John 19

Do you think sin, our own and that of the worst sinners, deserves a punishment as intense as crucifixion?

After Pilate’s encounter and him not wanting any part of the event.  What was going through his mind especially after Jesus telling him, “You would have no authority over me at all, if it hasn’t been given you from above.”

Jesus was forced to wear warped symbols of royalty designed to humiliate him—a purple robe and a twisted crown of thorns. Though he truly was the king of the Jews, the people abused him verbally and physically. And yet, he did not reply to their mocking. He did not retaliate.

He willingly suffered and died as our substitute before God the Father so we could have the opportunity for an eternity with HIM!

John 18

After dinner, Jesus and his disciples went to an orchard. From other gospel accounts, we know this was the Garden of Gethsemane. There, he was betrayed by Judas. Read John 18:1–11.

Jesus knew Judas’s heart was set against him, and he still walked into Judas’s trap in obedience to the Father. What does Jesus’s willingness to endure betrayal reveal about his character? About his love for you?

Jesus willingly accepted betrayal, arrest, and his future execution in order to fulfill the Father’s purposes for him. When you are faced with a difficult decision, how does the potential for difficulty influence your decisions? What do you think it looks like for us to trust God in our difficult circumstances?

When the soldiers recognized who they had come to arrest, they fell to the ground in shock. Dr. Evans noted that their amazement is the natural reaction to meeting Jesus. When we encounter God, we cannot help but fall to our knees. When you first met Jesus, what was your response?

Peter lashed out, striking a servant of the high priest. His fear and aggression revealed how little he understood Jesus’s mission. Peter was intent on keeping Jesus safe, but Jesus was determined to save the world through his death. In what ways is Peter’s reaction understandable? What can we do to remind ourselves to trust God when we want to act like Peter—impulsively with more passion than thought?

John 17:1-26

A chapter all recording a prayer from Jesus to His Father.  This prayer can be broken into three parts.

1 – He prays for Himself (vs. 1-5)

2 – He prays for His Disciples (vs. 6-19)

3 – And here is the part that I get excited about!  Did you know that Jesus, before He went to the cross, PRAYED FOR YOU! (vs. 20-26)

That’s right…Jesus prayed… “²⁰ “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who ^[j]will believe in Me through their word; ²¹ that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. ²² And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: ²³ I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.” (NKJV)

Through out this prayer Jesus prays for unity among believers so that God the Father can be glorified.  The only way for glory to happen is when we come together and stand against Satan and things that come up against us.  We have to be an example so other want to come to that knowledge of Jesus and be able to spend an eternity with Him.

We all know that oil and water don’t mix.  When you put them together, you can shake it, mix it, stir it all you want but the two parts will eventually separate. 

BUT ADD AN EGG (An how appropriate that we have Easter eggs)

At the cross (Easter celebration) Jesus died and rose again for us to be able to have a way to have that Unity with our Heavenly Father.  We can emulsify into that relationship and oil and water mix together.

Are we showing unity and being a “good egg” to help the oil and water mix around us to God gets the glory and we show other what He is all about?

John 15:18 – 16:33

Why is it better that Jesus left and the Spirit came?

Jesus was in human form and could only be at one place at one time.  Can you imagine if that was still the case today?  Talk about a traffic jam of people trying to be in His presents and get guidance.

The Holy Spirit came once Jesus returned to heaven to prepare a place for us.  And we have the benefit of the Holy Spirit being everywhere with every believer all at one time.  

The Holy Spirit has several tasks in the life of a believer. First, he convicts the world of sin (16:8–9). Without believing in Jesus, we cannot be forgiven and redeemed.*

The Spirit of truth also convicts us of righteousness (16:10). He knows what is right and what is wrong; what is God’s will and what is not.*

Finally, the Spirit convicts the world about judgment (16:8, 11). Jesus declared that devil has already been judged. His end is determined. He will lose. All the conflict we endure until then reflect his ineffectual efforts to change our secured destiny with Jesus.*

I don’t know about you but I am so glad that as a believer I have the Holy Spirit with me at all times.  

What about you?  Do you know that you have the Holy Spirit?

If not contact us so we can explain to you how you can accept the FREE gift of salvation and receive all the benefits that come with it.

*Notes from The Gospel of John:Part 2 by Tony Evans