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Three Years That Changed the World – Words of Comfort (Jesus in John 14)

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Three Years That Changed the World – Lesson 16

Words of Comfort

(Jesus in John 14)

Jesus, who had just told the disciples that one of them was going to betray him, recognizes they were troubled in spirit, and he chooses to calm their heart s by saying; “Let not your hearts be troubled”. He now spends time (still in the upper room) helping them to understand why.

The first several verses of John 14 (specifically 1-6), Jesus will once again affirm his deity. He will declare; “if you believe in God, believe also in me”, and “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” This specific declaration is the 6th of the seven “I Am” statements (deity claims of Jesus) in John’s Gospel.

  1. “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35)
  2. “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12)
  3. “I am the door/gate” (John 10:7)
  4. “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11)
  5. “I am the resurrection and the Life” (John 11:25)
  6. “I am the way, the truth and the life”(John 14:6)
  7. “I am the true vine” (John 15:1-5)

There is some confusion among the disciples as to their full understanding of what Jesus means when he says he is leaving them and then returning. This requires further teaching by Jesus and even some mild rebuke for their lack of full understanding after being with him for so long. The disciples were human and (like us) struggled with doubt and even despair as they faced losing the one who has loved and guided them for the last 3 years.

Jesus will spend the balance of John 14 telling them about the coming of the Holy Spirit who will be their advocate, their helper, counselor and their guide. In addition, Jesus will instruct them to follow his commands, specifically by loving God and loving others and to be obedient to all that he taught them. Toward the end of John 14, Jesus once again says, “Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” because he recognizes the weight of the moment. They need only to trust him and God’s will shall be accomplished.

Words of ComfortDownload

Three Years That Changed The World – A Love That Knows NO Limits (Jesus in John 13)

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Three Years That Changed the World – Lesson 15

A Love That Knows No Limits

(Jesus in John 13)

As John pens the words in chapter 13, the 3½ years of Jesus’ public ministry (to Israel) had ended. Jesus was about to prepare his closest disciples for what was soon to take place for his “hour had now come”. This preparation will come through a series of discussions, lessons, and guidance over the next 5 chapters (John 13-17).

“It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.” (John 13:1)

Jesus knew that his time to “leave this world” and “go to the Father” was in reference to his soon crucifixion and resurrection. Jesus will begin to prepare his closest disciples for what was about to take place and what they were to do. God was in complete control! These teachings/instructions would not be easy for the disciples to accept or even understand but the love of Jesus will become even more evident during this week. Although they will struggle and even feel overwhelmed, through the power of the Holy Spirit, at least 11 of them will endure.

Through the first 12 chapters of the Gospel of John, we witnessed the love that Jesus has for all of mankind (John 3:16) but most notably for his sheep (those who knew him as their savior) to be a special love. He will put that love on full display through humble service, his teachings and ultimately his death on the cross. Contained in these chapters (John 13-17) will be a practical demonstration of Jesus’ continual love for them and the first demonstration of that love will be washing the disciples’ feet.

Despite that love, Jesus knows that one of his very own will betray him. Jesus gave Judas every opportunity to fully trust in him, though Judas’ heart was already moving in the direction of betrayal, Jesus still washed his feet giving him a chance to repent of his sin (the betrayal of Jesus) and receive the same spiritual cleansing that the other 11 disciples were given.

Shortly after Judas is exposed for his betrayal and leaves the room, Jesus will give the other disciples a new commandment to live by – “To Love One Another” and in doing this, everyone will know they are his disciples as they continue his ministry. This will become the focus of the remainder of the time Jesus has with him before his arrest and this “love for others” will become the distinction between the works-based system of “pious religious leaders” and the faith-based practice of the genuine Spirit filled disciples.

A Love That Knows No Limits – Jesus in John 13Download

Three Years That Changed the World – Hosanna in the Highest (Jesus in John 12)

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Three Years That Changed the World – Lesson 14

Hosanna in the Highest – Blessed is He Who Comes in the Name of the Lord

(Jesus in John 12)

At the conclusion of John 11 we learned that the religious leaders were so spiritually blind that they openly rejected the one who claimed “I am the Resurrection and the Life”. They objected so vehemently that they were about to hatch a plan to have Jesus arrested, tried and put to death, hoping to forever silence him. Jesus knew that the Sanhedrin was plotting to have him arrested and ultimately killed but it wasn’t in God’s timing quite yet. There was still more for Jesus to do.

Jesus, the one who had been ministering for the past 3 and a half years performing miracles, wonders, and signs was on his way to Jerusalem (with a few brief stops) in what is commonly called the “triumphal entry” where He formally/officially presents Himself to Israel as the Messiah and Son of God. When this takes place, it will infuriate the religious leaders which will set in motion the chain of events that will quickly lead to his death at the precise time that was foreordained by God. In fact the remaining 10 chapters of the Gospel of John (John 12-21) cover approximately a 7 day period.

It might have been perceived by the crowd (perhaps they hoped) that Jesus would prove to be the promised Messiah that (they thought) would liberate them from Roman rule and domination and establish the promised kingdom (II Samuel 7:1-16). Jesus was their king, but their deliverance would come later when he is nailed to a cross for the sins of the world and raises from the dead, ascends to heaven, and awaits his final return to rule and reign as promised.

John records for us in chapter 12 of the anguish that Jesus felt knowing of his soon death on the cross where he would bear the sin of the world and the ultimate shame that would bring on him (someone who knew no sin) and for a brief moment separate him from the Father. John will close out the chapter with a rebuke by Jesus against the spiritual blindness of the Jews (those who will call for him to be crucified) who refused to believe in Him.

My prayer is (if you haven’t already done so) that you will open your eyes and see that Jesus is the Savior and Messiah and accept Jesus as Lord and Savior (“That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation, Romans 10:9-10) and be able to say; Hosanna in the Highest, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the Highest – Jesus in john 12Download

Three Years That Changed The World – “I Am the Resurrection and the Life”, Jesus in John 11

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Three Years That Changed the World – Lesson 13

Jesus – I Am the Resurrection and the Life

(Jesus in John 11)

This chapter (John 11) introduces the story of Lazarus and his two sisters Mary and Martha. All three of these individuals have a very close relationship with Jesus and in addition to what John records here in chapters 11 & 12, Luke has a short narrative about Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38-42. The chapter (John 11) begins by mentioning that Lazarus was very sick and quickly succumbs to whatever ailed him and he subsequently dies. Lazarus is not the focal point of this story but the events surrounding him, his sisters and his ultimate death will bring about a miracle in which Jesus will raise Lazarus from the dead.

There was a total of 4 days that passed before Jesus went to the location where Lazarus was. By the time Jesus arrives – Lazarus had already been dead. Jesus knowing what he was going to do (raise Lazarus from the dead) declared that himself and God were to be glorified through this, and the delay in the time of his arrival had nothing to do with Lazarus and everything to do with God’s plan.

Jesus knew full well that Lazarus was dead and that he would raise him from the dead (something the disciples would witness) to bring glory to God and to confirm himself to be equal with God (only God can raise someone from the dead).

Jesus uses this moment to reveal to Martha that he was going to raise Lazarus from the dead. Martha, though she believed in Jesus, may not have fully understood what Jesus was about to do. Jesus boldly declares the 5th of the 7 “I am” statements recorded in the Gospel of John – “I am the resurrection and the life”. Each of these “I am” statements are claims of deity (Jesus declaring himself to be God) and will cause some to believe in him and others to reject him.

The purpose of raising Lazarus from the dead extended beyond seeing Lazarus alive again. This was a sovereign act of Christ, designed to glorify himself and the Father by putting his resurrection power on full display to not just Martha and the others at Lazarus’ tomb but to all who read John’s Gospel.

The whole purpose for why John wrote his Gospel account is this: “Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:30-31). My hope is that you too will believe and in doing so will have eternal life in the presence of God.

Part 13 – I Am the Resurrection and the Life – John 11Download

Three Years That Changed The World – Jesus the Good and True Shepherd, Jesus in John 10

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Three Years That Changed The World – Lesson 12

Jesus – The Good and True Shepherd

(Jesus in John 10)

This discourse by Jesus (John 10) probably continues in the same setting as John 9 where Jesus is addressing the Pharisees (and others). Jesus uses the comparison of a Sheperd to his sheep and the lesson would have been easy to comprehend for those who heard him speak, as it’s a common analogy used throughout Scripture. The Old Testament prophets spoke of the one who would come and shepherd his people. The Pharisees misappropriated themselves as that true shepherd.

“For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land. I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I myself, will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign Lord” (Ezekiel 34:11-15)

John 10 contains the 3rd and 4th of the “I Am” statements made by Jesus (“I am the Door/Gate, I am the good shepherd) which was intentional. These “I Am” statements (there are seven of them in the Gospel of John) are crucial for understanding Jesus’s self-revelation in the Gospel of John and his role in God’s plan of salvation. They are not just metaphors, but profound truths about his divine nature and mission. As the True Shepherd, Jesus came to heal and seek and save those who were lost. Those who are his sheep will hear and respond to his voice and those who are not his sheep will willfully choose to ignore him. The True Shepherd (the shepherd of the sheep) – who calls and knows his sheep by name, shows care and concern for his sheep, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. The purpose of this discourse is to show who the True Shepherd is and expose the false shepherds. This will result in a major dispute with the religious leaders as Jesus makes a bold claim; “I and the Father are One” which was a declaration to those who heard that Jesus was God. Although this was rejected by the religious leaders, it didn’t make it any less true! Jesus will later declare in John 14:6; “I am the way the truth and the life, no man comes to the Father, but by me”.

Jesus – The Good and True Shepherd – John 10Download

Three Years That Changed The World – Jesus Removes All Religious Barriers

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Three Years That Changed The World – Lesson 7

Jesus Removes All Religious Barriers

(John 5)

While in Samaria – Jesus helps to remove the Social/Cultural Barriers that stood in the way of the Samaritan people from having a “right” relationship with God. This was his purpose in meeting with the Woman at the Well by showing her He was the promised Messiah and she no longer needed to allow those cultural barriers to keep her from seeking and worshipping God as God intended.

The next recorded event in the Gospel of John is when he heals the man at the pool of Bethesda who was severely disabled. (John 5:1-13). This healing will spark a significant rift between the religious leaders and Jesus for 2 reasons:

  1. The healing of the severely disabled man took place on the Sabbath and the severely disabled man was instructed by Jesus to pick up and carry his mat for he was now completely healed and could now walk. These actions by Jesus and the severely disabled man violated the Jewish traditions/regulations established by the religious leaders, especially their man-made laws related to the Sabbath itself.
  2. The actions and declarations by Jesus made him equal with God. Although this was completely true – the religious leaders rejected that idea and considered it blasphemy.

To fully understand this opposition, its necessary to explore the events that take place in Galilee between John 4 and John 5 which are recorded in the other 3 Gospel accounts (Synoptic Gospels). During Jesus ministry in Galilee the following events take place:

  1. Jesus will proclaim – “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news! (Mark 1:14-15)
  2. Jesus will perform many miracles and healings
  3. The religious leaders will continue to challenge the authority of Jesus
  4. Jesus will call Matthew to follow him
  5. Jesus will preach his famous “Sermon on the Mount” where he will teach the people how to live rightly with God and their fellow man
  6. Jesus will calm the storm, heal a demon possessed man, raise Jairus’ daughter from the dead and heal two blind men among many other miracles.

So, when John writes this portion of his Gospel account(John 5) about the healing of the severely disabled man and the hostile opposition by the religious leaders towards Jesus – it really shows that accepting that Jesus is Equal with God is the difference between belief and unbelief. This seems to be the focal point of John 5 and will continue to be the division between the religious leaders (unbelief) and the truth of the Gospel (belief) which recognizes Jesus is God – the Promised Messiah.

Jesus Removes Religious BarriersDownload

Three Years That Changed The World Part 5 – Jesus, There Is Something About That Name

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Three Years That Changed The World – Lesson 5

Jesus – There is Something About That Name

(John 2:13 – John 3:36)

After spending some time in Capernaum, Jesus goes to Jerusalem for the Passover festival in the spring of 27 AD. Because it was the Passover (the most significant feast celebrated by the Jews), the city of Jerusalem would have naturally been bustling with people, merchants (selling and trading their wares) and pilgrims from various regions of Roman Empire. The merchants (those selling cattle, sheep, doves etc.) and “money changers” were probably setup in the Temple area known as the Court of the Gentiles.

John will write about what transpires when Jesus encounters these merchants and money changers who are defiling the intended use of the Temple which was supposed to be used for true and proper worship of God. Ironically, if this was just some random, ordinary rabbi/teacher creating this pandemonium then his actions should have been met with opposition, but no one stopped him, and I find that interesting. Instead of stopping Jesus (they had the ability to do so), they challenge his authority and ask for a sign. They either thought him to be a prophet (like Elijah), a crazed lunatic (like John the Baptist), or someone else. The answer Jesus gave them wasn’t at all what they were looking for (and he knew it because he knew their hearts) and because they were spiritually blind the answer only confused them more. They completely miss the point! Jesus will perform many miracles while he was in Jerusalem and John (the author of this Gospel) tells us that many people will believe in Jesus because “There is Just Something About Thant Name”.

All this commotion will get the attention of a significant religious leader named Nicodemus. He will be taught a lesson that will stump and confuse him for Jesus tells Nicodemus that he must be “Born Again”. It is an interesting dialogue, and, in the end, it can be summed up with this statement; Nicodemus struggled with who Jesus was – was he really God? Nicodemus could accept he was sent from God but to conclude he was God took faith, and Nicodemus didn’t seem ready at this point to take that step.

The words of Jesus are compelling and the thought that “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” may have been too much for Nicodemus to grasp but it doesn’t make it any less true. Eternal life now becomes the focal point of the Gospel (Good News) for Jesus would give his life so that we might be saved (not perish). As Jesus continues his ministry, he will demonstrate the love that God has for the world (all of mankind) and will teach his disciples how to live as God intended them to live and to embrace him as the one who could save them from the sins that separated them from their Father in heaven. My prayer is that you come to that same conclusion.

Jesus – There’s Just Something About That NameDownload

Three Years That Changed the World Part 4 – Miracles Are God’s Business

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Three Years That Changed The World

Lesson 4 – Miracles Are God’s Business – John 2:1-12

Sometime after Jesus calls Philip and Nathanael to follow him; Mary, Jesus, and his disciples will head towards the region of Galilee (more specifically Cana). They will be invited to a wedding in Cana, and this will be the scene of the very first “public” miracle by Jesus.

It is interesting that Jesus chose this moment to perform his first miracle in public and the fact that he did it at a wedding ceremony shows the value that he placed on the sacredness and importance of the marriage relationship. Jesus took something completely ordinary (water) and turned it into something extraordinary (the choicest wine). There was no magic wand, no scripted words, and no fanfare – he just made it happen, and it was so.

This miracle which is only recorded by John and not the other 3 gospel writers can be easily overlooked if we don’t take the time to carefully examine it. For starters, how about you try it! You can make wine (some can make it better than others) but it takes more than just water to make that happen. Jesus didn’t add anything to the water – he just made water become wine. We also learn from John’s record that the disciples believed the miracle and no doubt increased their faith in Jesus, but there is no record that the servants who poured the wine from the water jars who witnessed the miracle believed. This is why some people can read about this miracle and believe while others can read it and not believe.

This might have been the first miracle performed by Jesus, but it won’t be his last. In fact, John (the Apostle and gospel writer) will record 8 of the 35 miracles performed by Jesus that we find written in the New Testament. We know that Jesus performed more than 35 miracles for he will perform mass healings of people when he fed the 4000 recorded in Matthew 15; “Jesus left there and went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up on a mountainside and sat down. Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them. The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing”.

You have to ask yourself; why did he turn water into wine, why did he heal people of their diseases, why did he cast out demons whose sole purpose was to torment people, why did he feed masses of people with so little? Because he loves them and because he wants people to believe and follow him. He sees the pain of this world (pain not caused by Him) and wants to deliver people from the pain of their sin and the miracles he performed were for that purpose; “Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:30-31) Take a good hard look through this lesson – download the PDF and examine the scriptures for yourself. It is quite compelling to see the compassion and the power displayed by Jesus and yet some will accept him while others reject him. My prayer is that you will accept Him.

Jesus Turns Water into Wine – John 2Download

Three Years That Changed the World Part 3 – Come Follow Me

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Three Years That Changed The World

Lesson 3 – Come Follow Me – John 1:38-51

This lesson picks up just after John baptized Jesus. Although John the Baptist will continue to preach and point the way to Jesus, the emphasis and focus of the Gospel writers from this point forward will be on Jesus and not John the Baptist.

In fact, two of John the Baptist’s disciples (Andrew and John) will begin following Jesus shortly after Jesus is baptized. Although they will start following Jesus, there will be several encounters between John, Andrew, Peter and James before they fully commit to Jesus and leave their occupation as fisherman of fish and become fisherman of men! This lesson will reveal their hearts and motives behind their desire and decision to follow Jesus, the Son of God, the Savior and King. It is quite a compelling story that is just beginning to unfold.

Two others (Philip and Nathanael/Bartholomew) will recognize that Jesus is the Son of God, the King of Israel and leave everything to follow him. Their story is equally compelling as Nathanael (after meeting Jesus) will come to a full understanding of what the Psalmist wrote in Psalm 139:1-4, “You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely.”

The remaining 6 disciples will begin following Jesus later but all 12 will be called to go and preach the gospel (the Good News that Jesus is the Savior) and make disciples and compel others to also follow Jesus.

This 3-year journey in which Jesus will teach them who he is, why he has come and what they are to do is written in the 4 Gospel accounts. As we read through the Gospels (specifically the Gospel of John) we will witness multiple miracles, wonders and signs along with multitudes of people who are healed of all types of diseases and infirmities.

In the end, It is my prayer and hope that you will embrace what John writes toward the end of his Gospel account, “Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:30-31)

Come Follow Me – Jesus and His FollowersDownload

Three Years That Changed the World Part 2 – Two People, Two Messages, One Truth

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Three Years That Changed The World

Lesson 2 – Two People, Two Messages, One Truth – John 1:19-37

This lesson begins with the introduction of John the Baptist and focuses on his ministry and purpose. That purpose was to preach repentance to the Jews and those who heard him, baptize them (a sign of an inward obedience to God), and prepare them for the coming Messiah, whom he will call “the Lamb of God, who comes to take away the sins of the world”.

There will be many who repent and do as John preached but there will be others (many of them are “religious leaders”) who will question John’s motives and authority but that will not deter John from completing his mission. That mission is to acknowledge Jesus as the Lamb of God, baptize Him and direct others to repent of their sin and follow Jesus which is precisely what he does.

The message of John and the message of Jesus were the same. John would point others to Jesus and Jesus will point them to salvation through His ultimate sacrifice on the cross.

It is because of sin that Jesus came, and sin is what separates us from God and needs to be dealt with if we ever want to spend time in His presence:

As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one” (Romans 3:10-12)

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23)

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8)

“That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart, one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:9-10)

The lesson will conclude with John the Baptist transitioning his ministry and instruct those disciples who followed him to now follow Jesus. In our next lesson titled; “Come Follow Me” we will see how the 12 disciples (someday called the 12 Apostles) will leave everything to follow Jesus – stay tuned!

Two People – Two Messages – One TruthDownload