John 22

The following is from OBC’s daily devotional for today:

Jesus’ appearance, miracle of the great catch of fish, and loving provision of breakfast (vv. 1-14) served to strengthen the disciples’ faith in who Jesus was—the Christ, the promised Messiah, the eternal Son of God made flesh (20:31).

Before Jesus’ crucifixionPeter denied him three times after he boldly professed allegiance. Here (vv. 15-19), after Jesus’ resurrection, the Lord helps Peter to nail down that his motivation for lovingly caring for Christ’s followers must be a devoted love for Jesus.

Throughout Peter’s life—which Jesus basically outlines here—he must follow him, a steadfast pursuit of committed faith (vv. 20-23). Even in Peter’s death he would glorify the Lord.

Truths to Nail Down and Meditate On

1. True faith in Jesus Christ that results in eternal life is seen and demonstrated by a life of steadfast, committed faithfulness. Because believers still have a sin nature, they will do and say things they shouldn’t, but the overall character and course of their lives will be marked by a controlling love for the Lord Jesus. 
2. Do not concern yourself with what God providentially does with other believers, comparing what he is doing in your life with what he is doing in others’ lives. focus instead on how you are living for and serving him!

John 21

The following is from OBC’s daily devotional for today:

Jesus’ appearance, miracle of the great catch of fish, and loving provision of breakfast served to strengthen the disciples’ faith in who Jesus was—the Christ, the promised Messiah, the eternal Son of God made flesh (vv. 1-14; cf. 20:31).

Before Jesus’ crucifixion Peter denied Christ three times (18:15-17, 25-27), though he had boldly professed allegiance to Jesus (13:37). Here, after Jesus’ resurrection, the Lord helps Peter see that his motivation for caring for Christ’s followers must be devoted love for Jesus (vv. 15-19).

The disciples—and every believer—must follow Jesus, which means a steadfast pursuit of committed faith (vv. 20-23). When a believer does so, it doesn’t matter if one lives a long life (like John did) or dies brutally (like Peter did), following Christ glorifies the Lord.

Truths to Nail Down and Meditate On

1. True faith in Jesus Christ that results in eternal life is seen and demonstrated by a life of steadfast, committed faithfulness. Because we still have a sin nature we will do and say things we shouldn’t, but the overall character and course of our lives will be marked by a controlling love for the Lord Jesus.
2. Do not concern yourself with what God providentially does with other believers, comparing what God is doing in your life with what he is doing in others’ lives. Focus instead on how you are living for and serving him!

John 20

The following is from OBC’s daily devotional for today:

Mary Magdalene, Peter, and the apostle John (“the other disciple, whom Jesus loved”) discovered Jesus’ empty tomb, yet did not conclude that he rose from the dead but that his body had been taken away (vv. 1-10).

Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene (vv. 11-18). The meaning of Jesus’ statement to her, “do not cling to me…,” v. 17) is that she should not permanently, never to let go of Jesus, as he would be with them for awhile (40 days) and then ascend to heaven.

Later in the same day Jesus appeared to the disciples, proving he had truly risen from the dead (vv. 19-23).

In verses 24-31, Thomas, one of Jesus’s twelve disciples, was not with them when Jesus appeared and so did not believe their testimony that he had risen from the dead. Jesus thus appeared and proved such to Thomas, and he rightly worshiped Jesus as the Lord God. not the connection of thought between verses 29 and 30-31.

Truths to Nail Down and Meditate On

1. Jesus’ resurrection from the dead was in the same body he died in (v. 27). As he was without sin his body was not susceptible to the power or corrupting effects of sin (Acts 2:22-28). Because he rose from the dead he defeated sin and death, so that all who trust him will also be saved from sin’s power and effects.
2. True apostles saw with their own eyes the resurrected Lord (1 Cor 9:1; 15:5-8). This is why Jesus appeared to Thomas. The NT limits the office of apostle to just these men listed in the NT. Those today called apostles are frauds and false apostles.
3. Jesus’ resurrection from the dead is the greatest miracle and must be believed—accepted, welcomed, and depended on as true—in order to have life (vv. 30-31). Any who call themselves Christians but do not believe Jesus is truly God in the flesh, the promised Messiah, and literally risen from the dead are still lost and without eternal life (Rom 10:9).

John 19

The following is from OBC’s daily devotional for today:

Here we read that Pilate made several efforts to release Jesus because he recognized his innocence and the Jews’ jealous hatred. Despite this, the Jews were determined to see Jesus crucified, and explicitly declared their rejection of Jesus as the promised Christ/Messiah and Son of God. Throughout Jesus’ trial and crucifixion there were repeated statements that Jesus was the King of the Jews (vv. 14-15, 19, 21; cf. 20:31). God’s will regarding all this was accomplished exactly as he said it would be in the OT.

Truths to Nail Down and Meditate On

1. Jesus was fully conscious and aware throughout the entire crucifixion ordeal (v. 28; he refused a drug-laced wine that would dull his senses, Matt 27:34). He suffered and died as the propitiation of sin, experiencing and enduring God’s wrath that sinners deserved (cf. Rom 3:25; Heb 2:17; 1 John 2:2; 4:10).
2. Jesus’ suffering and death were voluntary (v. 30) and real; in other words, as a human being (cf. Heb 2:14-18).
3. Jesus’ death must be believed for sinners to receive eternal life (v. 35); not as a mere historical fact, but that he, being the incarnate Son of God and the promised Christ voluntarily and innocently suffered, died, and was buried (cf. 1 Cor 15:3-4).

John 18

The following is from OBC’s daily devotional for today:

John recorded Jesus’ public ministry (chaps. 1-12), his private ministry to the disciples (chaps. 13-17), and now relates Jesus’ passion victory (chaps. 18-22; “passion” here means/refers to Jesus’ suffering). Remember the purpose of John’s gospel in 20:31.

Jesus’ death happened because this was always God’s plan from eternity past (cf. Acts 2:23; 4:27-28). From Judas’ greed and betrayal of Jesus to the Jews’ hatred, to Pilate’s greater desire to pacify the crowd than administer true justice, God’s plan to save sinners through Jesus was fulfilled. Jesus knew this and willingly followed and submitted to God’s will (vv. 4, 11).

Jesus’ innocence is evident throughout: the Jews refused to hear any witnesses of Jesus’ teaching (vv. 19-24), Pilate recognized Jesus’ innocence (v. 38), and the Jews’ aim was pure murder. 

Truths to Nail Down and Meditate On

1. For sinners to be forgiven by God and receive eternal life (20:31) sin must be atoned for by an innocent substitute. Jesus came as the Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world (1:29). Having lived a completely righteous life without sin he had no sin of his own for which he was liable. As Jesus was fully God and man (1:1ff) and without sin he was able to be the needed, perfect sacrifice for sinners. Yet he had to be sacrificed, dying not by an accident or his own doing, but by another’s hand (v. 32). This and the next chapter detail how that happened and how Jesus did not try to get away but as an innocent lamb willingly submitted himself.
2. Jesus statement to Pilate, “my kingdom is not of this world” (vv. 33-37) points to the differences between worldly kingdoms and Christ’s coming kingdom. It has a completely different origin, being from heaven, not the world. It has a completely different character, being righteous, not corrupt. It has a completely different method of establishment, by God’s power, not man’s effort. Pilate, most Jews, and the Jewish religious establishment were worldly, corrupt, and depended on man’s power. Jesus wasn’t that kind of a King, and that’s why they rejected him. Because Jesus’ kingdom doesn’t depend on men to establish and sustain it, so don’t try. Jesus will when it’s time for Him to do so (v. 36).

John 17

The following is from OBC’s daily devotional for today:

Jesus prayed for himself, that God would glorify him. His “hour had come” to die for sinners (v. 1). Jesus gives eternal life (v. 2) because he is eternal life (v. 3). Jesus, the eternal Son, glorified God throughout his earthly life in a sin-cursed world (vv. 4-5).

Jesus prayed for the disciples (vv. 6-19), praying for their protection from and purity in the world.

Jesus prayed for the salvation (v. 24) and spiritual union of all Christians (vv. 20-21) through his death and resurrection (v. 22) so that through their unified life and witness the world would know who Jesus is and what he did.

Truths to Nail Down and Meditate On

1. The unity Jesus prayed believers would have is a spiritual unity accomplished by the Father through the Holy Spirit based on Christ’s death and resurrection. It is a spiritual unity because Jesus prayed that believers would be one as he and the Father are one (vv. 11, 21). This is called Spirit baptism (1 Cor 12:13), first occurring in Acts 2 and from then on at the moment of conversion of every new Christian.
2. Given all the temptations believers face in the world, we must learn from Jesus’ simple reliance on prayer and the Word (vv. 6-19). “Sanctify” (vv. 17, 19) means “to set apart.” Jesus set himself apart to do God’s will by dying on the cross so that sinners who trust in him could be set apart from sin.
3. Christian, think about this: Jesus prayed here for you (v. 20) and his prayer was answered! The Triune God indwells you (v. 23) and you are eternally secure. Live this out before the world for Christ’s glory!

John 16

The following is from OBC’s daily devotional for today:

Jesus continued teaching the disciples the night before his betrayal as they walked to the Garden of Gethsemane.

Jesus would leave the disciples and they would be persecuted, but the Holy Spirit would supernaturally cause them to remember Jesus’ teaching (vv. 1-15). Thus they would be enabled to persevere and effectively minister for God’s glory (note vv. 8-11).

Jesus would die and unbelievers (“the world”) would be happy about that, while the disciples would weep (vv. 16-24). Yet they would see him again (vv. 16, 22) because he will rise from the dead and they will then rejoice.

In verses 25-33 Jesus told the disciples that because of his death they would [1] know and understand his truths (v. 25), [2] pray to and be heard by the Father, and [3] they would have peace in troubled times.

Truths to Nail Down and Meditate On

1. “The Holy Spirit will guide you into all truth” is Jesus’ promise to his disciples (the apostles) that would result in their faithful ministry as the foundation of the church (Eph 2:20), resulting in the NT books. The Holy Spirit does help Christians learn and know the truth, but through the Scriptures—not miraculously—especially the NT which the apostles wrote.
2. True joy and happiness is found only in knowing Jesus. Jesus is only known through the Scriptures. Believing, grasping, and resting in such truths only happens by the Spirit’s work through the Scriptures. Along this line, meditate on and memorize verse 33.
3. Jesus is alive! He paid sin’s debt and broke its power! Christian, every trouble and difficult in the world is because of sin, and what did Jesus do about that? Always seek and depend on Jesus!!

John 15

The following is from OBC’s daily devotional for today:

From the last sentence of 14:31 we see that chapters 15-17 is Jesus’ last time he talked with and taught the disciples, on their way to the Garden of Gethsemane.

Jesus taught that an essential evidenced of true followers of Jesus is bearing fruit (vv. 1-8). True disciples abide in Jesus’ love, obey him, love another, and have great joy (vv. 9-17), because Jesus chose and appointed them for this and because the relationship between a believer and Jesus is one of love (“friend”). Though true disciples will love one another, they will be hated by the world (vv. 18-25). Jesus again told the disciples (apostles) that they would testify/bear witness of Jesus after his resurrection and ascension (vv. 26-27; note Acts 1-2).

Truths to Nail Down and Meditate On

1. Note Jesus’ relationship to believers: he is the giver of life (vv. 1-8), a friend because he loves (v. 15), a sovereign Savior (vv. 16, 19), One who commands (vv. 10, 12, 14, 17), and Master (v. 20).
2. Jesus’ teaching in verses 1-8 is significant and serious. He has a vital union with believers (v. 1). His life in believers is seen by their Christ-like lives (vv. 4-5, 7-8). The Father lovingly cleanses believers for greater Christ-likeness (vv. 2-3). And the Father condemns false believers to hell (vv. 2, 6).
3. The point of verses 22 and 24 is that Jesus’ teaching and perfect life revealed sin, and Jewish unbelievers didn’t like that, no matter how religious they were.

Friday, September 8

John 14

The following is from OBC’s daily devotional for today:

During the night before he was betrayed Jesus met with his disciples, teaching them the characteristics of true faith. Here we read of Jesus’ promise to those who believe in him that though he would go to heaven he will return for believers (vv. 1-6).

Jesus then taught about his essential union with the Father (vv. 7-11). The Father and the Son are of the same essence (one God), but they are two different Persons. This is a matter of faith; Jesus said, “believe me…” (v. 11) and God gave truth that such faith believes and rests on: “the words that I speak to you…” (v. 10).

Jesus taught that those who truly love him show it by obeying him (vv. 15-24). This results in believers experiencing the Holy Spirit’s ministry, enjoying being loved by the Father, and having the Triune God dwell in the them (v. 23).

After Jesus would go to heaven the Holy Spirit would work in and through these disciples/apostles, resulting in their being the foundation of the church and authoring the NT (vv. 25-31; cf. Eph 2:20).

Truths to Nail Down and Meditate On

1. Jesus will come again to bring Christians to be with him in heaven (vv. 1-3). This is called the rapture, Christ’s at-any-moment return in the clouds for Christians (1 Thess 4:13-17). Jesus said this to the eleven disciples in the upper room, yet did he fulfill this? Not yet! When Jesus returns to the clouds “the dead in Christ will rise first”—which will include the eleven disciples—“then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air” (1 Thess 4:14-16).
2. True faith in Jesus believes who he is (including his relation to the Father and the Holy Spirit), what he said, and obeys his commands. Anything less is not true faith in Jesus.
3. What the NT says in every book is what Jesus says (v. 26; 15:26-27; 16:12-15).

John 13

The following is from OBC’s daily devotional for today:

John 13-17 cover one night, the night before Jesus was betrayed. Here in Jesus’ private ministry to the disciples he teaches the character of true faith.

Jesus washed the twelve disciples’ feet, portraying their sanctification and giving a pattern of service (vv. 1-17). Jesus then spoke of and identified his betrayer, Judas Iscariot (vv. 18-30). Jesus taught the character and nature of a false profession as exemplified by Judas.

Jesus then taught a “new commandment” to love one another just as he loved them (vv. 31-35). “Love one another” is an OT command (Lev 19:18) that Jesus taught and expected (Mark 12:31), but here he gives a standard that makes it “new”—“as I have loved you.”

Truths to Nail Down and Meditate On

1. The infinite Son (v. 3) humbled himself and served sinful men (vv. 4-5. The work of washing feet was that of a servant, not a King! Christian, you must serve one another—serve like Jesus (vv. 16-17)!
2. None of the disciples guessed that Judas Iscariot was the traitor Jesus spoke of. Judas was with them for three years, yet he was lost. Never assume you are or someone is a Christian just because of proximity to true religion.
3. Think about how the disciples doubted, disappointed, and would even deny (v. 38!) Jesus, yet his love continued and did not waver. Jesus loved unconditionally, fully, holding nothing back that was good and needed by them. this is the character of a true believer as opposed to Judas. False believers love money, true believers love Christ and his people.