I Came to Bear Witness to the Truth

Lesson #308

We ended the previous lesson with Pilate asking Jesus the question, “What have you done?” “Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”” (John 18:36 ESV). Jesus does not deny that he has a kingdom, but that kingdom is not of this world as is the Roman kingdom in which Pilot is a part of. His kingdom is not political, but as we will see in verse 37, his kingdom is a moral kingdom and relates to truth. That kingdom does extent into this world, but not in a way that makes him guilty before Pilot.

Jesus made it clear that if he were a king of an earthly kingdom, then his followers would have been fighting to protect him from being delivered over to the Jews. When Jesus “[perceived] . . . that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, [he] withdrew again to the mountain by himself” (John 6:15 ESV). Later “. . . they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!”” (John 12:13 ESV). Peter tried to start a conflict by using his sword, cutting off the right ear of the high priest’s servant. Whenever the people tried to force his hand, Jesus always maintained control and stayed focused on the cross.

“Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”” (John 18:37 ESV). Since Jesus made it clear that he had a kingdom, Pilot then responds with, “So you are a king?” Jesus responds with an indirect yes. Jesus was born to be a king, but also to bear witness of the truth. That truth we are to also bear witness of and as we do people come to belief in Jesus and his kingdom grows. Jesus was born to be king and we are assigned the task of sharing the truth to provide him with a kingdom. Those who populate his kingdom are those of the truth who hear his voice and respond. Those of the truth are the ones the Father has chosen, whose names are recorded in the book of life.

“Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”” (John 18:38 ESV). I am sure that was said in jest because he did not wait for an answer as we will see in the next lesson.

Prayer

Father, it was clear to Jesus that he knew why he came into our world. He was born to be a king and to bear witness of the truth. Father, we fall so far short in sharing the truth with others. We think more of ourselves and what we want to do and are not focused on the task of building a kingdom for our king. Jesus gave us the assignment in Matthew 28:19 – 20, known as the great commission. Paul also made it clear when he wrote: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (ESV). Father, I do not believe this is a very important priority in the western church. We are not very willing to sacrifice very much for this or risk possible harm to us if we stepped outside our boundary of safety and security. Father, have mercy on us, I pray. 

Are You the King of the Jews?

Lesson #307

The Jews were not backing down and wanted a death sentence from Pilate against Jesus. “So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”” (John 18:33 ESV). At this point this is a private investigation because the Jews would not enter the headquarters of Pilate because of causing ceremonial pollution for them. Pilate called Jesus to him and asks if he considered himself to be the King of the Jews. Pilate knew the charges the Jews had against Jesus because he granted permission for the Roman cohort to go and arrest him. The Jews made up the claim that Jesus wanted to be a secular king over Israel, a charge the Jews knew to be false, but this is the best they could do, hoping that Pilate would believe their false charge and sentence him. However, Pilate wanted to ask Jesus plainly about it to see how he would respond.

“Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?”” (John 18:34 ESV). The issue is regarding the meaning of “king” and over which kingdom. From our study, the Jewish people wanted Jesus as king of an earthly kingdom like David was, but Jesus has been trying to get them to see that he was talking about a future kingdom of born again believers. If Jesus was looking forward to establishing an earthly kingdom, then Pilate would have reason to sentence him.

“Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?”” (John 18:35 ESV). Asking the question, “Am I a Jew?” implies that Pilate is not and as a result he is not likely to be influenced by Jewish prejudices. Since charges against Jesus have come from his own nation, from his own countrymen and from the highest authority among his people, they are worthy of deepest attention. The question, “What have you done?” is an attempt to get Jesus to evaluate why he has been charges. Pilate wants to know what Jesus thinks he might have done to so upset the Jews.

The response Jesus gives will be looked at in out next lesson.

Prayer

Father, I carefully watch the statistics of readers by country, looking for any anomalies that might warrant special prayer. Several months ago strong readership in a country of persecution abruptly stopped. I learned it was related to a new law passed against Christians there. Recently those counts returned very strong for several weeks and then abruptly disappeared again. It is my prayer that those who were reading in that country were not identified and taken into custody. I understand this as I came close to being picked up when I served in Asia. I feel a oneness with my readers and pray for their protection. 

Guilty Without Evidence

Lesson #306

Jesus was brought to Pilot and Pilot comes out to hear what accusation they had brought against Jesus. “They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.”” (John 18:30 ESV). By their statement the Jews are implying that they have tried Jesus and had determined that he was guilty. They were hoping that Pilot would accept their veridic and give sentence that Jesus should be executed. This was the usual practice, but in this case Pilot knew about Jesus and his miracles and had a belief that Jesus was innocent and wanted the Jews to punish him according to his wrong doing.

“Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.”” (John 18:31 ESV). At this point Pilot didn’t see anything worthy of the death sentence, so he felt the Jews were able to punish according to the wrong doing on the part of Jesus. The Jews knew that Roman law would not allow them to execute Jesus so they point that out to Pilot. The Jews wanted Jesus dead and only Pilot could legally make that happen.

“This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die” (John 18:32 ESV). Those words were recorded in Matthew: “And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.”” (Matthew 20:17 – 19 ESV).

Prayer

Father, you sent your Son, born of a virgin, to purchase our salvation by sacrificing his life on the cross. The Jews intend this for evil, but you intend his death for our good. For those who reject Jesus this seals their eternity under the wrath of God, but those who love and embrace Jesus it provides eternal life. “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 3:28 NKJV). Father, I believe you have called certain Christians to sacrifice their lives as a testimony to those who are torturing them. This may be the only way they will experience your love and forgiveness and hear the gospel. What they plan for evil may be your plan to reach them with eternal life at the cost of a believer’s life. Jesus gave his life for us and we should be prepared to give our life for someone else, even the one who is about to take our life. 

Jesus Brought Before Pilot

Lesson #305

In the last lesson, Jesus was led across the courtyard to the house of Caiaphas as Peter was twice denied that he was a disciple of Jesus. After an unspecified period of time, “. . . they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor's headquarters. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor's headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover” (John 18:28 EST). The governor's headquarters is the house where Pilate lodged. It was also the place where he held his court, and tried cases. John doesn’t tell us what happened inside; the accusations brought against Jesus; the false witnesses; the insults which Jesus received in the house of the high priest; the assembling of the grand council, or the Sanhedrin.

John does tell us that the Jews did not enter the governor’s headquarters because they considered the touch of a Gentile to be a defilement, and on this occasion, at least, seemed to regard it as a pollution to enter the house of a Gentile. They are so concerned over this form of pollution, but yet were wholly unconcerned at the enormous crime they were committing by of putting Jesus to death without any evidence of wrong doing, and soiling their hands with the blood of their Messiah. How is it possible for a person to have such a double standard? Here they were in the process of committing one of the greatest of all crimes and yet were concerned about becoming ceremonial unclean, which would prevent them from eating the Passover meal. This is the blindness of sin and their accompanying religion where anything can be justified for your own advantage.

Since the Jews would not go in, “. . . Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?”” (John 18:29 ESV). John 19:13 gives more insight on the meaning of “outside to them”: “So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic Gabbatha” (ESV). This is the place where the Jewish Sanhedrim used to sit because they would not come into Pilate’s court of judicature. Pilate, in a show of humility, would go out to them in compliance to their ceremonial customs.

Pilate went out to them to hear what accusation they brought against Jesus; what offence he had committed. He wanted to know what evidence they had to support their accusation. As a judge, he wanted to judge fairly according to Roman law. He wanted a fair trial, but that will be impossible when bringing to trial a sinless man with false charges and plans to incite mob unrest to distract Pilot from making correct decisions.

Prayer

Father, I think about Jesus who is brought to trial on false charges and I immediately think of my brothers and sisters in countries of persecution who are likewise brought to trial on false charges for the purpose of removing the ones charged from further Christian influence. As I watch the reaction of Jesus I notice a similar behavior among those being persecuted on false charges. In both cases they release justice to God, allowing them to love and forgive their persecutors, providing a powerful witness to them. This may be the only way they will hear the gospel and be given an opportunity to believe. Father, if I should find myself in this spot someday, I pray that you will have prepared me to remain faithful to my faith and to Jesus.

The Second and Third Denial

Lesson #304

Try to imagine what is happening in the courtyard at this time when the focus moves from Jesus back to Peter. “Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.”” (John 18:25 ESV). Peter was asked this question as he was standing and warming himself by the fire and while Jesus was being taken across the courtyard from Annas to Caiaphas. Peter responds without clearly thinking and denies that he is a disciple of Jesus, who is there to hear him.

Peter still has not realized that his denials were foretold by Jesus, so one more question will be needed. “One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?”” (John 18:26 ESV). Pressure really builds when Peter realizes this person was an eye witness of him cutting off the ear of the high priest’s servant. “Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed” (John 18:27 ESV). This is the third denial recorded by John and as soon as the roster crowed, he realized what he had done in the presence of Jesus. Peter stands condemned and he knows it.

In looking at the other gospels for more information I realized there is some confusion about how many denials there were and how many times the roster crowed. I decided to Google this and found some very interesting material. I will include two links to this material in case you are interested.

How Many Times Did Peter Deny Jesus?

The Six Denials of Peter

There is room in this lesson for me to ask a question that might apply to our lives. “What was the reason behind Peter’s denial of Jesus?” I think there are two main reasons: weakness and fear. If someone were to ask you if you were a Christian and if an answer of “Yes” meant suffering for you, would weakness and/or fear cause you to also deny Jesus?

Peter’s weakness had caused him to be “devoured” as he denies Jesus, but in 1 Peter 5:8 (ESV) we find that he has learned his lesson because he exhorts us: “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

Peter’s fear caused his focus to shift from pressing on with Jesus to thinking about harm to himself. We need to overcome this fear with a deeper love for Jesus because we may soon lose our safety and security that we enjoy now.

Prayer

Father, as I write this lesson I am reminded that I am “not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God” (2 Timothy 1:8 ESV). I am also reminded “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death” (Philippians 3:10 NKJV). We may speak of the poser of his resurrection, but very little is said about the fellowship of suffering, being conformed to his death. Father, we need to prepare our hearts to stand in the face of opposition and be willing to sacrifice ourselves for the sake of the gospel. 

What Have I Done Wrong?

Lesson #303

We ended the last lesson with Jesus saying: “Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said.” For nearly three years Jesus has suffered from the abuse of the Jews and now just hours away from the cross they are trying to trap him into saying something they can use as a charge against him, but there is nothing to find because he is without sin. Jesus knows the magnitude of suffering that waits him and is probably tired of this petty questioning and as a result his response to them might have had a touch of sharpness in his voice because, “When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?”” (John 18:22 ESV). This response on the part of the officer is another indication that this is not going to be a fair trial. No one has the right to touch a prisoner before being condemned and without an order to do so. If what Jesus said had been an offence against Annas the high priest and if Annas had given orders to strike him, then a blow to the face was the customary punishment (Acts 23:2). A decision had been made to send Jesus to the cross and the only way that was going to happen was on made up charges. This is a very common technique in countries of persecution of Christians who are arrested on false charges and on the basis of these charges they are forced to bear severe treatment, even death in many cases.

After being struck, “Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?”” (John 18:23 ESV). Jesus is implying that they need to produce the evidence which the law requires, but they can’t because there is no such evidence.

Unable to precede any further, “Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest” (John 18:24 ESV). There is a difference of opinion about what really happened here. I am going to accept what John wrote. It appears to me that Jesus was at the house of Annas during the above questioning and mistreatment. Now Jesus is being moved across the courtyard from the house of Annas to the house of Caiaphas, also serving as the high priest. Moving Jesus across the courtyard sets the stage for Peter’s second and third denials, which we will cover in the next lesson.

Prayer

Father, as I mentioned in the lesson, I am reminded of my brothers and sisters living in countries of persecution who are being treated as Jesus was. They also are being arrested and mistreated simply because they identify with Jesus as Christians. Jesus suffered and died to purchase our salvation and now these children of yours are suffering and dying in the process of being your witness. Father, I pray for these that they would be encouraged to know that their sacrifice honors you, Jesus, and their families. I pray for their endurance that they will be able to press on to the end. I pray for their steadfastness that they would not deny Jesus and turn from their faith, for they have a great reward waiting them in heaven. Father, have mercy on them. 

Looking for a False Charge

Lesson #302

Peter has denied Jesus once so far and is now with others near the fire. At this point there is a change of scene and John takes us inside the house of Annas to see what is happening to Jesus. “The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching” (John 18:19 ESV). The high priest who was asking the questions was probably Annas because in verse 24 we read about Annas sending Jesus to Caiaphas. At this point the questioning is very general and focused on his disciples and his teaching. They probably wanted to know how big a following he had and what was being taught to them. Maybe they wanted to know about his authority to gather disciples, teaching them a new doctrine, and forming a different sect, but that is simply speculation. Since they haven’t charged him yet, they are probably hoping he would say something that would help them levy a charge against him.

To this inquiry, “Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret”” (John 18:20 ESV). Jesus doesn’t answer their questions distinctly, but makes it clear that he did not do or say anything in secret but openly to the world, in synagogues and in the temple where all Jews come together. There is nothing hidden that they shouldn’t already know about. During my time of Bible teaching in China, I had become good friends with a police officer and some of his police friends. Their advice to me was to do nothing in secret that would surprise them. At times I was followed and kept track of, but when I had time and the opportunity I helped their children speak better English. It was clear to them that I met no harm and they did not bother my teaching, but I was careful because I knew that things could change overnight and that I could face charges.

Jesus continues his answer: “Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said” (John 18:21 ESV). Jesus knows they have no legitimate case against him and in a way he reproves the high priest of trying to extort a confession from him. If he had done anything wrong or taught any false doctrine, all he had to do was to ask those who listened to Jesus to find out what he said. These words of Jesus were probably said with some sternness because it causes one of the officers to react with some physical and verbal violence, as we will see in our next lesson.

Prayer

Father, what is happening to Jesus reminds me of my brothers and sisters who live in countries of persecution where those who feel threatened by the presence of Christians and their lifestyle, bring violence against them to reduce their threat by some form of repression, even death. During my time teaching in the illegal schools in China, I had opportunities to talk with some of these people and learned from them. Father, I know we in the western church need to learn more about this because one day we are going to wake up and find we have lost our safety and security and with it will go our comfort. Father, as the sin of our nation has grown so great that its wages of death will take its toll on us through increased evil and spiritual darkness. Father, please have mercy on us. 

The First Denial

Lesson #301

Peter was brought into the courtyard where he could see and hear better what was going on, but he apparently remained near the door because the servant girl who kept watch at the door, turns to Peter and asks him if he wasn’t one of the disciples of Jesus. Peter has now come to a fork in the road; does he identify with Jesus and risk possible harm to himself or does he deny Jesus and try to protect himself?

“The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man's disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.”” (John 18:17 ESV). We now have the answer to the above question. Why did Peter deny being one of the disciples? What did he fear since the servant girl did not bring any charge against him, but appear to express only words of recognizing Peter as being with John who was known to her as a disciple? Apparently Peter did not think of that, but instead recalled that he had been with Jesus and had attempted to kill one of the high priest’s servants. Maybe he feared this identification for this reason, but in any case, he firmly says, “I am not.”

It seems that the servant girl doesn’t press Peter any further and he moves away from her, maybe to avoid and further questioning. “Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself” (John 18:18 ESV). The charcoal fire that the servants and officers of the chief priests had made was located in the courtyard outside the house where Jesus was taken for questioning.

This being about the time of the Passover, the weather can be frosty at night and so a charcoal fire was started to provide some warmth for those waiting. Peter joined those beside the fire, probably for some warmth and to mix in with people so as to not stand out by being alone, but the company he joins turns out to be bad company for him.

John drops this part of the story, for now, and brings us up to date with what is happening to Jesus. We will leave that for the next lesson.

Prayer

Father, there are some important lessons we can learn to this point. Peter had boasted that he would die before he would deny Jesus, but the Scriptures say: “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18 ESV). The boast had set Peter up to fail as a disciple of Jesus. If Peter had told the truth he would had remained faithful, but to protect himself he lies and instead of being set free he is brought further into the bondage of sin that began with the boast. Father, this is a temptation we all face from time to time and from them we need to learn, as Peter will, how to remain faithful and not be drawn into a trap that will ensnare us. Father, have mercy on us and help us walk with the Lord as we should.

The Door of Temptation

Lesson #300

Jesus was arrested and taken into custody, but “Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest,” (John 18:15 ESV). I am pretty sure that Peter fled with the rest, but he was curious enough to see what was going to happen to follow “him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and going inside he sat with the guards to see the end” (Matthew 26:58 ESV). Following him at a distance shows some fear, but the fact he followed shows a commitment to Jesus, a property of his sheep. However, when tested, Jesus told Peter he would deny him. Peter is about to experience this test.

The other disciple, who followed Jesus, is thought to be John, because he frequently speaks of himself without mentioning his name. Some think John knew the high priest from taking fish to his home and selling them to him. Since he was not known, he was not questioned as Peter was and entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. The courtyard was an impressive structure with apartments, stalls for guards, and the usual trappings of a palace. It is likely that both Caiaphas and Annas lived there. As a result, the sending of Jesus from Annas, bound to Caiaphas involved nothing more than leading him across the courtyard.

As a result of not being known, “. . . Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in” (John 18:16 ESV). Peter stood outside the door, possibly in fear of going in, to see if he could see or hear anything from inside and maybe for an opportunity to enter. Peter’s curiosity had brought him to this door to wait. Knowing what Jesus had foretold about Peter and his denial, it would have been better if Peter had left because here he stands at the door of temptation. Peter waited too long because the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant who kept watch at the door and told her that it was ok to let Peter inside to where Jesus was.

In the next lesson we will find Peter in a very difficult situation.

Prayer

Father, this is the quiet before the storm. Jesus is about to be questioned as is Peter. We will see that Jesus stands his ground, focused on the cross, where he will finish the work assigned to him by his Father. Peter does not have a clear focus yet and does not have the strength to remain steadfast to the Lord. Father, as I study the persecution of my brothers and sisters in other countries, I see those who stand with the Lord and those who deny. Those who stand encourage me and honor the Lord. Those who break and deny need to confess their failure, ask for forgiveness and the strength to press on. I pray for them because, like Peter, God still has a need for them. They need to press on with resolve and a stronger relationship with the Lord. Lord, comfort and encourage them like you did Peter. 

The Arrest

Lesson #299

“So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him” (John 18:12 ESV). From previous studies, we found Jesus willing to surrender to them, so why the need to bind him? Maybe they bound him for security reasons, thinking that he might try to escape again as he did in the past when they came to arrest him. Maybe they bound him in an act of contempt as they led him away to be treated as a vile criminal. As Jesus was bound the process was set in motion for his people to be set free from the bondage of sin, to be delivered from captivity by Satan, and to be freed from the bondage of the law. Binding Jesus reminds us of Abraham binding his son Isaac to be offered as a sacrifice and the binding of the sacrifice to the horns of the altar.

“First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year” (John 18:13 ESV). It is not clear why John added this bit of information. Trying to give a reason is only speculation, so I will simply say that the home of Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas was probably a convenient stopping point and place to hold Jesus until Caiaphas assembled the council. In Luke 3:2 we learn that Annas and Caiaphas may have shared the position of high priest.

“It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people” (John 18:14 ESV). This piece of information is enough to disqualify Caiaphas as the person to sit in judgment of Jesus. His advice to the Jews that Jesus should die for the people, indicates that he had already prejudged and condemned him. If Jesus was to be condemned to die it would have to be done apart from the rules of justice because Jesus was without sin; he was not guilty of any charge that might be made against him. This is not unlike what is happening to many Christians who live under persecution today. Christians are being imprisoned, tortured and even killed on false charges. Like Jesus, these Christians are seen as trouble makers who oppose their false beliefs and their influence needs to be reduced, sometimes even eliminated.

Prayer

Father, as I think about this injustice, I think of some of my readers who live in countries of persecution. I try to learn as much as I can about what their lives are like; the fears of false charges be levied against them; the suffering they might have to endure; the concern if they will be strong enough to stand and not deny like Peter did. Father, I pray for these, some who risk so much if caught reading these Bible studies. I pray for their encouragement when the going is hard; for endurance when they are not sure how much more they can take; for steadfastness to be able to stand with honor and not deny their faith or their Lord. Father, I encourage my western readers to learn from these brothers and sisters, because someday it may be our turn to take a stand; maybe that time for some is now. 

Drink the Cup (John 18:11)

Lesson #298

In the last lesson two points were listed that we needed to cover from John 18:10 – 11, but we managed to cover only the first, leaving the second point for this lesson. That second point relates to the second part of verse 11 in which Jesus said, “shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?” To gain a better understanding of what this cup is, we will look at two Old Testament verses. We will begin with Jeremiah 25:15 (ESV): “Thus the Lord, the God of Israel, said to me: “Take from my hand this cup of the wine of wrath, and make all the nations to whom I send you drink it.”” Looking at the context of this verse we find nations, including Israel, who have done evil and not obeyed God. As a result, God is very angry with them and makes a promise to them that they will become a desolation and a waste. This anger against them is seen as the wrath of God and is symbolized by a cup, which they will be forced to drink.

The Cup of Wrath

Another verse is in Isaiah 51:17 (ESV): “Wake yourself, wake yourself, stand up, O Jerusalem, you who have drunk from the hand of the Lord the cup of his wrath, who have drunk to the dregs the bowl, the cup of staggering.” Jerusalem continued to reject God’s warnings of destruction and did not repent and return to him in obedience, but continued in their sin. As a result, judgment over took them and they were destroyed. This judgment is here described as the cup of his wrath.

Because of our disobedience, our sin, we also stand condemned, guilty before God with our sentence being death. This judgment against us, like the judgment described in Jeremiah and Isaiah, will be experienced as the wrath of God; a cup the unsaved will drink from for an eternity in hell. To provide our salvation, Jesus who lived a sinless life sacrificed himself on the cross, drinking our cup of wrath.

If Jesus did not drink this cup then like those described in Revelation 14, we would have to drink it ourselves. “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God's wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.” (Revelation 14:9 – 11 ESV). This is one cup you want to avoid having to drink from. Jesus provided the way to avoid it. Don’t miss your opportunity to avoid this cup of God’s wrath! There in the Garden Peter didn’t yet understand this drinking from the cup in his place.

Prayer

Father, how thankful I am that Jesus drank the cup of God’s wrath in our place so that you could extend to us the cup of God’s fellowship. As with those who live under persecution, that cup of fellowship might include suffering, but not the wrath of God. That fellowship of suffering is not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us (Romans 8:18) and for those who are called according to his purpose, who love God, all things work together for good (Romans 8:28). Father, thank you for that living hope of what lies, on the other side of this life of suffering, in heaven with you.

Who Is the Enemy? (John 18:10)

Lesson #297

It was mentioned in the last lesson that we would revisit John 18:10 – 11 in this lesson: “Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.) So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”” (ESV). First, we need to consider the difference between Jesus and Peter in relationship to our enemy and second, we need to consider the cup given to Jesus by his Father to drink.

Jesus presented himself as the righteous one from the Father, who came to purchase our salvation. His claims infuriated the Jewish leaders and in their anger and hate, they planned to kill him. Jesus knew why he was on earth and the events that would lead him to the cross. He also knew the timing and had the power and focus to arrive at the cross at a specific time, having accomplished the appropriate work along the way. This was accomplished without physical force or any violence, simply with spoken words and acts of power. When the time came he surrendered into their hands and died, finishing the work he was sent to do.

Then there was Peter who saw a different enemy and had a different approach. The enemy that Peter saw was the Roman government, which Peter felt could be overcome by the power and leadership of Jesus. If Jesus can change water to wine, can heal people, feed people with the spoken word, control the wind and the sea, raise the dead, and cause those coming to arrest him to fall down before him by saying “I AM”, then possibly Peter might have thought this could be the beginning of that uprising that he thought the Messiah would lead and so he strikes out with his sword believing that Jesus would then take the lead, but instead Jesus commands Peter to put away his sword, heals the damage done and again announces why he was sent to earth by his Father. Jesus knew what his mission was, but Peter had his own mission and it did not match that of Jesus.

This leads to the conclusion of the first point we were going to cover. Think about Christians in the world today and the forms of the enemy that they face. Anyone who truly identifies and walks with Jesus, intent on living a righteous and holy life will stir up hate in the lives of the unsaved. Over and over again Jesus made this very clear. We must not be deceived as Peter was and think that our enemy is some form of evil in this world. It is more than that; it is the power behind the evil, the power of darkness, the devil. In time Rome fell and was replaced by other world powers or kingdoms.

I think of my brothers and sisters living under persecution. They are not taking up weapons of the world in which to fight their enemy, but instead they are continuing to witness and as a result they suffer and many even die. Jesus died and purchased our salvation, rising victorious over death. These under persecution are suffering and even dying and as a result the church is seeing tremendous growth. What is the victory we are looking for and what are our instruments of warfare? If it is some kind of kingdom here on earth, then we line up behind Peter, but if it is the Kingdom of the beloved Son, then our instruments of warfare are quite different and we will approach our enemy with love and forgiveness as Jesus did, not with some form of violence, leaving justice in the hands of God.

We will get to the second point in the next lesson.

Prayer

Father, this lesson was from my heart and I believe contains some things we need to think about today. I believe we need to identify our enemy and the effect it is having on us. I believe we need to stand against that enemy while we still have the freedom to do so, but when the enemy seems to gain the upper hand, strengthen us with your grace and fill us with your love so that we can stand with endurance and steadfastness of faith and continue to be a witness by loving our persecutors and forgiving them because they do not know what they are doing. Father, use our suffering and even the loss of our lives as a means of advancing the Kingdom of your beloved Son. 

Not One Is Lost (John 18:9-11)

Lesson #296

We finished the last lesson with Jesus saying to his captors: “If you seek me, let these men go.” “This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.”” (John 18:9 ESV). With this statement, Jesus is reaching back to John 17:12, where we read: “While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled” (ESV). In the sovereignty of God, Judas was not chosen for salvation, but was chosen to deliver Jesus over to be crucified as the sacrificial lamb for our sin. God did not show mercy to Judas, but allowed him to experience justice for his sin. The other disciples were chosen by the Father, shown mercy, and given as a gift to Jesus just as he chooses us and gives us as a gift to Jesus. “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out” (John 6:37 ESV). For all of eternity I will never forget that out of the Father’s love for me, he chose me and extended mercy to me, removing me from under the hand of justice. He adopted me as his child, disciplined and trained me up and gave me to his Son, the Lord Jesus, as a gift who then gave me eternal life and promised to keep me secure for all eternity. I am so thankful that my salvation required absolutely no work on my part: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not 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, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:8-10 ESV).

Up to this point neither Jesus or his disciples showed any resistance and harmed no one, but “Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.)” (John 18:10 ESV). A situation that was under control and peaceful and now Peter takes out his sword (probably a Roman short sword) and probably trying to make his promise to Jesus good and maybe to force Jesus to use his power against the enemy, lashes out to the servant and manages to cut off his right ear. This outburst from Peter required another miracle to prevent his arrest and possible execution.

Jesus steps forward and takes control, but probably not in the way Peter was thinking. We will consider this in the next lesson. “So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”” (John 18:11 ESV). Luke adds more by saying, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him” (Luke 22:51 ESV). This restored peace to the situation and allowed God’s plan to continue on to the cross.

In the next lesson we will come back to verses 10 and 11 and add some detail which we do not have room for in this lesson. We need to consider the difference between Jesus and Peter in facing our enemy and we need to consider the cup that the Father gave Jesus to drink.

Prayer

Father, the more I study Scripture the more I am awed by your plan of salvation. To see how justice is satisfied for those chosen to receive mercy and given as a gift to Jesus to be given eternal life and security through grace without any work on my part, but to simply accept the gift of salvation simply overwhelms me and fills my heart with love and praise. 

Jesus Is in Control (John 18:6-8)

Lesson #295

In the last lesson Jesus responded with “I AM [he]”. We learned that “he” was added in translation for the sake of English. When Jesus responded with “I AM” it went forth with power. “When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground” (John 18:6 ESV). When the translation is written “I am he” it loses the impact of saying “I AM” and how you might interpret the action of them drawing back and falling down. I believe this is one more example of Jesus demonstrating who he was and giving proof of his power. We are not told what there was about the stance of Jesus when he addressed them, but there was something they experienced that caused them to pause and draw back as though afraid. Was it his boldness, lack of fear of them, power of his spoken response, or something else that momentarily overpowered them? In Job 4:9 (ESV) we read: “By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of his anger they are consumed.” Did they experience some of this in their soul when Jesus spoke?

Because of their falling back, Jesus speaks again: “So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”” (John 18:7 ESV). Jesus did not hurt them with his words and now Jesus seems to invite them to get up and proceed with their mission. He repeats the question to them of who they were after. Repeating this question demonstrates that Jesus had no intentions of trying to escape or to resist. He was delivering himself into their hands because it was now time to do that. Up until now when anyone came to arrest him he would manage to escape them, but now he turns himself over to them. Having recovered, Judas and those with him, with hardened hearts intent on wickedness, set aside Jesus display of power and do not respond with “We seek the Messiah!”, but instead they again say, “Jesus of Nazareth.” to which “Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.” (John 18:8 ESV). Following the authority of Jesus saying “I AM”, I believe when Jesus spoke “let these men go” he was expressing authority, not an entreaty. Jesus was turning himself over to them, but he made it clear that in exchange his disciples were to be free to leave unharmed.

There is no question about whether Jesus could avoid them taking him in, but that was not the plan. Jesus was sent by the Father to lay down his life for the sheep so that he could show them mercy and extend grace to them. Under the power of Jesus, the soldiers and others were restrained from harming the disciples. They needed to leave the garden and wait for further direction to be received from Jesus after his resurrection.

Prayer

Father, I find it interesting and encouraging how Jesus was in control when Judas came with those who wanted to arrest him. Jesus knew when they would arrive, received them with power that caused them to fall to the ground, and gave directions to let the disciples go without harm. Jesus then gives himself to them. There may be times when we may need to submit into the hands of the enemy and suffer as Jesus did. There may be other times when we will be protected and sent on to finish our work for him. Father, I am so thankful that you have a plan for me, that if followed, will produce the results you want from me. Thank you that the Holy Spirit is in control. 

I AM [he] (John 18:5)

Lesson #294

In the last lesson we ended with Jesus asking the question: “Whom do you seek?” “They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them” (John 18:5 ESV). John does not mention the kiss of Judas to identify him and so we don’t know if it occurred before or after this response. Jesus makes it clear that he is the one they are after by saying, “I am he.” Most translations weaken his answer by adding “he” to “I am” for English clarity, but in the Greek, Jesus said: “I AM”, identifying himself as part of the Godhead. We will see the impact of Jesus saying “I AM” in the next verse.

Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with those he brought to capture Jesus. What a contrast we see here with Judas. A short while ago he was at supper with Jesus and the rest of the disciples and now he is with those intent to destroy Jesus. This reminds me of Psalm 1 (ESV): “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore, the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.” Judas clearly left the place of blessing and went and walked in the counsel of the wicked, stood among sinners, and sat with scoffers and as we follow his life we will find that he like chaff will be driven away into destruction. Those who stay with Jesus and delight themselves in the Word will be like a tree planted by streams of water and will yield its fruit, even in times of drought.

One must stop and think hard about Judas. How did he get from being a disciple to walking with those seeking to destroy Jesus? Is it possible for you, if you experience some major tragedy or disappointment, to get really upset with God and turn away from him? If you were to experience severe persecution and were about to lose everything, maybe even your life, how would that affect your walk with the Lord? Be sure of your salvation and decide how you will respond if that time comes and how to prepare for it. Study those under persecution and learn from them. Find verses that relate to persecution and learn the proper interpretation of them, not the western view. As you experience any form of suffering now, learn from it as your first priority, even at the expense of comfort. If persecution comes you will lose your idols of comfort, convenience, safety and security. How will you live without them? Will you continue to walk with the Lord or maybe tend to follow Judas?

Prayer

Father, we each need to clearly determine who we are standing with. It is Jesus or some form of Judas and are there conditions that help us determine that? Father, I believe that this is a serious question to be asked here in the west where we are not standing in the face of active persecution against our faith. If our faith was tested what score would we receive? At what cost would we say enough and turn away like Judas? I believe we need to determine if we are willing to die for our faith as Jesus died to make faith possible. 

The Beginning of the Execution (John 18:3-4)

Lesson #293

The stage has been set and now comes the action: “So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons” (John 18:3 ESV). Judas, the betrayer, enters the garden with a band of soldiers. How large this band was, is uncertain so I will not speculate. The soldiers were probably those Roman soldiers given by the governor for the defense of the temple and the officers were those belonging to the Sanhedrin.

These came with lanterns and torches and weapons. At this time in the month of Nisan there should be a bright full moon, so why the lanterns and torches. They were probably for the possibility of searching for Jesus if he was hiding in the garden, but surely he would not be hiding because he knew this was his time and he knew what was going to happen and what should happen. The weapons were probably swords and clubs (Mark 14:48); the swords probably those of the Roman soldiers and the clubs belonged to the chief priest’s officers.

As Judas and the band of soldiers and officers arrived, “Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” (John 18:4 ESV). Jesus, being the Son of God, was the omniscient, so he would have access to all information. The One who can speak the universe into existence would know what was going to happen to him because he and his Father worked out the plan of salvation long before creating humans. They knew sin would enter into their creation through them, but that would not stop them because out of that rebellion would be create something even better. Jesus, as the sacrificial Lamb, knew of the suffering that lay ahead and he knew what was to happen next.

As Judas and the band of soldiers and officers arrived, Jesus did not try to hide from them, but instead stepped forward to intercept them and engaged them with the question, “Whom do you seek?” Jesus knew who they were after and he knew this was the time to give himself to them and not escape from them as he had in the past. Jesus is still in control and will be, even up to the point when on the cross he says it is finished and takes his last breath.

Prayer

Father, what an adventure and what a thrill it has been to develop nearly 300 Bible studies in following Jesus on his way to the cross. I don’t feel that I just followed him, but in so many ways I walked with him. Father, I feel the same way as I study those under persecution. At times when I suffer, I feel a unity with them and I join them in prayer for encouragement, endurance and steadfastness. As Jesus was crucified on the cross, by faith I am crucified with Christ that he might live in and through me. Father, thank you for this great plan of salvation that is unfolding before our eyes and in our lives as we work out our salvation. 

On to the Garden (John 18:1-2)

Lesson #292

With this lesson we begin chapter 18, which in the ESV translation is divided up into seven sections. The first section, about the betrayal and arrest of Jesus, includes the first eleven verses. Beginning at the first verse, we read: “When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered” (John 18:1 ESV). The words which Jesus spoke refer to his prayer in the preceding chapter. At the end of his prayer, he and his disciples went out and crossed the brook Kidron, which was a small stream that flowed to the east of Jerusalem, through a very narrow valley, dividing the city from the Mount of Olives. The Garden of Gethsemani is located on the lower slopes of the Mount of Olives and is a place that Jesus knew about and probably went there to get away from the crowds and pray at various times. At this critical time in the ministry of Jesus, he and his disciples enter this garden.

It is interesting to note that it was in a garden that Adam’s disobedience was committed resulting in death permeating the human race and here in the garden of Gethsemani, the obedience of Jesus, the second Adam, to die for sin begins. The sentence of death, on account of sin, was passed in a garden and in a garden the execution for that sin began.

The next verse indicates that Jesus and his disciples often came here. There is reason to think that the garden belonged to some wealthy man in Jerusalem that Jesus was friends with who gave him access. “Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples’ (John 18:2 ESV). Because of the Passover celebrations in Jerusalem and with many attending from outlying locations, lodging in Jerusalem was probably scarce so Jesus chose to take his disciples and stay the night in the garden. When visiting Jerusalem, Jesus probably stayed here with his disciples and so Judas expected to find him there.

Prayer

Father, as I think about Jesus and his coming trial, scourging and crucifixion and think of his response to that evil against him, I often wonder how I would respond to persecution against me and I think of how I am preparing myself for that possibility. Father, prepare me so if that time comes I will be encouraged by having made a previous decision to endure and stand fast through your strength and not turn away and experience the shame of denial. Lord Jesus, you are my example. Prepare me to live it out if called upon to do so. 

To Know and to Love God (John 17:24-26)

Lesson #291

Jesus continues to pray, saying: “Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world” (John 17:24 ESV). Justice demands that every person physically born must die an eternal death in hell, but mercy can be extended to those God wills because Jesus was able and willing to die for these sheep (John 10:11). These Jesus died for, the Father gives to him as a gift and Jesus then gives each eternal life.

Jesus is looking forward to when all the sheep will be with him in heaven, but now he is praying for those yet to come to salvation. Jesus desires so much that they be able to behold his glory and enjoy it in bodies that are also filled with his glory. The Father loved his Son from eternity past and desired to express this love by selecting a bride for him from out of the world, preparing that bride and giving her to Jesus. What a scene of beauty and love we see here and to think it includes you and I as believers.

Jesus continues to pray for those who the Father has given to him: “O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me” (John 17:25 ESV). Jesus admits that the world does not know the Father because it does not know or accept Jesus for who he is. Again Jesus confesses that he knows the Father because he has been with him for an eternity past and he confesses that we know that Jesus was sent by the Father to purchase our salvation.

Jesus then concludes his prayer with: “I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them” (John 17:26 ESV). While on earth, Jesus declared the Father to his disciples and to others and he makes the promise that while in heaven he will continue through the Spirit to proclaim the Fathers name that we would know the One True God. Again he asks for the Father’s love to be in them. God is love and as God in the Spirit dwells in us, that love in is us. Jesus then concludes with that great concept of “Christ in us the hope of glory!” How desperately we in the western church need to experience that hope to draw us away from friendship with the world.

Prayer

Father, as we come to the end of another great chapter, I want to pray again for my readers and myself. The growing number of readers humbles me and emphasize the opportunity and responsibility I have with the Lord and the Spirit to provide lessons to think about and to learn from. I pray for the mind of the Lord and the help of the Spirit for me in writing these lessons and then for the Spirit to draw more readers to come and be touched by the word of God. I pray for the needs and trials being experienced by my readers. I pray for God to encourage, provide endurance and steadfastness in their walk. Father, bless them and fill their hearts with your love and kindness of your grace. 

Perfectly One (John 17:23)

Lesson #290

Jesus continues to pray about this oneness becoming a perfect unity: “I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me” (John 17:23 ESV). In the last lesson we spoke of “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). Jesus points this out by saying: “I in them.” Then to link us to the one who dwells in unapproachable light, Jesus says: “you in me” where “you” refers to his Father. Try to grasp the significance of this when we have our perfect resurrected bodies. We all need to spend more time considering this great mystery because we need to make the hope of glory part of our daily walk.

All that the Father is, is also in Jesus and with Jesus in us he brings the Father into us, establishing unity with each of us and thus we with each other. Jesus establishes and maintains this unity: “And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:17 ESV). Jesus is the glue, through the presence of the Spirit, that creates and maintains perfect unity. Think of all those you can’t stand, who you wish you would never see again; those who seem to make life so difficult. Now think about having perfect unity with them and think of what is going to have to change in you and them to make this possible. The “may” become perfectly one is reference to life of the body of believers here on earth. We need greater unity now because in that way the world will see us as different than they.

If we were to love one another as Jesus loves us we would be much more united that we are today. This oneness is important because it enforces the message that the Father sent Jesus into the world as a demonstration of the Father’s love for them: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son” (John 3:16a). If the Father can love us retched sinners, then we should be able to love one another and establish this unity that Jesus is praying for.

Prayer

Father, I think of this oneness of love in the body and with you and Father and think of the great diversity that will be found in this family of God. I think of the many different cultures, language, foods, clothing, etc. and then I think that I will be able to know the name of each and be able to communicate with them as I do my own brothers and sisters. I am overwhelmed at all we will experience with one another, but then add to that all we will know and experience about God. Father have mercy on us because we are of the world, not living in the world as sales people creating interest in the great life we can begin to experience now. 

The Hope of Glory (John 17:22)

Lesson #289

Now that we have stretched our minds with the concept of being in God and thus part of God, we now need to stretch them further and consider this next verse: “The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one” (John 17:22 ESV). Before we do anything else we need to try to figure what this glory is. How does one define glory? How does one describe beauty? How does one describe a basketball? Which is easier to describe; a basketball or beauty? Do you see the problem? Isaiah 6:3 might help: “And one cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!”” (NKJV). Is the glory of God somehow a manifestation of his holiness? Maybe if we understand holiness we can get a handle on glory.

The holiness of God puts him in a class by himself. That holiness is what God is that nobody else is. His perfections, greatness and worth are matched by no one else. God is not determined by anything outside of himself; he defines himself; his infinite value. There also seems to be a connection given between holiness and glory in Leviticus 10:3: “I will display my holiness through those who come near me. I will display my glory before all the people” (NLT). As we draw near to him and can apprehend and reckon with his holiness we can then is some sense perceive to see his glory. Maybe we can say that the glory of God is the infinite beauty of his holiness in terms of his perfection, greatness and worth. Maybe it is that unapproachable light of his holiness that veils the Father.

Moses asked God to show him his glory and God responded with: “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name” (Exodus 33:19 ESV). Here there seems to be a relationship between glory and goodness. A few verses later we read: “while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen” (Exodus 33:22 – 23 ESV). This seems to suggest an unapproachable light shining from his face. I think this because of the transfiguration of Jesus when “he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light” (Matthew 17:2 ESV). To connect us to this glory we need to look at 1 John 3:2 (ESV): “Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.” We shall be like him by becoming partakers of his divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). When Moses went up Mount Sinai to talk with God, he returned and “did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God” (Exodus 34:29 ESV). In heaven we will be given a new sinless body that will allow the glory of God who dwells inside of us to radiate out from us. The unapproachable light of God’s glory will permeate every part of the body of believers. We cannot begin to comprehend what this will be light! Paul refers to this as a great mystery: “how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27 ESV). What a mystery; what a hope; what glory we will experience in all of its characteristics.

Prayer

Father, I only touched on the mystery unfolding in this lesson. When I think of Christ in us and he with the glory he is asking you to restore to him and our new bodies to radiate that glory, I can’t begin to comprehend our potential beauty. Father, as we absorb ourselves in this world, we lose sight of this coming glory as we become willing to live like spiritually homeless people. Preparing this lesson sure pointed this out to me and hopefully to my readers. 

The Diagram of Oneness

Lesson #288

We didn’t finish what we started in the last lesson, so we must finish up work on those verses: “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just 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 have sent me” (John 17:20 – 21 ESV). We still need to look at “that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”

The context of these two verses is being an effective witness from a unified body. Those who come to salvation through that witness become part of the body that is in Christ and in the Father and they in us by the Holy Spirit. This beautiful unity of Father, Son and Spirit, with Jesus being the Son in flesh and we the body included into the trinity by the Spirit being in us. The Son of God is seen in Jesus and the Holy Spirit is seen in us as a body of believers. This is a picture that has taken me years to understand and only now am I gradually coming to see my place in this unity along with other believers. Writing these Bible studies and praying for my readers has helped me understand how Jesus, the Spirit and I work together to prepare these lessons, draw readers to them, and work in the lives of those who read to the glory of our Father. The body of believers left in the world is the visible part of the entity of God and represents God to the world. The more we reflect the nature of God, the greater is the likelihood that those in the world will believe that Jesus was sent by his Father and find salvation.

Working on this lesson has resulted in the formation a diagram in my mind that relates to this unity. I tried to develop that diagram and describe it on a separate page. Here is a link to the diagram and its description.

Prayer

Father, the concept of the trinity is difficult to comprehend and now Jesus complicates it by speaking of a further oneness. What does it truly mean that we as a body of born again are in Jesus and you? Jesus as a person is in the Father and now he prays for us to be in Jesus and in you in the same way. If we could truly comprehend this oneness that we are part of even today, it would radically change how we live our lives. As I have grown to comprehend this some, I find the world losing its grip on me as my desire to know more about living with and working with God increases. 

The Prayer for Unity

Lesson #287

Jesus continues with his prayer and expands his view from mainly his disciples to all believers. Jesus prays: “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just 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 have sent me” (John 17:20 – 21 ESV). It is expected that the disciples would share their faith with others who will believe and who will then share their faith with others and eventually it is you and me who share with others. This sharing may take on various forms: verbal, written material and lifestyle. Think about the disciples who wrote much of the New Testament.  Since then many materials have been written, including these Bible studies. How we live before others, especially when going through difficult times, is an effective witness as it sets us apart from how others behave. A good verbal witness requires a right heart attitude. Consider those who stand before one who is torturing them and is able to love them and forgive them. Not forsaking the Lord and fighting back with the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, has won many harden hearts. An argument is not a witness; we don’t argue anyone into being born again. That happens under the timing of the sovereign will of the Father (1 Peter 1:3 ESV).

Those who will believe will come from all parts of the world, all language groups and cultures and over many years of time, but we make up one body in Christ. That oneness is to be like the unity of the Father and the Son, but because of disobedience that unity, among believers, is missing today as it has in the past and will into the future. The command we are not obeying is, we are to love one another as Jesus loved us (John 15:12). Jesus sacrificed himself for us. He looked out for our interest and died that we might have eternal life. In Philippians 2:4, Paul tells us to “look out not only to his own interest, but also to the interest of others.” When we see the needs of others and are willing to sacrifice to meet those needs through love, we would have greater unity. Where love abounds there is unity, but where there is sin, love is replaced with anger and resentment and the body breaks down into pieces with conflict between the pieces. The image in my mind is of a stone going through a stone crusher and coming our as crushed stone. The stone is the body, the stone crusher is our sin and the pieces are believers in disunity. It is hard to imagine what it will be like in heaven when we love the one we can’t stand for various reasons now here on earth. Clearly, something is going to happen when we shed this body of sin and our works pass through the fire at the judgment seat of Christ. To have perfect harmony will require the removal of all sin.

When we are born again the Holy Spirit indwells us and installs God’s love in us. The characteristics of that love are: “joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, [and] self-control” (Galatians 5:22 – 23 ESV). If our walk was totally in the Spirit, then there would be perfect unity, as we will experience in heaven, but since we live in bodies of sinful flesh, our walk will not be pure, but will contain sin which results in disunity.

Out lesson is too long already and we have more to go so we will finish verse 21 in the next lesson.

Prayer

Father, it is clear from the Scriptures that this problem of disunity goes back to the beginning of the church. One of several examples was the conflict between Paul and Barnabas over Mark. The disagreement was so sharp that Paul and Barnabas went their own separate ways with Barnabas taking Mark and Paul selecting Silas. It is no different today. As Jesus prayed for unity, we also need to pray for unity. Father, we need to be more faithful to Philippians 1:21 (ESV): For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Galatians 2:20 needs to be foremost in our walk with the Lord: “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (ESV). To have unity, Jesus needs to be in control in the driver’s seat and we need to be observant passengers ready to serve.

Sanctified in Truth, Sent into the World

Lesson #286

Those who are believers and are born spiritually are part of the family of God and should exhibit traits of that heavenly family. One of those traits is revealed as Jesus continues to pray: “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth” (John 17:17 ESV). To sanctify is to be set apart, to make holy, for the use intended by God. Jesus came to earth to establish his kingdom, provide a way for people to become a part of that kingdom, to teach those people the qualifications for membership and their expected involvement in expanding the kingdom. These people who were chosen by the Father and given to Jesus, become a new creation through the new birth and now Jesus prays that they be sanctified; to be set apart to do the work assigned to them before the foundation of the world. This kingdom that Jesus is establishing is to be established in truth to reflect Jesus who is truth. Jesus is praying that we would be set apart as workers of truth. Our part in this is that we are to “Do [our] best to present [ourselves] to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15 ESV). It is this word of truth that sets us apart in doing kingdom work.

Jesus continues to pray: “As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world” (John 17:18 ESV). “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son” (John 3:16a). The Father gave by sending his Son to die on the cross in the person of Jesus to purchase our salvation. Just as Jesus was sent into the world to accomplish a mission, Jesus sends his disciples and thus us into the world on assignment to expand his kingdom. This is why Jesus prayed that we not be taken out of the world; there is work for us to do first before we are taken out through death. If that work should mean our death under severe persecution that is ok because we must all die and it is best, we die doing our assignment than to die neglecting to do our assignment through denial or disobedience.

Jesus continues to pray: “And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth” (John 17:19 ESV). As sinful people dead in sin, we desperately needed a way of salvation. It was to this end that Jesus consecrated himself or dedicated himself to accomplish. All through this study of John, we find Jesus focused on the cross and working toward it. His death on the cross purchases our salvation and his resurrection gained victory over death. We are now justified through Jesus, allowing God to show us mercy and extend grace to us. This puts us in a position in Christ, who is truth, to be sanctified, to be set apart in holiness as a people he desires us to be and to do the work he desires us to do.

Prayer

Father, I pray that writing these Bible studies to be read by people in various parts of the world is according to you will for my life. I receive such nourishment from studying your word and such joy to see the growing number of readers from a growing number of countries. From the countries my stats show, I know there are people found in a variety of circumstances who need prayer for encouragement, endurance and steadfastness. I pray that through their suffering they will be encouraged, maybe by what they read. I pray that through their trials they would have the endurance needed to press on to the end and for some that may mean giving their life. I pray for those called upon by the powers of darkness to denounce Jesus that they would remain steadfast and not waver in their faith as an effective witness, especially to us here in the west. Those of you in countries of intense persecution, your ability to stand with the Lord in your faith is a powerful witness to us who may not understand persecution. My prayers are for you with thanksgiving for your faithfulness. 

Are We In or Of?

Lesson #285

We finally finished John 17:15 in which we discussed why Jesus prayed that we be kept in the world after being born again and while in the world we be kept from the evil one. We will next look at what our relationship with the world is to be like. Jesus continues his prayer with: “They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world” (John 17:16 ESV). This is a repeat of the last half of verse 14, which in looking back I see that I failed to cover it so we should do that in this lesson. Let us look at some related verses that might help us.

In James 4:4 we learn that “anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.” Who we chose as friends is important to God. That does not mean we do not associate with people of the world; we do but we set guidelines as to who we associate with and our purpose for those associations.

In 1 John 2:15 (NLT) we are told: “Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.” You can evaluate your love by comparing your attraction to the things the world offers with your desire for the things God offers. Which do you prefer to spend time with; things seen or things unseen?

In Romans 12:2 (NLT) we are told to consider our thinking: “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” It is important to consider what we are feeding our minds with. Is it the behavior and customs of the world or is it what Paul tells us to think about in Philippians 4:8 (NLT)? “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” What is the measure of the quality of your thinking?

Think of being “In” the world as your point of location. During the time I spent ministering in China, that was my location, but not my identity. I was a US citizen living in China according to their laws and customs as long as they did not interfere with my heavenly citizenship. I was there to influence people for Jesus, not to be influenced by their unchristian customs and beliefs. I was there as an ambassador to look out for God’s interest not my own.

Think of being “Of” the world as your source of information. Is that information from the world affecting the way I think and believe? When I was in China I learned many things about their culture, but I did not let it affect my thinking, behavior and beliefs in a negative way. I used that information to help me understand them and learn how to best relate to them with God’s message to them.

Being “in” the world specifies your location and being “of” the world implies that you are receiving information from it and making it part of your life in ways that hinder your assignment as a representative of God there on assignment. We are to be more concerned about the information we receive from the world than we are of being located there.

Prayer

Father, sometimes you ask us to locate in dangerous places. I had to carefully consider your call for me when you sent me into the underground school system in China. The information I received I could use to help mold my thinking on how to impact people in that country for Jesus Christ. Father, I am a much different person today than I would have been had I not been placed there and learn what I did. Because of continued relationships, I know I had an effect on people there for Christ. What a blessing to be “in” China, but while there to not be “of” China. 

Kept from the Evil One

Lesson #284

We need to finish up the verse we started in the last lesson, which was: “I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one” (John 17:15 ESV). Jesus did not ask his Father to take Christians out of the world, but to leave us here because there was the need for us to grow spiritually and we are needed to search the domain of darkness, looking for loss sheep and when found we need to encourage them along the path of growth to the point of being born again. After that comes the work of discipleship to prepare them to keep the work Jesus started going until the last loss sheep is found and the work of Christians on earth will be done.

This work we are left to do, that was assigned to us before the foundation of the world, will meet with continuous opposition from the powers of darkness. The head of these powers of darkness is the evil one, which Jesus prays that we be kept or protected from. To help us understand what our attitude should be and what we are to be kept from we will look at 1 Peter 5:8 (ESV): “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” This verse identifies two parties: Those under attack who are to be sober-minded and watchful and our enemy who is intent on hindering or even removing us from advancing the kingdom of God.

Searching the Scriptures for verses containing sober-minded we can gain some insight on the meaning of being sober-minded. We find words or expressions like: sound-mind, aware, minds prepared for action, alert, self-controlled, dignified, and focused. Being at war is to be taken seriously, requires proper preparation and continual training. Any engagement with an opponent requires an understanding of that opponent and his ways of engagement. James tells us in James 4:7 that we are to submit ourselves to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you because greater is he who dwells in us than he who is in the world.

In 1 Peter 5:8, consider the three descriptors of our enemy: adversary, devil, and roaring lion. What do these descriptors tell us about the evil one that Jesus is praying that we be kept from? An adversary is an opponent in a court of justice; he contends against you as a plaintiff; an accuser. The devil means slanderer, tempter, one who maligns or demeans one’s character. A roaring lion presents a challenge because prowling and roaring don’t go together. You can’t sneak up on your enemy if you are announcing that you are coming; your roar would scare them away.

We know the evil one sets snares to trap us. Consider the possibility of a group of believers who hears the roar of the enemy under persecution and do not stand and resist him, but scatter and as they do they get ensnared by his various traps. Consider Jesus and his disciples at the garden of Gethsemane, located at the edge of the Kidron Valley, when Judas comes with the soldiers and identifies Jesus with a kiss. Here the roar of the lion might be when they bound Jesus. At that point the disciples left him and fled except Peter and another disciple, thought to be John. “Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in” (John 18:15 – 16 ESV). The lion had set his trap and use the servants to ask Peter questions about his relationship to Jesus. Peter, unlike the other disciple, denied he knew Jesus three times and the roster crowed. The lion had his prey. Have we not heard the roar of the enemy and fled only to be snared by his traps? We need to learn to stand, even if it costs us our life, as it did Jesus, because God has the final word and the victory is his.

Prayer

Father, this lesson is rather long, but it contains an important concept. We must not fear what the evil one can do or say because Jesus has prayed that we be kept from the evil one. He may destroy our flesh, but he has no claim on us spiritually. I pray that the Holy Spirit will empower us to stand in the face of evil and not deny Jesus because we have the final victory in Jesus. How we stand determines the power of our witness for Jesus to others. Father, help us not forget that. 

Why Are We Left in the world?

Lesson #283

In the last lesson Jesus told his Father that he had given the disciples his word and as a result the world hated them because they were not of the world. Jesus continues his prayer by saying: “I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one” (John 17:15 ESV). As a result of teaching in an underground seminary in China and personally spending time with students there, some of whom had parents in prison because of their Christian activities, and by going to VOM conferences on persecution, and by studying considerable material on persecution, I have come to an understanding on this verse that is different than many western Christians will readily accept.

Even though the world hates true practicing Christians living out the word, Jesus does not ask his Father to remove them out of the world and thus away from danger. It would be nice that as soon as we are born again that we would be transported to heaven; at least we initially think it would be nice because we would sure miss many trials and much suffering. But if we stop and get the focus off our desire for comfort and focus on why Jesus came to earth, we would soon realize the importance of us staying in the world. We will consider what I consider two major reasons; spiritual maturity and assigned work.

When we are born again, we are spiritual babies with an important need to mature. This spiritual growth is mentioned in Hebrews 5:12 – 13 (ESV): “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child.” and in 1 Corinthians 3:2 (ESV): “I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready.” We begin our spiritual life as children and the Father needs time to train us, to prepare us for life with him and his Son in heaven. This training, growing period, is referred to as working out our salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12). But in addition to maturing spiritually, we are to complete the work assigned to us: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10 ESV).

The Son of God came into the world and took on a body of human flesh, who we know as Jesus, to live a perfect life and then die on the cross as our perfect sacrifice in payment for our salvation. But that is not all he did. While living on earth he chose his disciples and taught them about himself and his Father and the gospel of salvation and their responsibility to share it with others and on into the future until every person the Father had chosen for salvation was found and helped on their way to being born again. There are many Christians living under persecution who are giving their lives to accomplish this work. Here in the west we stand opposed to what Jesus is praying in principle and stress the importance of removing Christians from danger. Do not forget that we are engaged in a spiritual battle and in any war there will be casualties.  You cannot continue to retreat from areas of danger and expect to advance into the domain of darkness in search of loss sheep. Is it any wonder the church is growing where Christians remain engaged and not growing in areas where our safety is more important? That is why I was willing to be smuggled, under darkness, into the school in China to teach.

We still need to cover the phrase “keep them from the evil one”, but there is too much to say about it to include here. We will finish this verse in the next lesson.

Prayer

Father, I pray for my brothers and sisters who are willing to suffer for their faith as Jesus suffered. I pray for their encouragement during their suffering; for endurance to be able to stand against evil; and for steadfastness to be able to withstand the temptation to turn from the Lord and deny their faith. In areas of persecution, Christianity sets people apart from the world and are seen as a threat. Unfortunately, here in the west Christianity does not set us apart from the world and we are not seen as a threat and thus we are not persecuted. Here we must decide to live different than the world and that seems to be more difficult to do than stand against persecution. Father, it appears that the devil may have gained the upper hand here in the west.