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Union with Jesus Christ involves union with one another, and it is not automatic. Nobody in the Church of Jesus Christ will quarrel with that reality, but it is a sad and tragic reality. This is something that has to be worked at, and that is why Jesus commands it.

One man once said – “I love Jesus Christ so much, I have no love for anyone else.” That too is tragic – and it is really not true!

In verse 13, of John Chapter 15, Jesus goes on to express how great His love is – I love you so much I will lay down my life for you. When a man…  ( Click for more )

We are in John Chapter 15, where Jesus Christ is saying, “I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener. I am the vine and you are the branches. We have been thinking of how God the Father comes with His hoe to remove those things which make unnecessary demands upon our time – those things which tend to draw us away from being totally committed to Jesus Christ. Let them go easily. Do not struggle, and don’t look back ever, wishing you had held on to them.

The Father also comes with His pruning knife and He cuts us back, and He cuts us down to size…  ( Click for more )

We are reading in John Chapter 15, where Jesus is speaking about the vine and the Father being the vinedresser or gardener. God comes with His hoe to remove things which ought not to be in out lives and He comes with His Pruning Knife to cut us back and even to cut us down.

We do not speak about this aspect of the work of Almighty God the gardener very often, but it is important, so that when it happens to us personally we know exactly what is happening, and why God is acting in such a positive manner.

This is one of Jesus’ visual aids and sometimes we only pay attention…  ( Click for more )

We are reading and studying in John’s Gospel where in Chapter 15, Jesus Christ and His men are making their way from the Upper Room to the Garden of Gethsemane, and as they pass the gates of the Temple Jesus sees these two large clusters of golden grapes on the doors. Israel had been planted as the vineyard of the Lord God Almighty and God had never been able to pick the fruit. Israel was planted to be the people who would be the light to the Gentile nations, but the light had never shone all that brightly, and now Jesus says, “I am the real vine, and my Father is…  ( Click for more )

Notice how John is so Christ centred, in these closing verses of John Chapter 14. This passage is focusing upon Jesus Christ, and how Jesus Christ cares for, and is concerned about, those whom He calls.

No matter what you are going through or experiencing in these present days, know that the risen living Jesus cares for you and that He is concerned about every detail.

Jesus has been speaking about peace, and peace can be vague and illusive and many strive for peace, and march for peace, and hold ‘Peace Rallies’, but peace like Jesus Himself is unique and uniquely…  ( Click for more )

Jesus Christ is now ready to make His Will – verse 27. Peace I leave with you. My peace I give you. We are reading in John Chapter 14.

Consider all He was about to leave – His clothes to the soldiers – His mother He gave to John – His body would go into the hands of Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus – His Spirit was commended to God the Father – and to His disciples He bequeathed His peace.

People can leave you money, property, possession, and things - but only Jesus Christ can give you peace.

It is when we receive the peace…  ( Click for more )

In John’s Gospel, at Chapter 14, we are approaching these final words which Jesus Christ shared with his chosen and beloved disciples in the Upper Room. We must not rush through these crucial words of our Saviour and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Amidst all our reading and studying and preaching and teaching it is good to pause and simply remind ourselves that these are the words of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who shed his blood and died, to wash us and forgive us, and save us from sin and sins.

In this conversation, we have been listening to, and overhearing some of the most…  ( Click for more )

This is the real division that runs through the whole of society – those who have the Spirit of Jesus and those who do not – those who are born again and those who are not – those who belong to Jesus Christ the Saviour and Lord and those who do not confess Jesus Christ with holy reverence. We read the details in John Chapter 14. Understand what Jesus Christ is saying and teaching here.

Jesus then goes on to teach another wonderful truth. Up till now, I have been on the outside of you – soon I will live inside you by the Holy Spirit. I cannot explain…  ( Click for more )

As we read and study John Chapters 13,14, we see Jesus Christ and His men around the Table partaking of the Passover meal and once the traitor Judas leaves, Jesus speaks about being glorified and loving one another as I have loved you. He is also answering the questions His disciples raise. Where are You going and How can we know the way and Who will we meet there if we follow You? Jesus answers thee important questions which His men raise. They can be questions people raise today.

The answers dispel all doubts and fears and just wondering.

I am going to prepare…  ( Click for more )

Take John Chapters 13,14 as one sweeping incident. After all that is what it is, and the chapter divisions can be such a hindrance at times. They are quite artificial and remember they were added many years after the Scriptures were written.

In John Chapter 14 at verse 6, Thomas is looking a bit worried. Right to the end Jesus said things that gave His disciples worried looks. Thomas is almost cheeky. You know where you are going but we don’t know where you are going so how can we know the way. Jesus is so lovingly patient.

If it were not for these words…  ( Click for more )

In John Chapter 13, we are in the Upper Room, where Jesus Christ is celebrating the Passover just hours before he is to be crucified. Jesus Christ and His men are around that table. Jesus has made it clear that one of these men is going to betray Him. One of these men is about to commit treachery. They are all wondering who the traitor can be. Simone Peter says to John the youngest of the twelve disciples – John, you are sitting next to Him – ask Him – and when John asks Jesus, Jesus gives the morsel of bread to Judas Iscariot. It was a last loving gesture.…  ( Click for more )

As we read and study carefully and prayerfully John Chapter 13, we come to see and understand that Jesus Christ taught and ministered as He did because He was secure, and through real vital living faith we too can know something of that security.

Verse 20 – Whoever receives you, will receive me. This is so important. When we receive one another, graciously and lovingly, it is a sign that we have received Jesus Christ, and we do so not just as people would be welcomed into some secular club, but we embrace fellow believers in Jesus Christ as part of the family of God…  ( Click for more )

In John Chapter 13, we see Jesus Christ and His disciples about to celebrate the Feast of the Passover. It is only a few hours before Jesus is betrayed and arrested, and Jesus has much to share with these men. Jesus has so much to teach them and Jesus is even prepared to share things with them which they are not yet able to fully understand.

His hour had come. Jesus knew he was going to die, and Jesus Christ knew where he was going after death.

Now, that influences a man. If you know where you are going after death, that will impart security and assurance and courage…  ( Click for more )

In John Chapter 13, where Jesus has stooped so low to wash the disciple’s feet we have that profound conversation between Jesus and Peter, where Jesus explains to Peter that what he wants is not necessary. Peter does not need to be washed from head to toe, but that desire and longing too has its significance. Peter wanted to be totally committed to Jesus Christ.

Jesus explains further. As I wash you in this way, you will be clean, but Peter, there is somebody else here who is not clean and he is so dirty that washing his feet will not do much good. Not only are his…  ( Click for more )

In John Chapter 13, Jesus Christ shows his disciples, and us how to serve humbly and powerfully and lovingly.

This is one of the great love chapters because here we see what someone can do when unlimited love and unlimited power are combined. In Jesus Christ, there is this perfect combination.

Love without power would only produce sympathy, and power without love produces selfishness, or worse, but here we see in Jesus Christ love and power producing service. Whereas power tries to climb, love gets down on its knees.

Power is interested in being exalted. Love serves…  ( Click for more )

In John Chapter 13 and at verse 1 we read of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and His Men are having their last and final meal together around that table which has become so meaningful to us. Luke, in his Gospel, gives us so much about the life and ministry and teaching of Jesus, but it is John who writes about what was said and taught that night.

Jesus knew that His hour had come. For three years Jesus Christ has been moving in the plan of God the Father towards this moment. He had come primarily to save men from their sin. He was soon to leave this world and return to His…  ( Click for more )

We are reading and studying these concluding verses in John Chapter 12 where we have these final public words of Jesus Christ. What follows afterwards, is spoken to his disciples.

In certain situations, the more truth you give certain people, the more their minds will close. Every message you hear is either making you receive more and more of God’s Holy Truth, and creating a hunger and thirst for more, or it makes you harder. It is either making you softer and more gracious, faithful, and more open – or harder and harder. The interesting thing is, no one remains…  ( Click for more )

In these closing verses of John Chapter 12, we are moving closer to the hour of the atoning death of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and the death of Jesus Christ achieved the exact opposite to what was at first thought.

It looked as if Jesus was on trial and being judged, but in fact it was the world that was being judged and sin dealt with.

It looked as if Jesus Christ was being silenced and overthrown and conquered and defeated and cast out of the way of man for ever. In actual fact, it was the devil who was being overthrown and conquered and defeated.

It looked as…  ( Click for more )

Once somebody sets himself against Jesus, there is no limit as to how far an individual will go, and if you go against Jesus, you will probably find that you are against the friends and disciples of Jesus too.

We must never forget or ignore or overlook the fact that we are living in a fallen sinful world, and that there is an enemy who will do he can to upset and challenge and attack Christ and those who belong to Jesus Christ. To remember that can be most comforting and encouraging when we wonder why various things around us appear to arise and explode and hurt and wound. …  ( Click for more )

We have been reading in the Gospel of John of some the mighty and wonderful incidents in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ – some of them exciting as in the raising of Lazarus with its profound spiritual lessons from Jesus but also from his disciples, and then we go on to read of the sad and tragic consequences as division followed. Many believed, but some ran and told tales.

You would sometimes want to ask Almighty God, “Lord, why does it have to be like that? When You are so gracious and powerful and merciful and loving and able, why does there have to…  ( Click for more )

esus goes on to develop this whole theme and we have Christ’s last public sermon and teaching, recorded by John in Chapter 12. Jesus is saying – before I go to the Greeks – before I go to the Gentiles – I am going to the cross. I have to die. The hour is approaching. The road My Father has willed me to walk is the road of personal sacrifice. If I came to you Greeks now, that would be a short term policy.

These are Christ’s last words to the public, and in verse 26 it is an ultimatum.

The hour had come. God’s clock is important.…  ( Click for more )

In John Chapter 12 and at verse 12, we come to that point where Jesus Christ rides into Jerusalem, and it is now clear to some that Jesus has not got long to live if he remains in that city.

The scene is one of where the scheme has begun to go into motion to have Jesus Christ, the Son of God, crucified, killed and silenced, once and for all. It has been rumbling on now for some months, and we see this so clearly as John records the details.

When God begins to speak in a new way, there are always those whose only desire is to silence the voice of God. Sometimes people…  ( Click for more )

What kind of fragrance do we leave when we express our worship and praise? What kind of atmosphere do we contribute to the fellowship around us as we sing and praise and worship and participate?

Mary has just anointed Jesus Christ with a most precious ointment, and we read of this in John’s Gospel at Chapter 12. This fragrance would be clinging to Christ for the remainder of his earthly life.

Mary was aware of what was about to happen soon, and she takes this opportunity. Sometimes certain opportunities only come once. Had she waited until Jesus dies she could…  ( Click for more )

Jesus Christ and his disciples are in a home in Bethany some two miles south east of the Temple area in Jerusalem. They are out of sight of the city and out of the reach of the Temple Police. We are reading and studying John Chapter 12, but it is Mark who tells us that they are relaxing and having a meal in the home of Simon the leper. Had Jesus healed this man? We do not know, but what we do know is that he had been a leper and now he is a normal member of society, and he has Jesus Christ in his home, and he is ministering to Jesus.

We have really moved on now, time…  ( Click for more )