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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 )

Men did dreadful things to Jesus Christ. In these verses in John Chapter 11, we do not see the women folks doing anything as horrid as the men get up to. The women gave Jesus meals, and anointed him.

They were the last to leave the cross and they were first to be there at the tomb.

As soon as these men heard of what Jesus did, raising Lazarus from the dead, they gathered together in secret council.

Verse 47 – What are we doing? What are we accomplishing? What are we achieving? This man is still doing miracles. Read the text for yourself.

At least…  ( Click for more )

We come to this concluding section of John Chapter 11, from verse 45 onwards.

We have been reading of this situation in which Lazarus, the brother of Martha and Mary, the friend of Jesus Christ, dies, and Jesus comes and raises Lazarus from the dead.

Now, we come to the repercussions following the raising of Lazarus. There are always consequences.

The raising of Lazarus was a crisis point in the ministry of Jesus Christ. It was a turning point. The raising of Lazarus led to the final plot to kill Christ.

Jesus gave Lazarus life, only to have to face death himself.…  ( Click for more )

We were created to rule. Man was created by Almighty God to represent God over Creation, but when man fell he lost that total authority. He lost a lot when he fell. He still longs to rule and control, and dominate, and even manipulate, but he no longer has that initial power of God.

When man fell he fell a long way – much further than many are willing to acknowledge and admit and confess.

That is why this world is in such a mess. Know why.

That is what Jesus Christ came to deal with – Acts Chapter 10 and verse 38 – God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with…  ( Click for more )

We are reading and studying in John Chapter 11, where Lazarus, the friend of Jesus has died. Martha and Mary have sent a message to Jesus informing that their brother was sick, but there was no call to come immediately. There was no demand or plea to intervene, and Jesus Christ does something that is very hard to do – nothing!

Jesus delays for two days before setting off with his disciples on the 60 mile journey to the home of Mary and Martha. Jesus meets the mourning sisters, only to be greeted by, “If you had come sooner, my brother would not have died.”…  ( Click for more )

In John Chapter 11, we read of that scenario where Lazarus has died and his sisters, Martha and Mary meet Jesus Christ.

We see here two sisters meeting Jesus, and their words are quite similar, but their reactions are different. Different people react differently to bereavement.

Some talk and talk and talk. Others say very little, and just weep. Some think a lot and some feel a lot. Some are confused in their mind whilst others are overwhelmed in their hearts.

We also see here how sensitive Jesus is. To Martha Jesus has quite a lot to say. With Mary Jesus just asks a…  ( Click for more )

In John Chapter 11 and at verse 3, when Lazarus is sick, Mary and Mary, his sisters, send an urgent message to Jesus, but just as information. They do not say “Come right away!” Jesus is their best friend. Jesus is their best doctor, and Jesus delays two days.

Jesus does not rush in to heal the sickness and deal with the anxiety, and remember Jesus has the power and ability to heal at a distance, but on this occasion He doesn’t. The delay is quite deliberate.

This can be one of the hardest things to do – to see someone in need – and to stand…  ( Click for more )

Now a man named Lazarus was sick. John Chapter 11 opens with a bare stark factual sentence. What is this all about? What is going to happen? It is a profound chapter with many practical and spiritual lessons.

This is the last great miracle recorded by John which Jesus Christ performs. It begins in a domestic situation, and in that sense it is similar to the wedding at Cana where they ran out of wine.

This time a man runs out of life and dies. Does death have the last and final word?

No! Jesus Christ has the last and final word. These verses are packed with emotion. There…  ( Click for more )

In John Chapter and at verse 27, we read, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow Me”. Now, that is spiritual safety and security and gives such reassurance. Jesus speaks about giving such people eternal life and explains that they will never perish, and how no one can snatch them out of My hand.

That is all so wonderfully true but I have known of those who have jumped out of His hand, and who have decided that they want nothing more to do with Almighty God or Jesus Christ. That is a sore painful reality that we have to accept.

In our passage,…  ( Click for more )

As we read and study these concluding verses in John Chapter 10, we need to remember that it is December time, and it is the Feast of Dedication or the Festival of Lights, called today Hanukkah. It could be regarded as being similar to our lights on trees around December. It had had real meaning and significance but, like Christmas to most people, the real significance had been lost or forgotten.

Around 175 years previously, there was a Greek occupation of Israel, and a man named Antioch Epiphanes polluted the Temple in Jerusalem, by placing a pig on the altar and desecrating…  ( Click for more )

Jesus Christ the Good Shepherd willingly and voluntarily laid down his life for the sheep. We read this in John Chapter 10 and at verse 17. No one can claim the dubious honour of having taken the life of this religious trouble maker, who was Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Jesus faced the cross with all its humiliation and agony and pain, and shed His blood – the Lamb of God dies to take away the sin of the world.

God the Father gave life back to the Good Shepherd so that He could offer eternal life to us today – to all who believe.

Jesus Christ goes right to…  ( Click for more )