Jesus Walks on Water

Lesson #99

With this lesson we begin the next section of chapter 6, in which Jesus walks on the water. This section is defined by John 6:16 – 21; “When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going” (ESV). There is much more here than first meets the eye. Since chapter 6 is primarily about bread, why did John insert this episode of Jesus walking on the water? How does it fit in with the context of the chapter on bread?

We are not told why the disciples went down to the sea when evening came and got into the boat without Jesus and started across the sea to Capernaum. The mystery deepens when we read that it was now dark and Jesus still had not come to him. How were they expecting Jesus to come to them? In the boat, in the darkness without Jesus, the sea becomes rough because of a strong wind and the disciples find themselves in a dangerous situation. I think the connection to bread is right here. In the feeding of the 5,000, Jesus provided physical bread for the people; Jesus was able to meet a physical need that if not met for a long enough time would lead to physical death. Here in the boat the disciples were in danger of losing their lives to the wind and waves. I believe Jesus wanted them to be there so that by his power he could calm the storm and begin to prepare them to understand that he not only has the power to produce bread but that he is the bread from heaven. The next challenge for Jesus is to convince the disciples and the people that he is the bread from heaven that provides spiritual eternal life.

After the disciples had rowed about three or four miles in worsening storm conditions they became very frightened when they saw Jesus walking on the water coming toward the boat. Jesus knew they were afraid and called out to them saying, “It is I; do not be afraid.” In this account John only tells us that “they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.” We don’t see the disciples going to Jesus, but instead we see Jesus coming to the disciples in their time of need and identifying himself. The disciples were glad to see him and they desired to have him come into the boat with them.

After the feeding of the 5,000 Jesus had the disciples pick up the leftovers, which amounted to twelve baskets full; one basket full for each disciple. By this Jesus indicates that after ministering to the needs of the people, he would provide the resources to feed them, but he wanted to further show them that he is their bread. Jesus arranges for the disciples to be in a boat on a dark stormy night and amidst the storm he comes to them and when they take him into the boat with them they in a short time will arrive at the desired haven. Jesus is showing them that he does not just give bread, but that he is the bread of life. He does not just make the wind stop and the waves die down, but he gets into the boat with them and takes them to their destination. Think about this when you found yourself in the storm of life and Jesus came to you and you invited him into your life as the bread of life. In time he will take you to heaven as your destination. Jesus has shown that he can provide physical bread to sustain physical life, but he is the living bread from heaven that is needed to sustain spiritual life.

Prayer

Father, how exciting it is to experience how John unfolds who Jesus is. Each lesson takes me further in my understanding and my excitement of being with him for an eternal adventure. As I learn about and experiences the resources Jesus provides me, my concern grows when I realize the horror of eternal separation from the kindness of your grace for those who do not believe. 

This Certainly Is the Prophet

Lesson #98

In this lesson we will focus on verses 14 – 15 found in the section defined by John 6:1 – 15: “Now when the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus performed, they began to say to one another, “This is certainly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” Then Jesus, because he knew they were going to come and seize him by force to make him king, withdrew again up the mountainside alone” (John 6:14 – 15 NET). Here we have another example where Jesus does or says something in the natural realm as a way of pointing to the spiritual realm and the people simply do not get it. We have covered three examples of this: The temple (the building – his body) John 2:18 – 22; Born again (physically – spiritually) John 3:1 – 8; Water (physical water – living water) John 4:7 – 15.

This crowd of people just experienced a great sign by being fed from five loaves of bread and two fish and conclude that Jesus is the Prophet. The problem is their understanding of the Prophet. They see him as a king to lead them against Rome not as one who gives his life as a ransom for sinners to provide eternal life as the living bread. This prophet is the one Moses spoke of in Deuteronomy 18:15: “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to him” (NASB). Moses heard God speak to him from the burning bush on the side of the mountain and these people are with the Prophet that Moses spoke of, also on the side of the mountain. Jesus as the Prophet was raised up from among them and as Moses listened to God these people are to listen to Jesus. Unfortunately, the people were not willing to listen and learn what God wanted then to know, but instead desired him as a king to meet their physical wants. Are we not like that today, asking God to meet our request and not willing to be quiet before him and listen.

In future lessons we will consider the bread God gave the people through Moses and see how that connects to what Jesus says about him being the true Bread from heaven. However, in the meantime, Jesus knowing that the crowd was going to come and seize him by force to make him king, somehow withdrew further up the mountainside away from the crowd. Do you suppose when our approach to Jesus is for the wrong reason that he might withdraw from us?

Prayer

Lord, this lesson causes me to think about my relationship with you; to think about the balance between listening to what you want to say to me and what I want to say to you. As I further think about what I say to you I think about the balance between thanking and praising you and my request for you to do something for me. Lord, I am learning that life is learning to surrender to your Lordship and to abide more deeply in you.

Feeding the Five Thousand

Lesson #97

In this lesson we will focus on verses 11 – 13 found in the section defined by John 6:1 – 15: “Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted.  And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten” (John 6:11 – 13 ESV). Notice that Jesus did not create the food from nothing, but used the boy’s five barley loaves and two fish as seed. From that seed Jesus produced a harvest that the people were to enjoy. But we are getting ahead of the story.

Jesus took the five loaves and gave thanks and distributed them to those who were seated. We are not told how the loaves were distributed or at what point the loaves multiplied, but multiply they did because there was enough for everyone to eat his fill and when the leftovers were collected there were twelve baskets full. In like manner the two fish multiplied as they were distributed to the people. What would you think if you were in the crowd and saw what was happening? How would this affect your relationship with Jesus? What kind of emotions would you experience considering your sinful nature? Would this experience encourage you to humble yourself before him in worship and service or would you desire to obtain more from him to enhance your position in life? What will be the response of this crowd now that they have been fed?

Before we consider the response of the crowd, I want to ask a question about gathering up the leftover fragments of food. Why do you think he did that when he has the power to create more fresh food if needed? I believe Jesus is teaching us through this example that we are not to waste that which God provides. People all over the world are starving to death, but here in America we waste so much because we have the means to buy more. All that we have is a gift from God and any surplus should not be wasted, but used to help those in need. Jesus gave a gift of food to these people and saved the leftovers to be used later. Will the crowd overlook this and seek more from him to enhance their lives?

Next time we will see what the people did when they saw the sign that he had done.

Prayer

Father, thank you for all that you have given me. I am sure there are many gifts that I didn’t appreciate, or didn’t properly use, or even wasted. Forgive me for my lack of appreciation and misuse of your provision. I pray that I would be a better steward of your gifts.

Seat the Crowd

Lesson #96

In this lesson we will focus on verses 5 – 10 found in the section defined by John 6:1 – 15: “Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number” (John 6:5 – 10 ESV).

The private time Jesus wanted with his disciples isn’t going to happen because Jesus looks up and sees a large crowd coming toward him. Imagine being there with the disciples and seeing the crowd coming you realize that private time with Jesus is going to be replaced with the demands of those in the crowd. I can imagine Philip being the spokesman for the disciples asking Jesus to send them away, but instead Jesus creates a more intense environment by asking him where they might find food to feed all these people. Stop here and think for a minute. Why does Jesus want to feed all these people? Is it simply to meet their hunger or is there a purpose in performing another miracle? Creating bread to feed these people would be another demonstration of his power and would intensify the desire of the crowd for him to deliver them from the bondage of Rome. As Jesus meets their physical needs with bread he has the challenge to bring their understanding that he is the bread from heaven that they need. Keep this challenge in mind as we continue.

Philip realized that the two hundred denarii they had would not be enough to provide even a little bread for everyone. Andrew then indicates another resource. He says, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” He sure had that right; they could see no way out of this situation; what were they going to do?

Jesus steps up and tells Phillip to have the people sit down. This is like having the people come into a great banquet hall and take a seat at a table. Imagine a convention hall large enough with tables and chairs to seat about 5000 men plus their wives and several children each. If each family averaged six members in size that would be 30,000 people. Imagine how much food would be needed and how many to serve the food. Now that you have that western view in mind, remove the building, the tables and chairs and the servers leaving the mass of people setting on the grass wondering what is going to happen next. What do you think the disciples are thinking at this point? What impossible thing is Jesus going to ask of them next? Have you ever felt like God put you into a situation that you could see no way out? Think about our brothers and sisters under persecution facing the loss of everything for owning a Bible or simply being a Christian. Life has some real challenges and now before these disciples are maybe 30,000 or so people they need to get seated and bring to order. Please try to get your mind around that scene on the side of the mountain as you wait for the next lesson.

Prayer

Father, I realize how often you allow me to get into a situation where I don’t know what to do next. I can remember how that used to create terrible stress in my life as I tried to overcome the difficulty. I eventually began to realize that you were trying to get me to rely more and more on you and as I did I began to experience joy in place of stress. It is difficult for the flesh to stop and pray and wait for your direction and your provision. Truly there is spiritual growth and maturity with the passing of time and the presence of a struggle. Thank you for your patience as you work with me to teach me the lessons of life.

From Jerusalem to a Mountain Desert

Lesson #95

With this lesson we begin the sixth chapter of John. The first section, defined by John 6:1 – 15, is about the feeding of the five thousand. Reading through the section reveals several smaller sections defined by verses 1 – 4, 5 – 10, 11 – 13, and 14 – 15, which will be covered in four lessons, respectively.

After the events described in chapter 5, which took place in Jerusalem, “Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand” (John 6:1 – 4 ESV). Going from Jerusalem to the shore of the Sea of Galilee involved time and activities not described by John. Jesus and his disciples crossed over leaving the large crowd to find a way to follow.

As Jesus performed miracles the crowds grew because they saw that he had power to supply their wants. Why do we follow Jesus? Do we follow him to learn from him and to behold his glory or do we follow him because we have needs and desires we want met? Are we obedient servants desiring to serve with him in building his kingdom or do we want his help to build our own kingdom? Do we want to work to produce fruit and bring glory to him or are we looking for his help to bring more glory to self? We need to pay close attention to those making up the crowd. We need to learn what motivates them to follow Jesus and then see what happens when their desires are not met. We also need to evaluate our hearts.

Once across the Sea of Galilee, Jesus and the disciples went up on the mountain to find a place away from the crowd and rest until the time of the feast of the Passover. Jesus wanted time alone with his disciples, but yet he was willing to be led by God from this place of solitude to the open area where the crowd was growing. Jesus was on earth for a purpose just as we are. In 1 Peter 1:1 – 3 we learn that we were chosen and caused to be born again for the purpose of obeying Jesus. In Ephesians 2:8 – 18 we learn that our salvation was a gift and resulted in a new creation, created for good works, which God prepared before we were ever born. In the flesh we may want to execute our agenda, but God clearly has an agenda for us. While we are on earth there will always be tension between these two agendas just as there was with Jesus.

Prayer

Father, this tension is real for me, but my prayer has been for the Holy Spirit to keep me properly focused. There was tension when the call came to minister over an eight year period in China. The blessing of walking on the edge of persecution and be used to touch so many lives, the lives of some that I am still involved with today was special. Thank you for the work you assigned to me to do, the resources to do it, and the motivation to keep going. Life has been a real adventure with you. Thank you.

The Witness of Scripture

Lesson #94

In this lesson we will look at the last of four witnesses given in John 5:33 – 47. These four witnesses are the witness of John the Baptist, the witness of works, the witness of the Father, and the witness of Scripture. For the witness of Scripture we will look at John 5:39 – 47: “³⁹ You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; ⁴⁰ and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life. ⁴¹ I do not receive glory from men; ⁴² but I know you, that you do not have the love of God in yourselves. ⁴³ I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, you will receive him. ⁴⁴ How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God? ⁴⁵ Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; the one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have set your hope. 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?” (NASB).

Jesus understands that the Jews were diligently or anxiously searching the Scriptures. This is something that all people should do, but there is a caution. The Jews thought that by studying the Scriptures they would obtain eternal life, but instead they should have found the way to the source of eternal life. Those Scriptures the Jews studied so diligently testified about a coming Messiah that would suffer and die to purchase them from sin. The Scriptures spoke of a coming Son of God, but when Jesus arrived he was not what they expected and so they rejected him as a fraud. Since they were unwilling to come to him and accept him, they were unable to obtain eternal life. Those Scriptures they so diligently studied predicted his coming and the manner of his life and death, but they could not accept that kind of a Messiah.

Verses 41 through 44 deal with the problem of pride; a problem that each sinful person has to deal with in their daily life. Jesus makes it clear that pride is not a problem for him because what he is telling them is not for the purpose of obtaining glory from others, but to make clear to them the way of salvation. Jesus then associates humility with ones love for God. Because of their pride, the Jews do not have the love of God within them. Jesus told them that he has come in his Father’s name, but because of their pride they are unable to accept him. To accept Jesus and what he taught one had to submit to him and let go of their value of pride. The Jews were willing to listen to others who came in their own name because there was no demand to submit to them. In their state of pride, these Jews are willing to listen to one another and receive glory from one another, but they are not willing to seek glory that is from God. As a result they are unable to believe the truth of who Jesus is and what he came to accomplish.

Jesus made it clear that they didn’t believe what Moses said about the coming Messiah. There is so much said in the Old Testament about a coming suffering Messiah, now standing before them as Jesus, but they were unable or unwilling to believe. Since the Jews would not believe the Scriptures they could not believe Jesus. In their pride they looked for a powerful world leader that would deliver them from the bondage of Rome, not the bondage of their sin. What affect does your pride have on your relationship with God and with Jesus Christ?

Prayer

Father, as you know pride has been an area of struggle in my life and has made life more difficult for me. Continue to work in my heart that I would become more and more humble and meek like Jesus. Thank you for the promise that you will conform me into the image of your Son.

The Witness of the Father

Lesson #93

In this lesson we will look at the third of four witnesses given in John 5:33 – 47. These four witnesses are the witness of John the Baptist, the witness of works, the witness of the Father, and the witness of Scripture. For the witness of the Father we will look at John 5:37 – 38: “And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent” (ESV). This is a harsh statement to the Jews; one which will increase their level of anger toward Jesus.

At the baptism of Jesus a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17 ESV). I believe the Father has also spoken during the Old Testament times when he left peculiar markings along the way of a coming Messiah; one who would provide salvation. God spoke through the prophets is such a way that the Jews could have formed an idea of a coming Christ, but when he was manifested in the flesh before them as Jesus they despised him and therefore rejected him. The Jews boasted of their knowledge of the Law, but Jesus also called them on this because from the law they didn’t understand what Jesus was testifying of.

John said that they did not hear his voice, but yet they did hear his voice at the baptism of Jesus. The meaning is not just in hearing a sound of a voice, but what is implied is that they did not obey or listen to what God had been telling them. God had given the Jews sufficient evidence of his coming Son, but they disregarded it. 2 Corinthians 3:14 makes this clear: “But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away” (ESV).

Jesus tells them that they do not have the Word of God abiding in them and proof of this is that they didn’t believe the one whom the Father had sent. Jesus is the source of life and without him one remains dead in their sin. That is the message Jesus was declaring to the Jews. Are we any different today. God is speaking in many ways to us, but most tune him out and listen to the clamor of the world.

Prayer

Father, you love us so much you created a universe for us to live in and when we sinned you continued to love us and sent your Son to purchase our salvation. Throughout history you continued to reveal yourself and prepare us to receive your Son. Thank you for your promise that those who come to your Son in belief will experience an eternal love relationship with you. Help me to be more faithful and obedient as your child.

The Witness of Works

Lesson #92

In this lesson we will look at the second of four witnesses given in John 5:33 – 47. These four witnesses are the witness of John the Baptist, the witness of works, the witness of the Father, and the witness of Scripture. For the witness of works we will look at John 5:36: “But the testimony which I have is greater than the testimony of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish—the very works that I do—testify about Me, that the Father has sent Me” (NASB). By this statement, Jesus is claiming that his testimony is greater than that of John because of the works he was doing that substantiated his claim. These works we have covered in previous lessons and include the miracles of creating wine from water, healing the sick and raising the dead.

This verse contains something else we should think about. The Father had work that needed to be done and he chose his Son to go to earth and in a body of flesh and accomplish that work. The work that Jesus is doing points to the work he will do on the cross. Upon each work he does he provides more evidence of who he is and what is to be finally accomplished.

Consider the following verses and see how they relate to what God expects of us. We have been “chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:1 – 2 NASB). We have been chosen to obey, but to obey what? “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them” (Ephesians 2:8 – 10 NASB). As with Jesus, God has chosen us to do work for him that he has prepared us for. The work Jesus did established the Church and the work we have been assigned to do is to expand the church. As Jesus worked he gave evidence of who he was and as we work give evidence of who we are in Christ. How strong of evidence are we each giving by our work?

Prayer

Father, I am afraid that if the effectiveness of the western church to influence our culture is any indication of how well we are doing as your workers then I don’t think we are doing a very good job. Father, forgive me and encourage me to be a better worker, to better handle the word of God.

The Witness of John the Baptist

Lesson #91

In this lesson we will look at the first of four witnesses given in John 5:33 – 47. These four witnesses are the witness of John the Baptist, the witness of works, the witness of the Father, and the witness of Scripture. For the witness of John the Baptist we will look at John 5:33 – 35: “You have sent to John, and he has testified to the truth. But the testimony which I receive is not from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. He was the lamp that was burning and was shining and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light” (NASB).

Those to whom Jesus spoke have heard the testimony of John the Baptist concerning him. John spoke the truth about Jesus and that should have been enough. John gave a satisfactory answer and had his listeners believed him and embraced Jesus as the Messiah they would have been saved. On this testimony Jesus should have been able to rest his case, proving that he was the Messiah. Jesus states clearly that his testimony is not from man but was from God and that he is from God and is the Messiah. What Jesus was saying, John had already given testimony of and that should have been sufficient to convince those in doubt of who Jesus was.

Before John was confined in prison he was a lamp, a fountain of light that was shining before these people and in that light they were willing to rejoice for a while. This was not the true light, but was a lamp giving sufficient light to illuminate their minds and guide them to the source of true light which was found in Jesus. Once the people realized that Jesus was the Messiah and was the true source of light, the popularity of John decreased and their rejoicing with John ceased.

The point being made is that John was a valid and sufficient witness to Jesus being the Messiah and true light. His testimony stands as evidence that what Jesus was saying about himself was indeed true.

Prayer

Father, it is not much different today. People hear or read the claims of Jesus Christ being the Messiah and they must decide if it is true or not. Those who understand and believe are those who are saved and enjoy the many benefits of their relationship with Jesus. Those who are not sure or completely reject the claims are left under your wrath. Father, thank you for giving me understanding and causing me to be born again. 

There Are Other Witnesses

Lesson #90

It is time to look ahead and see what topics remain in chapter 5. John 5:30 – 47 is arranged differently in various translations. Looking at the NASB translation we find verse 30 by itself, verse 31 and 32 together and the remaining verses divided up into four paragraphs. The four paragraphs relate to four different witnesses to Jesus. There is the witness of John the Baptist, the witness of works, the witness of the Father, and the witness of Scripture. We may devote a lesson to each witness. In this lesson we will look briefly at John 5:30 – 32.

Jesus said, “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me” (John 5:30 ESV). Jesus is saying that he doesn’t do anything on his own but is working in perfect harmony with the Father. While on earth, Jesus does not do or say anything that is not according to the perfect will of the Father; he acts by the Father’s direction in all things. When Jesus judges the behavior of the people he is interacting with, his judgments are just because they are not according to his own will, but according to the perfect will of the one who sent him; his Father.

Jesus continues by saying, “If I alone testify about Myself, My testimony is not true. There is another who testifies of Me, and I know that the testimony which He gives about Me is true” (John 5:31 – 32 NASB). Even though what Jesus is saying about himself coming from the Father is true, his listeners had the right to expect his statements to be confirmed by other evidence. The law that the people are under did not allow a person to testify in his own case, but required the witnesses of at least two others. Jesus is aware of this and says there is another who gives testimony of him. The gospel writer, John, will next list four such witnesses, which we will begin to look at in our next lesson.

Prayer

Father, it is with such joy that I prepare these lessons. Even if nobody reads them the discipline of preparing them and posting them and the blessing of learning more about you and your Son are without measure in value to me. When I compare how I could otherwise spend my time, I find those options pail in significance. I also find what the world has to offer is nothing but a shadow when compared to what you offer to those who believe. Thank you from the depths of my heart for your provision and work in my life.

Done Good or Done Evil

Lesson #89

In this lesson we will finish our study of John 5:25 – 29, by looking at verses 28 – 29: “Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment” (ESV). There are two groups in view here; those who have done good and those who have done evil. But how does one determine what doing good means? John 15 will help clarify this.

Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit” (John 15:1 – 2 ESV). Those who do good are the branches who bear fruit and those who do evil are the ones that do not bear fruit. But in order for a branch to bear fruit it must draw life from the vine; “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me” (John 15:4 ESV). Those who do good are the ones who have come to Jesus in faith and continue to grow spiritually. As we abide in him we continue to become more and more like him, bearing more and more fruit. Jesus continues: “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5 ESV). As we abide in Jesus we are able to bear much fruit, but apart from him we can produce nothing that is considered good. These who abide in Jesus are the ones who do good and are raised to the resurrection of life.

What about those who do not abide in Jesus? “If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned” (John 15:6 ESV). Apart from Jesus Christ it is not possible to bear fruit or to do good. The output from the lives of those apart from Jesus is worth nothing in the eyes of God. These people do only evil because what they do is not for God but for their own benefit in some way. They are the branches that are taken away and burned; they are the ones who are raised to the resurrection of judgment. By bearing fruit our Father is glorified and we prove to be disciples of Jesus (John 15:8).

 John says, “An hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out.” John does not limit resurrection just to those who were buried in tombs, but in light of other scriptures includes all who have died. Other thoughts expressed by commentators on this are outside the scope of this lesson.

Prayer

Father, again this lesson makes it very clear that our relationship with Jesus determines our eternal destiny. He divides humanity into two groups by providing us with the life we need to bear fruit. Thank you for that life.

Who Is Worthy to Execute Judgment

Lesson #88

In this lesson we will continue our study of John 5:25 – 29, by looking at verse 27: “And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man” (ESV). Because of the Father’s love for the world he sent the Son of God. His Son entered this world by taking on flesh and is called the Son of Man. The incarnation of the Son of God did not involve the subtraction of deity, but the addition of humanity. The Son of God reflects deity while the Son of Man reflects humanity. These two natures, divine and human, are conjoined into the person of Jesus.

Consider what Paul said to the people assembled on Mars Hill in Acts 17:30 – 31: “Therefore, although God has overlooked such times of ignorance, he now commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has set a day on which he is going to judge the world in righteousness, by a man whom he designated, having provided proof to everyone by raising him from the dead” (NET). This man who is going to judge the world in righteousness is the one who God raised from the dead; he is Jesus the Son of Man; a human nature.

Several more verses that add clarity to this need of a Son of Man is found in Revelation 5. “A mighty angel cries out with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” This question is asked at the end of human history when God unleashes on the world his final judgments. The answer given is, “Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” However, John does not see a Lion but instead a Lamb who was found worthy: “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God” (Revelation 5:2, 5 – 6, 9 ESV).

Of the one who would judge the world, God required him to be a slain lamb; a crucified man. In order to judge the Son of God must become the suffering Son of Man; the Lamb of God. The death and resurrection of the Son of Man must occur first before the Son of God as the Lion of Judah can open the seals. The wages of sin is death. A perfect man must die for our sin and when he does he is qualified to execute judgment.

Prayer

Father, how thankful I am that provision was made for my sin to be covered so that I could be forgiven and given eternal life. Thank you for the sacrifice that was made for me and for the free gift of eternal life.

Jesus Has Life in Himself

Lesson #87

In this lesson we will continue our study of John 5:25 – 29, by looking at verse 26: “For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself” (ESV). In Psalm 36 verses 5 – 10 are some thoughts on the steadfast love of God. Within those verses is the phrase “For with you is the fountain of life” (v9 ESV). So God the Father has life within himself. He is the source, the fountain of life and by his voice he can communicate life to all things. But because the majesty of God is so far removed from us, so much above us, it would resemble an unknown and hidden source. To overcome this dilemma, the Father granted the Son to also have life in himself and make it available to us through Jesus Christ. As God the Father and God the Son the fountain of life dwells with them, but in their eternal relationship the Father is seen as eternally first. It is through the Son that authority is granted to make life available to us. For us, Jesus is our source of life. He is the fountain we must come to; the open fountain placed before us from which we can freely draw. Calvin said it very well; “God did not choose to have life hidden, and, as it were, buried within himself, and therefore he poured it into his Son that it might flow to us.” It is for this purpose that the Son was manifested in the flesh as the person of Jesus.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” . . . and “In Him was life; and the life was the light of men” . . . “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us.” (John 1:1, 4 and 14 NASB). In the beginning, in the Word, was life and that life became available to us through the Word becoming flesh. Jesus is the life; he is our only source of life.

“As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me” (John 6:57 ESV). God the Father sent the Son; he gave Jesus to us and whoever feeds on him or consumes him will live. We must consume food to live physically and in like manner we must consume Jesus because he is the source of our spiritual life. The eternal union we have with Jesus, the source of our life, is essential. Without it there is no life.

Prayer

Lord, as you reveal the deep truths of your word to me from which find such great benefit, I am burdened by the lack of desire on the part of so many believers to spend time learning from the Scriptures and applying what they learn to their daily life. Father, it seems that the western church has become a subculture of the western culture and as a result has become a “good” version of the culture. Father, as a result we don’t stand out as different than the world; we no longer challenge the world with the need to be holy and righteous as you are. Please, by your Spirit, raise up a biblical remnant to challenge the church today.