Jesus in John's Gospel

Monday, May 20                                                                                    John 16:5-15

“The Ministry ofthe Spirit”

     Asthe disciples become increasingly aware of the nearness of Jesus’ leaving, thathis physical presence will no longer be with them, they are overwhelmed withsorrow.  It fills their hearts.  So Jesus explains things to them now whichearlier they could not grasp.  If hestayed on with these disciples in the flesh the Paraclete would not come.  He is the One who will be the indwellingPresence, uniting them with Jesus.  Butthis Helper can only come to the disciples when Jesus has finished his savingwork and returned to the Father.

    The Paraclete will come to actively convict the world through thewitness of these men by exposing the sin of the world.  It is the rejection of Jesus which is at theroot of all the world’s sin.  If there isno faith in Jesus, self-centeredness, hatred, and immorality, all concretesigns of unbelief, will take over.  ThisAdvocate will also bring to light the righteousness of Jesus.  In crucifying Jesus the world judges Jesus,this innocent One, guilty.  But theFather vindicates him, declares him the innocent and righteous One, by raisinghim from the dead.

We belong to you, Jesus, through the workof your Spirit.  Amen.

Tuesday, May 21                                                                                  John 16:16-24

“In a little while”

     Thedeparture of Jesus and its distress for the disciples has been a constant themesince chapter 13.  Jesus does not letthem ignore the reality of his going, and here he brings it up again.  Seven times in this chapter Jesus refers to“a little while,” which prompts the central question of the section: “What doeshe mean by saying, ‘In a little while . . .’?” The confusion of the disciples is understandable.  In 16:10 Jesus has said that he is going tothe Father and they will not see him any longer.  Now he says that they will see him, and itwon’t be long.  What does it all mean?

     Thisis not intentional ambiguity on Jesus’ part, nor is it an attempt to provide adouble meaning.  Nor is Jesus talkingabout his second coming.  Rather, he issimply referring to his bodily return in resurrection.  He is departing from the world in his deathand the world will no longer have access to him.  When he returns in resurrection, it will behis followers’ final opportunity to see him.

Your return from death, Jesus, confirmingthat you are the Son of God.  Amen.

Wednesday, May 22                                                                            John 16:25-33

“I have overcomethe world”

     Jesus’saving death will revolutionize the praying of these disciples.  All through Jesus’ ministry they have askedall kinds of anxious, earthy questions to satisfy their curiosity, but theyhave not asked in his name.  But when theSpirit unites them with Jesus, they are to ask the Father in Jesus’ name, notfearfully or anxiously, but confidently in love, for their whole status hasbeen changed.  It is now on the ground ofall that the Son is and does, and their unity with him, that these men will receiveinsight from the Father.

    There is a word of hope at the conclusion of the chapter, a great senseof encouragement for those weak, needy men, and for all who confront thehostile rejection of this world.  InJesus they will have peace, one of the fruits of salvation, even though in theworld they will experience hatred and persecution.  What a contrast!  In Jesus there is peace; in the world,tribulation.  That peace is only possiblebecause in union with Jesus the disciples will share in his victory over theworld.

When I ask theFather in your name, Jesus, I am given every good thing.  Amen.

Thursday, May 23                                                                                   John 17:1-8

“Glorify your Son” 

     This is anintimate prayer.  When Jesus lifts hiseyes upward toward “home” to commune with the One who sent him, he uses atender family greeting, “Father.”  Thewhole prayer is spoken out of that living union which he has had with theFather throughout eternity.  In thisfinal hour, an hour which has been anticipated all through Jesus’ ministry, hewill share in the glory of God.  Thatglory is always initiated from above.  Itmoves from the Father through the obedience and love of the Son to those whobelieve in him, that it may return to the Father.

     Jesus hastouched and transformed the common and the earthy – water has been turned intowine, a stormy sea has been quieted, the eyes of a blind man have been opened,and Lazarus has been raised from the dead. Through these signs, these acts of power in which the glory of God hasbeen revealed, the disciples have come to know and trust the only true God andJesus Christ whom he has sent.  Here is asimple definition of faith: It is those who know that Jesus has come from Godwho receive eternal life.

You have touchedme, Jesus, and I have received eternal life in you.  Amen.

Friday, May 24                                                                                        John 17:9-19

“My prayer is forthose you have given me”

     Jesus prays forthese eleven men he is leaving.  He lovesthe world and came to save it (John 3:16) and neither his love nor his purposehas changed, even though the world has turned away and rejected him.  It is as these men faithfully manifest Jesus’glory and love that the world will be confronted and called to believe; it isas they remain in Jesus’ name that they will be faithful to the mission ofbeing witnesses to Jesus.

     For Jesus to askthat these men be full of his joy does not mean they will escape tribulationand hostility.  This would mean takingthem out of the world.  No, they willremain and be hated, just as Jesus has been, because they are not of this world.  To bear the name of Jesus marks them asaliens in the world.  And this provokestrouble; for when they are faithful to the word Jesus has given them, the worldreacts with hostility.  So Jesus asksthat they be kept from the evil one.  Forhe will break in as a thief and destroy this small band, stealing them one byone, unless they continue to be guarded by their commitment to Jesus.

I bear your name, Jesus, and pray theFather’s protection.  Amen.

Saturday, May 25                                                                                 John 17:20-26

“I pray that theywill all be one”

     Jesus’prayer is not only for these who are gathered with him.  He reaches out and includes all those whowill come to believe in him through their witness to Jesus, that they may knowthe glory and love of the Father and the Son. He prays that all his people throughout all time may be one.  Jesus asks that their unity may be rooted in“us,” reflecting that eternal oneness which the Father and Son know in dwellingin one another.  This unity of hisdisciples is not institutional or organized, but a living, organic onenesswhich flows from the action of the Father.

     Thisgift of unity is not a forced conformity, but an expression of the creativediversity within the Godhead.  As thereis only one “true God” who manifests himself through the differing functions ofFather, Son, and Spirit, so the loving unity of the body of believers isexpressed through a rich variety of gifts and ministry.  The whole family of God is a beautifulmontage of differing cultures and temperaments, colors and gifts, offered toGod in worship and ministry that he may be glorified.

Mayour church be one in you, Jesus, as you are with your Father.  Amen.

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Jesus in John's Gospel