LookingtoJesus

May 4

Bible Reading: John 21

John 21:3, “Simon Peter said to them, ‘I am going fishing.”

A lot of water passed under the boat between Peter’s call to be a disciple and the events spoken of in this chapter. When Peter first met Jesus, Jesus changed his name from Simon to Peter (i.e., “Rock;” John 1:42).  In a subsequent meeting, Jesus changed Peter’s occupation.  He was an ordinary fisherman by trade when Jesus called him.  Jesus had just finished speaking to the crowds when He instructed Peter to “put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch” (Luke 5:4).  Peter did so but only after reminding Jesus of the futility of the previous night’s efforts (Luke 5:5).  He and his friends let down their nets.  The catch was so great that the nets began to break.  Other boats came to help.

Peter witnessed that miracle and was amazed.  He saw something of the glory of Jesus.  He was drawn to Him.  But, at the same time, the glory of Jesus revealed truths about himself, and so he said, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord” (Luke 5:8).  Jesus didn’t heed Peter’s request.  Jesus did not depart from Peter.  Quite the contrary, He bid Peter to follow (Luke 5:10).  And that’s what Peter did.  He left everything—his boat, his fish, his old life—and followed Him.

Peter’s life as a disciple was full of ups and downs.  Jesus had prophetically re-named him “Rock,” but he was anything but “rock-like.”  He was commended when he confessed Jesus to be the Christ, only to be rebuked minutes later (Matthew 16:16-23).  By faith, Peter walked on water, but then became fearful and began to sink (Matthew 14:29-31).  His walk with Jesus was like that of us all, full of ups and downs.  But no previous failure rivaled that of his thrice-repeated denial of Jesus.  He had asserted to Jesus his absolute unwavering devotion.  “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away” he promised (Matthew 26:33).  But when the time came, Peter denied Him, just as Jesus had warned.  He denied Him, not once, but three times.  He denied Him, not before leaders or soldiers, but before bystanders and servant-girls.  He denied Jesus repeatedly, emphatically, finally.  He had utterly failed in his commitment.  The rooster crowed.  Jesus “turned and looked at Peter” and Peter “went out and wept bitterly” (Luke 22:60-62).

Then Jesus died and rose again.  Peter saw the tomb empty and went home marveling (Luke 24:1-4).  Jesus manifested Himself to Peter and the disciples (John 21:1-2).  Peter loved Jesus still but was burdened by his previous failure to stand by His Master.   How could he continue?  What was he to do?  What hope could there be for anyone who had so hopelessly failed?  What to do when things go awry?  Go back to the things you know.  The tendency of sin is to pull us back to our old paths and old ways—to try to find comfort in that which is familiar.  That’s what happened with Peter.  Defeated and discouraged, Peter decided to go fishing.

And so, in this chapter, we find Peter in a similar state and situation as when he was called.  He had gone fishing.  His fishing trip, as with the one previous, was unsuccessful — “that night they caught nothing” (John 21:3).  He got ‘skunked’ (to use the modern vernacular).  And then Jesus came to them and gave instructions and just like before they caught such a great number of fish that “they were not able to haul it in” (John 21:6).

It was déjà vu.  The circumstances of Peter’s restoration were as in his call.  Jesus came to him and sought him out and did for Peter what he himself could never do.  Isn’t that the way it is with salvation and restoration?  It would not be salvation or restoration if it was something that we could do.  Both experiences held the same message — “Peter I know that you are a sinner, but I love you and am able and willing to save you”—and Peter was “saved.”  The restoration was by the same means — “Peter, I know that you have failed me, but I still love you”—and Peter was “restored.”  Jesus had a conversation with Peter.  His thrice-repeated question, “Do you love me?” was not a harsh interrogation, but a loving invitation to which Peter responded (John 21:15-19).  On the other side of Peter’s restoration lay a ministry filled with unimagined Spirit-led victories (Acts chapter 1-10).  With “rock-like” faith and devotion, he would faithfully serve in a foundational role in the new-borne church.  Peter had given up on himself, but Jesus never gave up on Peter.  From his first meeting, through his failures, and to the end of his life, Jesus never stopped loving him (1 Corinthians 13:7-8).  Peter went fishing, but in love Jesus sought him out.  How precious is the deep and abiding love of Jesus!

Peter failed and went fishing.  Peter failed, but Jesus worked mercifully to restore him.  How loving and patient is our loving Savior in responding to us in our failures!

I was sinking deep in sin
Far from a peaceful shore
Very deeply stained within
Sinking to rise no more;
But the Master of the sea
Heard my despairing cry
From the waters lifted me
Now safe am I.

May 3

Bible Reading: John 20

John 20:19a, “…the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews.”

The religious leaders had won an apparent victory.  They had long sought Jesus’ death, and so it had come to pass.  They had conspired against him, arrested Him, tried Him, and had Him crucified.  As predicted by Jesus, His disciples had scattered from Him at His arrest.  And even while they were running for cover, the high priest was questioning “Jesus about his disciples” (John 18:19).

The disciples were afraid.  They had always felt secure in the presence of Jesus.  To their troubles, He always had the answers.  He who had the power to calm the storm, and the seas exercised a calming influence in their lives.  They loved Him and trusted Him and could not yet make sense of what had transpired (John 20:9).  An unimaginable tragedy had overtaken them.  And the supposed that those who had conspired against their Master would surely seek them out too.

So, the disciples sequestered themselves.  “For fear of the Jews” they shut themselves in and locked the doors (John 20:19).  They waited together.  Would the Jews find them?  One can imagine them anxiously scrutinizing every suspicious sound or activity outside their self-imposed captivity.  What were they to do?  How could they possibly escape their plight?

Jesus Himself had been sequestered.  He had been locked in a tomb.  It was not fear that led Him to that place, but unrivaled courage and devotion.  He was bound to a purpose and laid in a tomb that He might work to set others free.  Jesus had come to deal with man’s fear problem.  Chief among our fears is the fear of death: “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery” (Hebrews 2:14-15).  Death could not hold Jesus (Acts 2:24).  In rising from the dead, He triumphed over sin and death and the Devil Himself.

The sequestered disciples, in fact, had no reason to fear.  Jesus had escaped His tomb and there was therefore no reason for them to entomb themselves in fear.  But they were unaware of the truth of it.  Then “Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’  When he said this, he showed them his hands and his side.  Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.  Then Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you” (John 20:19-21).

Twice He declared to them “Peace be with you!”  He had died to bring peace to sin-troubled souls.  By His presence, He ministered peace to His fearful disciples.  Trouble and fear were vanquished and replaced by joy and peace “when they saw the Lord.”

There are various threats and countless fears that burden our lives and cause us to fear.  “In the world (we) have tribulation” (John 16:33).  But in Him we can possess peace (John 16:33).  We are sometimes like those sequestered disciples, entombed by fears and all the while forgetting that He has “overcome the world” (John 16:33).  In the truth of His resurrection, there is reason for us to “take heart” (John 16:33).  Many of our fears could be eased if we would but remember that the Risen Christ is with us.  He stands in our midst (Revelation 1:13).  He is intimately aware of all about our troubles (Hebrews 4:15, Acts 9:4).  His power toward us is of surpassing greatness (Ephesians 1:19f).  His love for us surpasses knowledge (Ephesians 3:19).  Nothing shall separate us from it (Romans 8:35-39; Hebrews 13:5).  In Him, we have a perfect mediator, who has opened to us the doorway to the throne of grace that we might find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:14-16).  That same Risen Jesus who visited His fear-bound disciples, is alive and present with us this very day.  Look into that empty tomb—He is not there—He has risen victorious o’er all our foes!  Look again to “his hands and his side” (John 20:20)—behold how much He cares (Romans 8:32)!

Jesus died for my sins and rose from the dead.  I’ve no reason to fear what others might do to me, for nothing can work to separate me from the love of God which is bound up in Him (Romans 8:31-39).

What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
leaning on the everlasting arms?
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
leaning on the everlasting arms.

May 2

Bible Reading: John 19

John 19:30, “When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, ‘It is finished,’ and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”

“It is finished!”  Through the annals of history, have three more precious words ever been uttered?  A man’s dying words are said to be of special importance. Have there ever been more significant “dying words?”  In three words, Jesus founded a message of hope in the forgiveness of sins, which has resounded around the globe and through the centuries.  

Charles Spurgeon once wrote concerning this matter: “The Son of God has been made man.  He had lived a life of perfect virtue and total self-denial.  He has been all that lifelong despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.  His enemies have been legion; His friends have been few, and those few faithless.  He is at last arrested while in the act of prayer; He is arraigned before both the spiritual and temporal courts.  He is robed in mockery, and then unrobed in shame.  He is set upon His throne in scorn, and then tied to the pillar in cruelty.  He is declared innocent, and yet He is delivered up by the judge who ought to have preserved Him from His persecutors.  He is dragged through the streets of Jerusalem which had killed the prophets and would now crimson itself with the blood of the prophets’ Master.  He is brought to the cross; He is nailed fast to the cruel wood.  The sun burns Him.  His cruel wounds increase the fever.  God forsakes Him.  ‘My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?’ contains the concentrated anguish of the world.  While He hangs there in mortal conflict with sin and Satan, His heart is broken, His limbs are dislocated.  Heaven fails Him, for the sun is veiled in darkness.  Earth forsake Him, for ‘his disciples forsook Him and fled.’  He looks everywhere, and there is none to help; He casts His eye around, and there is no man that can share His toil.  He treads the winepress alone; and of the people there is none with Him.  On, on, He goes, steadily determined to drink the last dreg of the cup which must not pass from Him if His Father’s will be done.  At last He cries — ‘It is finished,’ and He gives up the ghost.  Hear it, Christians, hear this shout of triumph as it rings today with all the freshness and force which it had centuries ago!  Hear it from the Sacred Word, and from the Savior’s lips, and may the Spirit of God open your ears that you may hear as the learned and understand what you hear!” 

Charles Spurgeon (Christ’s Words from the Cross)

What did Jesus mean by what He said?  What was “finished?”  1) The Old Testament Scriptures include many types, promises and prophecies that spoke of Him.  They looked forward to the fulfillment in Him of all that was beforehand set forth (Luke 24:44).  In His death, He fulfilled all that which was promised.  2) The Old Testament sacrifices looked forward to a more perfect “once for all” sacrifice.  He finished that work (Hebrews 10:1-10).  3) Jesus came to do the Father’s will.  It was the Father’s will that He should serve and suffer and die for sins.  He perfectly subjected Himself to the Father’s will and finished the work which the Father had sent Him to do (John 17:4).  4) He came as the Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world (John 1:29).  Isaiah prophesied that “the iniquity of us all” would be “laid upon Him” and that He would be “crushed for our iniquities” (Isaiah 53:6, 5).  He Himself has said that He had come “to give his life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).  In dying on the cross, Jesus died “once for all” for sins (Romans 6:10; Hebrews 7:27, 9:12, 10:10; 1 Peter 3:18).  5) Jesus came and took on human flesh that He might “destroy the one who has the power of death, that is the devil” (Hebrews 2:14).  In dying for sins, Jesus utterly destroyed the power of Satan, sin, and death.  He triumphed over them all (Colossians 2:15).

According to Matthew’s gospel, upon His saying, “It is finished,” “the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom” (Matthew 27:5-51).  God dramatically demonstrated for us the practical benefit derived from that which Christ spoke of.  The curtain of the temple was symbolic of restriction of access to God.  There is restricted access because of sin, but “Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18).  He finished His sin-bearing work that we might gain access to God through His sin-cleansing power (Hebrews 10:19-22).  Jesus finished His work so that sin-rebels might be transformed into glad-hearted worshippers.  An enduring message of hope is bound up in those three precious words!

With three triumphant words, Jesus declared a complete and eternal victory over sin and death for all those who would henceforth place their trust in Him.

“It is finished” –Hark! the cry,
Uttered in love’s agony, –
Is the seal, below, above,
Of the victory of love.

May 1

Bible Reading: John 18

John 18:11, “So Jesus said to Peter, ‘Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup the Father has given to me?’”

Acts 2:23, “This Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God.”

By His word, they all fell to the ground.  With His touch he healed a cut off ear.  But when they came to arrest the miracle-working Jesus, He did not resist.  It matters what you think about the cross!  The preaching of “Christ crucified” is a “stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, both Jews and Greeks (it represents) the power of God and wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:23-24).  Key to a right perspective of the cross is the realization that Christ’s death was no accident, it was God’s purpose all along.

Jesus was well aware of “all that would happen to him” (John 18:5).  He had long before warned His disciples of His sufferings (Mark 8:31).  He had known about and predicted Judas’ betrayal before it happened (John 13:11, 19).  He had spoken before of the “cup” He would drink (Mark 10:38).  It was a cup the Father had given to him.  He had earlier labored, sorrowful of soul, in prayer concerning it, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39).

The events recorded in John chapter 18 were not matters of mere happenstance.  They were not accidental occurrences that worked to bring about an unforeseen calamity or supposed premature end to a “good man’s” life.  The death of the divine Son of God was according to the predetermined plan of God (Acts 2:23).  God had purposed all along to send His only begotten Son to suffer and die for our sins (John 3:16; Romans 5:8).  In His cross—and in all that led up to it—Jesus fully and willingly submitted Himself to the Father’s will (John 17:4).

A company of Judas-led men came “with lanterns and torches and weapons” to arrest Him (John 18:3).  It was no small group and included “a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees” (John 18:3).  They came with torches to search for him, but He did not hide.  They came with weapons to overcome any resistance, but He did not resist.  The mere affirmation of His identity, “I am He,” caused them all to draw back and fall to the ground (John 18:6), but He nevertheless gave Himself up.  Had He chosen to resist, all the armies of the world could not have worked to arrest and bind Him, but He had already bound Himself to the will of the Father and that bond would ultimately work to bind Him to the cross.

Despite having been forewarned, Peter did not understand the events that were transpiring.  His response?  “He drew (his sword) and struck the priest’s servant and cut off his right ear” (John 18:10).  What was his plan?  Defeat the enemies of Christ “one ear at a time?”  Matthew’s gospel includes the rest of Jesus’ response to Peter’s ill-advised effort: “Then Jesus said to him, ‘Put your sword back into its place.  For all who take the sword will perish by the sword.  Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?  But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so” (Matthew 26:52-54)?

Jesus could have called “twelve legions of angels” to rescue Him, but He did not.  He purposed instead to subject Himself to the Father’s will.  In so doing, He fulfilled numerous, specific, and centuries-old prophecies (Luke 24:25-27).  The words “fulfill” and “fulfilled” are used repeatedly in the passion account to describe His obedient response.

Even in His arrest, His divine identity was clearly attested to, being made evident by His miraculous works.  By His Word, “I am He,” they all fell to the ground.  Peter cut off the servant’s ear, but Jesus “touched his ear and healed him” (Luke 22:15).  But they were hard-hearted and refused to believe. 

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son” (John 3:16).  The Son purposed to die in subjection to the Father’s will.  The cross testifies to the power, wisdom, and love of God!  “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us” (1 John 3:16).  No one took His life from Him, He laid it down of His “own accord” (John 10:18). The cross was no accident, it was God’s plan all along.  The Father gave Jesus a cup to drink, for our sake, He purposed to fully partake of it.

“(He) loved me and gave Himself up for me” – Galatians 2:20

They bound the hands of Jesus in the garden where He prayed;
They led Him thro’ the streets in shame.
They spat upon the Savior so pure and free from sin;
They said, “Crucify Him; He’s to blame.”
He could have called ten thousand angels
To destroy the world and set Him free.
He could have called ten thousand angels,
But He died alone, for you and me.

April 28

Bible Reading: John 17

John 17:24, “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.”

How are we to make sense of this upside-down, topsy-turvy world we live in?  I’ve thought that they should begin each news program by playing the introduction from the Twilight Zone (remember that show from long ago).  Amidst all the confusion, it’s good to turn our attention to Jesus!  Do you want to know what’s in the heart of Jesus?  Do you want to know of his plan for the ages?  Then you’ve come to the right place in reading through this wonderful chapter!

In his devotional study on the Gospel of John, John G. Mitchell shares these thoughts regarding Jesus’ magnificent prayer, “Now He brings us right within the holiest of all, and we are permitted to sit down in the presence of God. We are allowed to sit there and witness this fellowship, this communion, this bond, this oneness, this equality between the Father and the Son. How much do we really know about coming within the veil of the holiest of all, and being perfectly at home in the presence of the Father and the Son? From the depths of the very heart of Jesus, this prayer invites us to listen in to the loftiest of all prayers. We are herein privileged to hear of God’s plan for the ages, whereby His glory is unveiled to all through His redemptive work.”

So, what do we find Jesus praying about?  Note the prayer is divided into three parts.  In the first five verses, Jesus prays for Himself.  Then in verses 6 through 19, Jesus prays for the apostles who were with Him.  In the remaining verses of the chapter, He prays for all His people throughout history.  There is a common theme running through the entire chapter.  In verse one, He prays, “glorify your Son that the Son may glorify You.”  In verse 10, He prays regarding His apostles, “I am glorified in them.”  And again, in verse 22, He prays over every believer throughout time, “The glory You have given me I have given to them.” 

Jesus came not just to save sinners, but that He might be glorified in their salvation.  In His prayer, Jesus prayed regarding the restoration of lost sinners to the fellowship and worship we were created for. All that He has done is unto His glory. 

It would be impossible for any of us to plumb the depths, or explore the vast reaches of this transcendent prayer, but there are several things we can focus on, things which instruct us in what we should pray about: 1) He prayed we would know Him. In fact, eternal life equates to knowing “the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom (He) has sent.” Nothing matters more than this. So, we pray to know Him better and for others to know Him, too. 2) He prayed we would grow in Him. Our sanctification is a recurrent theme in this prayer (John 17:16-19). As God’s children we are out of place in this world, having been set apart for Him. We’ve been called to holiness and more than anything else it is the truth of the Word that works to transform us. So, we pray to love the truth and walk in it. It is also through the pursuit of the truth that we preserve the unity He has established in His body and experience the “oneness” for which He prayed. 3) He prayed we would share the truth with others (John 17:18). And so, as we share the Gospel, we pray for ourselves, that others will come to know Him. 4) He prayed we would be where He is in order “to see (His) glory” (John 17:24). That’s our destiny, and our hearts yearn for the day when we shall be with Him. Our prayers should likewise be governed by this heavenward focus in the desire to see Him as He is (1 John 3:2). There is another main thought to consider. John MacArthur has commented on this: “He gives us the most magnificent example of our need for prayer. If the Son of God who controls all things, who is the ruler over all things, who is sovereign over all things, if the Son of God who knows all things, who has all power depends upon God to fulfill all His words, how much more are we dependent on God?”

If you want to know the heart of Jesus pay attention to how he prayed.

To God be the glory, great things he has done!
So loved he the world that he gave us his Son,
who yielded his life an atonement for sin,
and opened the life-gate that all may go in.
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord,
Let the earth hear his voice!
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!
Let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father through Jesus the Son
and give him the glory, great things he has done!

April 27

Bible Reading: John 16

John 16:14, “He shall glorify me.”

“He shall glorify me.” These four words speak to the primary purpose and intent of the person of the Holy Spirit in this age.  His ministry is to glorify Jesus Christ.  Charles Spurgeon put it this way: “It is the chief office of the Holy Spirit to glorify Christ.  He does many things, but this is what he aims at in all of them, to glorify Christ.”

The term translated “glorify” here is the Greek, “doxazo”, which means “to cause the dignity and worth of some person or thing to become manifest and acknowledged.”  His ministry, therefore, is to manifest the dignity and worth of the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ.  This is what He is ever endeavoring to do.

In his book, “Keeping in Step with the Spirit,” J. I. Packer speaks of what he called the “floodlight” ministry of the Spirit: “I remember walking to a church one winter evening to preach on the words ‘he shall glorify me,’ seeing the building floodlit as I turned a corner and realizing that this was exactly the illustration that my message needed.  When floodlighting is well done, the floodlights are so placed that you do not see them; you are not in fact supposed to see where the light is coming from; what you are meant to see is just the building on which the floodlights are trained.  The intended effect is to make it visible when otherwise it would not be seen for the darkness, and to maximize the dignity by throwing all its details into relief so that you see it properly.  This perfectly illustrates the Spirit’s new covenant role.  He is, so to speak, the hidden floodlight shining on the Savior.  Or think of it this way.  It is as if the Spirit stands behind us, throwing light over our shoulder, on Jesus, who stands facing us.  The Spirit’s message to us is never, ‘Look at me; listen to me; come to me; get to know me,’ but always, ‘Look at Him, and see His glory; listen to Him, and hear His Word; go to Him and Have His life; get to know Him, and taste of His gift of joy and peace’.”

The Spirit of God works in the lives of God’s children to accomplish this purpose.  He is ever working to open our eyes to the glory of Christ.  It was He who first unveiled to us the truth regarding the glory of Jesus (2 Corinthians 4:3-6).  He has ever since been working to make Him better known to us.  It is He who opens our eyes to “the hope to which he has called (us), “the riches of his glorious inheritance,” and “the immeasurable greatness of his power” (Ephesians 1:18-19).  Only by His working can we “comprehend… what is the breadth and length and height and depth and… know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge” (Ephesians 3:15, 18-19).  It is He who causes us, “in the beholding the glory of the Lord,” to be “transformed into the same image” (2 Corinthians 3:18).  Glorious Christ-like virtues are replicated in us by Him (Galatians 5:22-23).

For worship to be acceptable, it must be “in spirit and truth” (John 4:23).  Consistent to His Christ-exalting ministry, those who “worship by the Spirit of God” are those who “glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh” (Philippians 3:3).  This spiritual axiom is helpful in the practice of discernment.  If any work fails to exalt the Lord Jesus Christ, it cannot be a work of the Spirit of God! 

“There are many ministries in the world, and they are very diverse from one another; but this truth will enable you to judge which is right out of them all.  That ministry which makes much of Christ, is of the Holy Spirit; and that ministry which decries him, ignores him, or puts him in the background in any degree, is not of the Spirit of God.  Any doctrine which magnifies man, but not man’s Redeemer, any doctrine which denies the depth of the Fall, and consequently derogates from the greatness of salvation, any doctrine which makes sinless, and therefore makes Christ’s work less, —away with it, away with it.  This shall be your infallible test as to whether it is of the Holy Ghost or not, for Jesus says, “He shall glorify me.”  IT WERE BETTER TO SPEAK FIVE WORDS TO the GLORY OF CHRIST, THAN TO BE the greatest orator who ever lived, and to neglect or dishonor the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Charles Spurgeon

“He shall glorify Me!”  Praise God for the Christ-revealing and Christ-exalting work of the person of the Holy Spirit!  If our endeavor is to behold the glory of Jesus, we find, in the Helper who indwells us, One who has been appointed to that very task!  We do well to look where He is pointing and to follow His lead if we are to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus!

“Spirit of God, my teacher be, showing the things of Christ to me”

More about Jesus let me learn,
More of His holy will discern;
Spirit of God, my teacher be,
Showing the things of Christ to me. [Refrain]
More, more about Jesus,
More, more about Jesus;
More of His saving fullness see,
More of His love who died for me.

April 26

Bible Reading: John 15

John 15:16, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide.”

My 92-year-old dad has a variety of fruit trees in his backyard, which he has been maintaining for many years.  He sprays them and prunes them and waits expectedly every year for harvest time.  This past fall, his fig tree was especially productive.  So much so that he invited neighbors to come pick from its branches and even set some fruit out by the sidewalk for those passing by to take.  His goal, of course, is to do everything necessary so that his trees will be as fruitful as possible.  God has the same goal for us in our Christian lives.  This passage holds the key to how that is made possible.

It’s good practice whenever we are studying our Bibles to look for repeated words and phrases, as they are helpful in unlocking the key to a passage of Scripture.  In this passage, the term “abide” appears 11 times; the term “fruit” appears 8 times; “branch(es)” 6 times; and “vine” 3 times. The passage obviously has to do with fruit-bearing.  It speaks of bearing fruit (John 15:4), more fruit (John 15:2), much fruit (John 15:5), and lasting fruit (John 15:16).  So, this is the key.  God wants for us to bear fruit—the fruit of obedience (John 15:10), the fruit of showing love for one another (John 15:12), the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23); the fruit of doing good works to the glory of God (Colossians 1:10); the fruit which God causes when we use our gifts in ministry to others (1 Corinthians 3:6-9).

There is one simple thing that lies at the root of the matter in bearing much fruit and it is “abiding” in Christ.  When my dad prunes his tree, he removes those branches that are unlikely to bear fruit and that impede what he expects to be the more productive branches.  Once disconnected from the tree, those branches are put in a debris pile, never to bear fruit again.  It would be impossible for them to henceforth bear anything, for they’ve been disconnected from their life-source.  It’s the same when the Christian, as Jesus made clear, when he said, “apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).  Put simply, it is the vitality of our connection to Jesus that makes all the difference when it comes to us doing those things that are pleasing to God.

The word “abide” is the simple word, “remain.” It speaks of staying with and remaining close to Jesus. It involves the practice of the spiritual disciplines, three of which are spoken of in this context. Abiding in Christ requires that we “abide in (his) word” (John 15:7). Abiding in Christ involves loving one another in the context of fellowship (John 15:12). And abiding in Christ necessitates prayer (John 15:16). The practice of these disciples does not equate to abiding in Christ, but is essential to the maintenance of an intimate and growing personal knowledge of Him, their practice engaged unto that virtuous goal.

Kenneth Wuest put it this way: “In John 15, the abiding of the Christian in Christ refers to his maintaining unbroken fellowship with Him. He makes his spiritual home in Christ. There is nothing between himself and his Savior, no sin unjudged and not put away. He depends upon Him for spiritual life and vigor as the branch is dependent upon the vine. The abiding of Christ in the Christian is His permanent residence in Him and His supplying that Christian with the necessary spiritual energy to produce fruit in his life through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.” He is the vine. We are the branches. God wants for you to bear much lasting fruit in your Christian life.

The key to fruit bearing is walking closely with Jesus!

I am weak but Thou art strong;
Jesus, keep me from all wrong;
I’ll be satisfied as long
As I walk, let me walk close to Thee.
Just a closer walk with Thee,
Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

April 25

Bible Reading: John 14

John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.  Not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

Jesus warned His disciples of His imminent departure from them: “Little children, yet a little while I am with you” (John 13:33; John 14:28).  They had good reason to be troubled by the prospect.  They had abandoned all to follow Jesus.  He was their Master; they had devoted themselves to His cause.  They had been led and instructed and loved by Him and they couldn’t imagine life apart from Him.  He was aware of their anxiety and counseled them, “Let not your heart be troubled.  Believe in God; believe also in me” (John 14:1).  Then He repeated that same admonition (i.e., “let not your hearts be troubled”) once again (John 14:27).

We should note here, first, that Jesus is aware of our propensity to be troubled of heart.  Life in this sin-cursed world is filled with troubles of all different varieties.  Jesus would later warn His disciples, “In this world you have tribulation” (John 17:33).  How prone we are to be anxious amidst our troubles.  But it is good to know that “Jesus knows all about our struggles.”  In Him we have One who can “sympathize with our weaknesses,” having been “tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).  The disciples were troubled of heart, but He was well aware of their need.

Peace has always been elusive for those who dwell on this trouble-filled planet.  Man instinctively yearns for the tranquility of soul that was lost to him because of the fall.  St. Augustine once said, “Thou hast made us for Thyself and our hearts are restless until we find rest in Thee.”  But to this day, the world works and plans and negotiates for peace, to no avail.  There is a kind of peace that the world gives (John 14:27), but it is as elusive and transitory as a calm sea in a stormy region. 

Jesus promised to His disciples a peace of supernatural origin.  The Greek word translated peace in this passage is “eirene”.  According to Vine’s Expository Dictionary, it speaks of “the harmonized relationships between God and man, accomplished through the gospel… (and) the sense of rest and contentment consequent thereon.”  The term is related to the Hebrew “shalom”, which refers to “a harmonious state of the soul.”  Distinct from its worldly counterpart, Jesus promised to His disciples a tranquility of soul that was firmly rooted in their relationship with Him.  It was His peace that He Himself would impart.

Later, in this same conversation with His disciples, Jesus said, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). In Him, we find peace. We can possess tranquility of soul. If we look for it elsewhere, we will surely be disappointed, but “there is a place of quiet rest near to the heart of God,” near to the Savior who loves us and died for us. He has overcome the world. He has conquered our greatest foes. No trouble can assail us that He has not already triumphed over. He is able, by His presence, to set a garrison about our troubled-prone hearts and minds that we might experience “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:7).

The disciples were troubled by the news of Jesus’ pending departure. They had been troubled before on other occasions. One day at sea, a fierce gale arose and threatened to sink their boat. Jesus was asleep in the stern. “They woke him and said to him, ‘Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing’” (Mark 4:38). “And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’ And the wind ceased, and there was great calm” (Mark 4:39). He who rules the winds and the waves cares. “He’s the Master of the sea, billows His will obey.” If you’ve got “Jesus in your boat” you’ve no reason to fear. He who brought a “great calm” to the storm-tossed seas is able to do the same in the hearts of those who trust and look to Him for peace. “You can throw the whole weight of your anxieties upon him, for you are his personal concern” (1 Peter 5:7, JB Phillips).

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” (Isaiah 26:3)

PEACE, PERFECT PEACE

Peace, perfect peace, in this dark world of sin?
The blood of Jesus whispers peace within.

Peace, perfect peace, by thronging duties pressed?
To do the will of Jesus, this is rest.

Peace, perfect peace, death shadowing us and ours?
Jesus has vanquished death and all its powers.

Peace, perfect peace, our future all unknown?
Jesus we know, and he is on the throne.

It is enough: earth’s struggles soon shall cease,
and Jesus, call us to heaven’s perfect peace.

April 24

Bible Reading: John 13

John 13:12-14, “When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, ‘Do you understand what I have done to you?  You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet’.”

J. Vernon McGee, “We come now to a most unusual incident.  I wish I could shock you, startle you with it.  We hear it so often that we lose the wonder of it.  Jesus Christ leaves heaven’s glory and comes down to this earth and He takes the place of a slave and washes feet!”

The washing of feet was a common practice in Jesus’ day.  They wore only sandals, so it was the first act upon entering a house, both for cleansing and refreshing purposes.  In most cases, the host furnished the water, and the guests washed their own feet.  But amongst the richer folks, the washing was done by a slave and was amongst the lowliest of services (1 Samuel 25:41).

That’s what is so remarkable about this incident!  It is the eternal Son who purposed to take the place of a servant in washing the feet of the disciples.  He came to serve and would soon serve by giving His life a ransom for many (Mark 10:45).  How radically different was the life of Jesus!  In his sinless and selfless perfection, His life was radically divergent from any life before or since. 

We can imagine the disciples wondering, “What are you doing, Jesus?” as He began.  They’d no doubt been a part of countless foot-washings before, but never like this one.  We see some of that in Peter’s response as Jesus’ began to wash his feet.  What was the Master doing taking the place of a servant?  But it was more than just that.  That He, being their Master, should wash their feet was surprising enough, but when you consider His knowledge of what they were soon to do — that makes the matter doubly so.

He washed their feet.  Including the feet of Judas, that were mere minutes away from walking away to sell Jesus out.  And the feet of the disciples, who were prone to argue amongst themselves as to who was the greatest, and who would do so again on that very occasion (Mark 9:31-34, 10:32-45; Luke 22:23-27).  With their feet, they’d flee from Jesus in abandonment upon His arrest.  He washed the feet of them all.  A motley crew.  Sinful, selfish, attention-seeking, hard-headed disciples.  People like us (Romans 5:8). 

He rose from supper.  Laid aside His garments.  Girded Himself about.  Poured water in the basin.  And began to wash the disciple’s feet.  Wiping them with the towel with which He was girded.  He did it all.  No one else had thought to do it.  No one intervened to replace Him or assist Him.

Why did He do it?  Unlike all of us, who are sinfully prone to pursue first our own self-interests, the “Son of man… came to serve” (Mark 10:45).  He was amongst them “as the one who serves” (Luke 22: 27).  He was always serving, and His capacity to do so knew no bounds.  The question “What are you doing there, Jesus, washing the feet of the disciples?” elicits another bigger one, “What are you doing there Jesus, hanging on a cross for sins not your own?” Symbolically, the foot-washing looked forward to that greater future act.  But there was another purpose behind Jesus’ actions.  He did what He did to set an example for us (John 13:15).

Jesus has called us to a radically different way of thinking and living, one that is according to His example.  We are at our best in Christ when we follow in His steps, putting the needs of others ahead of our own (Philippians 2:3-8).  By the Spirit—forsaking pride, pursuing love, setting aside our supposed rights, showing forgiveness, extending grace. 

Chuck Swindoll put it this way, “To serve. To give. That’s at the heart of it all.  We are to be engaged in a lifestyle that is characterized by authentic selflessness—one in which being preoccupied with the other person’s needs and welfare leads us to experience genuine happiness and fulfillment.  This was the lifestyle of our Lord and Master, who is the supreme model of the unselfish life.”

“But I am among you as the one who serves.” – Jesus (Luke 22:27)

Meekness and majesty, manhood and deity
In perfect harmony, the Man who is God
Lord of eternity dwells in humanity
Kneels in humility and washes our feet.
O what a mystery meekness and majesty
Bow down and worship for this is your God.

“It is a tragedy when a man has no invisible means of support.”

T. J. Bach

Some weeks ago, I was given a book by some dear friends, entitled “We Thought We Heard the Angels Sing,” by James C. Whittaker.  The book tells the true survival story of some World War II pilots whose plane crashed into the Pacific.  The book is now out of print, but the story is well worth retelling.  What are we to do when all hope is apparently lost?  What if we are cut off from the necessities of life, like food and water, and put in a position where our very survival is at risk?  What role can our faith in God play in benefitting the lives of others?

It was October 21, 1942. There were seven on board the big B-24 Liberator bomber. The five-man crew of US Army Air Corps servicemen were tasked with flying the world-famous Eddie Rickenbacker and an aide on a secret mission for the War Department. Eddie was America’s No. 1 ace of World War I, having knocked down more German war planes that any other American. The mission was to fly from Hickam Field, Oahu to a south Pacific Island some 1700 miles to the southwest.

The flight left in the early morning, and things proceeded per usual until they arrived in the area in which the island should have been located. Somehow, the navigation had gone awry, and they couldn’t find their island. Most likely, the octant, an optical instrument used to ascertain latitude and longitude, had been damaged in a preceding runway mishap. Planes in that era had a backup means for determining their location but unfortunately the device was broken somehow and did not work either.

After exhausting their fuel supply, the crew had no choice but to attempt to safely land that big plane in the open seas. As far as the crew knew, no four-motored land plane had ever set down at sea without causalities. It was decided that it would be best to attempt to land in the trough—the valley between two waves. Amazingly, the pilot successfully landed the plane, slowing from 90 miles an hour to a stop in a mere 30 feet, with no loss of life. The crew scrambled to disembark, pulling the ripcord to unleash the two life rafts. The two rafts were hardly big enough to hold the seven men, the larger raft only measuring 2.5 feet by 5.5 feet in its interior dimensions, but they somehow made it work. Those rafts would be their home for the next three weeks.

The crew inventoried their belongings. Besides their clothing, they had two air pumps, two sheath knives, two pistols, two sets of aluminum oars, some fish lines and hooks, four oranges (that was the extent of their food supply), some personal belongings (including paper and writing utensils), and one man’s pocket New Testament (which proved itself to be the most important item on board).

There they were, adrift at sea, accompanied by an occasional bird and surrounded by a small fleet of tiger sharks. Some of their finned friends were 10-12 feet long. The men were exposed to severe heat during the day, and alternatively cold at night. They developed blisters that were aggravated by the exposure to seawater. But the greatest threat to their survival was having no water to drink or food to eat. The four oranges didn’t last long!

One of the crewmen, a man by the name of Johnny, possessed a pocket sized, khaki bound New Testament.  It had a zipper arrangement that made it waterproof.  Though the rest of the men were not spiritually minded, they’d soon come to better understand and appreciate Johnny’s book and Johnny’s God.

Dire circumstances can surely work to change our perspective on the relative importance of a thing.  Those men who would likely never had attended a prayer meeting of any sort were now engaging in that very thing day by day.  They’d recite the Lord’s prayer together.  Johnny and others would read certain passages.  On one occasion, they were reading from Matthew chapter 6, where it says, “Therefore, take ye no thought, saying: ‘What shall we eat? Or ‘What shall we drink?’ or, “Wherewithal shall we be clothed?’ For these are things the heathen seek.  For your Heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things?”  Can you imagine reading that passage in that setting?

It had been five day’s time.  They had shared four oranges, three minnows, one morsel of raw fish, and a fragment of a sea swallow between them.  They had drunk no water.  They pulled the rafts together for their morning prayer meeting.  They read again from the passage in Matthew chapter six about not being anxious for food and water.  Then Johnny led them in a prayer, saying: “Old Master, we know this isn’t a guarantee we’ll eat in the morning.  But we’re in awful fix, as You know.  We sure are counting on a little something by day after tomorrow, at least.  See what You can do for us.” 

After praying, he fired off a flare into the sky hoping that they might be seen by someone.  But the flare’s propulsion charge was faulty, and the flaming ball rose only 50 feet or so before falling back among the rafts.  It hissed and zigzagged in the water, blazing with a brilliant light.  In the depths, they could see a barracuda pursuing a school of fish.  Suddenly, two fair sized specimens broke water and landed in their raft.  They cut up the fish and shared them together.  It was their seventh day at sea.  God provided in amazing fashion!

The next day was especially hot.  Broiling under the afternoon sun, and surrounded by the cool and inviting salt water, their thoughts turned towards their thirst.  That night Johnny prayed for water instead of food, saying, “Old Master, we called on You for food and You delivered.  We ask You now for water.  We’ve done the best we could.  If You don’t make up Your mind to help us pretty soon, I guess that’s all there’ll be to it.  It looks like the next move is up to You.”

Some hours later, a darkening cloud caught the attention of the crew.  The cloud soon passed overhead and a deluge of rain fell upon those thirsty men.  It splashed in their dry mouths and washed away the caked salt from their skin.  They cupped their hands to gather the water and then into their mouths.  They soon realized they needed to find a means to acquire more water.  They used their dry shirts to soak up water, which they then squeezed out into their mouths.  And they managed to store up a quart of water in a life vest.

In the days that followed, the men endured through hunger and thirst and exposure and exhaustion.  One man died.  Various mishaps threatened.  On the 13^th day, they again found themselves desperately in need of water.  A rainstorm had approached, but then a wind blew it in a different direction.

The author of the book, a man named James (Jim) C. Whittaker, had not been a religious man. But Johnny’s prayers and God’s answers had worked to lead Jim to faith. Most everyone had given up hope. They wouldn’t survive too much longer. Having witnessed for himself the power of God in answering prayer before, Jim prayed: “God. You know what that water means to us. The wind has blown it away. It is in Your power, God, to send back that rain. It’s nothing to You, but it means life to us. God, the wind is Yours. You own it. Order it to blow back that rain to us who will die without it.”

Miraculously, the crew watched as the storm moved with what the author deemed “majestic deliberation.”  It was as if a great and omnipotent hand were guiding it to the crew.  They caught a great store of water.

The following days were the worst.  Their bodies weakened from lack of food, were but a mass of ulcers.  There was no breeze to move them in any hopeful direction. 

It was on the 21^st day when the author was awakened by his shipmate grabbing his shoulder and crying out his name.  He thought he was seeing something but thought maybe it was just a mirage.  Amazingly, in the distance, perhaps 12 miles away, a line of palm trees stretched across the horizon.  At 6:30 am of November 11th, Jim began to row to shore.  By noon, they reached a point less than 250 yards from shore!  Then something happened.  A current worked to propel them back out to sea.  Try as he might, as weakened as he was, Jim could make no headway.  Only a miracle could set our feet on shore, he concluded. Then he recalled all the previous miracles.  He cried out to God for strength.  Half an hour later, he was still rowing and making progress.  Somehow, strength surged back into his shoulders and arms.  The raft rolled steadily through the foam towards the shore.  Though buffeted by a rainstorm and with sharks all around, Jim brought the raft to land.  The lift of a swell worked to land the raft on the shore.  It was their first solid ground in three weeks.

A delegation of islanders soon came to their aid.  The US military was contacted and soon came to their rescue.  Johnny’s New Testament, and his faith in God, had worked to keep those men alive.  The author wrote of it in his conclusion: “I don’t think there was a man of us who didn’t thank God for that little khaki covered book.  It led us to pray, and prayer led us to safety.  I since heard that Johnny intends to become a minister after the war.  No matter how many souls he saves from the pulpit, no matter how many lives he changes for the better, he can always remember his first pulpit; an elongated rubber doughnut, painted a brilliant yellow and tossing in the trackless Pacific.”

What an incredible story of God’s protection and provision in the midst of a most hopeless situation!  Hopefully it’ll work to encourage us to trust in God all the more amidst our own struggles. 

They were much encouraged by Jesus’ admonition to not be anxious.  And if they were to not be anxious in such dire straits, how much more should we refrain from worry.  As is frequently the case in times of trouble, their situation worked to move them all to pray.  And they found as they did that our merciful God was prepared to intervene on their behalf.

We live in times of great uncertainty.  The storm clouds of pending trouble are gathering on the horizon.  Those men set a good example for us to follow of how we should all respond.  It certainly is a good time for all of us to pray for God’s wisdom and strength to meet the demands of the troubling times that are headed our way. 

It’s also instructive to note how God used one man and the Word to better the lives of everyone around him.  The most important man in that group was the man having faith in God.  The truth bound up in that little New Testament worked to dramatically change the course of events for those men.  It reminds us of what happened when the Apostle Paul sailed on board a doomed ship with his fellow passengers.  In these evil days, it’s good to be that one who is trusting God amidst the storms of life—that others might look where you are looking—that they might find salvation in Jesus, and in Him, grace and mercy to help in their time of need!