Daily Digest

4 Everyone who sins is breaking God’s law, for all sin is contrary to the law of God. 5 And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in him. 6 Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him or understand who he is. 7 Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous. 8 But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. 9 Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God. 10 So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God.

These are strong words. I think the key verse in this passage is ‘Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning because God’s life is in them’.

We all sin. The only man to walk this earth without sin was Jesus. However, if we are walking with God, we do not make a ‘practice’ of sinning. As we walk with God, He reveals to us patterns of thought or behaviours that are not pleasing to Him. He sheds light on the dark corners of our soul we didn’t realise were there. And He does not do it to leave us in our guilt, but instead to give us the power to change, to slowly clean up, restore and rebuild.

We will sometimes return to those same sins, those same patterns of thought or behaviour. But if we’re walking with God, each time we return to those patterns we return altered – slightly stronger to fight temptation and with increasing clarity about the way our sin saddens the spirit of God, living in us.

Thank you, Lord, that as we walk with you, we are becoming more like you each day. We are increasingly leaving our old ways behind us. Help us not to be discouraged when old patterns seem to rear their ugly heads again, but instead be encouraged that by your power we are not the same person facing them today as we were yesterday.

Written by Rhiannon Mellor

18 Dear children, the last hour is here. You have heard that the Antichrist is coming, and already many such antichrists have appeared. From this we know that the last hour has come. 19 These people left our churches, but they never really belonged with us; otherwise they would have stayed with us. When they left, it proved that they did not belong with us. 20 But you are not like that, for the Holy One has given you his Spirit, and all of you know the truth. 21 So I am writing to you not because you don’t know the truth but because you know the difference between truth and lies. 22 And who is a liar? Anyone who says that Jesus is not the Christ. Anyone who denies the Father and the Son is an antichrist. 23 Anyone who denies the Son doesn’t have the Father, either. But anyone who acknowledges the Son has the Father also. 24 So you must remain faithful to what you have been taught from the beginning. If you do, you will remain in fellowship with the Son and with the Father. 25 And in this fellowship we enjoy the eternal life he promised us. 26 I am writing these things to warn you about those who want to lead you astray. 27 But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.

Meditating on this passage God has spoken to me about truth.

It is revealed by the Holy Spirit who anoints us. It is maintained as we remain in God.

The truth centres around Jesus, the Son who John equates with the Father. More than that the truth is Jesus. He is in effect saying Jesus is God. And this is the truth we have from the Holy Spirit and what we have “heard from the beginning.” John was also perhaps thinking back to the words of Jesus he wrote down in John 14 verse 6 – that Jesus is the Way the Truth and the Life and we can only come to God (that is be reconciled to God) through him.

We dilute this truth when we make it relative. Ideas like “does this truth work for me?” or “Jesus is only one way to God. There are lots of others” mean we are making truth subject to our feelings or inclinations.  This passage contains warnings of John against replacing the truth that Jesus is God and the inevitable turning away from Him.  In fact, the truth of Jesus is absolute – that salvation comes through Christ alone. This is an eternal truth. In a post Christian world, tolerance of other views is expected and can lead us away from Jesus. To guard against this John calls us to ”remain in him.”

How will I remain in him when all around me people have replaced Jesus in their lives? I think the key parts to remaining in Him are by talking with him and talking about him. The Holy Spirit guards our hearts and minds and reveals Jesus to us. What a blessing he is.

Thank you, Lord, that you have given us the one and only way to get back into relationship with you. My prayer every day is to remain in you. Jesus, hear my prayer. Amen

Written by Claire Moore

12 I am writing to you who are God’s children because your sins have been forgiven through Jesus. 13 I am writing to you who are mature in the faith because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning. I am writing to you who are young in the faith because you have won your battle with the evil one. 14 I have written to you who are God’s children because you know the Father. I have written to you who are mature in the faith because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning. I have written to you who are young in the faith because you are strong. God’s word lives in your hearts, and you have won your battle with the evil one.

John is writing about really basic things, like love and finding forgiveness in Christ. With all the stern warnings against denying our sin or refusing to obey, it’s easy to think, “Gosh! What kind of fundamental problems did this church have that they needed to hear this?”

John says why he is writing to them (2:12-13), and the reasons are surprising. He’s writing about finding forgiveness in Christ – to the people that Jesus already has forgiven. He’s writing about how disobedience shows we don’t know God – to people who do know God. John is writing about dealing with sin and not opposing God – to people who have won their battle with the evil one. They already know Jesus’ command.

No matter how far I come with God, I will never finish loving God’s people. I will never stop needing to hear this message too. I need to hear this “Word of Life” at every stage of my life in Christ.

And then he seems to almost repeat himself, but not quite (2:14). He says he has written this before and (spoiler alert) he will write about it again in 2 John. I’ll never stop needing to hear this message. Loving my brothers and sisters is what every day of being God’s child, every day of living in his light, looks like. Sometimes it’s easy. All too often, I need reminding. I need to hear this message about love every day.

Thank you, Father, for your love for all your children. Holy Spirit, transform me, work with me to love your other children even more today than yesterday. Show me new ways to know and express that love at every stage of my walk with you. Amen.

Written by David Cornell

1 My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. 2 He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world. 3 And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. 4 If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. 5 But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. 6 Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.

The world might ask ‘why does the Bible go on and on about sin? I’m a good person’. Yet the answer is simple – God understands we are all very inclined to sin, and Jesus is the only one who is actually without sin. We are all impacted by sin and its consequences every day – both our own sin and that of others. This passage reminds me I need to deal with this, and the only way to do that is through Jesus. The kindness of God here is to remind us that the grace and mercy extended to you and me is also extended to the whole of humanity. I’m sure it is no coincidence the passage moves from our need for forgiveness for sin to the importance of personal integrity. When we understand and accept the forgiveness we are gifted through Christ, our response needs to be a life reflecting the values and actions of Jesus. This is a choice I need to make every day so that my heart is reflected in my thoughts and actions. 

Thank you, Jesus, for all that you have done for me. Jesus, I confess I am a sinner and I need your grace and forgiveness. Give me the strength to choose to live a life of integrity today and always. In your mighty name I pray. Amen

Written by Christine Knight

1 We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life. 2 This one who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that he is the one who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and then he was revealed to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy.

John was a vivid witness who saw, touched, and heard Jesus. He passed on his account for us to joyously believe in the one who is the Word of Life. John proclaims this so we may have fellowship with our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus- reminding us that the joy of heaven will dwarf the suffering of now.

I am reminded that in this world where people are consumed by ceaseless entertainment and selfish desires, God showed us the opposite by humbling Himself to a human being. A human who died on a cross, giving His life, so that all who believe may have eternal life in Him.

Jesus, You were there at the beginning and will be there at the end. You gave yourself as the perfect sacrifice; so that all who believe in You may come to know You. Help us to face each day knowing You are our strength and comfort. Thank You for Your everlasting, unconditional love. In Your precious names, Jesus.
Amen

Written by Sven Bessesen

1 Later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee. This is how it happened. 2 Several of the disciples were there—Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples. 3 Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing.” “We’ll come, too,” they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night. 4 At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who he was. 5 He called out, “Fellows, have you caught any fish?” “No,” they replied. 6 Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it. 7 Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore. 8 The others stayed with the boat and pulled the loaded net to the shore, for they were only about a hundred yards from shore. 9 When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them—fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread. 10 “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,” Jesus said. 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore. There were 153 large fish, and yet the net hadn’t torn. 12 “Now come and have some breakfast!” Jesus said. None of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish. 14 This was the third time Jesus had appeared to his disciples since he had been raised from the dead.

There are so many beautiful details in this passage – I have so many questions. Questions like where were the other four disciples? Was seven disciples the perfect number required to haul in such the big load of fish? Was it John (the author) who meticulously counted all 153 fish to record for us such an exact number? Did Peter expect to walk on water again when he dressed himself to jump out of the boat to see Jesus? Was the haul of fish used to “bank-roll” Jesus’ mission? Or pay off Peter’s debt as depicted in The Chosen? Or feed the poor? Was Jesus a good cook?

But then I read verse 13, “Jesus served them…” and my questions suddenly seem secondary. Maybe that’s the point – nothing compares to being with Jesus, to eat breakfast with Him, and have him SERVE you. Can you even imagine?!

I still have questions. But I think now the most important one is, am I running (or maybe swimming, as in Peter’s case) to Jesus? Am I going to sit and eat with him each day? Will I let him love me and serve me? Will you sit with Jesus today and let him love you, refresh you, and restore you?

Jesus, nothing and no one compares to who you are. I let everything else go. Amen.

Written by Boudy Van Noppen

11 Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in. 12 She saw two white-robed angels, one sitting at the head and the other at the foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying. 13 “Dear woman, why are you crying?” the angels asked her. “Because they have taken away my Lord,” she replied, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” 14 She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize him. 15 “Dear woman, why are you crying?” Jesus asked her. “Who are you looking for?” She thought he was the gardener. “Sir,” she said, “if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him.” 16 “Mary!” Jesus said. She turned to him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”). 17 “Don’t cling to me,” Jesus said, “for I haven’t yet ascended to the Father. But go find my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ” 18 Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, “I have seen the Lord!” Then she gave them his message.

Mary Magdalene is the very first person to witness the resurrection of Jesus after His death. We read in this passage a series of interactions between Mary, the angels and with the recently resurrected Jesus.

 Mary’s reaction upon seeing her risen Lord was to cling on to Him.  Jesus, however, had a job for her to do: go and tell the disciples about what has happened and about what was going to happen next.

As I reflect on this very significant moment, I am reminded of a quote from Billy Graham’s daughter –

The very first person to be commissioned was a woman. And she was commissioned to go to men to share her testimony…and then also to give His Word. I know there are some people who will draw a line and say I (as a woman) can give a testimony, but I can’t share the Scripture. But Jesus didn’t make that distinction. He gave Mary Magdalene both commissions, to share her testimony and to give out His word.

—Bible teacher Anne Graham Lotz
daughter of evangelist Billy Graham

In this instance, not only was Mary Magdalene a woman, but she would have been considered an outcast by her society due to her unseemly past. I love how Jesus places value and purpose on someone that others may reject.

Why was Mary the first person to see the resurrected Son of God? The simple answer is that she was the one who went looking for Jesus! She was seeking and she found Him in an unexpected way.

These are my take-away prayers from looking at this encounter with Jesus through fresh eyes …

• Lord, help me to have an open heart like Yours for people who I might want to judge and reject
• Help me to not be complacent in my relationship with You Jesus, but to be a continual seeker

Written by Shelley Witt

38 Afterward Joseph of Arimathea, who had been a secret disciple of Jesus (because he feared the Jewish leaders), asked Pilate for permission to take down Jesus’ body. When Pilate gave permission, Joseph came and took the body away. 39 With him came Nicodemus, the man who had come to Jesus at night. He brought about seventy-five pounds of perfumed ointment made from myrrh and aloes. 40 Following Jewish burial custom, they wrapped Jesus’ body with the spices in long sheets of linen cloth. 41 The place of crucifixion was near a garden, where there was a new tomb, never used before. 42 And so, because it was the day of preparation for the Jewish Passover and since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.

Jesus has died on the cross. Passover is due to start in a matter of hours, and so Jesus is removed by a secret wealthy disciple, Joseph of Arimathea, (see Matt 27:59-60) and a Pharisee, Nicodemus (Jn 3:1-21). These two men then proceed to perform the Jewish burial custom with very costly spices.

In thinking on this passage, I’m struck that there is a reversal here. None of Jesus’s disciples, the men that loved him, that had walked with him for three years, who understood who he was, were there to do this harrowing task but two secret followers were now publicly showing their belief by honouring Jesus in his death.

I’ve often wondered what I would do if a situation ever arose where I needed to openly display my faith as a believer at the cost of my life or worse, a life of being completely ostracised. Would I stand and honour Jesus or would I hide? I’d like to think that I would stand.

Lord, I pray that I would have the courage to stand and not hide my faith in Jesus, no matter the situation, that I would bring honour and glory to you always.

Written by Suzie Hodgson

So they took Jesus away. 17 Carrying the cross by himself, he went to the place called Place of the Skull (in Hebrew, Golgotha). 18 There they nailed him to the cross. Two others were crucified with him, one on either side, with Jesus between them. 19 And Pilate posted a sign on the cross that read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” 20 The place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek, so that many people could read it. 21 Then the leading priests objected and said to Pilate, “Change it from ‘The King of the Jews’ to ‘He said, I am King of the Jews.’ ” 22 Pilate replied, “No, what I have written, I have written.” 23 When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they divided his clothes among the four of them. They also took his robe, but it was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. 24 So they said, “Rather than tearing it apart, let’s throw dice for it.” This fulfilled the Scripture that says, “They divided my garments among themselves and threw dice for my clothing.” So that is what they did. 25 Standing near the cross were Jesus’ mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” 27 And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home.

I can’t help it. I still cringe whenever I read about Jesus’ crucifixion. He had already been devastated by the betrayal of a friend, exhausted by questioning, mocked, had thorns forced onto his head and been severely whipped. Then he was forced to carry something heavy (the cross) and had nails hammered through his wrists and feet. As he hung there, he would have been slowly strangled, forcing him to push up through his feet and arms to take a breath but suffering excruciating pain from the nails in the process.

Then I think about the fulfilment of prophecy in this passage. Psalm 22:16-18 says “Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet. All my bones are on display; people stare and gloat over me. They divide my clothes amongst them and cast lots for my garment.” This brings home to me that Jesus’ suffering was planned. God (and Jesus) knew all that would happen but chose to go ahead anyway for my sake – and your sake. For my forgiveness and your forgiveness.

Forgiveness is freely given by God, but it doesn’t come cheaply. I should never think “It doesn’t matter what I do – God will forgive me”. I should choose to honour God with my life and trust him to forgive when I go astray.

“Jesus, thank you that you chose to go to the cross and suffer for my sake. Thank you for your forgiveness. Let me never take it for granted. Help me to always remember that although your forgiveness is freely given, it cost a lot.  Amen”

Written by Megan Cornell

28 Jesus’ trial before Caiaphas ended in the early hours of the morning. Then he was taken to the headquarters of the Roman governor. His accusers didn’t go inside because it would defile them, and they wouldn’t be allowed to celebrate the Passover. 29 So Pilate, the governor, went out to them and asked, “What is your charge against this man?” 30 “We wouldn’t have handed him over to you if he weren’t a criminal!” they retorted. 31 “Then take him away and judge him by your own law,” Pilate told them. “Only the Romans are permitted to execute someone,” the Jewish leaders replied. 32 (This fulfilled Jesus’ prediction about the way he would die.) 33 Then Pilate went back into his headquarters and called for Jesus to be brought to him. “Are you the king of the Jews?” he asked him. 34 Jesus replied, “Is this your own question, or did others tell you about me?” 35 “Am I a Jew?” Pilate retorted. “Your own people and their leading priests brought you to me for trial. Why? What have you done?” 36 Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.” 37 Pilate said, “So you are a king?” Jesus responded, “You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.” 38 “What is truth?” Pilate asked. Then he went out again to the people and told them, “He is not guilty of any crime. 39 But you have a custom of asking me to release one prisoner each year at Passover. Would you like me to release this ‘King of the Jews’?” 40 But they shouted back, “No! Not this man. We want Barabbas!” (Barabbas was a revolutionary.)

In verse 38 – Pilate asks, “What is truth?”  This is an age-old question asked by many – with varying degrees of sincerity.  In our day everyone has their ‘truth’.  Christians believe that truth is not a proposition of intelligent and insightful thought and wisdom that changes with the ages.  For Christians truth is contained in a person, in fact the person of all persons – God Himself in the form of Jesus.  In John 14:6 Jesus describes Himself as “the Truth”.  Truth is a clear theme for Jesus – He reminds us that if we “know (experience) the truth it will set us free”.  Truth matters and it is not subjective pressured by the latest fad or cultural moment.

Pilate asks, “What is Truth”.  Jesus has effectively answered by saying He is Truth.

I know that to experience Truth in its liberating power I need to encounter Jesus and allow Him to be so real that He sets me free.

Father Help me to experience Your Son – the Truth – that I live in the power of that truth day by day.

Written by Ps. Richard Botta

1 After saying these things, Jesus crossed the Kidron Valley with his disciples and entered a grove of olive trees. 2 Judas, the betrayer, knew this place, because Jesus had often gone there with his disciples. 3 The leading priests and Pharisees had given Judas a contingent of Roman soldiers and Temple guards to accompany him. Now with blazing torches, lanterns, and weapons, they arrived at the olive grove. 4 Jesus fully realized all that was going to happen to him, so he stepped forward to meet them. “Who are you looking for?” he asked. 5 “Jesus the Nazarene,” they replied. “I AM he,” Jesus said. (Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.) 6 As Jesus said “I AM he,” they all drew back and fell to the ground! 7 Once more he asked them, “Who are you looking for?” And again they replied, “Jesus the Nazarene.” 8 “I told you that I AM he,” Jesus said. “And since I am the one you want, let these others go.” 9 He did this to fulfill his own statement: “I did not lose a single one of those you have given me.” 10 Then Simon Peter drew a sword and slashed off the right ear of Malchus, the high priest’s slave. 11 But Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back into its sheath. Shall I not drink from the cup of suffering the Father has given me?” 12 So the soldiers, their commanding officer, and the Temple guards arrested Jesus and tied him up. 13 First they took him to Annas, since he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest at that time. 14 Caiaphas was the one who had told the other Jewish leaders, “It’s better that one man should die for the people.”

When people come after Jesus, Peter did what he reflexively thought was the answer – fight back!

But Jesus knew what was happening. He knew that the work of God that had begun in him could only be brought to completion through His enemies taking him to the cross. So He willingly embraced His arrest, accepting the crucifixion that was to come.

In today’s context, I wonder whether the example that Jesus set here, in how to respond to persecution, might be relevant to the church in Australia now. It’s not like we have individuals being carted off to be crucified, but I do have a sense that the church as a whole, and the gospel message, is being attacked by some segments of society. I know I’m tempted to be like Peter and to find a sword (or just some clever words) to fight back. I’ve been thinking about how maybe Jesus is calling me (and perhaps the wider church) to be peacemakers in this fight, rather than combatants.

Lord, help us to discern how to respond when our faith, or beliefs and our ability to speak your truth comes under attack. Help me to learn from the example you have shown in the passage today

Written by Ps Justin Ware

1 After saying all these things, Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you. 2 For you have given him authority over everyone. He gives eternal life to each one you have given him. 3 And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth. 4 I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 5 Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began. 6 “I have revealed you to the ones you gave me from this world. They were always yours. You gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything I have is a gift from you, 8 for I have passed on to them the message you gave me. They accepted it and know that I came from you, and they believe you sent me. 9 “My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you. 10 All who are mine belong to you, and you have given them to me, so they bring me glory. 11 Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, you have given me your name; now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are. 12 During my time here, I protected them by the power of the name you gave me. I guarded them so that not one was lost, except the one headed for destruction, as the Scriptures foretold. 13 “Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy. 14 I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 15 I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. 16 They do not belong to this world any more than I do. 17 Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. 18 Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. 19 And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.

As I read Jesus’ prayer I am in awe.   This is His final prayer to His father before He heads to the Garden of Gethsemane where His betrayal will take place and then to the Cross of Calvary.

There are a few lines that stand out for me:

V 9: So with deep love, I pray for my disciples

V 10: For all who belong to me now belong to you.  And all who belong to you now belong to me as well, and my glory is revealed through their surrendered lives.

V 11: “…watch over them so that they will be united as one, even as we are one.”

V 16-18: “For they no longer belong to this world any more than I do.  You Word is truth!  So make them holy by the truth.  I have commissioned them to represent me…”

As I read Jesus prayer, I feel so loved, so Known and so believed in.  I know that He knows ME.  He knows YOU.

He is praying for us, believing in us, and championing us on to continue to carry His message of truth to others.

If we love Jesus, this is not our world anymore. We live here, but our citizenship belong elsewhere.   We live for something that is yet to come.  Our heart and love belong to another Kingdom.  A world to come, a world we long for, a world full of love, peace and kindness.

If you feel today that you don’t belong in this world – that is ok.  Jesus didn’t.

Lord Jesus, I thank you that you recorded your prayer for us and we can read your prayer of love and passion for us.  Thank you that you continue to pray for us and champion us on to fulfil the call of God on our lives.  Thank you that you have promised to never leave us nor forsake us.  Thank you that we belong to you.  Helps us to stand and be encouraged that you have promised to never leave or forsake us.  In Jesus name.  Amen

Written by Ps. Sue Botta

16 “In a little while you won’t see me anymore. But a little while after that, you will see me again.” 17 Some of the disciples asked each other, “What does he mean when he says, ‘In a little while you won’t see me, but then you will see me,’ and ‘I am going to the Father’? 18 And what does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand.” 19 Jesus realized they wanted to ask him about it, so he said, “Are you asking yourselves what I meant? I said in a little while you won’t see me, but a little while after that you will see me again. 20 I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy. 21 It will be like a woman suffering the pains of labor. When her child is born, her anguish gives way to joy because she has brought a new baby into the world. 22 So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy. 23 At that time you won’t need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name. 24 You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.

Jesus promises his followers that one day (soon) all the troubles and confusion they are experiencing will be swept aside. Like a woman who has just birthed a baby and now holds the newborn for the first time, all the momentary pain is forgotten and they are carried into a new realm of joy. With this as context, Jesus proposes a radical new way to talk to God. The disciples are to use his name when asking God for what they want and it’s as good as done. Surely this is way too radical to take at face value? Jesus’s bold invitation seems to open the gates to excess or abuse. Consider: what were the disciples of Jesus likely to insert into this invitation?

* ‘overthrow the Romans’, or
* ‘give us our nation and land back’, or
* ‘re-fill the temple with God’s glory’, or
* ‘expel the foreigners from amongst our midst’

Via this shift in focus and with the confidence that Jesus is true to his word ‘Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete’ was fulfilled to the disciples just as it is fulfilled to us, today.  Jesus answered their prayers and delivered on their concerns, but via the resurrection. Are not our requests basically connected to exactly the same human aches, desire for significance, place to belong, need for daily bread, need for family, an identity. Jesus will give us all that we need and more!

Jesus, thank you for hearing my prayers and thank you for allowing me to ask you directly for what I want. Thank you that you always answer, always keep your promises and satisfy my hearts desire.
Till we meet face to face, Amen.

Written by Sam Stewart

18 “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. 19 The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. 20 Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you. 21 They will do all this to you because of me, for they have rejected the one who sent me. 22 They would not be guilty if I had not come and spoken to them. But now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Anyone who hates me also hates my Father. 24 If I hadn’t done such miraculous signs among them that no one else could do, they would not be guilty. But as it is, they have seen everything I did, yet they still hate me and my Father. 25 This fulfills what is written in their Scriptures: ‘They hated me without cause.’ 26 “But I will send you the Advocate—the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about me. 27 And you must also testify about me because you have been with me from the beginning of my ministry. 1 “I have told you these things so that you won’t abandon your faith. 2 For you will be expelled from the synagogues, and the time is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing a holy service for God. 3 This is because they have never known the Father or me. 4 Yes, I’m telling you these things now, so that when they happen, you will remember my warning. I didn’t tell you earlier because I was going to be with you for a while longer.

I truly wonder what it might have felt like to be one of the disciples listening to Jesus talking. Jesus was just telling them that He is the true vine, to remain in Him, that they would know real love and joy because they know Him. Now Jesus switches tack completely and tells them not to be surprised if they are hated by others because of their relationship with Him. In fact, they should expect it. It’s a bit of a contrast!

Being disliked or looked down upon is hard (an understatement!). Picking up our cross, as Jesus called us to do (Luke 9.23) isn’t exactly a pleasant task. Jesus was goodness personified, but not always in the ways that others wanted Him to be, and so while some revered Him, and continue to do so, to others He was offensive and too counter-cultural and remains so to this day.

I certainly don’t think this passage gives Christians permission to be offensive on purpose; to be self-righteous or judgmental because of our relationship with Jesus or what we believe. Rather, I think it highlights what Jesus claimed all along – following Him is not easy, and being misunderstood and standing out will be par for the course.

Living a life that isn’t about trying to look good in the eyes of others is both humbling and hard. Yet Jesus says here that He will send the advocate, the Holy Spirit, who can help us walk in grace as we learn to follow Him more closely each day. We were never meant to walk the Christian life alone, and how good it is to have His help.

Jesus, thank you for your love and joy. Thank you for sending the Holy Spirit who gives us grace and strength to enable us to live as you have called us to. Help us each day as we follow you. Amen.

Written by Madelaine Tarasenko