Tag Archives: new testament

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 – “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 – Healing the Eyes and the Heart Jesus in John 9

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Three Years That Changed The World – Lesson 11

Healing the Eyes and the Heart

(Jesus in John 9)

The Gospel of John is the only Gospel account that records the healing of a blind man who had been blind since birth. There is no record that the man asked to be healed, nor did anyone ask Jesus to heal him. In the same way that Jesus chose to heal the severely disabled man (John 5:5-8) for a specific purpose, Jesus chooses to heal this man who had been blind since birth for a purpose – to bring glory to God.

The story begins with the disciples of Jesus asking a question about the cause of the blind man’s physical condition. Jesus addresses their question and proceeds to heal the man by spitting on the ground, making mud and applying the mud to the man’s eyes. Jesus then instructs the man to go and wash in the Pool of Siloam and the man “came home seeing”.

Those who knew the man were perplexed as they were accustomed to seeing the blind man begging and yet now, he is no longer blind. Given that they knew he had been blind since birth they were extremely confused. They then involve the Pharisees who investigate the matter but refuse to accept that Jesus (someone they later label as a sinner) could have been responsible for such a miraculous healing.

The blind beggar wasn’t confused at all for he said, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”. He initially concludes that Jesus was a prophet but as the story unfolds, we will see that the healing that Jesus offers is more than the physical healing of the eyes. Jesus provides a way to be healed from spiritual blindness as well.

The conclusion that the formerly blind beggar eventually comes to was, that God and Jesus were One, since apart from God Jesus could not have done what he did by healing him. This was no insignificant conclusion and may well have been a direct revelation by God to this man who was originally born blind and brought to this very place at this specific time to be healed by Jesus and bring glory to God.

Sadly, although the Pharisees were presented with irrefutable proof of the divine power of Jesus, they still choose to willfully deny the undeniable. My prayer is that after reading this story and the details of the lesson that you will come to the same conclusion that the blind beggar came to and not follow in the ways of the Pharisees in this story.

Healing the Eyes and the Heart – Jesus in John 9Download

Three Years That Changed The World – Jesus The Light of the World

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Three Years That Changed The World – Lesson 10

Jesus – The Light of the World

(John 8)

When you begin reading John 8, most modern translations such as the NIV (New Internation Version) and the ESV (English Standard Version), include verses 1-11 but choose to bracket or italicize it as not being original because the earliest (and many would say the most reliable) Greek manuscripts do not include the story of the woman taken in adultery. However, the Textus Receptus (Traditional Greek New Testament texts used to translate the King James Version – KJV, the German Bible and other English Translations) includes John 7:53—8:11. The attached slide presentation (PDF Download) addresses why this is the case with the intent of drawing some basic conclusions. Although some consider this controversial – there is no reason to let that be the focus for the main point of this chapter is the claim by Jesus in John 8:12; “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life”.

This discourse/sermon by Jesus was a continuation of his teachings found in John 7 and addresses some of the questions the Pharisees and religious leaders had about him. These religious leaders ignored the miracles performed by Jesus and openly rejected his claims of being anything more than the son of a Jewish carpenter. The religious leaders thought their security (being one with God) rested in their familial relationship to Abraham and their self-made “religious practices”, but Jesus points out that by rejecting him, they are deceived and have no true relationship to God revealing they need to be set free from their spiritual bondage! It is no difference for us.

When thinking of the claim by Jesus; “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life”, there are just two responses:

  1. “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. (John 10:9-13)
  2. “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son” (John 3:17-18)
Jesus the Light of the WorldDownload

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 – Jesus & The Woman at the Well

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Three Years That Changed The World – Lesson 6

Jesus and the Woman at the Well

(John 4)

After leaving the Judean countryside, Jesus once again makes his way to the region of Galilee. He will make a planned visit to a well located near the town of Sychar which is in the broader region of Samaria. The purpose in stopping at the well was to meet with and have a conversation with an unnamed woman who is often referred to as the “Woman at the Well” or “The Samaritan Woman” for she was a Samaritan who came there to draw water from the well near the town of Sychar.

The division and near bitter animosity between Jews and Samaritans remained an issue prior to, during and even after the time Jesus walked this earth. This made this visit extremely significant for it showed that God cares for the whole of mankind and the Samaritan Woman needed to witness the love and compassion Jesus was offering.

The lesson Jesus used to get his point across involved the comparison of physical water (able to quench the physical thirst of our bodies) and something that lasted for a short period of time to living water (able to quench the thirst of our soul) which was eternal. This translated to the need that the Samaritan Woman and her entire village needed which was the salvation of their souls and the reason Jesus stopped to see her. Only the “Living Water” that Jesus offered could fully quench that thirst and to receive that water the woman needed to recognize her sin (which separated her from God) and embrace Jesus as her Savior/Messiah which she does. There are several lessons found throughout this chapter of the Gospel of John; from the breaking down of the social barriers that separate us, to having love and compassion for those considered downcast and unwanted, and having an understanding that it is faith and not works that save us. Salvation comes to those who accept Jesus Christ as Messiah and he is the only one capable of making us right with God; “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

Jesus & The Woman at the WellDownload

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 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