That you may believe
The Way to Heaven
The Way to Heaven – John’s Gospel chapter 14 verses 5 to 11 The Objection Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?’ John 14:5 “How can we know the way?” Many nominal Christians believe all religions, held sincerely, lead to heaven. The Claim Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. John 14:6 The Way: Jesus says ‘no, only one way leads to heaven.’…
The Promise of Heaven
The Promise of Heaven – John’s Gospel chapter 14 verses 1 to 4 Sad and troubled disciples: one was a betrayer, all the rest would abandon Him, and He was leaving. Faith began to waver. Embarrassment, confusion, sadness. The Command: Trust Me ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. John 14:1 Not a distant command. He was weighed down himself. But He cares for them. You can trust me because of who…
Love One Another
Love One Another – John’s Gospel chapter 13, verses 31-38 (not chapter 10 as shown in the few video slides – apologies for the mistake) Jesus had only a few hours to live. He had stooped to serve his friends, and soon he would stoop to die on our behalf. The Glory of the Cross When he [Judas] was gone, Jesus said, ‘Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in…
Born From Above
Born From Above – John’s Gospel chapter 2 verse 23 to chapter 3 verse 15 Pharisees as a group were critical of Jesus, became his enemies and later wanted to kill him. Nicodemus, a Pharisee, was more sympathetic, and comes to find out more. Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come…
Don’t Be A Judas!
Don’t Be A Judas! – John’s Gospel, chapter 13, verses 18 to 30 History is full of betrayals, but don’t you be a Judas! Judas’ betrayal revealed ‘I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfil this passage of Scripture: “He who shared my bread has turned against me.” 19 ‘I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who…
The Servant King
The Servant King – John’s Gospel chapter 13, verses 2 to 17 A staggering humility 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;7 rather, he…
Loved to the End
Loved to the End What does Jesus think about me? Here is the answer: John 13:1. It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. John 13:1 Without God there is no love. Loved eternally: “his own”. Loved completely: “to the end”. God is love: 1 John 4:8 “his…
The Day the Light Went Out
The Day the Light Went Out – John’s gospel chapter 12, verses 36 and 44 to 50 The day the light went out. No, not Y2K! Jesus’ life marked more by rejection more than by belief. Jesus, the God-Revealer Then Jesus cried out, ‘Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. 45 The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. John 12:44-45 To believe in God is…
Jesus, the Glory and the Shame
Jesus, the Glory and the Shame Glory and shame The hour of Jesus’ glorification Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. ‘Sir,’ they said, ‘we would like to see Jesus.’ 22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus. 23 Jesus replied, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly I…
The King’s Triumphal Entry
The King’s Triumphal Entry – John’s Gospel chapter 12 verses 9 to 19 A curious crowd & plotting priests Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11 for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him. John…
Extravagant Love
Extravagant Love – John’s Gospel chapter 12, verses 1 to 8 The crazy things we do for those we love. A feast of celebration Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honour. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. John 12:1-2 Simon (who had been leper) and Lazarus (who had been dead) were there –…
Lazarus Raised, Jesus Rejected
Lazarus Raised, Jesus Rejected – John’s Gospel chapter 11 verses 45 to 57 Seeing is not always believing Miracles confirm the truth, but don’t always convert people (even raising a man 4 days dead). Some believed in Jesus, that He is God’s Son, the Messiah, but others rejected him. Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them…