Read John 17
 
John 17:20-21 I pray not only for them, but also for those who believe in me because of their message. 21 I pray that they may all be one.
 
DO you want to feel loved? Then I sincerely hope you take time to read John 17. The apostle John unveils our Lord as one who deeply loves God the Father and all who are his disciples. Let’s see Jesus’ love in this “High Priestly Prayer”.
    As the Bible often teaches, prayer is certainly one of the cornerstones to the resurrection lifestyle, isn’t it? As we know, prayer was foundational to Jesus’ life on earth. Jesus demonstrated to us all how prayer is a key means of our relationship with the Father and with all who believe. The Son of God prayed regularly and deliberately. And so should we.
    Why? What happens when we pray? Here are a few reasons to pray: Prayer sets our hearts in the right place; a sincere conversation with God will open you to feel his love. Prayer connects our mind to God’s knowledge. Prayer moves our us to consider others’ needs. Prayer directs our lives to seek forgiveness and to forgive. Prayer gives us time to praise God for his daily blessings in our lives. Prayer protects us from evil thoughts and the Evil One’s temptations.
    Prayer is confessing to God that he is our Lord. We trust him. We believe him. And prayer demonstrates we believe he really is our sovereign God of Heaven and earth.
    And notice this about Jesu’ prayer that night before the cross. Jesus petitioned the Father to watch over his disciples present with him that night. Then lovingly he asked God to unite and protect all who would believe in him through the ages. Think of it! The Son of God prayed long ago that you would unite with all of Jesus’ disciples. He longed for you to be of one universal church under the Father’s authority. He also prayed the Father to protect and to take care of you today. What a loving Savior! The Good Shepherd loves his flock. He desires we all follow him together, united with him and together with each other.
    Here’s a thought: Are you praying for God to protect and unite your family now and the future generations?


Resurrection Truth: Pray, “Thank you, Lord Jesus, for your amazing love for each one of us. Thank you for praying for us then, and for praying for us now. Thank you that you are our priest who intercedes for us. You have paid the price. You have atoned for our sins. In your gracious, profound love, may we love you and follow you with a high, wide, long and deep love. Amen.”

Read John 16:29-33

John 16:31-32 Jesus answered them, “Do you believe now? 32 The time is coming, and is already here, when all of you will be scattered, each one to his own home, and I will be left all alone.”

HOW’S your faith? The disciples had just expressed to Jesus that they understood who he is, that he had come from God. They expressed a great faith in him.
    But Jesus wanted them to be sure they truly believed in him. They were able to speak their faith, but soon they would have to act on their faith. They would have to make decisions about what to do as they watched their Savior persecuted and killed.
    Jesus knew they would scatter, and he would be left alone to face his death. He knew they would become terribly afraid and uncertain. He knew they would be unfaithful to their own confessions.
    Thus, he urges them to hold onto their knowledge of him and their faith in. They would need to rely on the Father as Jesus had done, to stay focused on the Son, to be faithfully united in him.
    All who confess, “Jesus is my Lord and Savior.” must confront their faith in critical circumstances. At times we face much fear and turmoil in our lives. We easily lose sight of Jesus to seek “solutions” in the world. So how do we trust our Lord? How do we rely on him when life challenges the Word of Life?
    Jesus has shown us that prayer is the source of strength and intimacy with the Father. As we speak of our fears, we are to listening to his replies. We will know what he says, as we regularly read the Bible, God’s Word, and hear God’s Word taught and preached.
    Often, I have gone to him in desperation, wondering what will happen regarding a circumstance to discover strength and peace as I sit with him. Being quiet with the Lord will cancel the world’s noise to amplify God’s presence.
    The Bible is God’s story of promise and comfort.  I urge you to go there daily to grow your faith. II pray you will see, hear and know your Lord’s strength. Let your heart receive his Word, and you will know his message is personally for you. Jesus has defeated the world through his resurrection. You and I will feel the power of his resurrection when we focus on him and his will for our lives.
   
Resurrection Truth: Jesus offers himself. Faithfully receive him.

ead John 16:17-28

John 16:24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name; ask and you will receive, so that your happiness may be complete.

WHY do we ask questions? (There’s another one.) Good questions guide us learn what we don’t know, to clarify an issue, to gain knowledge and to understand. To question with a willing mind, “wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.” (Proverbs 2:10)
    The disciples were eager students. They asked Jesus many questions. Sometimes they could not understand all Jesus taught until they saw the complete picture of Christ’s life, death and resurrection. When they looked at the “whole” Christ, they understood.
    When the Holy Spirit came upon them in power at Pentecost, the questions stopped and they became the preachers and teachers. They took on the full knowledge of Christ crucified, dead, buried, raised and ascended to Heaven. The wisdom of Christ “entered their heart”. Their lives changed. Consequently, the world changed.
    Resurrection living is asking questions about Jesus, and it is about paying attention to the answers. When the truth comes to you, absorb it and live the truth for and in the power of your risen Lord. When the full knowledge of your risen Lord stirs your heart, you, too, will make a difference in the world.  
 
Resurrection Truth: Good questions lead to godly lives.

Read John 15:18-16:4
 
John 15:24-25 “If I had not done among them what no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have seen these miracles, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. 25 But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: 'They hated me without reason.'”
 
IN this entire passage, Jesus is teaching his disciples that the world hates God’s way to life. The resurrected Jesus is the Way to eternal life. What is the reason we prefer to approach God “My way.” instead of “The Way.”? Why does the world “hate” Jesus and all who are his disciples, even as the evidence of God is before all? 
    When I was farming and working with animals every day, there was sometimes a remarkable “my way” behavior in cattle when we tried to move them to a new pasture. Our purpose was to take them from a pasture with very little grass remaining into a new pasture with long, lush grass to eat and comfortably lie down. When we opened the gate from the old pasture to the new, did they eagerly run through? No, they did not. Instead, they refused to go. They were used to the gate being closed. Their habit was to walk by it in their daily routine with no possibility of getting through it. When we then offered the richness of a new pasture to them, their old habits were a barrier to a richer life.
    We spent a good deal of effort coaxing them into the new pasture. Eventually, one or two would walk through the opening. When the others saw the possibility, they, too, began to go. Finally the entire herd went through the gate. What fun to watch the cattle in the new pasture as they romped, kicked up their heels and feasted on the grass.
    The Jews were used to life with too many man-made laws that blocked hope from their hearts. Jesus, the Master Gardener, came in love and grace to open Heaven’s Gate (See Psalm 24). But even when the Jewish authorities saw the miracles, experienced Jesus’ forgiveness, and heard his love, their hatred kept them confined to the world’s ways.
    We can be the same, can’t we? We become too anchored to our limitations. We do not look for the Lord’s boundless, full life Jesus promises to us. When the world seems to say, “I hate you, Christian.” remember Jesus’ words in John 10:9 “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.” 
    Then rejoice to know that when you walk in in Jesus’ resurrection power, he will “make (you) lie down in green pastures, he will lead (you) beside quiet waters; he will restore (your) soul. (from Psalm 23).
 
Resurrection Truth: Jesus has lovingly opened the gate of life for you.

Read John 15:1-17
 
John 15:4 A branch cannot bear fruit by itself; it can do so only if it remains in the vine. In the same way you cannot bear fruit unless you remain in me.


FRUIT is a wonderful image for our relationship with Jesus. Ripe fruit, grown with the proper nutrients and pruning is a juicy, tasty and nourishing food.
    And fruit is fragile, isn’t it? For example, oranges must grow on a particular root stock to protect the native orange tree from disease that comes from the soil Or, too much rain at the wrong time can ruin a strawberry crop. Hail can devastate fruit. And if freezing temperatures occur when fruit trees blossom, the crop is reduced and less vital.
    The vitality and bounty of “kingdom fruit” can easily be reduced or even negated completely when we attempt life “our way” uprooted from the Trove Vine. Oh, life can look good for a time, even for many years. But without God’s Word feeding our soul there will be no lasting flavor from the work we have done. (Check out the book of Ecclesiastes and read how Solomon felt about life “off the vine”.)
    Connect, then, to Jesus. The overwhelming theme of John 15 is Jesus’ great, nourishing love for the Father and for you. He longs to tend to your heart, so you develop a vibrant, productive spiritual life. Jesus is the Vine, who roots you in his love, hope and faith. Our Lord holds you firm from the storms and lifts you to absorb the sunshine of God’s blessings. When the days become cloudy, even dark and stormy, you remain assured in the confidence the Son is still with you.
    Resurrection living is staying connected with the Vine. Absorb the life he offers to you. Receive the nurturing rain of righteousness. Grow well on the Good Vine, and you will bear good fruit for his kingdom.
 
Resurrection Truth: Life with Jesus tastes good.  

John 14:2-3 There are many rooms in my Father's house, and I am going to prepare a place for you. I would not tell you this if it were not so.  3 And after I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to myself, so that you will be where I am.
 
I think these are some of the most comforting words recorded as words of our living Savior. I think of how, when I was young, I would leave my room each morning with a bed unmade and clothes on the floor, and I would come back at night to see the room clean, the bed made. All I would have to do is pull on my pajamas and climb into bed. Pretty nice, huh? My mother had prepared a room for me. (I did have to clean the room and make the bed when I got older.)
    But how nice was it to come to a room like that? For some reason I felt loved. I felt secure in our home because a place had been prepared for me. I didn’t consciously think of it; I actually hadn’t considered it until I first wrote this, about 50 years later. But this secure feeling is part of me. It’s part of my unspoken relationship with my mother and father for providing such a home.
    Recalling this blessing, I think of how my heavenly Father will care for me in eternity. I can’t know the details, but I know there will be incredible joy and a wonderful sense of security, fully living in the presence of God the Father and God the Son. I know that when I get there, all is prepared for me because Jesus’ gift of life transcends into the gift of an eternal home. A resurrected life is one that awaits with anticipation the glory of our heavenly home. It is a life lived with the assurance a place is prepared for us.
 
Resurrection Truth: live secure in the place the Father has prepared for you through Jesus.

Read John 13:36-38

John 13:36-38 Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.” 37 Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” 38 Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”

WELL, are you? Are you ready to lay down your life for Jesus? If you’re like me, you’d say, “Let me think about this. Do you mean die as in not being alive, dead and buried? Or do you mean laying down my life as in giving up my job and going to Africa to feed hungry children? (I first wrote this six years ago.) Or maybe you mean that laying down my life is giving up my night watching TV to tutor a child, to join in a Bible study or to visit someone in need. Perhaps it means going into a hard area of the city to nurture a young man or woman.
    Jesus was literally asking Peter and the others if they were truly ready to die for him. (Maybe that’s why they became so afraid at his arrest and crucifixion.) After all, he knew that most of them would die a tortuous martyr’s death. 
    Living a resurrected life means you must be fully prepared to lay down your life for Jesus. Empowered by his resurrection, we are to approach life with the sacrificing commitment and love Jesus has so freely offered to us.
    Think of being committed to Jesus in the same way you are committed to one you love. I think most of us parents can readily say we would die for the sake of our children. We love them that much. We have “died for them”, too, as we have adjusted our lives to their growing lives. We have made decisions to support them, to put aside our own desires, and to give our children opportunities to learn and to grow.
    Being committed to Jesus is like that. When we love him enough to adjust our lives to him and to even die for him, everything in our relationship with Jesus becomes aligned into a holy order. When Jesus calls us to “die” in some “small” or “big” way, we are ready. We are willing.
    So, what is your answer? 
 
Resurrection Truth: The only answer is, “Yes.”  

Read John 13:21-30
 
John 13:21-24 Jesus said, “I am telling you the truth: one of you is going to betray me.” 22 The disciples looked at one another completely puzzled about whom he meant. 23 One of the disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was sitting next to Jesus. 24 Simon Peter motioned to him and said, “Ask him whom he is talking about.”
 
AS often as I’ve read this, my first thought has been that the disciples were eager to know Jesus’ betrayer, so they could accuse him and protect their Master. But now I have a second thought. Perhaps they were concerned about their own guilt. Is it possible each was wondering, “Is it I?”
    Do you ever wonder if you will betray Jesus? Oh, it’s too late to kill him with our betrayal. Judas did that. And thankfully, wonderfully, Jesus rose from this betrayal to reign as our King in Heaven. So it’s safe for us. None of us could possibly betray him.
    Or could we? Or do we? Let’s consider these questions: Do you love God with all your heart? Do you love your neighbor as yourself? Do you accept Jesus as Lord of your life? Do you speak of Jesus’ love to others? “Betray” can mean to “let down”, to “deceive”, or to “turn in”. I think we at times “turn in” or trade Jesus’ ways for our own ways. We betray his commands for our own desires, don’t we? Yes, we deceive Jesus with, “I’ll follow you, Lord.” Then decide to go elsewhere. We let down our Lord when we remain silent while others mock him. The “betrayal list” can become very long.
    Yes, it is easy for us to look at Judas and judge him. But let’s look to Jesus and ask, “How have I betrayed you, Lord?” Living in Jesus’ resurrection means we confront those heart betrayals that keep us from the king. Let’s stop denying Jesus. Instead, let us deny ourselves to take up our cross and follow him. (from Mark 8:34)
 
Resurrection Truth: is living loyal to Jesus.  

Read John 13:1-20
 
John 13:1-5 It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. 2 The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
 
DO you see some “conflict” or illogical connection in these Bible verses? Think of it. The most powerful authority in the world – the One who spoke he world into existence (John 1) – performs a “low-servant” task. Washing feet is one of the lowliest tasks in the Jewish household.  Why does eternal Son of God serve his disciples in this seemingly lowly way?
    Jesus is teaching us what it looks like live in his resurrection power. Serving the One who served us even unto the cross requires we change our attitude from, “I” to “You”. Your life, modeling Jesus’ life, is empowered to let go of your own desires. You are strengthened in Christ’s sacrificial love for you to “love one another as Christ has loved you” (from John 13:34). In faithful love, you seek each day, “How can I love for you today, Lord?”   
    This is difficult, isn’t it? Why should I look out for someone else when I have too many obstacles to get to where I need to go? Why should I care for a person who doesn’t care for himself? Why should I love a drug addict? Can’t these people wake up and live right? What about my time and my desires?
    But should we, instead ask, “Who do I know who can help this desperate person live well? How can I help him live into Jesus’ resurrection power?” Yes, we spend a good deal of time judging people to find excuses. It’s easy to ignore their broken and desperate needs because the needs overwhelm us. We keep hurting people away when we should be welcoming them into our homes.
    I heard a timely teaching on hospitality today. “Hospitality” comes from “hospital’, meaning to offer care and comfort to people. During the teaching I sat with two men who each had just before the lesson, shared a “hospitality story”. One had been helped by a stranger. Another was helping a person deal with great physical brokenness. Also, a third man was motivated after the lesson to go this day and care for someone he had forgotten. Jesus was being real in these hospitality circumstances. The Spirit was stirring hearts to humbly love others. The Spirit was moving hands and feet to serve as Jesus served us.
    Jesus often demonstrated that humble service is a God thing. We need a heart for Jesus to have Jesus’ hospitable hands and feet – even as they may be pierced with nails.  
 
Resurrection Truth: Resurrection living shows Jesus’ hospitality.
 

Read John 12:44-50
 
John 12:48 Whoever rejects me and does not accept my message has one who will judge him. The words I have spoken will be his judge on the last day!

WARNINGS are a good thing, aren’t they? They keep us safe from danger, for example, as we drive when a road sign warns us of sharp curves and steep hills ahead. We slow down and negotiate the road safely, unless…
    Unless we don’t regard the warnings. If we ignore the signs and drive normal speed, we could have an accident, damaging our car and possibly even losing our life. Jesus insists we regard his words. Those who do not will perish.
    How horrible it would be to stand before God and then be sent to Hell! It’s an indescribable, disastrous picture. We cannot comprehend the horror of being eternally separated from God; in Christ’s love, you would not condemn even the worst person you know to go there.
    This is judgment with no parole, no clemency or o delayed sentencing. It is a judgment for eternity (Let this sink in—e-t-e-r-n-i-t-y). If you reject Jesus, God will reject you on that Day of Judgment. This is not a game. It is not a contest to see who wins before we get another shot.
    Indeed, it is a onetime thing. Surely judgment is forever. That is why Jesus came to live, die and rise again. His life, death and life work is to point you to the way of eternal life. Heed his word. Believe his word. One day, when you stand before the Great Judge, you must confess Jesus.
 
Resurrection Truth: You confess, “Jesus saves.”