Category: John

Read John 16:16-33

Details, details, details. How much is a “little while?” The disciples were stuck on the details. I probably would have been, too! What did Jesus mean anyway when he said he would be gone and then be back again? Where was he going?

What happens when we don’t understand something? We get frustrated. We ask questions. We seek to be free from confusion. Jesus sensed the disciples were a bit anxious about the whole message he was now giving them. I still don’t think they understood how their grief could be changed to joy.

Continue reading “John 16:16-33 – Overcome”

Read John 16:5-15

How many times did you read today’s passage? I still feel like I need to read it again. If we’re a little blown away, imagine the disciples. Jesus didn’t use a parable here to help them understand. I’m guessing what they heard was  Jesus was going away and somebody else was coming to care for them. They had no idea where Jesus was going. This “advocate” was also mysterious.

From the sounds of it, it has been the Holy Spirit (advocate) alive within Jesus. Jesus says he has to leave so that the advocate can return. The advocate is also going to act like a prosecuting attorney to reveal the sinfulness of the world. The people will be convicted at last of their evil deeds. The advocate will help restore a right relationship with God, thus righteousness will prevail. Continue reading “John 16:5-15 – The Holy Spirit Will Come”

Read John 15:18-16:4

What powerful words Jesus is sharing with his disciples. He is not sugar coating this at all. They can consider themselves warned. The world will not be kind to them.  People will not listen. They can expect persecution. This message is not just for those closest to him that day. It is for us, too. The world is still a dangerous place, especially for followers of Jesus.

Is it my imagination, or do other world religions get a “bye” when they want to do something or proclaim some message? But, when we, Christians, try to do something or profess our faith publically, we are ridiculed, persecuted, or worse. Times haven’t changed much. Continue reading “John 15:18-16:4 – You Have Been Warned”

Read John 15:9-17

What is love? I feel like love has really taken a hit lately. People are so off-hand with their relationship to love. We “love” our coffee or tea, we ‘love” sunshine, we “love” to sleep in. Fill in the blank. I’m sure you’ve said something in the last 24 hours about something you “love.” It goes without saying that we love our children, spouse, and friends. But love is so much more than this. Love is more than really liking something a lot, isn’t it? Continue reading “John 15:9-17 – Love, Love, Love”

Read John 15:1-8

Jesus is giving us yet another way to think of him. As we build our relationship with Jesus on our faith journey, think of him as the vine. Have you ever pruned a bush or vine? You’ve then seen how the branches cut from the living tree soon wither and dry up. The life of the bush has been cut off from them and they are no longer alive. The cut branches become trash with no more life inside.

As you picture that, you can see why it is so important for us to stay connected to Jesus. We don’t want to wither away and die without him. We don’t want to be those branches that are cut off intentionally by the gardener (God) for not producing fruit. Take a moment to think about the fruit you are producing. That is, how are you helping promote God’s kingdom? Continue reading “John 15:1-8 – True Vine”