Like A Child

It's the last really long night for Jesus.Thinking he's captured Him, evil starts bearing down on our Lord. But now Jesus starts to shine. John 18:12-27

The High Priest is drilling in accusations and questions. And as the night wears on Jesus simply replies that all His teachings were in the open. Why don't they ask those who heard them? 

Suddenly one huffy officer slaps our Lord for speaking straight to the High Priest. Jesus' answer just melts me with it's childlike sincerity and innocence: "If I have spoken wrongly, testify of the wrong; but if rightly, why do you strike Me?"

Jesus said we are to become "innocents as doves". (Matthew 10:16)  Even with all evil attacking Him, His humility and trust never once reared up in ugly defense. His childlike trust in His Abba is so beautiful.

Lord make us more and more beautiful as we take your hand and trust in you as Abba.

One Strong Man

Jesus is no pushover. His strength is clear in every encounter. Those coming for Him in the garden were depending on a betrayer to breach any defense. (John 18:1-11). Judas is mentioned three times in these verses as that betrayer.

The attackers were also depending on the cover of night. Being quite fearful, they had grabbed lanterns and torches and weapons for more security.

But then Jesus approached them and asked, "Whom do you seek?" Such courage was only met with an evasive "Jesus, the Nazarene" instead of "You". 

However the most wonderful proof of our Lord's power and strength is seen as He replies "I am He."  John records that they (the attackers) "drew back and fell to the ground." What a humbling scene of confusion and fear! Nothing and no one can stand before our Lord and Savior unless He allows it.

I love having a Friend, Savior, big Brother, Bridegroom, and Lover this strong. I love having this Risen Christ with me always. Matthew 28:20

Thank you Lord for the mighty gift of Your Presence.

The Source of Joy

So Jesus says I'm ready: "Father, it's time. Display the bright splendor of your Son so the Son in turn may show your bright splendor." (The Message) He's speaking His last words and final prayer for His brothers in faith. The words are deep and rich in love. (John 17:1-17)

But then we hear Him praying these words so that they might have His joy: 'I'm saying these things in the world's hearing so my people can experience My joy completed in them." Remember He is facing torture and crucifixion. What joy are we talking about?

In John 15:10-11, Jesus refers to that joy transfer also. And it seems to flow from abiding in the Father's love. 

Sure, that is the source of joy! I am loved! Knowing that fully and being reminded by Jesus' words and His sacrifice for me does fill me with joy like a fountain.

Let's pray as Paul did, "and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God". (Ephesians 3:19)

The Place of Peace

When we listen to Jesus' words we are drawn. Even when it's a warning, we know it is love. Jesus said to His followers:  "Behold, an hour is coming, and has already come, for you to be scattered, each to his own home, and to leave Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me." John 16:22-23

His aim becomes clear when He says, "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." I get one little part of that: "In Me you may have peace". It is like all these trying circumstances can press us further into Jesus - the place of peace. 

And that is the good news and hope for evil days. Difficult times can turn out to be the best thing (how He works all things for good) as they press us close to His heart. Continuing to hear the beating of our Lover's heart can be nothing other that an unimaginable place of peace. 

Lord, help us to relax in a storm as You take us into Your arms and hold us close to Your secure heart of love,

A Joy Trip

Only God can satisfactorily change grief to joy. Only He can transport us from the groveling depths of heartache to the dizzying heights of "too good to be true". Sometimes the trip seems agonizingly slow. But often the speed will take your breath away.

In either case our destination is secure if we stick with Him because He promised: "you will grieve, but your grief will be turned into joy". John 16:2-22  So I'm thinking it would be wise to stop hoping that we will "get back to normal". We are on a Joy Trip.  

In this part of John, Jesus is speaking particularly of the advantage of His departure so that the Holy Spirit can come. So often a leaving is accompanied by a grieving. 

But as we let Him pry our fingers off ("Jesus said to her, 'Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.'" John 20:17),  we are freed to receive His next gift. And it is likely accompanied by joy that lasts:"Therefore you too have grief now; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you."

Lord, help us to relax grief-clenched fists. May we let go in anticipation of knowing You and receiving your next gracious gift. 

A Friend's Warning

Let's skip all this stuff about the world hating me. (John 15:15-16:1) I like the idea of being a peacemaker. But ....  it does seem like peace is only a part of the picture.

And Jesus' words do sound like a promise: "But since I picked you to live on God's terms and no longer on the world's terms, the world is going to hate you". (The Message)

Why would a servant like me get better treatment from the world than her master (Jesus)? Jesus says that the world will act hatefully because they don't know the Father.  

Maybe He is now warning us because: "I'm no longer calling you servants because servants don't understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I've named you friends because I've let you in on everything I've heard from the Father." And also because "I've told you these things so that when the time comes and they start in on you, you'll be well-warned and ready for them."

Yes, Jesus is a true friend. Even though I tend to think a child of the King (me) should have comforts galore, I realized there is a war going on - the spiritual kind. And the King has sent the more than sufficient comfort of the Holy Spirit with His word of truth. We will not be caught off guard or surprised - resulting in a nasty fall.

Thank you Lord for Your loving warnings. Help us to listen up and be saved.

Real Love

We get to thinking love is warm, fuzzy, gushy feelings. Sometimes it is! But Jesus shows us dependable love: "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments." (John 14:14-31)

Jesus repeats this plea five sentences later: "He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him." Wow! This time He even promises to show us revelations about Himself.

But it comes again two sentences later: "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words". This time we get the promise that He will move in with us!

It sounds like a real lover listens to his beloved and thinks often about what he says. 

Lord, help us treasure Your word up in our heart and seek You consistently about how to put it into practice. 

The Key of Belief

It's time for the final appeal to His friends. Last words always seem important, and these sure are! Jesus grounds this last last plea in our most critical need: "believe in God, believe also in Me" and "believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me". (John 14:1-14)

Jesus goes on to say that on this foundation they could go on to do greater works than He had, ask God for anything, be assured of real life, keep His commandments and keep His word. 

It's sort of like Jesus planted seed in so many fields while on earth, that as long as His followers kept believing, they would reap harvests that ended up being greater than His own. He was going to the Father so the Holy Spirit could come and do mighty things through them - and us. 

The key is: "Do we believe?"