John 18:28-19:16
Dear RTB’ers,
No comments today, folks. But I do ask that you read these verses a couple of times in different translations and that do your own reflecting.
Blessings!
See also:
November 10 / John 18:1-27
John 18:1-27
Dear RTB’ers,
It’s good that we have four gospel writers, especially when John is so different from the other three. A couple of items on that… First, John does not go into Jesus’ agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, even though he was one of the three who went forward with Jesus. To me, that’s one of the most moving parts of any of the four gospels. Second, John is the only gospel writer who reports that it was Peter who cut off Malchus’ ear, but he does not mention Jesus healing it, as does Luke 22:51. Finally, there is no Judas kiss – only Judas leading the crowd and Jesus asking them whom they seek.
Beyond Jesus’ arrest and questioning, the main story in today’s reading is Peter’s denial. Every time that I read of these challenges by the locals, when I put myself into the story I wonder what I would have done if I were Peter. Knowing myself, I’d have probably tried some lukewarm response, like I had heard Him speaking a few times. But when challenged further, I think I also would have also failed to acknowledge Jesus as my leader, especially if I take myself back to my late 20s or early 30s. What about the rest of you? Would you have stood up for Jesus? Let us hear from some of you!
Blessings!
See also:
November 9 / John 17 #2
John 17
Dear RTB’ers,
John 17, Jesus praying for Himself, His disciples, and us…! After teaching and speaking with His disciples, Jesus took the time to speak with His Father, and John recorded His words for all of us to read centuries later. Personally, I am touched when I read this chapter; to me, it’s Jesus at His most personal moments, His most personal words. And as I’ve often said, I can imagine myself being one of His disciples and reading His words being applied to me (as one of the disciples), but then I hear Him speaking further directly for me today, I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word (v. 20), and that blows me away! And then I think of Peter and Paul and Philip and other disciples and all His followers sharing the word with the world down through the centuries, all the way to us today – and that also blows me away!
So, a couple of verses to highlight… And this is eternal life, that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. (v. 3) If we know Jesus and the Father, through knowing Him, we have eternal life. Period. Done. It’s now, not just Heaven later. It’s here now, daily, forever.
I have given them Your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. (vv. 14-16) Here in the USA we do not feel the world’s hatred as much as Christians in many parts of Africa and Asia, but it’s there nonetheless, more subtle, more quiet – the world’s resistance to live by God’s Law and not their own fascinations. It affects us probably a lot more than we can know or imagine.
Finally, as noted above, verse 20. Have a great day, y’all!!
Blessings!
See also:
November 7 / John 16:16-33
John 16:16-33
Dear RTB’ers,
One sentence, repeated three times in today’s reading, first by Jesus, then by His disciples, then again by Jesus: A little while, and you will see Me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see Me. (vv. 16, 17, 19b) After more words from Jesus, He finally says, I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father. (v. 28) And with this sentence the disciples now have greater understanding: His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech!” (v. 29) And now, even with their improved understanding, they could not foresee His Crucifixion and Resurrection – they all abandoned Him. I’m certain that I would have been as confused as they were and, as I’ve said many times before, I am so thankful that I live on this side of the Cross!
Blessings!
See also:
November 6 / John 15:26-16:15
John 15:26-16:15
Dear RTB’ers,
Today we have Jesus’ third and fourth mentions of the Holy Spirit. First, But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness about Me. (v. 15:26) Sent from the Father, the Spirit of truth, bearing witness to Jesus… The first two items are somewhat straightforward; the third is more confusing. I see the Holy Spirit bearing witness to Jesus in His work in our hearts in bringing us to Jesus, glorifying Jesus as we come to know Him better, helping us to love Him more, and to serve Him at His will. That is, the Holy Spirit is our guide in understanding Jesus better. That’s my take. Your thoughts…?
Finally, Jesus’ fourth mention of the Holy Spirit, a full nine verses, 16:7-15. Allow me to refer you to my 2019 post when I commented at length about these verses.
Blessings!
See also:
- November 5 (2019) / John 15:18-27
- November 6 (2019) / John 16:1-15 (referenced above)
November 5 / John 15:9-25
John 15:9-25
Dear RTB’ers,
…whatever you ask the Father in My name, He may give it to you. (v. 16b) We read similar verses yesterday: Whatever you ask in My name, this I will do … If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it. (vv. 14:13-14) Those three words, in My name. So often we end our prayers with “in Jesus’ name”. Now you know why. Do we really think about those words when we end our prayers that way? Here is an interesting item I found in reasonabletheology.org: “If a servant claims to speak in the name of the king, and then acts or speaks in a way that is not according to the king’s will, he is outside the authority that has been granted to him. So it is with our position in Christ. We are approaching God in the name of our King, and we dare not request things that Jesus Himself would not desire.” Or, spoken more positively (same source), “While we have any number of requests that we might bring before God, we recognize that when we approach Him in prayer we ought to seek the same things that our Savior seeks. We are positioning our desires behind His. When we pray “in Jesus’ name” it means that we would pray in a way that is consistent to Jesus’ will.” Let’s think those things the next time we pray.
Another word from Jesus worth additional consideration: You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide… (v. 16a) If you are reading this, you are among the chosen. Jesus chose you, personally, to His ends. Let that sink in!
The word “love” appears ten times in today’s 17 verses. Questions, comments…?
Blessings!
See also: November 4 (2019) / John 15:9-17.
November 4 / John 14:25-15:8
John 14:25-15:8
Dear RTB’ers,
Yesterday we saw Jesus’ first mention of the Holy Spirit in John 14:16-17. Today we have a second mention, with the Holy Spirit mentioned as the Helper: But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. (v. 14:26) Three items here, especially powerful as we apply them to ourselves: the Father will send the Holy Spirit; He will teach us all things; and we will remember as needed! From Pentecost forward we see the apostles speaking and preaching and writing, no doubt recalling Jesus’ words and Old Testament verses as needed. We see this particularly played out when Peter and John are called before the Sanhedrin and Luke offers this report on the leaders’ amazement: Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13) That same power is available to us, again, as needed.
My Study Bible offered an interesting insight on the following verse: …for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on Me… (v. 14:30b) Here’s the Study Bible comment: “Satan has a hold on people because of their fallen state. Since Christ was sinless, Satan could have no hold on Him.” Just that…
Today’s chapter 14 ends with Jesus saying, “Rise, let us go from here,” but then John has Him speaking for another three chapters before He is arrested at Gethsemane. I’ve always wondered where He was when He spoke these three chapters. Wondering…!
Blessings!
See also:
November 3 / John 14:15-24
John 14:15-24
Dear RTB’ers,
We have the first of Jesus’ Last Supper mentions of the Holy Spirit in today’s reading. He lists five items regarding the Holy Spirit: another Helper, to be with you forever; the Spirit of truth; You know Him; He dwells with you; and [He] will be in you. (vv. 16, 17) Jesus was speaking to His disciples, but I believe that each of these items is something that we can claim for ourselves. We will see more Holy Spirit mentions in John 15:26 and John 16:7-15.
Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?” (v. 22) Here Judas is reflecting back to Jesus words in verse 19a: Yet a little while and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. I’ve probably thought of this before, but my recollection is that Jesus appeared only to His followers following His Resurrection. He did not appear to people who did not believe in Him – in particular, He did not appear to any of the scribes, Pharisees or Sadducees who were challenging Him. I have no further comment on that, only that observation. Intriguing…!
Blessings!
See also:
November 2 / John 13:33-14:14
John 13:33-14:14
Dear RTB’ers,
Jesus speaking: Where I am going you cannot come. …you cannot follow Me now, but you will follow afterward. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also. (vv. 13:33b, 36b, 14:2b-3) Jesus confuses His disciples as to His departure, just as He had confused the Jews. He would not tell them where He was going, but He did give them the consolation that He would come back for them. Should that have been enough assurance to satisfy them? Evidently not. I feel like if I had been there I would have continued asking questions: “When will that be? Where will You meet us? What should we do in the meantime?” What would have been my level of trust, such that I could just wait for events to play out? And, what is my level of trust today that events will play out, according to His time? Jesus leaves me confused, especially His words in John’s gospel, but that confusion is probably a good thing, in that it builds a stronger faith in me if I let Him take charge. There’s the rub, letting Him take charge!
See you in a few hours, I hope…!!
Blessings!
See also:
November 1 / John 13:21-32
John 13:21-32
Dear RTB’ers,
Two items regarding the question of whether this meal in yesterday’s and today’s reading was the Last Supper or just another meal. I was wrong yesterday when I quoted verse 30, suggesting that “he immediately went out” referred to Jesus. Not true – that phrase relates to Judas, as does verse 31a, “When he had gone out…” However, verse 29a supports the “other meal” argument: Some thought that, because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the feast…” This phrase, “for the feast” could be John’s way of suggesting a later Passover meal, lending support for the “other feast” argument.
Judas’ betrayal… Troubling. For money? Or did Judas somehow imagine that he was doing a good thing, possibly “forcing” Jesus to reveal Himself as the Messiah, “forcing” Him to begin that reign that would overthrow the Romans? Judas’ later suicide suggests some miscalculation on his part. I don’t think it was just money.
Blessings!
See also: