Whom Do You Seek? (John 18:2-9)

“Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.” This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.”” (John 18:2–9, ESV)

There have been times when I was looking for someone (before everyone taking breath having a cell phone), and I felt that I needed to talk to them or find them for some reason. So, I thought about their patterns and the most likely place I would find them and I checked those places out. This was particularly true when I was in college and I checked the common places like the library, the lab, the study area, and the game room. Judas had left Jesus and the disciples, being told what he was to do to do quickly, and here Judas is now leading Jesus’ captors to apprehend him. Our passage tells us that Judas knew where to find Jesus because it was a place where he had often met with him and the other disciples. It was a regular hangout and a sure place to go, and sure enough Judas arrived in the darkness of night with a band of soldiers and some officers of the chief priests and the Pharisees bearing lanterns and torches and weapons to find Jesus just where he had expected to find Him.

As I read this part I thought of the many westerns I had seen over the years where the lynch party arrived at the town jail at night with weapons in hand and torches blazing knowing that their numbers would overwhelm their meager resistance. For some reason (purely dramatic I’m sure) these things seemed to always happen at night. But it sure was a dramatic sight observing the group of vigilantes arriving (sometimes even in hoods) to confront the lone sheriff with his deputies cowering behind the door. And that night it must have been quite a scene as this show of force walked into the garden to arrest one man, possibly anticipating the resistance of His close followers.

Luke adds some detail that John doesn’t concerning that night. We read from him, “While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” (Luke 22:47-49, ESV) This kiss was a prearranged signal that Judas had arranged in advance to let the others know which one of the men was Jesus, and as Judas approached Him, Jesus asked Him if he really would betray the Son of Man with a kiss—an act of affection signaling his ultimate act of betrayal. Mark adds that Judas walked right up to Jesus and kissed Him and then His captors laid hands on Him and seized Him (Mark 14:44-45; Matthew 26:48-50).

John tells us that as they approached Him He asked them who they were looking for. They responded saying, “Jesus of Nazareth,” to which Jesus replied, “I am He.” Then something truly amazing happened. John wrote that they drew back and fell to the ground. I can only imagine the authority with which Jesus spoke such that they were forced to withdraw and even fall before Him. In this setting and with the words “I am He” Jesus affirmed that He was indeed “Jesus of Nazareth,” and He clarified that it was only Him that they were seeking and not His disciples. He was truly the one they had been seeking, affirming all that they had heard of His claims with those words, and the men were forced to fall before Him. 

Having withdrawn after His first response, Jesus asked them again, and again they affirmed that they were seeking Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus told them once again that He was indeed Him just as He had told them the first time. At that moment I don’t know if they had backed off after they had fallen to the ground and He was refocusing them on their task or if they had regained their posture and Jesus were again pressing forward. But Jesus asked once again to affirm that they were only seeking Him. After they responded Jesus then told them to let His disciples go. They were not the ones being sought. Jesus was the one, and His disciples should be free to go. John added for us that the reason Jesus asked this was to affirm that the promise of Scripture would be fulfilled that not one of His disciples was lost other than the one given to betray Him.

We’re not getting to what happened next yet, but think about this… When Jesus was approached by his enemies to apprehend Him, and after He had affirmed to them who He was they were forced to fall to the ground before Him. Sure they would get up for a season and continue what they were sent to do, but we can’t overlook the impact of this encounter. As I thought of this I thought of another time when men, even His enemies, would go to the ground before Him and they would know without any doubt that He truly is who He said He is.

Paul wrote in Philippians 2:5-11, “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:5–11, ESV)

In Romans 14:11 we read a quote from Isaiah (45:23), “for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.”” (Romans 14:11, ESV) And in Revelation 20:11-15 we read that this day will surely come where Jesus indeed will sit on the throne where before Him all who have died will stand before Him as Lord as He books are opened and man is judged. “Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:11–15, ESV)

People today may glory in their choices and in their independence from God, but it is a certain fact that there is power in the name of Jesus Christ. There is power such that those sent to arrest Him would fall to the ground and there is power to cast all whose names are not in the book of life into the lake of fire for all of eternity. But the most amazing power is His power to save and give life to all who believe. I am so thankful that I have been given the privilege to bow today in worship as I look forward with great hope of being with Him for all eternity, and I am sobered to think of all of those who will not meet Him in this way.

What makes the difference is their hearing and believing the simple message we are called to give, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16, NASB95) 

Sober-Minded Watching and Prayer (John 18:1; Matthew 26:36-46)

“When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered.” (John 18:1, ESV)

Having inadvertently jumped back to the end of chapter 16 yesterday, today we continue from the end of chapter 17 when Jesus finished His prayer to the Father on behalf of His disciples. According to the end of chapter 14 in John, Jesus and His disciples had left the upper room after their meal. Matthew, Mark, and Luke record for us that after they had sung a hymn they left and went to the Mount of Olives where the conversations of chapters 15, 16, and 17 happened. Now that Jesus had concluded this time and prayed it was time for them to leave for their next destination which was the garden where He would be arrested.

John records little concerning what transpired between the end of Jesus’ prayer and His arrest in the garden. According to John we read that after He prayed He left with His disciples and entered a garden across the brook Kidron. Looking to Matthew’s gospel record we read,

"(36) Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” (37) And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee [James and John], he began to be sorrowful and troubled. (38) Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” (39) And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” (40) And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? (41) Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (42) Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” (43) And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. (44) So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. (45) Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. (46) Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”” (Matthew 26:36–46, ESV)

From this longer passage we see many things. The most obvious two are the passion of the prayers of Jesus and the passivity on the part of His disciples. Jesus had gone to great length to let His disciples know that He was going to be taken away. He had selected three of them to go with Him into the garden—the three that were frequently mentioned by His side and possibly the closest to Him—and He asked the others to remain where they had been left knowing He had gone to pray.

Knowing the importance and the intensity of what was lying before Him as He was preparing to take on the fullness of man’s sin and satisfy the wrath of the Father, even taking it on Himself as the sacrifice for man’s sin, Jesus was heavily burdened. Prior to leaving the three He told them that He as very sorrowful, even to the point of death. This is unlike anything He had ever told them, and the intensity of His sorrow was something they had never seen from Him. Telling them this, Jesus asked them to stay and watch with Him while He went ahead. He then left them and went a little further into the garden where He fell on His face and prayed asking the Father—His Father, “If it be possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” We know from the next verse when He returned to His disciples that He had been praying in this way for an hour, and while He was intensely in prayer His disciples rather than watching as He asked, fell asleep. Jesus woke them as spoke directly to Peter asking why he couldn’t even watch with Him for one hour. Imagine the disappointment as Jesus agonized in prayer finding that His closest friends were not concerned enough to even stay awake and watch.

Speaking to them again Jesus asked them not only to watch, but to watch and pray so that they might not fall into temptation. He acknowledged to them His awareness that as willing as they might have been to be both watching and praying the spirit was also weak. There is a very real aspect to this that I understand having tried on numerous occasions to be quiet before God, waiting on Him only to find myself as well falling asleep or becoming otherwise distracted. But Jesus knew the importance of this instruction even if not for that night, but for many times in the future where they will need to watch and pray again and again.

Having read this passage numerous times I know that as Jesus went back in and prayed essentially the same prayer, My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done,” His disciples again fell asleep. After an unspecified period of time in intense prayer we read that He returned and found them sleeping “for their eyes were heavy.” Once again they had succumbed to their weariness and fell asleep rather than being compelled to the point of being watchful and praying.

But Jesus did not give up on them. Rather, He left again expecting them to remain watching and praying while He prayed the same intense prayer again. And of course, when He returned He found them asleep. This time Jesus spoke to them saying, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”

Jesus knew how intent Satan was to bring about His destruction. He knew the pain would be intense and the cost high, but He also knew in His great sorrow that the Father’s plan was the right and perfect plan to bring about the salvation of man. For that reason He was prepared to willingly suffer the wrath of the Father in taking on the sin of man that His perfect will might be accomplished. For His disciples there was a time to sleep, but this was not it. There was a great evil about to happen and they needed to be in prayer. The time for which Jesus had come was at hand, and they needed to be on the alert and ready.”

Returning again to recent events in our land and around the world we are reminded that evil does not go on vacation. Some days are quieter that others and we might easily be able to rest, but some days are quite intense and we need to be watching and praying for Satan, the great betrayer is at hand. In the garden Jesus disciples were told to watch and pray. Today as we face challenges to our faith and persecution is surely to increase we can follow the same instruction to watch and pray.

The evil one was defeated at the cross, but God in His plan has not yet bound him from his influence in this world so that even in the midst of great people might be saved and God glorified. Evil is happening and we need to be alert and praying for ourselves, other believers, and our response to the world.

As we encounter other Christians who seem to be unaware or neglecting the intensity of the day we can speak to them the words of Paul to the believers at Corinth, “Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.” (1 Corinthians 15:33–34, ESV)

And for all of us Peter wrote, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To Him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 5:6–11, ESV) 

Do You Really Believe? Take Heart (John 16:26-33)

“In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.” His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.” Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. 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 16:26–33, ESV)

I’ve been taking walking through Jesus prayer to the Father just before His betrayal, but between a combination of looking back into the wrong chapter (oops) and rereading these words, we are going to back up to chapter 16 in light of yesterday’s Supreme Court ruling, last week’s mass murder in a church, and the widespread terrorist attacks. The reason for this is the combination of the words in verse 31, “Do you now believe?” and verse 33, “But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Jesus had been talking with His disciples and was ready to begin praying to the Father in their presence as as if bringing them into the greater conversation representing the truth that He was handing them over to the Father. No longer would they go to Jesus, but they would go directly to the Father in His name. Having said this, His disciples responded that they understood clearly what He had said, affirming that they now knew without any doubt that Jesus really did come from the Father.

To this Jesus asked them if they now believed. This was an important question to ask because their faith was soon going to be put to the test. At His arrest they would flee and after His resurrection and ascension to the Father they would become the focus of the enemy’s attacks. There would be those who would persecute them and even put them and other believers to death, and in the face of this they would be scattered. Initially after His arrest his disciples would be scattered to their own homes, but later believers would be scattered throughout the world. There would be very dark and oppressive days coming, and their faith was going to be critical to them. When it looked like they were going to be crushed, knowing that God had them firmly in His hands and was hearing their prayers was going to be vital to their walk and their peace.

And today nothing has changed about the importance of this truth. When things look their darkest and evil seems to be at its most prominent there can be no greater contrast between man bound in the chains of sin and enslaved to his father the devil and the light and freedom that is found in Christ. John wrote, “This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:5–9, ESV) We are told that God is light and that we are to walk in that light. Having said this we know that even Christians can listen to lies and be led astray. But the truth of God’s Word and the indwelling of His Spirit has been given to shine light on those lies and draw us back to Him. Man’s response then is to admit his sin to God (confess) and commit to living as He has called us to live knowing that our sins have already been forgiven and the intimacy of our daily relationship with Him can be restored.

Many Christians have been very faithful in standing strong for those things that God has called good, even suffering for this. Many others have faithfully prayed for and affirmed those who have been taking these public stands. Others have quietly hoped that good would prevail in the face of growing evil. Regardless of our place along this spectrum in the face of things falling apart around us we are called, as maybe we have not felt before to believe, take heart, and stand firm knowing that God is still in control. He will make us to come out standing on the other side regardless of how hard things might get here.

But there are those who are saved who have been silent and even endorsed the lies based in the priority of the happiness of man and who might even be rejoicing in some of these decisions. As things worsen, we can pray for them with the assurance that God has not let go of them and that when they admit their participation, complicity, or complacency He will hear them and answer their prayers.

And for the rest we know that their chase after happiness will never bring a satisfactory response. There will always be an emptiness that can only be filled by the love of God. As we walk among and speak to them we can do so knowing that God wins and He has an answer to their greatest need. We are always to remember the words of Jesus, “Take heart; I have overcome the world.” Knowing this we can tell them why we believe and why we live according to the truth of His Word.

Knowing and Making Known (John 17:24-26)

“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. O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.” (John 17:24–26, ESV)

Today is a difficult day in this country for Christians. Where historically we’ve been able to stand as one with most others in the nation on a fairly stable moral ground, this last generation has seen that ground erode and lead to great division and contention. Where once there was a moral right and wrong, now the wrong is considered right and codified or adjudicated into law, and those who stand for the true right are chastised and even prosecuted for those stands. The world calls those with a biblical stance on these issues of life narrow minded and hateful—even phobic, and those who take those stands are once again challenged how to respond.

Without the truth of the word of God there would be no verifiable standard or directive regarding right and wrong. And without the word of God there would be no record of who our God is, His love for us, His provision for salvation, and His help in the Spirit. We would be like most of the world relying on that sense within us of what to do.

But even that sense within us is given us by God, and it is that sense that man has chosen to disregard and suppress giving preference to his own selfish desires. Jesus prayed to the Father that we truly would know Him in a world that does not know Him. Jesus came to make the Father known, and in knowing Christ we know that God is real and that He is with us just as the Son in in the Father and the Father is in the Son.

Things are going to get much worse in this country for Christians. Abortion was a horrible evil approved by the highest court in this land. But in the midst of its horror it was for many a silent one that when engaged in was not waived under our noses. But this acceptance and devaluing of life is just a part of the whole picture of saying that the world does not believe in God nor does it hold as valuable that which He created. Simply put, life is not precious to man. We see this in the vast numbers of pre-born children sacrificed to personal preference and the supposed right over one’s own body.

And today the union created by God for man and woman was by the voice of five unelected men cast aside in this country. What is to follow can only be imagined, though in States who have are already legalized same sex marriage it has already begun to show its path. Religious freedom is being squelched in the name of the “greater good of society.” Lawsuits have already been lost because people of faith have made choices according to their faith as laid out in the infallible Word of God. And this is not being helped by those who in the name of faith pick and choose what they will accept and reject in the word of God.

Churches are being challenged in giving guidance to their members on how to wisely stand strong in the face of the potential consequences for doing so. Beyond that Christian schools, hospitals, and charities will be prime targets of attack, likely and eventually followed by churches themselves. The questions of discipling someone in a same sex “marriage” who comes to faith add a whole new challenge to Christian leadership.

Looking at all of these things it would be were easy to feel overwhelmed and not know where to turn. But God is bigger than any circumstance we can face. He is more powerful than any court, and His Word is true when man and his government prove their own inability to develop truth apart from God. Though things are likely to get more difficult, the Bible reminds us that we are not to fear this world because it has been overcome by God.

The United States Supreme Court got it wrong, but prior to the Court being given this issue politicians, corporations, influential groups and many, many Americans had already denied the truth and their own conscience, proving just how true Jesus’ words are that the world does not know God or listen to His voice.

God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. His word is true and it does not change. God loves us and all of us who believe have an incredible opportunity to show the love and peace of God as we walk in both truth and grace knowing Him and continuing to make Him known.

A Body Undivided (John 17:20-23)

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.” (John 17:20-23, ESV)

There has been much in the news in recent days over the church being united in Christ as part of the coverage related to the hate motivated mass murder in a historic black church in Charleston, South Carolina. While there has been a rightful and questioning look at the vestiges of discrimination remaining in this county, there has also been a large amount of coverage of the response of the people affected and the reopening of the church. As this has happened the media has been forced to focus on the love, forgiveness, and faith of the church and the families as well as the broad sweep of support coming from the other churches and religious leaders of the area. Evident in the midst of recovering from a tragedy stemming from hate, the believers in and around this church have shown a peace and oneness that is beyond comprehension for many.

As Jesus was speaking with the Father He asked even those who believed as a result of the words of His immediate disciples that they might be one just as He and the Father are in each other and one. He prayed that they would be in God such that the world might believe that He was sent by the Father. He prayed that their oneness might even become perfected, so that the world may know that the Father sent Him and loved them even as the Father loved the Son. Jesus said in John 13:24-35, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34–35, ESV)

There is not one of us that can pretend to know what all of the outcomes might be of the tragedy in Charleston or any other tragic or difficult situation of life. But what we do know is that God won’t waste it. As the love of Christ is shown from these believers and to these believers a stark contrast is being drawn between the responses in other places where tempers rise to riot and its intensity is constantly broadcast throughout the media outlets. And as the world looks seeing both, the question may likely arise asking what makes one group respond differently than the other?

Jesus said that this difference rests in the perfection of oneness that comes from knowing Christ. In the face of what drives the world apart, believers can stand in peace with the peace of God demonstrating the incredible power of God that rests in their unfailing hope and unity of the Spirit. The hurts run very deep and their loved ones will be deeply mourned, but in mourning they mourn not as the world does without hope, but with the hope that comes from God. And while appropriate attention is drawn to the racial divisions that still exist, believers can demonstrate that in Christ there is a oneness that draws people to Him, proclaiming to all the love they know in Him.

“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”” (Galatians 5:13–14, ESV)

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22–23, ESV) 

Different in Christ (John 17:14-19)

“I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.” (John 17:14-19, ESV)

Either you are or you aren’t. When people don’t know you are different they might assume you are one of them and everything goes pretty smooth, but when they realize that you aren’t like them or don’t believe as they do then what makes you different becomes quite huge. This can be true if you are engaged in truly hideous things or you are engaged in the most upright and godly things. Being different comes with being distinguished, and being distinguished gives others something to point at and judge.

Christians, aren’t immune from this and oftentimes they don’t respond well to those who don’t think or live according to biblical directives. But when we realize that if it weren’t for salvation in Christ and being made a new creation with the Spirit in us, we are also reminded that we really weren’t any different. Everyone has sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. What makes us different is that we’ve known God’s love, been given full and complete forgiveness, and have inherited eternal life while the rest are still in need of it.

But no matter how loving or tactful we are in sharing this incredible news of salvation in Christ, there are going to be those who will reject the message because they have no regard for God or His Son. And there are those who will oppose us simply because we stand with Christ and hold to the Word of God as accurate, applicable, and infallible. When the Bible says that all have sinned and someone holds tightly to something that it calls sinful then those who hold to God’s Word, even without a word, become the opposition and objects of hate.

Sure, some are more visible and vocal targets because of a public stand they’ve taken. But even those who take a quieter stance within their smaller circle find that standing with God has relational impacts. This is true of the family member who may love another family member, but who refuses to endorse or embrace the lifestyle of that family member. It can be difficult and challenging knowing the pressure of bending to make others happy while choosing to lovingly stand with God and His truth.

The public face of this problem is growing every day in our social and business circles as people of faith are attacked because their faith shapes how they do business and what they are willing to do or not do in the course of their business. While choosing to take a stand for truth they become the subjects of public and media ridicule, legal sanctions and judgments, and even physical attacks of various sorts and degrees.

Jesus prayed to the Father saying that He had given His disciples the Father’s word and that the world hated them because of it. He knew the priority of the cause for which He was sent which was to bring salvation to man. Because of that He asked the Father not to abort the plan and remove His disciples, but rather to protect them in the face of evil attacks. Where once they were as everyone else, they had changed and had become believers in Christ, no longer marching to the ways of the world.

Then Jesus prayed, “Sanctify them in truth.” The word sanctify means “set apart for a particular use.” The disciples were called by God and set apart for ministry. Now as Jesus was leaving He prayed that the Father would so set them apart and firmly imbed in them the truth they had heard that they would not be shaken no matter how intense the attack. Jesus was committed to the task for which He was sent (consecrated) knowing that the disciples and all who believed would take up what was left so that the Father’s plan would be brought to its perfect end.

We are called to an important work and every day there will be challenges. In this we are to be constantly mindful that it was God who called us and who appointed us to this task, and it is Him would will keep us to the end. Recognizing that Jesus came in the fullness of truth, we are to be people who hold to and speak truth. But we also read that Jesus came in the fullness of grace. There is not one of us who deserves God’s love or His salvation, but He did this for us because He loves us. As we stand for truth we also are to stand with grace knowing that even then we will be attacked simply because we are not one of them and the evil one does not want to let them go. But God is bigger. We are to trust Him and see what He will do as we are also sent into the world.

The Big Handoff (John 17:11-13)

And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. (John 17:11–13, ESV)

I enjoy watching baseball, especially when a pitcher can shut out the other team. But there are simply times that no matter how good the pitcher is doing he must be pulled from the game. Maybe he is on a pitch count in order to preserve him for his next start, or possibly he has some form of tightness developing that the coach doesn’t want to risk losing him over. What happens during this process is that the coach will come and take the ball from the pitcher, give him a pat on the back for his excellent effort and then put the ball in the glove of the next pitcher when he arrives to the mound. As the retiring pitcher sits down with his lead intact he hopes that the new pitcher will be able to maintain. This is the best case scenario, but there are many more games I’ve seen where it doesn’t work quite this way. Either the pitcher has lost control and he is pulled for another pitcher with better control, or the pitcher has put the game at risk and then it all breaks loose when the incoming pitcher is unable to bail him out. This is how it is with man. Man is not perfect. He cannot control every pitch. He is limited in strength and endurance, and he definitely cannot evade the swing of every batter.

But the Father and the Son are not this way. God the Father sent God the Son into the world to bring salvation to man. He did exactly what He was supposed to do which included taking the ones chosen by the Father as His own and training them in preparation for the time He would leave. He did this exactly as was intended and He did not lose a single one (give up a single run) except the one He was intended to give up who was known from the beginning of time to be the one would betray Him. The time had now come for Him to return to the Father, and the Son handed them back to the Father.

He had kept them as one and Jesus was praying to the Father that He would continue to keep them that way. Jesus was physically present to do this for them, and now it was time for the Father to guard them in His absence. He prayed this in their presence so that they might know exactly what He intended, and that they might even know His joy fulfilled in them.

Twisting up the baseball analogy a bit (as weak as it is), let’s look at Jesus as the starting pitcher. He was sent in from the team’s dugout for a specific number of innings according to the will and under the instruction of the coach. He pitched perfectly throughout His part of the game, and when it was time for Him to return to the dugout, the coach handed the ball off to His relief, caring for them as He did the starter. When Jesus left the game was not over. In many ways it had just begun, and the disciples were the first ones given to take up the work left to them in His absence. And knowing that God is still firmly in control we also know that Jesus is standing right there by His side as even we take our turns in His service.

Of course, the big difference is that the Father and the Son are God and we’re not. They are absolutely perfect powerful and we are totally dependent and fallible. But the amazing thing is that God has chosen us to be His and to be useful for Him to accomplish His perfect will. We may throw a few too many balls and hit a batter now and then, but it is God who keeps us in the game knowing all the time the final score, and according to His perfect Word there will be great rejoicing at the end.

I am His (John 17:6-10)

“I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. (John 17:6-10, ESV)

“God has chosen.” These are incredible words seen over and over again in Scripture. What an amazing thing it is to know that we are chosen by God. In scripture we read words such as chosen, elect, predestined, and foreknew. Despite what some might say about how we come to salvation, it is not something that is man’s idea. God did not offer up His Son and say, “Come if you wish, it’s all up to you.” Though Scripture clearly states that we have to believe to be saved, we clearly read that salvation is a work of the Spirit in the hearts and minds of those chosen by God so that they can see and know and even believe. Being able to believe is an incredible gift we have been given by God.

In passages like this, where He was praying for the eleven (after Judas departure) and even the greater number of believers at that time (according to verse 2), Jesus again speaks of Himself faithfully making the Father known to those the Father had given Him out of the world. Clearly He is not speaking of the whole world here because He said that these were given to Him out of the world—out of all humans, these were given to Him by the Father. They belonged to the Father from the past, they were given to the Son, and they have proven themselves faithful.

Having been faithful in telling them what He had been given to say and repeatedly reminding them that what He said was what He had seen and received from the Father, they now knew everything that had been given to Jesus was from the Father. He had given them the words given to Him by the Father, and they now have surely come to know the truth that He indeed did come from the Father. They earnestly believed that He did come from the Father.

It was these believers, these faithful ones, these ones who knew the truth that Jesus was praying for. The world rejected Him and He was not praying for the world. He was praying for those that were given to Him by the Father. These are the ones God chose. They belong to God—both Father and Son, and by being faithful to show them the Father Jesus in turn is glorified in them knowing both the Father and the Son.

I am not a lucky accident. I am so thankful that God has chosen me, shown Himself to me, and softened my heart and opened my eyes so that I can be counted among those that belong to God, both Father and Son and am sealed by His Spirit. I am so thankful as well to know that God having begun this good work in me is also faithful to complete it in Christ such that one day I will step out of this body and into His presence knowing in the meantime that I am honored to serve Him. If you have trusted Christ for your salvation you are no accident either, and if you have not won’t you stop, thank God for prompting you to look to Him, and ask for the salvation freely given in His Son. You aren’t a lucky accident either.

But God

I've had a blog for several years, but the name of it has proven a challenge to remember. I recently purchased a google domain name and had a wonderful chat session tonight to actually get it working. Now there is an easier name to remember which directs to my blog. 

Robin and I each had Proverbs 3:5-6 as improtant life verses before we met, and when we married it became our life verses together through all of the things we have encountered together. When I have been tempted to say "but, God" in the face of things that seemed too big or daunting, I am reminded by Proverbs 3:5-6 (and other verses such as 1 Corinthians 10:13) that my "but, God I can't" becomes "But God, He can!"

www.butgod356.com

Glorified Again (John 17:1-5)

"(1) When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, (2) since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. (3) And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. (4) I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. (5) And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. (John 17:1-5)

The time had come for the world to truly know who Jesus really was. Many had believed in Him as He traveled, spoke, and worked wonders, including His disciples who we was with constantly during the years of His recorded ministry. But even His disciples did not clearly see what laid ahead for Jesus and them. Only God knew. As such the Son lifted up His eyes to heaven and spoke to the One who truly understood with Him. Jesus’ time had truly come. The reason for Him becoming man was finally being realized, and shortly He would be nailed to a cross, crucified, and buried. This is the occasion that would bring rejoicing among His enemies. But it did not have in mind what was to follow next. Jesus would rise from the dead on the third day just as the Scriptures had said. For the first time in the history of man would someone lay down His life for others and take it back up again himself. And in taking it back up He would give life to all who believed.

It was this very act that not only brought great pleasure to the Father in the obedience of the Son and His return to the Father’s right side, but it was also this act that would cause countless men, women, and children to turn to God through Christ believing themselves and also receiving life. Jesus Christ was not a man to be pitied as He hung on a cross, but He is the living God who brings salvation to man. And as we read in Scripture there will be a day yet realized in the future where every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He indeed is Lord.

With His resurrection the nail scarred body of Christ would become glorified for all time, and because of what He did to gain those scars He rightfully draws the worship of numbers only known to God. Jesus is back where He belongs glorified and worshipped alongside the Father, receiving all of those who the Father had called since before the foundation of the earth, where Jesus was eternally even then.

What an amazing thing to realize that our eternal God as Father, Son, and Spirit sent the Son by the will of the Father to step out of eternity in the form of man for such a small period of time so that He might bring into eternity all who believe.

"(11) Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, (12) saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” (13) And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” (14) And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.” (Revelation 5:11–14, ESV) 

Mission Accomplished (John 17)

Rather than jumping right into John 17 and working through it a few verses at a time, take some time and consider this final prayer of Jesus before His disciples on the night in which He was betrayed. It is an incredible statement of His faithfulness to accomplish the mission for which He came and it reflected and absolute trust in the Father to accept and continue with those that the Father had entrusted to Him.

"(1) When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, (2) since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. (3) And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. (4) I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. (5) And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

(6) “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. (7) Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. (8) For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. (9) I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. (10) All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. (11) And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. (12) While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. (13) But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. (14) I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. (15) I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. (16) They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. (17) Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. (18) As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. (19) And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.

(20) “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, (21) that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. (22) The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, (23) I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. (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. (25) O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. (26) I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”” (John 17:23–26, ESV)

I Am Not Alone (John 16:32-33)

“Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. 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 16:32–33, ESV)

The next words Jesus was to say were spoken directly to the Father in prayer. But before turning from them and to the Father Jesus told His disciples that this was it. It was time for the things He had been telling them about to finally happen. In the hours that followed He would be arrested and His disciples would be scattered. None of them would be with Him anymore. Whether this separation was volitional or not really is not the point that Jesus was making here. He went on to say that even when they left Him that He would not be alone because the Father was with Him.

What an amazing level of confidence the Son had in the Father that no matter what happened with the circumstances of His life or the presence of His friends that the Father was there with Him. Sure, we could say that He had this confidence because He was God, He came from God, and He knew that He was returning to God. As eternal God He knew the oneness that He had with the Father which left Him unshakably assured of His presence. But we also know that Jesus was fully man, and as fully man He placed His full confidence in the presence and the power of the Father. He willingly became man for us, and as man He fully could relate Himself to us and with us and us with Him.

As I think of these words I am encouraged in life to know that Jesus who said these words has promised that He also would always be with us, that we would abide in Him and His Spirit in us. We would never be alone even though we may not see and touch Him physically. In this there is a great peace that I can have and that we all can have knowing that God is with us all of the time. When sickness seems to have a tight hold on us, God is with us knowing every day of our lives before there was ever one of them. When persecution or life circumstances might seem to be dark and oppressive, God who is light is fully present with us and enclosing us before and behind. When our hearts are deeply troubled and we have no one else apparent to turn to, God has scrutinized our steps and our lying down and He knows every word on our tongue before even one of them is formed. And when we have no idea of our next steps we know that our ever present God has promised to direct them as we step forward in trust.

Jesus told His disciples that He told them the things He did so that in Him they might have peace. Though they might have even though they failed Him and fled in the face of His greatest need, He desired them to know that God was there. Though the plans they had dreamed of seemed to be crashing down in front of their very lives, God’s plan was going to be perfectly fulfilled in the midst of the world’s apparent triumph and rejoicing. When the world thinks that it has one in putting down the Christ, Jesus knew without any doubt that His death only led to His resurrection and the complete fulfillment of what He was sent to accomplish. Truly, truly in the face of the world’s persecution of the man named Jesus, the Christ would bring salvation to all who believe. Though the world thinks that it has the upper hand, Jesus would have overcome the world.

I know for me personally when I struggle with the unknown, with things that don’t seem to make sense or go the way I think they should, or when God might seem slow to answer from my side of things that my place or rest and peace is found in remembering who He is and that He has promised to never leave me. I also know when my faith waivers and I tremble and falter, that God is the strong tower in whom I can find shelter. I know without a doubt that God who began a good work in me is faithful to complete it.

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.” (Proverbs 18:10, ESV)

Because of the righteousness of Jesus being imputed (credited) to me I am made righteous, and because I have been made righteous in Christ I have the assurance that He truly is my strong tower.

“Do You Now Believe?” (John 16:25-31)

““I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.” His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.” Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe?” (John 16:25–31, ESV)

More literally Jesus told His disciples that up to this point He had been speaking to them in more figurative language or that language used to describe something that they could not or were not truly ready to see or understand on its own. Jesus had been explaining things to them in terms they could understand so that when what was soon to happen happened that they would understand. Throughout John, Jesus had made many claims concerning Himself and His relationship with the Father. Some of them were made in the third person while others were made as matters of comparison or imagery such as was seen in many of His “truly, truly” statements.

But now it was time to tell it to them straight in terms they would get. Jesus told them that the hour was coming when there would be no need to be figurative because the actual would have happened. In that day they will have direct access to God the Father because of their love for the Son and their belief that He truly was from God and that He had returned. He told them that His going away meant that He was leaving this world and returning to the Father. It was a very simple and straightforward statement, and in response His disciples said that they understood clearly what He had to say. They did not have to read between the lines. They heard that He was leaving this world and He was going to the Father. Then they added that they believed that He truly did know all things and that He was beyond question truthful.

In the face of all of the accusations and challenges from the religious leaders, Jesus disciples acknowledged that Him being from the Father brought with Him the knowledge of the Father. He could indeed be trusted. As He had told His disciples earlier that He spoke in parables because of the unbelievers, not He was speaking to them plainly because of their belief. They said that they finally got it, and in getting it they knew that He knew without any doubt who He was. They said that they knew as well that Jesus indeed was from God.

Responding to their statement of affirmation, Jesus responded, “Do you now believe?”

This is the most important question we can ever answer. In being able to answer it “yes” we are moved from judgment to full and complete forgiveness. We are moved from being spiritually darkened to being made spiritually alive with the Spirit of God dwelling and working in us. We move from a future without hope to the great and sure hope of one day being in the presence of God forever. But this is not just a question that we answer once for salvation, it is also one that we answer daily as we walk with God. Do we believe Him to be faithful? Are we trusting Him with every aspect of our lives, the lives of our loved ones, our jobs, or anything else that may weight heavy on us.

The Bible tells us that we are saved by faith. It also tells us to walk daily in that same manner.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:8–10, NASB95)

“Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord— for we walk by faith, not by sight— we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:6–9, NASB95)

Moved by Prayer (John 16:23-24)

“In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” (John 16:23–24, ESV)

Here Jesus continues speaking directly to His disciples. They had been very close. All that they did in ministry was at His instruction and all that they knew of the Father’s will for them was given to them by Him. If they needed anything they could and did take it to Him. At the same time Jesus told them that His being sent was according to the will of the Father, and that He and the Father were so united in oneness that if they had seen Him they had seen the Father.

At that moment He was preparing them for His leaving and His return to the Father. They would no longer be able to approach Him physically as they had become so accustomed. But this did not mean that they would be cut off. Far from it, just as before when Jesus had been speaking to them from the Father, after He left they would approach the Father just as they would Him and the Father would hear their prayers and answer just as Jesus would have in their presence.

For Jesus’ disciples there was a dramatic change coming. Their requests would soon be made directly to the Father through their relationship with the Son. It would be as if Jesus were asking the Father on their behalf, and the Father would answer them just as Jesus did in their presence. By assuring them of this, Jesus affirmed again that they surely would not be left alone. And, in addition to the Father answering their requests, they also would have the Holy Spirit to guide them in all the truth. Between the direction of the Spirit and the response of the Father the disciples truly would know God’s continued presence, hand, and direction in their lives and the ministry which they were left to accomplish—those greater works that Jesus spoke of in John 14:12 and which were followed with, “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.” (John 14:13–14, ESV)

Rather than sensing loneliness and walking in a cloud of uncertainty, Jesus assured His disciples that they would continue to know God’s presence and faithfulness to them such that they would know the full joy that came from walking with Him and watching Him work.

As for who the promise of answered prayer applies, the words of Jesus to His disciples in these instances are not the entirety of what Scripture has to say. John himself wrote in 1 John 5:13-15, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life. And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.” (1 John 5:13–15, ESV) John took the instruction He had received from Christ, and through the direction of the Holy Spirit assured us that God indeed does answer prayer. He answers prayer for all who believe in the name of the Son of God having received eternal life. We can go to God with confidence knowing that He hears us, and more than that we can do so with the assurance of knowing that He will answer. John tells us that God grants prayer requests—those that are according to His will, His plan, His direction for our lives, and those that we pray for.

Looking back to Jesus’ personal interaction with His disciples we know that Jesus did not give them everything they asked for. There were some things that His disciples desired that did not line up with what God intended (e.g., who would be first in the kingdom or who might sit on His right or left). Looking at these promises of answered prayer there is inherent in them our being in accord with and submitted to the will of the Father. Just as Jesus told His disciples that it was really up to the Father to determine who might sit on His right or His left (Mark 10:40), so there may be things that we pray that really are not in line with God’s will and as such may not be granted. Even the apostle Paul asked several times that a thorn be removed from Him, but God did not do so. Paul wrote of this, “Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:8–10, ESV)

When I bring things to God in prayer it really is not a matter of me changing God’s mind or prompting Him to move in a certain way, but really more of me speaking these things to Him and then submitting myself to align with His perfect will and what He desires to accomplish. God hears every single prayer. He knows every word on my tongue before even one of them is formed (Psalm 139:4), and the reality of things is that I don’t. As I spend time before Him I have the incredible opportunity to hear His voice, to allow His Spirit to conform my heart, to direct my mind, and then watch Him work. My joy is in knowing that God will work to accomplish His perfect will. When I go to prayer it is a valuable time for me to get to know Him better and to wait on Him to do what He knows best. There is great joy in knowing that I don’t have to figure it all out. I don’t have to have all of the answers or even ask it the right way. There is great freedom in knowing that I don’t have to get my own understanding right before pleading my case before Him. There is joy in knowing that I can come to Him with the assurance that He indeed will direct my steps.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5–6, NASB95)

Prayer is not about moving God, but knowing that in spending time with Him that He moves me.

Joy from Anguish (John 16:18-22)

“So they were saying, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.” Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’? Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.” (John 16:18–22, ESV)

It is no wonder that my mind was drawn to more than one way that Jesus’ words in verses 16 and 17 would be true. As we read on today we see that His disciples were unclear concerning this as well, questioning and saying to themselves in verse 18, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.” The difference is that they had not been there yet and did not grasp what was ahead. As for us we have seen in Scripture what Jesus was speaking about unfold and in that we can also see multiple facets to it.

Of course, Jesus was not going to miss the opportunity to answer their question. He had set the table for the question, and now that they were prepared to take their first bite He fed them the answer they truly need to have. Verse 19 records that He knew what they wanted to ask, and He specifically asked them if this indeed was what they wanted to ask. Then in verse 20 He began to tell them what they needed to hear in order to answer their questions. But as He frequently did He did not get straight to the answer, but started with a picture pointing to or preparing the way for the answer.

Beginning to respond He made the last of His “Truly, truly” statements recorded for us by John that side of His death, burial, and resurrection. He told them that their hearts were going to be truly broken, that they were going weep and lament. They were going to be buried in sorrow, and all of this while the world around them was rejoicing.

This is not quite how I would like to hear things. I don’t know of anyone who wants to be told that something was going to get worse before it gets better. I can’t fathom anyone rejoicing over being told that something was going to happen that was so troubling that they would weep and mourn over it. Imagine being told that while the world parties that you will be left in sorrow and experience great heartbreak. This is contrary to all that we hope for. But Jesus told them “Truly, truly” this was going to happen.

But He did not leave them there. He began to explain the light on the other side by bringing them to something they knew and understood. He compared what they were going to experience with child birth. We recently found out that our fifth grandchild is on his/her way. I even saw an ultrasound picture which we were told showed this precious little baby, who is just over an inch long, waving in the womb. What incredible joy there is in life. Yet anyone who has been through it or been there for it knows that with the birth of children comes a season of intense pain. It is this picture that Jesus uses in our passage for today to illustrate what was immediately ahead for His disciples. He spoke of the pain and He also spoke of the resultant joy.

In Genesis 3:16 God told Eve, “To the woman he said, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.”” (Genesis 3:16, ESV) After Adam and Eve had eaten from the tree which was forbidden and sinned against God they faced God to face the consequence of their sin. When they ate everything changed, and as God pronounced the consequence of these actions He said that what was intended to bring about new life and great joy now had to be preceded by a season of great or multiplied pain. But even in the pain God did not remove the joy.

Life would still come, and in that there would be great joy as the mother holds her newborn child. The amazing thing about the joy is that if it weren’t there on the other side I imagine that man would have died off a long time ago. But because of man’s rebellion the pain must come before the joy. Similarly, Jesus told His disciples that the sorrow they were about to endure would indeed melt away in that same way. Knowing the horrific things that lie ahead and the great pain that they would endure, He let them know that He would see them again and that their hearts would rejoice in such a way that no one would be able to take that joy from them.

Life can be hard. Evil can even seem to prevail, and the world might have its season of great rejoicing in having its own way. Christians may (have been and are) be put down, stepped upon, legislated against, fired or not hired in the first place, and lose public favor. They would even be put in jail and even put to death as we see even today, while others are rejoicing in their “liberty” and demanding their acceptance and approval. But Jesus says this is not the end. He has already prevailed at the cross and through His resurrection. In this we are to have great hope and know His joy. 

We Will See Him (John 16:16-17)

June 5, 2015

""A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.” So some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’; and, ‘because I am going to the Father’?”” (John 16:16–17, ESV)

Now you see me, now you don't. Soon you won’t, but then you will. I can try to imagine the confusion that Jesus disciples must have felt as He told them that in a little while that they wouldn’t see Him, but in a little while longer they would. Jesus had been preparing them for His leaving, and on this last night with them He was focusing on its immediacy and preparing them for their response. He had told them that He had to die. He had told them that He would rise again. He had told them that after that He would then leave to return to the Father. And, He told them that when He left that the Father would send the Spirit to continue in them what had been begun. When the Spirit was to come they would even do greater things He said.

Before going on to the next verses and having what He meant clarified, I enjoyed a moment of being impressed that these words could have easily been focused on either His death, burial, and resurrection or His ascension and their eventual reunion in His presence. In the immediate context Jesus was going to be crucified on the next day. That very night He was to be arrested, leading to hasty trials, rejection, beatings, and the sentence of death which was quickly carried out. He was taken down from the cross and His dead body was again hastily placed in a tomb so as to not violate the Sabbath rules. At that time it would be apparent to all that Jesus was dead. He was no longer there with them. They could not see Him, and this part of His words was clearly fulfilled. Then the most amazing thing and the foundation proving Him to truly be who He said He is was that on the third day He took His life back up again. It was then that He again appeared to His disciples and spent time with them over the next forty days. According to the words of verses 16 and 17 this truly was a season of in a little while you won’t see me, and then in a little while you will.

But there is this other sense that leads to their more permanent reunion—their eternal reunion. In Acts chapter 1 we read of Jesus’ ascension as He returned to the Father. This marked His last time that He was visible to those who believed this side of the grave, and it is in the presence of the Father that the Son remains today. It is in His presence that all of His disciples have now entered with their passing from physical life into eternity. For them there was a time of enduring great hardship, persecution, and even death until that time came to pass, and I imagine for them that this time might have seemed extremely long at times. But in the midst of all of this they were privileged to see God work in and through them by the power of the Spirit to accomplish the beginning of Christ’s church through the salvation of men from all nations. What seemed long to them, changed at the moment of their passing into what the apostle Paul called momentary light affliction in the face of eternity. For the disciples it was truly a little while that they did not see Him, and then they did and STILL DO!

For all who have believed since and who have now passed through death, they have also seen their hope fulfilled as God’s gift of salvation has led them into His presence. And for those of us who believe today, having never met Jesus as the man, we live with the certain assurance that He did come. He was crucified and buried, and He did rise again on the third day just as the Scriptures had foretold. Because of this, we also live with that promise that in a little while we will—we will see Him.

More to Come (John 16:12-15)

“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.” (John 16:12–15, ESV)

“I’ll explain it to you later, but right now we need to deal with something more urgent.” It is so easy in our conversations with others to get ahead of where we should be and lose sight of what it most important at the moment. Jesus knew that this was not the time to tell His disciples all that He had to say or all that was to happen to them or through them in the days and years to come. He knew that there would be a time for this to be shared and He knew who would share it accurately. If He told them then and there all that He had for them it would be way too much, so much that they could not bear it. As a result He metered out to them just what He needed to in order to assure them that the Father had not lost control, that Jesus had not failed, and that the Spirit would indeed come to them so that they might continue in what they were called to do.

This was not the time for all of the “what about” questions or panic. Jesus was intent on steeling them for His leaving and building hope in them for the coming of the Spirit. Having told them that He was not finished and that there was still things to say, Jesus assured His disciples that when the Spirit came the Spirit would come as truth just as Jesus had. Just as we read in John 1:14 and 17 that the Word (Jesus) became flesh and was full of grace and truth, so also will be the Spirit when He comes. There is no diminishing of truth with the Spirit, for the Spirit is fully God speaking with full and accurate authority. Jesus did not speak for Himself, but spoke what He had heard from the Father. Similarly the Spirit would (and does) not speak for Himself, but speaks what He has heard also.

Included in the things spoken was even to be words about the things that are to come. As Scripture has fully be given to us we see that the Word of God does indeed contain much that has already happened, but also that to for which we are still waiting to see completed. For us who are in Christ it includes our entrance into the presence of God. It also includes what Scripture declares concerning the last days. It speaks about how God works in and through believers, and as it was unfolded it even includes how God sent the gospel to the whole world (and not just the Jews). Peter said that there was no prophecy that was on man’s invention, but men who were moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God (2 Peter 1:21), and this is what the Spirit did for Jesus’ disciples who were eyewitnesses to all that happened and who Jesus had just told them would hear more later.

The Father had given everything into the hands of the Son, and the Spirit took what was His and declared it to them who recorded it for us. Now we have that message to share in the power of the spirit who works to convict/convince them of its truth. Paul wrote of this process in Romans chapter 10. “For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:13–17, ESV)