John 15-9.29.22
Scripture
John 15:27
And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.
Observation - What does it say?
Jesus is having his last conversation with his disciples before he will be arrested and taken from them. In this conversation he goes back and forth between comforting and teaching them. He says in these couple verses that he will send the Holy Spirit from the Father to them and the Holy Spirit will testify about Jesus. And, Jesus says to his disciples that they must testify as well.
Understanding - What does it mean?
Jesus expects those who have been with him to share about him with others.
2 Corinthians 5:18-20: 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.
The apostle Paul pointed out to the Corinthian Christians that after God reconciled us to himself, God gave us this message of reconciliation. He says we are Christ’s ambassadors, not I am Christ's ambassador. Testifying about Christ is not the obligation of a select few super-Christians, but of every believer. And we're never sharing alone. We have the Holy Spirit who we're partnering with!
The majority of our neighborhoods, schools, workplaces and families are filled with people who don’t know Christ. And as Christians, we must testify by simply sharing the good news of salvation with them and how we have experienced him in our lives. Souls are on the line!
Jesus said, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” The primary role for every Christian is a fisherman. Jesus' desire is to make us all into fishermen. The primary purpose for which we are on this earth is to catch lost souls and bring them into the kingdom. Are we living on purpose?
Life Application
Testify!
Not only is it an amazing privilege to be used by God to save others, but it is a great responsibility.
God, please forgive us for neglecting our responsibility to share about you with others. And bless us to be a soul winning church! Fill us with courage and grant us opportunities to share with others about you today and this weekend. And please prepare the hearts of those we will share with. Fill them with a hunger for you and an openness to the gospel. Amen.
- Levi Thompson
John 14-9.28.22
Scripture
John 14: 1-4; 25-27; 30
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4You know the way to the place where I am going.”……25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid….30 I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me…”
Observation-What does it say?
Jesus is comforting His disciples because He knows His time on earth is coming to a close. BUT, He encourages them with letting them know that (1) He is preparing a place for them. (2) He will come back for them and will leave them His Holy Spirit to help them continue on with their mission here on earth. (3) Jesus also tells them that His peace will be with them and that the enemy (“prince of this world”) has no hold over Him.
Understanding-What does it mean?
Jesus departing from this world was NOT the end of the story.
Jesus made clear to His disciples that His departure (in physical form) should not make them sad. He was leaving them with His hope, peace, Holy Spirit and He would be returning!
Life Application
Jesus is waiting expectantly for us and has given us everything we need to be His witnesses in this world until He returns!
It really hit me as I read this passage again that the Lord is preparing a place for us. The parallel for me is pregnancy. There is a stage called the “nesting” stage, usually in the 3rd trimester, when moms start really prepping the nursery and cleaning/organizing the house because she is EXPECTANT for her new baby’s arrival. For me, I actually wrote a song that I was looking forward to sing to my child when she was born.
When we are EXPECTING something or someone, that means we prepare like it’s going to happen. Just imagine…Jesus is expecting us and preparing a place for us. Not only that, but He has left us a Helper and Counselor to give us peace, courage and everything we need to continue on until He returns.
As we wait on Jesus, we must encourage each other that He is coming back for us and that this world and the prince of this world (the devil) should not have a hold on us, because He has no hold over Jesus! Thank you Lord for not leaving us as orphans, but for continuing to give us hope in Your faithful and unfailing love for us. Amen.
Hebrews 10:23-25- 23Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. 26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.”
-Michelle Gaddi
John 13-9.27.22
Scripture
John 13:8-10
“No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.”
Observation
Even though we’re clean, we need to wash our feet!
Understanding
Peter was uncomfortable that Jesus, his Lord, would try to wash his feet. That task was assigned to the lowliest servants and slaves! Jesus told him that unless he washed Peter, Peter could not have relationship with him. Then he explains that those who have already bathed only need to wash their feet because the rest of their body is clean.
Our sins are washed away and forgiven when we come into relationship with Jesus – we are a new creation in Christ. But we keep walking in the world and our feet get dirty.
“But why is it so important that we “keep our feet clean”? Because if we are defiled, we cannot have communion with our Lord. When God “bathes us all over” in salvation, He brings about our union with Christ, and that is a settled relationship that cannot change. If we permit unconfessed sin in our lives, we hinder our walk with the Lord, and that is when we need to have our feet washed.” (Warren Wiersbe BE Bible Study Series)
Life Application
When I was a little girl, I went to church with my grandma for a little while and learned about Jesus and salvation. Not fully understanding, I would pray the salvation prayer every night before I went to sleep. I was saved the first time I asked. But that isn’t the ending. Every day I need to examine my heart and see where I have sinned against God and ask His forgiveness. This is necessary to have fellowship and grow in my walk with Him.
I John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
I John 2:1-2 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
-Debbie Dunn