that he might bear witness of the light." And yet I am not sure of its similarity to this text as Jesus speaks of John being the lamp and people rejoiced in his light. 

But not only John and not only the Father, Jesus remarks that His works, the miracle He performs are a testimony of His teaching. It is not only others that have come, but His work itself testifies of the greatness of who He is. Again, he is set apart from others by what He has done. Sometimes I have not held highly the works of Jesus because Jesus I think often thought that people just came to Him to see the outcome or benefit from the outcome of His healings, but I need to also remember that it His healings and miracles that also speak and testify that He is sent by God. 

Summary: John testified of Jesus prior to His coming and Jesus is sent by the Father and in the miracles He performed this also testified of Him. 

Promise: We have much to proclaim to us of the validity of Jesus - His own teaching, the witness of John the Baptist, the witness of the Father, and the witness of our Lord's miracles. 

Prayer: Lord, You are good. Your ways are true. They are right and Lord, your ways are great because of who came before You and who sent You and then Your works also testify of who you are. You are not simply one that came with words, but others prepared your way and Your words testify of You. Help me to remember this and remember this - to help to testify of You continually. You are to be praised and glorified. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

John 5:19-24 - Father and Son Together

John 5:19-24

Jesus therefore answered and was saying to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing, for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing, and greater works than these will He show Him, that you may marvel. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes. For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, in order that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father, He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. Truly, Truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. 

Message: Father and Son Together

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."

What the Lord is Saying: [Note: Well, I've done it again and that is it has taken me a while to get to the next lesson, not yet getting to a message now for the month of September. I was asked to give the message in Sunday School and it had me focused every day for the last 7 days on that message and preparing for it. I did it on Psalm 23. Before that, had computer issues in the house and couldn't log on to the internet and had work troubles in the morning with us not meeting lineup and trying to understand that. Always something. So now I am back to the lessons.]

In my Open Bible (NAS), this section (v.19-30) is called "Equality with God in Power." This has been an interesting chapter for me. Reading Chapters 3 and 4, the main idea I saw was the promise of eternal life that we have for believing in Him, Jesus Christ. And then in chapter 5, after Jesus heals a man with paralysis, the Jews are watching Jesus and commenting on what he is doing and what they are not liking.  It is interesting because as I study this passage it doesn't seem like we even really know the salvation of the man who Jesus has healed. Granted Jesus does try to get the man to focus on his sinful life, even stating that sin causes destruction upon man (v. 14). 

I sort of think at first, how did we get here that Jesus would need to share these words. In verse 16, after Jesus has been doing these things, this healing of the man on the Sabbath, but also that the man was walking around with his pallet on the Sabbath - the Jews of the day don't like it and begin to persecute Jesus or come against Him. Jesus defends himself with the fact that Father God and himself are working in the same way at the same times. 

And then Jesus continues to expand on this. 

Jesus does what the Father does. Jesus sees the Father work and He does the same. 

The Father loves His Son.

The Father raises the dead and gives life. The Son does the same. 

All judgment is given to the Son. 

The same honor given to the Father is given to the Son. 

Eternal life is given to those that believe Jesus has been sent by God. 

This passage appears to be a great basis for the view of Trinitarianism and inseparable operations. The premise of this doctrine of inseparable operations is that the Father and Jesus and the Spirit are not working separately from one another but are working together. Jesus is not another agent or another active agent, instead the work of the three persons of the trinity are works together. They flow from the Father, through the Son, and then in the power of the Holy Spirit. If they were separate, then scripture would take on an entirely different meaning. 

I think what is often difficult about the Trinity for us is how we see ourselves - separate human bodies, each person taking on a role. We want to see three different forms doing three different things. But this is not the Trinity. The sacrificial love shown by the Son is the love of the Father, and the same love the Spirit pours into our hearts. 

A father and mother may love their child, but those loves are distinct. They may appear to be the same but they are not the same love because they are coming from two different persons. But the persons of the Trinity are the same and so the love is the same love. I think of water is maybe a parallel idea. Water is a substance we know, but this water can be born in 3 different forms - liquid, ice, and steam. The water is the same, but it manifests itself differently. The only difference in this analogy is these three can't work in tandem. So there is still a difference between that and the Trinity. God the Father loves us, the son carries out that love through sacrificing Himself on the Cross, and the truth of that love is communicated to us by the Spirit. 

And so this passage speaks clearly of the Father and the Son and what they do is of the same substance - activity, judgment, miracles, honor - and yet separate, but together, and of the same kind. Another way of saying this is every work of God is from the Father, through the Son, in the Holy Spirit. Salvation comes to us from the Father through the mediation of the Son in the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Augustine of Hippo says in a sermon on this passage that the Father does "every work whatsoever by the Son; so that not any works are done by the Father without the Son, or by the Son without the Father." 

Summary: Every work of God is from the Father, through the Son, in the Holy Spirit. 

Promise: We can never achieve the same kind of unity with our Creator that Jesus has, but we can ask God to give us a heart that wants to do only what He calls us in His Word to do. 

Prayer: O Lord, I come before you and speak to you my Heavenly Father and yet acknowledge that the work of Jesus and the Spirit is the same and thank you for your equality and the same work that is being done in creation and even in my life. You are Holy and True. Thank you for staying faithful. And being faithful to me always. Give me strength this day to glorify You always in all ways, in everything I do. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

John 4:23-24 - How God Must be Worshipped

John 4:23-24

"But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirt and truth."

Message: How God Must be Worshipped

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."

What the Lord is Saying: Jesus in the last lesson has mentioned worship and today's passage has always been an interesting one to me as Jesus speaks of true worshipers. Jesus is pointing us toward worshiping the father in verse 21 and now again here in these verses to "worship the Father in spirit and truth." For us, maybe this is not as significant as it was in that day. But maybe it is because Jesus seems to be pointing out the importance of how we worship rather than where we worship. 

Tabletalk mentions this and I think it is significant:

Due to the connection between sacred space and proper, divinely appointed worship, first-century Jews and Samaritans debated the location God chose for people to bring Him sacrifices. The Samaritans believed Mount Gerizim, not Mount Zion, was the place the Lord had chosen. Upon learning that Jesus was a Jewish prophet, the Samaritan woman asked Him to weigh in on the debate. Interestingly, Jesus gave an answer she was likely not expecting—the debate between worship on Zion or Gerizim was about to be rendered obsolete. People would worship not only on Zion or Gerizim but anywhere they approach God in spirit and truth (John 4:21–24).

I do think that phrase "In spirit and truth" is an interesting phrase. Jesus has been mentioning the spirit often in the last few chapters, during his time in Judea and Samaria. The little 's' spirit is the place in our human spirit where the Holy Spirit of God resides. This is another way in which man stands out and is different. He has a spirit and the spirit is a place the Holy Spirit speaks to us and resides. The Holy Spirit will operate and then our lives will be lived out in such a way to express the Spirit's work in and through us. I love going back to chapter 3, verse 5 and seeing where Jesus says that "we must be born of the Spirit to enter the kingdom of God." The Spirit must awaken in us a desire for things of God. Our sin is exposed and now we can choose to surrender our lives and follow Him or not. 

Thus, "in spirit" has no limitations on time and space. Places are not bad but the essence of our faith is not being caught up in a church structure but rather in the matter of worshipping God within our spirit. And it is noteworthy that spirit precedes truth. We need the spirit to be defined to know the truth. We align ourselves with Him and worship with Him there is spirit and in truth. Truth is in harmony with the will of God and His nature. 

Summary: True worship is not at a building though this is not bad, but true worship is God's Spirit speaking to our spirit and walking in the truth of the will of God and His nature. 

Promise: True worship does not consist in merely going through the motions but in setting our hearts to love, thank, and praise our Maker while we come before Him privately and publicly.

Prayer: God, what an exciting passage to behold the community I have with You that is distinct and different. Thank you for speaking to me and for your Holy Spirit making known to me the beauty of worshipping you. You speak to me in a way that I don't always comprehend and yet you give me truth in this communication. It is different. You have sent your spirit to be with mine and I praise you for this and thank you for the special union we have. Thank you for awakening me and help me be a conduit to others. Help me understand better how to communicate to others these true words. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

John 3:35 - The Father's Love for His Son

John 3:35
The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand.

Message: The Father's Love for His Son

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."

What the Lord is Saying: Verse 35 seems like a culminating verse in what has been voiced thus far. Yet, this is the first time the Father is mentioned in chapter 3. In Chapter 1:14, We saw the Word (Jesus) "glory as of the only begotten from the Father." Jesus in 2:16 asks those in the sanctuary to "stop making My Father’s house a place of business." As such there is clearly a distinction between the Father and the Son. The Father loves the Son. And yet though there is a distinction it also reads here that the Father "has given all things into His hand." As such there is nothing that the Father has that the Son lacks. And yet the Father sends the Son. They share the same divine essence. 

Matthew 11:27 says, "All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him."

John 6:46, "Not that anyone has seen the Father, except the One who is from God; He has seen the Father."

Summary: Jesus has it all. He is loved by the Father and the Father has given him all things. 

Promise: God has revealed Himself fully and finally in His Son, Jesus Christ.

Prayer. O God, thank you for sending your Son and giving Him all things. He is all that you are God. 

 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

My Utmost for His Highest - May 22nd - Now This Explains It

That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. - John 17:21

    If you are going through a solitary way, read John 17, it will explain exactly why you are where you are--Jesus has prayed that you may be one with the Father as He is. Are you helping God to answer that prayer, or have you some other end for your life? Since you became a disciple you cannot be as independent as you used to be.

    The purpose of God is not to answer our prayers, but by our prayers we come to discern the mind of God, and this revealed in John 17. There is one prayer God must answer, and that is the prayer of Jesus--"that they may be one, even as We are One. (John 17:22)" Are we as close to Jesus Christ as that?
    

    God is not concerned about our plans; He does not say--Do you want to go through this bereavement; this upset? He allows these things for His own purpose. The things we are going through are either making us sweeter, better, nobler men, and women; or they are making us more captious* and fault-finding, more insistent upon our own way. the things that happen either make us fiends, or they make us saints; it depends entirely upon the relationship we are in to God. If we say--"Thy will be done, (Matthew 26:42)" we get the consolation of John 17, the consolation of knowing that our Father is working according to His own wisdom. When we understand what God is after we will not get mean and cynical. Jesus has prayed nothing less for us than absolute oneness with Himself as He was one with the Father. Some of us are far off it, and yet God will not leave us alone until we are one with Him, because Jesus has prayed that we may be.

- From Oswald Chambers, "My Utmost for His Highest" - Classic Edition

Highlights and Underlines are courtesy of Mom from her print edition.

Mom's thoughts

*captious - fond of taking exception or raising objections

My thoughts

Very interesting thoughts here -- praying is to discern the mind of God and God does not consult us but allow things to occur in our lives for His purpose. -- I must remember always my purpose and it is to be one with God, not to have a happy, carefree life. 

John 17:20-26 - The Trinity and God's Love for His People

John 17:20-26
20 “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; 21 that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.
22 The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; 23 I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me. 24 Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
25 “O righteous Father, although the world has not known You, yet I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me; 26 and I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known, so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”

Message: The Trinity and God's Love for His People

Time: While John does not admit to have written this gospel, there is ample evidence from others that he did. It was most likely written in Ephesus around 85-95 AD and is the fourth gospel. John provides a Jesus more clearly as the Son of God. John cites Jesus' seven "I Am" statements, mentions many miracles of Jesus, signifying Him as God's Son. He is the Son of Man and atoned for our sins and the Son of God with eternal implications in rising from the dead.

What the Lord is Saying:

This study, on the doctrine of God, has been illuminating to me as I endeavor to better understand the God that loves me - chose me - wants me to be with Him forever. Today, I see that Jesus with the Father has always been. God's love for Jesus has been present before the foundation of the world.  Yesterday the message was often about unity and this message continues today.

For a moment, I pause to look at the words from Matthew Henry about this passage:

Our Lord especially prayed, that all believers might be as one body under one head, animated by one soul, by their union with Christ and the Father in him, through the Holy Spirit dwelling in them. The more they dispute about lesser things, the more they throw doubts upon Christianity. Let us endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, praying that all believers may be more and more united in one mind and one judgment. Thus shall we convince the world of the truth and excellence of our religion, and find more sweet communion with God and his saints. Christ, as one with the Father, claimed on behalf of all that had been given to him, and should in due time believe on him, that they should be brought to heaven; and that there the whole company of the redeemed might behold his glory as their beloved Friend and Brother, and therein find happiness. He had declared and would further declare the name or character of God, by his doctrine and his Spirit, that, being one with him, the love of the Father to him might abide with them also. Thus, being joined to Him by one Spirit, they might be filled with all the fulness of God, and enjoy a blessedness of which we can form no right idea in our present state.

There is oneness with the Trinity in these verses that is expected to be present in all believers. I'm noticing, even moreso today than ever, that the world expects complete uniformity in all areas and finds disputes about many things. The church needs to be about more than this and needs to not dispute about lesser things but instead endeavor to keep the unity. That unity is present in the Godhead and Jesus mentions in this passage the unity found in His relationship with the Father. They are one. This oneness is addressed not to all people, but to all believers. As believers, we do all have different flavors of believing but we need to be more of a people of oneness and realize we are all serving our God together and our chief mission together is to reach all with the Gospel. 

I notice that our church often does a good job with this and it is always something that has interested me about our church and the community desire to work together toward the gospel with other churches. As believers we to love one another, bear one another's burdens, and edify one another. As churches, all too often our focus is each body trying to figure out their mission whether than doing it together. O Lord, what would it look like if we were united together? 

Promise: On our own, love is not easy. We tend to focus on our differences rather than our unity. But we can be a people of love toward one another. God's love for us never stops and our love toward one another is to never stop as well. Unite us Lord. 

Prayer: These verses that I read today from John 17 speak Lord of unity. Lord, we need to be a people united. Lord, I think of this and wonder how we could do this and make this work in our community. We are a people with differences obviously in our worship styles, our preaching, our makeup in the churches, but we should be more about the same purpose and working together for that purpose in our community. There needs to be more unity. 

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines with January being about the doctrine of God.

Ephesians 2:18 - The Trinity and Christian Unity

Ephesians 2:18
for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.

Message: The Trinity and Christian Unity

Time: Paul wrote the letter to the Ephesians sometime in AD 60–61, around the same time he wrote Colossians and Philemon. Ephesians deals with topics at the core of being a Christian - faith and practice, no matter the situation.

What the Lord is Saying:

As I have studied previously, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit work inseparably. Every act of God is from the Father through the Son and in the Holy Spirit. Each person of the Trinity has the same divine attributes, but each person acts in a manner fitting to His unique personal properties. Unbegottenness is the unique personal property of the Father, begottenness is the unique personal property of the Son, and procession is the unique personal property of the Holy Spirit.

They have worked inseparably in creation, making the universe out of nothing - in atoning for our sin - in redeeming the Israelites and man in general, and in sanctifying the saints.

Ephesians 2 is the life of a Christian, showing us being dead in our sins, made alive in Christ, and walking on to live our lives in good works. As this verse records it is through Him (Jesus Christ) that we are made alive (Eph 2:5) as we were dead in our transgressions. Whether people recognize it or no in their lives, it is clear they are dead in their sins. In Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ (Eph 2:12). One of Jesus' complaints to the Jewish leaders was they were excluding the Gentiles from access to God. At one point he got upset with them for turning the synagogue and worship area into a market. He spoke of the fig tree and how they were not bearing fruit. The tabernacle had a place that would give access to the Gentiles, but the leaders instead excluded them.

It is through Him we both have our access. What is the meaning of the word 'both?' Ephesians 1:1 says this writing is from Paul to the saints at Ephesus. He speaks and states that Gentiles were formerly excluded: you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God (Ephesians 2:14). God never intended his chosen people Israel to be his only people. In the temple there was an outer court and inner court. Jesus said in Mark 11:17 quoting from Isaiah 56:7 - My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations. The temple had a section for the Gentiles to come into and pray to Yahweh but they were not welcome there. Between Jews and Gentiles there was also a division, an inner court and outer court.

I think it is important here to see that God had always had a mission to the Jew and Gentile, to redeem mankind. He chose Israel and they did not allow the Gentile to be included. Jesus came and opened the access for all. It is through Him we both (Jew and Gentile) have our access.

All too often I think I have thought that the Old Testament was about the chosen people, the Jews as God was about only the Jews. Then Jesus came for the Gentiles. Instead, God has always been about saving and grafting in all people - Jew and Gentile. The Jews were really meant to assist the Gentiles towards God. And now in Christ, after we are all made alive - we are all commissioned to take this message to everyone - to all nations. The message is God wants to redeem or save all.

Promise: It is through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. Our access to the unbegotten Father God is in one Spirit. It is a three-fold union. It is three-fold unity. We come to Father, in the spirit, through Jesus. Both Jew and Gentile come to the Father in one Spirit. There is unity in coming to God.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for showing me the Unity and confirming the truth of your forever gospel message of saving all people - Jew and Gentile - all nations. You love all and you want all to be with you forever in heaven, in paradise.


Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines with January being about the doctrine of God.

John 14:8-11 - Perichoresis

John 14:8-11
8 Philip *said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”9 Jesus *said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves.

Message: Perichoresis or the relationship of the three persons of the triune God.

Time:  While John does not admit to have written this gospel, there is ample evidence from others that he did. It was most likely written in Ephesus around 85-95 AD and is the fourth gospel. John provides a Jesus more clearly as the Son of God. John cites Jesus' seven "I Am" statements, mentions many miracles of Jesus, signifying Him as God's Son. He is the Son of Man and atoned for our sins and the Son of God with eternal implications in rising from the dead.

What the Lord is Saying:

It seems that the doctrine of God is really the doctrine of the trinity as the trinity has been the focus so far this month in the passages selected from Tabletalk Magazine. It remains a little bit of a challenge for me to study the Bible like this, using selected passages. This is the way our church now presents messages, doing series rather than books. I prefer book preaching.

But the Trinity is emphasized here probably because it is a doctrine central to Christianity as other religions have been started based upon a different definition of God. The word trinity was first used to explain the Father, Son, and Spirit as persons by a Latin theologian, Tertullian, in the 3rd Century. Today, we look at a Greek term scholars have used to describe the relationship among these three persons and has come about from a study of the Book of John and chapters 14-17.

We go back to the subject of modalism which at times can be what we think of the Trinity.
- seeing God like a man who holds three different roles depending on the context he is in and whom he is relating
- it collapses the distinctions between the three persons proclaiming that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are identical both in essence and in person
- God is like one person who wears different masks or hats at different times in history
Tritheism is another erroneous view of the Trinity that views God as a collection of individual, separable persons united by a common purpose.

Therefore, the term Perichoresis is used to refer to the mutual indwelling of the three persons of the Godhead. It means that the Father is in the Son is in the Spirit. Again, as discussed earlier, the Father is not the Son and not the Spirit. Jesus speaks of this in John 14:10 - Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? Thus, we can distinguish them but we cannot pull them apart. God created and it is not that God created with 3 persons. God created and because the Scripture mentions that God and Jesus created the creation happened at once, not each one have a separate role but it occurring once at the same time and all were present at that happening. The essence is one and cannot be divided or pulled apart.

In this passage Philip *said to Him as Philip comes to Jesus in the same way Thomas came to Him wanting more of an explanation of who Jesus was. We must be thankful that these men had questions of Jesus for because of that we have answers from Jesus. Man has questioned Jesus throughout all time and man will continue to do this. But it is important always to go back to the word of God for explanations. The problem is when we don't do this and instead invent extra-biblical definitions rather than accepting the Word of God. And so he says “Lord, show us the Father, as this in response to Jesus words in verse 7 that says If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also. Philip says then make us understand what you mean and it is enough for us.” Thus, we will be content and satisfied.

Jesus *said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? Though we appreciate questions, Jesus thinks that the disciples should have a better understanding of Him already. Philip has been present with Jesus for some time and so their is still a tone of sadness from Jesus that Philip does not know Jesus as well as he should. Jesus further states - He who has seen Me has seen the Father. Seen is not a visual term because we know God to be a spirit and here we see that the essence of Jesus and the Father are the same. In other words, Jesus is saying, if you know God, you know Me and if you know Me, then you know the Father. We are united; we are one; we are the same.

Jesus then speaks to Philip with a question of almost, "why is this being asked." Jesus has already spoken words and done things many times that only God can do and yet he still says, "Lord, show us the Father." And Jesus says sort of, "What do you think I have been doing all this time with you?" "Why can't you put one and one together." how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Our conclusion of him should be clear and yet it is not. And yet we have many religions coming forth with different conclusions still to this day.

All the words here are meant to say that Jesus is having to appeal to the Father because everyone agrees that the Father is divine. There is no question that the Father is divine but He knows that there is a question as to whether He is divine. In my study of Mark, Mark does not go here to these words. It is as if Mark is stating (from Peter) that Jesus said it and as God it needs no more discussion. Yet, John gives us the words that many thought. Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves.

Two things testify of Jesus being God - His words and His works. We have both, if you struggle with one, then look at the other. There is ample evidence. Jesus and His words are enough, but if we still, if they still, have doubt then look to my words. Earlier Jesus said, "I am the way and no one comes to the Father except through me." In other words, you cannot know the Father if you reject me.

And Jesus says, "Believe Me." The words are simple and yet he still knows that many will not so he says, look to my works as well.

Promise: One cannot pull apart the persons of the Trinity. They are all united and the same essence and all one and seeing one is seeing all. We cannot love God and yet not love the Son. Jesus says that seeing Him is seeing God.

Prayer: Lord, forgive me for thinking many times that to understand you is to dance around certain facets of you in the hope that if people can simply see one part then all will make sense to them. Yet, you clearly state that the Word of God testifies that You Jesus are God. Your Words have said it but Your life also testified of it. Lord, help me continue to be a student of Your word and point people to You through these words. Help me to not ever back down but to trust You as You are. You are Holy. You are true. You are God.

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines with January being about the doctrine of God.

Matthew 28:18-20 - Divine Unity

Matthew 28:18-20
18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Message: Divine Unity

Time: The date of Matthew's composition is anywhere from 55-60 AD probably in Antioch of Syria. The writing is most likely to the Jews. His purpose was to show them that Jesus of Nazareth was the expected messiah and both his genealogy and his resurrection were legitimate proofs of this.

What the Lord is Saying:

As I've been studying the doctrine of God most of the focus of late has been on the Trinity and the relationship between the Father, Son, and Spirit. They have the same essence and yet distinctive, yet united. Yesterday's focus was that all are on the scene at the same time and all are God; all are one God. Yet, the Father is not the Son and the Son not the Spirit and the Father not also the Spirit.

Jesus remarks in what is now called the Great Commission statement that as his disciples (and us his followers) go forth and make disciples, those individuals are to be baptized in the name (singular) of the three (plural). The three share the same name - Yahweh, the covenant Lord of Israel.

All three share the name Yahweh and the divine attributes equally. None is more God or less God than the others.

Previously baptism had been spoken about for repentance, but here Jesus takes into a new level by saying that a person is united to the Godhead. As we are baptized in their name we are to honor each equally.

Albert Barnes remarks on this passage:

The union of these three names in the form of baptism proves that the Son and Holy Spirit are equal with the Father. Nothing would be more absurd or blasphemous than to unite the name of a creature - a man or an angel - with the name of the ever-living God in this solemn rite. If Jesus was a mere man or an angel, as is held by many who deny his divinity, and if the Holy Spirit was a mere "attribute" of God, then it would have been the height of absurdity to use a form like this, or to direct the apostles to baptize people under them. How absurd would be the direction - nay, how blasphemous - to have said, "Baptize them unto God, and unto Paul, and unto the "wisdom or power" of God!" Can we believe that our Saviour would have given a direction so absurd as this? Yet, unless he himself is divine, and the Holy Spirit is divine, Jesus gave a direction substantially the same as this. The form of baptism, therefore, has been always regarded as an unbreakable argument for the doctrine of the Trinity, or that the Son and Holy Spirit are equal with the Father.

Promise: Jesus sometimes says that the Father is greater than He is (John 14:28). But that is not a reference to His divine essence; rather, in taking on our flesh, God the Son submits to the Father as a man, for that is what human beings are to do. 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for continuing to each me your truths. Help me to have a believe that You want me to have and that I submit to You for everything in my life. 

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines with January being about the doctrine of God.

Psalm 110:1 - Divine Diversity

Psalm 110:1
The Lord says to my Lord:
“Sit at My right hand
Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”

Message: Divine Diversity

Time: The psalms were written by many different people across a period of a thousand years in Israel's history. They are thought to have been compiled and put together in their present form by some unknown editor shortly after the captivity ended about 537 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying:

I looked at this passage of Scripture in October as I was studying the book of Mark and Jesus took a moment to quote these words from Psalm 110 as he gave a response to a question from the scribes.

At the time of my reading of it, I was interested in the terminology and what Jesus was saying in these verses, namely that He was offering a defense of Jesus and His relationship to Father God. As this verse states - The Lord says to my Lord - so there are two Lords present in this verse with one speaking to another.

As I continue to look at specifics regarding the doctrine of God and have previously studied that there is only one God. All other gods may be claimed to be gods but there is only one true God and He is one. He is a God to all people everywhere for all time. He is also displayed in 3 persons. He is a singular God but has 3 essences in the God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. There is often confusion in thinking that this somehow means that we Christians worship 3 Gods, but that statement is invalid. God is still one but throughout Scripture comes on the scene in 3 forms or persons and now we want to look at the idea that those 3 forms are distinct.

The Tabletalk reading today wants to make the point that the Bible does not speak of Modalism which says that while there is one God that God manifests itself at different times as the Father, then other times as the Son, then other times as the Spirit and those manifestations are never at the same time. So, God starts out as Father, then comes to earth as Son, then after ascension as the Spirit. Beliefs are interesting because I notice that people will often try to define something that makes the most sense to them and this idea of God is often a challenge for people and so throughout the ages people try to make God out to be something that fits their thinking but it isn't the entire truth and suddenly we have many different belief systems with millions of adherents and all have a little different picture of God:

• Mormons speak of many gods, so Joseph Smith saw the Father, saw the Son, saw the Spirit. They were separate and Mormons speak of man one day becoming a god. Again, Joseph Smith saw a physical representation of God. Perhaps he wanted to see God and so this became His theology. 
• Jehovah Witnesses also wanted to say that God and Jesus are separate. They have decided that Jesus was on the scene during Old Testament times as Michael the archangel. Thus, they seem to recognize Jesus as being there before he came to earth, but they fit him in as the Archangel and then the Holy Spirit as a completely separate force. Unitarianism is also another name or belief system of this. 
• Islam believes the New Testament text has been corrupted and therefore teaches that the scriptures we have about a resurrection are misconstrued and Jesus was actually a really great man and similar to other men called prophets like Moses and even Muhammad. But, they do not believe in a Trinity and instead focus squarely on only one God, not in 3 persons and call their god Allah. 
• Judaism is another monotheistic belief that says there is 1 God, not 3 persons of the Trinity. There are several holy books that speak of this. It speaks of God having a purpose, man inability to follow that purpose and God repeatedly pulling them back or bringing them back to His purpose. But God is always singular and do not believe Jesus is the Messiah. 

Verse 1 of this passage is very interesting. David is in the middle of a conversation between on one side the Lord, Jehovah, and on the other side, Adonai. The Lord (Jehovah) is speaking to his Lord (Adonai).

Jehovah is one of the primary names for God in the Bible. Sometimes it is used for God the Father, sometimes for God the Son, sometimes for God the Holy Spirit and the context of the passage determines which person of the Trinity Jehovah is. Here in this passage Jehovah is God the Father. The word Adonai or who David refers to as my Lord is God's Son. Therefore, Jehovah is speaking to Jesus.

It is also interesting the word says or said is literally an oracle and this word is only used of a direct utterance of God, sometimes a word from a prophet, but it is more common as a word or oracle coming from God.

When Jesus quotes this passage he adds a statement clarifying where David received these words - David himself said in the Holy Spirit. Thus, the message that David records in this passage in Psalm 110 is not his own, but is said in the Holy Spirit. Thus, in a matter of words Jesus is saying David speaks from the Holy Spirit and witnesses THE LORD (YAHWEH) SAYING TO MY LORD (ADONAI) - SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, UNTIL I PUT YOUR ENEMIES BENEATH YOUR FEET. 

Saint Augustine of Hippo who lived from 354 AD to 430 AD, stated:

Christ is both David's Son, and David's Lord: David's Lord always, David's Son in time: David's Lord, born of the substance of His Father, David's Son, born of the Virgin Mary, conceived by the Holy Ghost...Unless our Lord Jesus Christ has vouchsafed to become man, man had perished. He was made that which He made, that what He made might not perish. Very Man, Very God; God and man, the whole Christ."

The Pulpit Commentary concludes it well:

From this verse (Psalm 110.) our Lord shows that the Messiah, such as he was, was not a mere man, as the Pharisees thought, but that he was God, and therefore David's Lord. The meaning, therefore, is this, "The Lord God said to my Lord," that is, Christ, "Sit thou at my right hand," that is, when, after his cross, his death, and his resurrection, he will exalt him far above all principality and power, and place him next to him in heaven, that he may reign with supreme happiness and power and glory over all creatures. These words show that this is a Divine decree, fixed and irrevocable. Till I make thine enemies thy footstool (ὑποπόδιον τῶν ποδῶν σου); literally, the footstool of thy feet; that is, reign with me in glory until the day of judgment, when I will make the wicked, all opposing powers, subject to thee. The word "till" does not imply that Christ will then cease to reign. "Of his kingdom there shall be no end." But he will then formally deliver up the kingdom to God, even the Father, only that he may receive it again as the second Person of the Godhead.

Thus, there is a clear distinction in the Bible between the persons of the trinity and their existence is that they are present at all time. Our God is personal.

Promise: God is personal and relates to us and is involved in the affairs of human beings. We must accept the God of the Bible instead of working hard to fit God into our own thinking.

Prayer: O God, as I spend more time in Your Word and reading and studying of You, I thank You that I learn more about You. I thank you for the people that have come before me that have gotten into your Word and understand it and You have given them understanding. Help me though to always see You as You are. It is amazing there are so many different beliefs and yet sad at the same time that so many have not been willing to accept You as You are.

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines with January being about the doctrine of God.